Nova's 13th Birthday

[Photo of Nova will go here when I can find it]

Nova is 13!  No more calling her a tweenager (which was only in jest, but seriously, Nova has been acting like a teenager for at least a year and a half).  Since moving to a bigger house, we are back into the realm of sleepovers (bigger bodies and increasing numbers of friends had ruled it out last year--at least for the number of kids she wanted to invite).

On the suggestion of my Aunt Pat, we have started a tradition of going both parents out for lunch or dinner with our new 13 year old, their choice of restaurant, and no siblings.  Nova chose a ramen place in Minneapolis, Ramen Kazama.  We had some novelty Japanese soda as well.  This tradition works well for a big family where one-on-one time is scarce.

The night began with watercolor painting in the dining room, (Nova has been into art recently). followed by games and movies.  One of the games was Telestrations, which is part Pictionary, part Telephone.   It is usually at least mildly hilarious.  The next morning while cleaning up the basement, I found this gem (unfortunately I erased the pictures).

Original word: written in hieroglyphics (started by Willow), first picture: a quizzical face with a question mark, next word: a fat man with a hat, next picture: a balding fat man looking at his belly (very well drawn-no hat), next word: belly, next picture: a circle, next word: egg, next picture: two concentric circles, next word: what is that? (plus a reproduction of the picture) next picture: quizzical face, next word: drawing of a quizzical face, next picture: quizzical face End Game.

Suffice it to say they had fun!

Christmas 2015--Looking Back & Christmas on the Farm

  

We have five Christmases a year.  And no one is divorced.  Christmas with my dad's side of the family, Christmas with my mom's side of the family, Christmas morning with just the six of us, Christmas with my mom, dad and sister, and Christmas with the Midwinters--immediately followed by Grandpa Barry's birthday.  At first, this was a lot to juggle. But we said to ourselves, how long will these extended family Christmases continue? In some years it is the only time a particular side of the family gets together. As it turns out, those extended family Christmases have continued 15 years and counting--and we wouldn't have it any other way.  

Trimming the tree and Grandma and Grandpa's house

After year three or four, we hit a rhythm.  Extended family Christmases usually fall early or late in December.  Stockings and gifts appear the morning of Christmas Eve at our house. Our parents swap Christmas Eve and Christmas Day back and forth.  At least a part of the 26th is spent with the Midwinters for Grandpa's birthday.  There are usually at least one or two overnights in there--not because we live far away, but because it is more fun.

And trimming our own tree

 In many ways, my extended family is our close family.  Not until 2017 did my kids get a first cousin, so all they know about playing with cousins comes from my first cousins and their kids (my youngest cousins are only two years older than Solomon).  Both aunts have lived out of state for the vast majority of the kids' childhoods, and the extended family on the Midwinter side is spread all over North America. For a good long stretch they were in Manitoba, Oklahoma, California, British Columbia, Illinois, The Northwest Territories, and Minnesota.   We see them when we can, but it is not every Christmas.

   

In 2015, we had Christmas on the farm.  This only happens once every three years or so, so there is always excitement about going to see all the animals.  Cousin Katrina gave us a tour.



First we saw the dairy cows, classic black and white holsteins.  From there we saw the many, many birds.  It was a cold day, so they were all inside, running around together.  I believe there were geese, chickens, ducks and quail.  Katrina showed the eggs of each--all different.  There was also a huge difference between dirty and clean.



Then we walked over to see the brown jersey calves.  They were quit cute. Along the way Ariadne got to sit on a hay bale, and the older girls 'skated' on large stretch of ice.  I remember one of my first skating experiences happened on the same farm on a similar patch, but with actual ice skates.




Back inside we talked, played games and I would venture to guess we sang some carols.  My cousins who grew up at the farm are good singers and piano players.  We had our annual ornament exchange, which now has both a child and an adult category.  Though I can't remeber exactly what we ate four years removed, I do know Christmas at the farm almost always includes little heart shaped waffles with lingonberry jam and whipped cream, and lots of christmas cookies of all varieties.  The last decade or so had included a revival of traditional Scandinavian recipes such as Swedish and Norweigan meatballs, lutafisk (always served with many other dishes, as not everyone likes it), several soups, and the fish chowder my Grandma always made on New Years Eve.

Back at my parents' house, Nova taught Aunt Brynn a song on the guitar, we got in a good game of Settlers and Granne showed Ariadne her finished quilt club quilt (a group of roughly 8 quilters met once a month and took turns adding to each other's quilts).

