Nathaniel’s been taking swimming lessons for a while, now and even though he’s a lot more comfortable in water than David was, he’s been unable to get his swimming ribbon for freestyle in a long time. During the summer, we had decided to give the classes a rest for both of them because David was done and we were leaving for Boston for three weeks. It then took me until October to finally set classes for Nathaniel and in his very first class, he finally got his ribbon!!
If I were a better mom, I’d have a photo of him holding up his ribbon but on that day, we had to rush out of there for a playdate and then I put the ribbon somewhere that I can’t find. So there we go 🙁
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
A few weeks ago, I was at work for a class and one of the attendees had brought these super weird donuts. Gigantic and covered with weird things like rice crispies, marshmallows etc. When I asked her what these were, she said they were from Psycho donuts. A place in Cambell that was famous for making these unusual donuts.
I am not a fan of donuts but my boys are so I told Jake to take the kids there that weekend.
They came home with these and said they had run out of some of the most famous creations. I got the coffee ones and they got the gigantic graham cracker ones and the Boston creme and weird looking green one.
In the end, the consensus was that it wasn’t all that great. At least not worth the 1 hour round-trip drive there and back. But life is like that, you have to try new adventures before you know if they are a good fit or not.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
Nathaniel loves playdates. Loves. Loves. Loves.
He asks me everyday if he can have playdates. Every time with a new friend.
Unfortunately for him, I am not as much a fan of playdates as he is. So it’s tough for me to make them happen. A few weeks ago, we finally arranged a playdate for his friend Ethan and him. Three days before Ethan came, I woke up to this.
Nathaniel had arranged all of his toys and made a playing den for him and his friend. Pillows, pokemon toys, mindcraft toys, magnets, legos, on and on. He and his friend played in there for at least 2 of the 3 hour playdate.
He promised me he would clean it up when his friend left and within the hour it was gone.
This boy is the sweetest, kindest person I know. I will work harder to make more playdates happen!
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
A few weeks ago I wrote about how I was trying to get my kids to be self sustaining on remembering their todo lists so I don’t have to nag them all day long and they still go ahead and do their personal work. I kept dreaming about ways to make this happen and then finally came up with this super-simple solution. I typed it all up in a google doc because it means I can make small changes each week and print it out. I then adhered this into the pantry where the kids put their backpacks so they would see it when they got ready for school in the morning and when they came home in the afternoon.
It worked for the first week. The second week it’s been so-so and we’ll see how it does this week. Nathaniel is considerably better at checking them off (though I am not sure if he’s actually doing the items since he’s pretty clever about checking things off.)
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
Ever since Pokemon Go has been released there has been a resurgence of Pokemon in my house. The kids are really into the game of course but they are also into pokemon TV show and all the characters. Especially Nathaniel who takes his Pokemon book back and forth to school every day and has bonded with a kid in his class who is also a huge pokemon fan.
He’s also taken to dressing up as Graninja and tries a collection of combinations on how to put his toys together to make him look like the character.
You have to give him points for creativity.
Love this boy so!
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
My kids are the world’s pickiest eaters. Until a month ago, they ate oatmeal, bread, peanut butter (only david), jelly, bagels, hotdogs, yogurt, fruits, green beans, and corn (only Nathaniel.) I wish I were kidding. About a month ago, I finally decided I had enough. I told David that he was starting middle school and he was going to have to travel and go to other people’s houses, etc and it was just time he learned how to eat proper food. I told them both that for a whole month we were going to try new foods every day and we would end up with a list of what we liked.
Over the last month they’ve eaten:
- salads
- beets
- corn
- broccoli
- chicken
- fish
- steak
- eggs scrambled
- mashed potatoes
- brown rice
- sautéed and roasted potatoes
- cucumbers
- tomatoes
- hamburgers
- mac and cheese
and now for lunch, everyday, they eat a salad with carrots, chicken, eggs (N), goat cheese (D), strawberries and beets. They also have some cheese, yogurt, crackers and a sandwich. For dinner we eat what the photo looks like.
Not everything has been a hit. I’m looking at you steak and fish and potatoes. But all of it got eaten and the kids are a lot more open to trying new things now. I call this success!
At least one solid step forward.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
And here we are, middle school.
In the last six months, David went from a fifth grader to a glasses-wearing, braces-wearing middle schooler. He started his new school and has already made friends, found his way around school and is on top of his homework.
I have to admit that each time I am on the campus, I feel so grateful that he is going to a school like the one he’s going to where he’s challenged and also cared for and I cannot wait to see the impact of this wonderful place on him. I hope that it’s as magical as we are thinking it will be and I hope that he makes some lifelong friends here just like I did in my middle/high school.
This is the school, assuming nothing changes, David will graduate from to go to college. This is the school where he will grow up to be the person he will be. This is the school that will help set him on the road the chooses to follow. This is the school where his love of learning will be fostered and celebrated.
Here’s to a wonderful new beginning.
