Patriots Lacrosse

We are halfway through lacrosse season over here. Parker, Kaleb, and Aden are playing this year. I will start with Parker. He plays for Centennial High School on their JV team. Before the league games began we traveled to Salt Lake City to play in a tournament back in March. My parents joined us and rented a sweet little mountain getaway. It made for a fun trip. We watched a lot of lacrosse, saw a Jazz game, and of course Matt and I found an In and Out.

I try to bring the camera out a few times each game but the team has some parents that are much more talented than me. Plus, the game is truly fun to watch. Super fast paced and action packed.

 They are ranked 7th of nine teams, so there has been a lot of tough losses. He is one of the team's captains, which suits him. Quite a bit of new leadership skills developing this year. Our mantra has been; "Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn."

Wild Rumpus

 Collin is 9! He wanted to invite his whole class to his party. I was nervous we would have 20 kids or none but it was a good group that showed up. There was pizza and cupcakes and an egg hunt. The kids also started a Nerf dart war and a dance off.

I love to plan and prep and create a kids party. It is the actual party that gives me hives. Just kidding. Not really ;)

report card

   As usual, my youngest son has flipped my perspective on parenting on it's head. A few months back I received Collin's report card. His progress is always good but the report is filled with categories like, "needs improvement," or "does not meet standard." It is a difficult thing to take in as a mom. I have three other kids that have very different, very high-achieving report cards. And, in raising these four boys, I have never seen any of them work as hard as Collin. 

   I am so very proud of the work he puts in. With ADHD and dyslexia, the classroom is not an ideal place for him. He keeps his teacher and I guessing, for example, it will take him anywhere between one and three weeks to master a spelling list. No real pattern or method for success has been apparent. Yet he greets each school day with enthusiasm. He is quite social with his peers and many of his teacher aides have commented on that joy of his. 

   Medication was not a good fit for Collin right now. Maybe in the future we will investigate further.  (Middle School, I'm looking at you.) For now, we take our vitamins, we lather on essential oils, and we have a morning pep talk about controlling our bodies and the volume of our voice. I laughed at loud when I read a note Collin wrote to thank his principal for all his hard work and noticed Collin ended it with, "I am gluten free because my mom thinks its a good idea." Ha! Indeed, Collin is  willing to make the changes but he would be all Cheetos and playing SkyLanders all day if he was in charge,

We are all met with challenges in life and Collin has taught me the most about how to respond to those difficulties. When something proves frustrating for my three over achievers, I have some new resiliency skills up my sleeve. The true life hacks for when, not if, things don't come easy. Let's face it, we live in a culture that is achievement based and celebrates overnight successes. Fighting that flow has been consuming for me. I was the cool, composed young mom at all those award ceremonies where my kids were center stage.  Now I am "that mom" whose kid can't sit still or shoves ahead in pickup line. 

So we have changed what and how we celebrate achievement at our house.  We started looking for what each son specifically excels or struggles with. We will help support where needed and when they get it right? There is no more money for straight A report cards. Now there is going out for froyo and cheers from your brothers. The older boys miss the way it used to work out for them but I am insisting that learning empathy and goal setting and doing it together is the better way,

Lately

Some snaps from around here lately. The Superbowl. Matt had a birthday, Parker got his braces off. My lil' Sweet P had a 49er birthday party. I live for these winter celebrations in the midst of cold gray Idaho winters. 

I also worked in time for a Sister Weekend. We had sun and of course, rain. Walking around old neighborhoods, eating the best Seattle fare. (This trip we hit up Cafe Flora in Madison Park. Fantastic vegetarian spot.  My favorite- Toulouse Petit in Queen Anne. The best. Period. In Ballard we hit  Percy's- outstanding drinks and The Gerald, which had a fun Mad Men vibe. In Belltown we ate at Some Random Bar. Good food and nice people.) 

I decided we had to see the Sisters movie. (Yikes, only good for a few good laughs.) We also watched The Room together. Horrified but also, give Jacob Tremblay an Oscar! That kid is legit.

Our chats about butter in coffee, Bernie Sanders, and teen rebellion probably make sense to no one else but us. I always leave feeling so spoiled and so loved. Thanks, Sis!

16

It's Parker's 16th birthday and all I can think about is exceeded expectations. Almost every blog post about him is about that, too. That says it all really. He has always been the joyful surprise in my life. Smarter, more clever, stronger, more handsome, and wiser than I could have ever dreamed. 

Parker you keep us laughing with your quick wit and you are a champion oldest brother. I love watching you play sports, you have so much talent for being part of a team. You help me wrangle the minions and only sometimes, become one yourself. 

Cheers to 16 years! Have courage as you navigate these next few years that will shape your future. As always, we will be on the sideline cheering you on.

Christmas past

I have been using Google photos lately to back up my photos online. They have a neat feature that puts together a collage for you. These two popped up right around Christmas. The last collage is one I made from this year.

Still making gingerbread houses and being our weird selves. I love a good timehop.

Happy New Year!

2015 felt difficult, cultivated growth, and stretched our hearts. 

These are some of the photos I manage to snap through the year. 

Cheers to 2016!

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