Solomon turns 12

At the end of July, Solomon turned twelve.  I remember being twelve so clearly.  I think most people do.  It is the first age at which I felt more or less the same as I do now.  So, here is my (once little) boy, twelve.  

The morning of his birthday, Solomon and I went to the farmers' market together.  In the car on the way there we were watching the minutes to 8:13, the exact time he was born.  In the end, we missed that exact minute, being engrossed in a conversation about his latest book idea.  Quite appropriate, I think.  Neither of us minded a bit.  If I recall correctly we were making up monsters to populate this imaginary land and discussing the merits of a swarm/hive sort of monster with many small creatures that acted as one versus something bigger.  Or we may have been discussing the group of children he imagined getting lost in the wilderness and surviving together for over a year.  Or maybe it was one of his epic fantasy ideas.  I'm not sure.  Book ideas were coming fast and furious that morning.  After a couple loops around the farmers' market, some beef jerky and plenty of plants for a butterfly garden, we headed home.

In the afternoon we went to his Chaska where we celebrated with all his grandparents and Uncle Matt (Aunts Brynn and Marianne live out of state).  We have a long standing tradition that the birthday child gets to pick the meal (though all food groups are required).  This started when Solomon was about to turn three and requested 'brown chicken and parsnips' for his birthday (no--he had never had a parsnip before requesting them).  At twelve he requested latin pork roast, broccoli cheese soup and plums.  For his three-year-old birthday cake Solomon requested 'peanut butter and jelly and chocolate' which I interpruted as a chocolate layer cake with jelly between each layer and peanutbutter frosting.  This year Solomon's cake request was a chocolate lemon marble cake.  There was early talk of butterscotch frosting, but that was nixed--too many flavors.  The lemon chocolate combo was surprisingly good.  Especially if you like chocolate and orange, I recommend it.

We all pitched in on Solomon's gift--a computer for him and his dad to build together.

A little father son time at Valleyfair was slated for the evening, but a thunderstorm interviened.  Instead Charles and Solomon headed to the Mall of America, went on some rides and saw a movie.

A couple weeks later, Solomon had several friends over for a sleepover (though he was so sure they would not sleep he had me send out invitations for a no-sleeping sleepover).  It all began with a water fight Charles, Nova and Charlotte got in on the action too.  The treehouse was the coveted high ground.  From there the boys moved to video games, movies, and board games.  Ghostbusters was the top movie pic. 

Trying out the water balloon sling shot 

Nova distracts the opposing team while Chase sneaks down from the treehouse with a bucket for water. 

The lemon chocolate marble cake makes a second appearance. 

While the boys watched and gamed in the living room, Charles installed the last of the software on the computer he and Solomon had put together over the last week.  The computer was up and running!  

At 7:00 am, only one boy (who was on his fifth sleepover that week!) was sleeping.  After breakfast, it was round two of the water fight.  I do not recall having that sort of energy--even as a kid.  Solomon had never stayed up all night before.  He was elated.

"Why sleep at all?  Let's do this again tomorrow night!" said Solomon at 8:30 am while lobbing water ballons at his friends.

I told him he would crash by noon.  While Solomon disagreed, Philip, his friend who had been to sleepovers more that half the week, told him it was true.  Our guests left at 9:30.  Solomon held out until 11:15, when I found him 'reading' on his bed, having wrung every minute out of that party.

Summer Fun 2013

Como Pool

 This summer is going way too fast!  Here is some of what we've been up to.  Swimming at Como Pool was a blast.  I won't attempt this without a second adult.  We went as family and had a great time.  The Lazy River was our favorite.    I am determined to get back one more time before the end of summer.

Preschool Playgroup (Thompson Park)

Charlotte's preschool playgroup has been rather active, even though preschool itself ended in May.  Here are a bunch of them all crammed on a tire swing together.  We also went to Minnehaha Falls with this group.

Playing tourist with my sister at Lake Harriet

Brynn came to visit from NYC.  Notice I did not say 'come home.'  When I caught her looking at Minnesota themed Christmas ornaments at the streetcar museum, I knew her center had shifted; she is a New Yorker now.  Nonetheless, we enjoyed the lakes, a trip to Zumbrota to visit our Grandparents and take in the Goodhue County Fair, and the Almli Family Picnic.

 

Out with butterfly nets at Dodge Nature Center

Here are Charlotte and Solomon out catching butterflies (and all manner of other insects) as part of a evening nature center class.   Below is Solomon with one of his first finds--a grasshopper I think.  All creepy crawlies were freed by the end of the night.  

Everyone pitched in to get Solomon a joint birthday gift this year--a computer!  But, as Charles was in charge of it, it was not just any computer, but a build-it-yourself computer.  Here they are working on it together.  A happy project, now all complete.  (There may be a more in-depth blog on this later).  