We are so incredibly proud of you my wonderful son.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
When we were at David’s orthodontist a few months ago he told Nathaniel that his school pictures next year would be super fun. Both of his front teeth and his bottom teeth were wiggly all at the same time. One of the teeth fell off in Turkey but the other one didn’t fall off until this week. And here we are, no front two teeth. My cutie pie is even cuter than ever. I love him so very madly and I love seeing his toothless grin so I knew I had to document it.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
In August of 2006, I walked through the doors of Google as an employee for the first time. I had interviewed just a few months before, thinking there was no way I could get the job. I had had a long day of many, many interviews and while a few went well, the others I wasn’t so sure of.
But the miracle happened and I got the job.
And then it was my first day. The first time I found out my team, met my team mates, learned all the protocols of what it means to work at Google. I spent the next few months learning and relearning. I had some really tough days of not understanding, of not being useful. It drove me crazy, it made me frustrated, it made me sad.
But I stuck with it.
I worked hard and long hours. I loved some moments and hated others.
But I stuck with it.
I worked on several products and loved being a product manager. Then I had another lovely little boy. Then everything changed again. I moved jobs, I got a different setup but I still stuck around. I loved my product. I was learning to be a program manager. I struggled but I learned and I learned.
I stuck with it.
Just a few years ago, I changed everything around again. I got a chance, I took it. I got new hours. I got a new team. I learned a lot of new things. I worked hard but I loved it. I was finding my way. And just a few weeks ago, everything changed yet again. My hours are changing. New people. New locations. New teams. New work. It’s challenging but also very rewarding.
Ten years. That’s how long I’ve been at this amazing company. Not every moment has been perfect but I’ve loved all of it anyway. I’ve learned something everyday in the last ten years. I’ve loved working with the smartest people I know. I’ve loved how challenging and rewarding it all is. Ten years and I’m still learning and still working hard.
I’m sticking with it.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
Forty-two.
I turned 42 yesterday. Forty-two trips around the sun. Part of me can’t believe how many years I’ve already lived and part of me feels like I have lived enough lifetimes to be much older. I know that some people have a tough time with getting older. While I can definitely understand that, I’m not one of those people. At least not now. I am grateful to get to have another year under my belt. Another year spent with the people I love. Another year spent doing art. Reading books. Snuggling. Learning. Crying, laughing, hoping, wishing, dreaming.
Grateful for all the years of my life.
I tend to pick my words in January and make my lists and plans at the beginning of the calendar year, so I don’t use the school year or my birthday (both of which magically happen to be in September) as a time to make lists, plans or goals. In fact, my birthday is one of the few days I try to live without a todo list of some kind. I take the day off work and just try to be. Be still. Be peaceful. Be quiet.
It’s my moment to appreciate the journey so far.
I’ve worked hard for much of my life but I’ve also been incredibly lucky in more ways that I can describe. While I’ve tried not to take that luck for granted, I know it’s impossible to do that. I know that there’s so much I just assume. So much that I don’t appreciate as deeply as I really should. And on this day, I just want to sit in the miracle that is my life.
I am not sure what I did to deserve all this. I am not sure what tomorrow will bring. I am not sure of anything. But I know that I am here today and I know that I am blessed.
And so very thankful.
Here’s to another year around the sun.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
Yesterday was Jake’s 42nd birthday. It’s amazing how we’re getting older and yet we still feel like kids inside, both of us. This is the 22nd birthday Jake and I get to spend together. That’s more than he and I spent apart. I look at him and all I can feel is pouring of love. I love everything about this man. This person who’s become an inseparable part of my life.
I don’t always like everything he wants to do. I don’t always agree with all of his decisions. I am not crazy about some of the things he is, does, or says. Sometimes he drives me mad. Sometimes he makes me sad. Sometimes he makes me frustrated. But no matter what else is going on, I look at him and what I feel most of all is love.
Deep. Strong. Love.
Jake and I have spent so much of our lives together. We’ve been through so many tough moments. So many celebrations. So many amazing memories. I am so grateful for every single moment we’ve had together.
He’s always the one who knows exactly what to do or what to say to make me feel deeply loved, to make me laugh, to make me feel better in just the right way. He’s always there and always trying his very best. He makes me feel smart, beautiful, successful, loved. I am not sure how I got lucky enough to find him but I am so grateful I get to keep him.
Happy birthday my love, I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else. I love you with all of my heart.
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
Here’s another story I should have written months ago.
This is David performing Superheroes by The Script. David and his two friends performed in front of the whole school. They practiced for weeks and then just got up there and did it.
This was the third year David was allowed to participate in the Talent Show and he did it each year. In third grade, he sang Deamons by Imagine Dragons while a friend played the piano. In fourth grade, he sang Pompeii by Bastille and played the guitar with a friend who sang and played the piano, and this year he played the electric guitar and sand while his friends played piano and the drums.
This introverted, quiet, science-loving kid never ever ceases to amaze me.
Thank you for all the ways in which you inspire me David!
Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
|
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
|