Cooper and his dad

This was just two of our Christmas celebrations in 2015.  I wish I had recorded more details, but the whirlwind of celebration took over documentation fell by the wayside.  We had a fine time with the Midwinters as well.  It was one of Marianne and Sylvain's 'on' years for Christmas (they alternate between here with us and in France with Sylvain's family).  My parents hosted for the other side of extended family in 2015.  Ariadne enjoyed seeing her second cousins Brooks and Cooper, who are just a couple years younger than her. Now that they are out of the baby stage, they seem so much closer in age.

A gift of fine French cheeses from Sylvain's parents

On the last day of 2015 my mom and I went on a tour of the St Paul Cathedral.  It was a jubilee year, which is why the middle doors are decorated.  They are not even open in a non-jubilee year (something I never knew before).  Our tour guide was quite good, explaining how the Cathedral functioned as a storybook would, telling the important stories in the Bible.

I just have these two shots from the outside, because my camera died.  There was much more to see inside, including a life size reproduction of Michelangelo's sculpture Pieta.  

   

Baby/Toddler Gear ages 1-2

Awhile back, I wrote a post about baby gear for the first year.  It was fun.  It was a trip down memory lane.  It was a bit of a historical document, given that we started this whole baby thing 14 years ago, and a few things (like recommendations on starting solid food, for example), have changed.  Anyway, here's what we found essential for 12-36 months.

PS There were meant to be so many more toddler photos here but my electronic filing system leaves something to be desired.  I figure it is better publish what I have than leave it in draft mode forever.

 A high chair



Baby Gates

Baby backpack/soft carrier on the back

Stroller

Baby Bjorn bib (or similar)

Baby Bjorn Little Potty (or similar)

Cloth Diapers and Covers

Reusable swim diaper

Wet Sack for outings

Underwear!

Car Seat

MPR/A Good Book Club (for me)


Snow Suits!

Robeez boots (for Nova, these were the only ones we could keep her from kicking off).  Pictured on Ariadne.



Baby Dishes (These saw the most use this year)

Toys

Blocks

Stuffed Animals (not too many)

A ball

   

Books


A toddler bed?  Nova was all about getting her very own bed, the others not so much.  

Day time and Night time clothes--before age one all outfits seem to blend, as did night and day for the small person wearing them.

Soft soled shoes--we liked robeez, because they stayed on the best.  See Kai Run was our first brand of soft soled shoes that also had a rubber tread.  It very well may be these brands have been replaced by others at this point, but the concept remains the same.

Fridge/freezer lock--Charlotte pushed us to level up our child/baby proofing.  She was mobile at 7 months--nearly half a year before her older siblings.  She as also better at getting into things--nimble little fingers. 

Cabinet lock

Outlet Covers

Screen Door Lock--Ariadne in particular liked heading outside whenever the spirit moved her. 

Kids' Music--I swore I would not play 'kid music' way back when I just had a tiny baby.  Why not just play them good adult music? I  thought.  If that is what I raise them on they should be just as happy.  Nope.  Wrong.  When Solomon was 13 months old, we made it the last four hours of the drive from Tulsa to Minneapolis only by playing 'Raffi Song' (The More We Get Together) on repeat.  He wouldn't even consent to the whole album.  Just that one song! Other favorites include Lauri Berkner and The Okee Dokee Brothers.  Ariadne is our outlyer here. She likes hard rock and always has.  When I switched from 'Sex and Guns and Rock and Roll' to a Beatles ballad, She screamed and yelled for me to turn it back--though she might have been three at the time of this incident.

Books on CD--These days this might also include kids podcasts.  The library is great source.  This makes car trips SO much better.  We usually get a mix of picture books that come with the actual book and one or two novels of general interest, alternating as attention span allows.  We handed back the book when we thought the kid was old enough to keep it in one piece.. 

Pencils, crayons and paper--Drawing time!  With our first it snuck up on me.  I remember asking my mother-in-law  "Do you mean I can give an 11 month old writing implements--won't he eat them??"  (She is a family practice doctor and so has some expertise here).  Turns out, with direct supervision, drawing was a great activity for 1-2 year olds.  They scribbled, drew shapes, and eventually people and letters.  Three sided crayons and pencils are great for promoting the 'proper' grip.  However, pencil grip seems to be very personal.  My two youngest had a picture perfect grip well before age 2, while my 12 year old still prefers more of an overhand grip.  But gets by just fine.  (I will add proof if I get a hold of her drawing file).