Building a computer together--Solomon's 12th birthday gift

Strawberry picking with friends

Our older kids' playgroup kicked off the summer with strawberry picking. June really doesn't seem all that long ago... except that now it is late August.  At least we still have strawberries in the freezer.

Enjoying Aunt Marianne's gifts from her trip to China

Marianne went to China earlier this year and brought back gifts for all.  Charlotte was enthralled with her parasol from China.  She barely put it down for days.  We got a good visit in with many Midwinters over the 4th of July.  More on that in another post.    

Nova soldering with Dad

Nova got a soldering kit for her birthday and has been waiting for good weather to get started (turns out the best way to do 'well ventilated' without a hood is outside).  As you can see, they are concentrating pretty hard.  It paid off--soldering success.  

Charlotte and Charles enjoying 4th of July Fireworks.

Fireworks were perfect this year, and Charlotte the perfect age to be completely in awe.  Not sure if you can see, but she is snuggled up to her Dad on the right hand side of the frame.

Well, much much more than this has gone on, but it is a snapshot.  Perhaps I'll get one more of these bonanza posts up before the season is out.  Hope you are all having a beautiful summer!  

Father's Day 2013

Charlotte's creative bath time tribute

Father's Day wasn't all that long ago in the grand scheme of things, and I think our GOODAD deserves a post.  Charlotte did her best to celebrate the day with only two alphabets worth of letters.  

As the person of honor, Charles got the first strawberry from our strawberry patch.  Charles and the older kids all went out to a movie.  I'm not sure anymore which one they went to see, but I'm pretty sure it was 3-D.  I stayed home with Aria, who is not quite up to the theater.  Since the family photographer was not there, you'll just have to imagine them all having fun at the movies.  

Dinner was Pizza Lucé, which aside from being extremely tasty, conveniently carries gluten free pizza.

Andi and Colin's Wedding

We had a great weekend celebrating the marriage of my dear and longtime friend Andi and her new husband Colin.  Between bridal shower, bachelorette party and a pre-wedding picnic, and the wedding itself, I was able to learn at least a half dozen new names and get to know a little bit about my friend's friends.  Always interesting.  Lovely people.

Heading into the picnic

Food

Liz's contribution to the picnic.  In case you can't read them, these three iced teas are labeled 'The Proposal' 'The Ceremony' and 'The Honeymoon'

Chatting 

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The receiving line.  In the background you can see a bit of the silo and the rooftop of the barn where  Andi and Colin got married.   

Charlotte, Nova, and Ariadne got to join other young children (generally under 10) as fairies during the wedding.  

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Solomon enjoyed chasing his sisters.

While we awaited dinner, the kids worked on postcards to Andi and Colin.  All guests were encouraged to write a note.  Where is Solomon, some of you might ask?  Happily sitting at the next table, getting to know some of Andi's relatives who happen to be boys his own age.  He said it was one of the best parts of the wedding. 

Father Daughter Dance

And Mother Daughter Dance.  When we went to swing dance classes back in high school,  Andi got to learn lead.  

Ariadne loving the lawn games.  Actually everybody loved the lawn games.  Behind her wedding guests lob heart shaped bean bags at Vermont and Minnesota.

Nova, dancing with the bride.

Ariadne was not to be left out.  

Charles and the kids left with the setting sun.  I stayed on and ended up going to the after party with my good friend Liz.  Liz, Andi and I have been friends since 10th grade.  I did not get a picture of the three of us, but I know the photographer did.  Andi and I actually go back even further--1993.  There is nothing like knowing someone over the long haul.  Somewhere around year seven or eight, or maybe life transition three or four, you are no longer a friend from swim team or choir or high school.  You are no longer the one who is good at music, history, or chemistry.  Not the flashy one or the quiet one.  Not the career girl or the one on the mommy track.  Seeing a friend through so many aspects of life you see them as themselves.  Wonderful complex people, and they see you that way too.  I know Andi and Colin will get that and much more as the years progress. Cheers guys!
 

To Canada! Part Two

Charles and Grandpa Midwinter, also known as GG Al

The next day we were off to Brandon to see the Midwinter side of the family.  We met Parker (Charles' cousin) and GG Al at the Royal Oak Inn for lunch.  Parker happily entertained Solomon's hypothetical questions about mythical and fictional people/creatures and games (Q: What imaginary creature would you use to create an army? A: Dragons (Parker),  centicores (Solomon).  In fact it lead to an interesting conversation about gravity, space exploration, and if I remember correctly, battery technology.

Nova, Solomon, and Parker

We had hoped to see Uncle Brian and Aunt Carol as well, but Carol was quite sick and they were unable to come.  They kindly covered our hotel room, in liue of us staying at their apartment, which was the orginal plan.  

After lunch, GG Al visited in our hotel room and at the pool. Ariadne kept bringing him shoes.  The game evolved in to a tickle-tickle one.  They hit it off quite well!  As we headed for the pool, GG Al quietly slipped me a bag of candy for the kids, so that I could distribute it at an opportune time.  While the kids and I swam, Charles and GG Al got a chance to talk one on one.    

Ariadne and GG Al

The next day it was time to go home.  We passed the Half Way Tree (landmark from the Midwinter kids' childhood) on the way from Brandon to Winnipeg.  I had never been to Manitoba in the Spring, and while everything was greening up, I missed the colorful crops of Summer.  While Minnesota seems to have only corn and soybeans Manitoba has beautiful blue flax, bright yellow canola, and tall sunflowers that follow the sun each day.  

The Half Way Tree

Near the U.S.-Canadian border we passed a number of large wind farms.  Though I know these exist in Minnesota too, they were quite a spectacle.

Wind Farm

Our trip back we had a much happier baby.  The secret?  Let her play with objects that aren't baby toys! (but are still safe of course).  This included cardboard drink carriers, the silicon lid to my reusable coffee cup, shoes, and empty bottles.  

We relied on books on CD and music to entertain the rest of us.  'Lefty and Tighty' by the Okee Dokee Brothers became the anthem of the trip, much as Raffi's 'The More We Get Together' had been the only thing that could keep us going when we went to Oklahoma when Solomon was fifteen months old ('Rafi Song!' he would request again and again and again).  We also enjoyed the Okee Dokee Borthers song about alien neighbors, 'The Extraterrestrials'.  Around St Cloud Chuck broke down and bought a CD with some grown up music.  Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, The 100 Dresses, and half of The Extrodinary Education of Nicholas Bennedict were the books we listened to.  Who knew driving 30 hours in a three day weekend could be so painless?  (Yes, family who makes this trip more regularly, it would not have taken you 30 hours, but that was as fast as we could go).  All in all we had a wonderful trip!

To Canada! Part One

Charles and his Grandma McKitrick, GG Lois to our kids. 

Over Memorial Day weekend we took the opportunity to go to Canada.  We met Charles at a playground near his work (no need for him to drive through rush hour twice), all piled in the van and headed north.  We pulled over to sooth a crying baby and found ourselves in front of Charlie's Cafe.  We stopped for dinner and headed on.  The first night took us to Fargo, ND.

Crossing at Pembina, we entered Canada.  By afternoon we were visiting with GG Lois, Great Aunt Kathy, Great Great Aunt Jean, Great Great Aunt Joan, and Great Great Uncle Glen.  We enjoyed lunch and dinner together, all orchestrated by Kathy.

Pat-a-Cake with GG Lois, photo courtesy of Kathy

Ariadne and GG Lois had a rousing game of Pat-a-Cake.  Charles caught a bit of it on video (I will do my best to upload it soon).  The older kids (and we grown-ups too) learned about the Arctic diamond mines where Chuck's cousin Tom works.  The kids enjoyed their gifts--puzzles, magnetic paper dolls, blocks, and books about Canada.

Kathy and GG Lois brought an interesting rock from the farm their family lived on for so many years.  It was round and resembled a geode.  Kathy split it open to see what was inside.  Here everyone is standing around to look.

Sisters Jean, Lois, and Joan

Solomon, Glen, Charles, Joan, Jean,
Nova, Lois, Maria, Ariadne, Charlotte (and Kathy was behind  the camera)

We visited, mulling over gardens, health, jobs, what other family was up to.  

Toward the end of our visit, GG Lois brought out watches for each of the older kids and jewelry for the girls.  Charles and I were given a beautiful wooden container Charles' grandfather had made.

Joan and Glen hosted us for the night.  We had a nice visit in the evening.  The next day I realized I hadn't taken any pictures at Joan and Glen's.  Wishing I had, I made some notes about the previous day instead.  Looking at them a month later I wish I'd done more writing during the trip.  It is just hard to remember that level of detail.

When we finally arrived at GG Lois' Aunt Kathy and GG Lois were there with the party/activity room all set up for lunch.  Gifts for the kids we set like place settings at a small table.  In the middle rested pussy willows.  One of Solomon's gifts was a book entitled Canada From Above.  In it was a photo of Diavik Diamond Mine, where Charles' cousin Tom works.  The mine was on a man made island in the middle of a vast lake in the arctic.  It descended into the earth in concentric circles.  Kathy had more pictures showing the mine in winter, dug deeper, and finally filled back in with water.

GG Lois showed Ariadne pat-a-cake and they had a grand time!  Before long Ariadne gripped GG Lois' fingers with her little hands and made them clap herself. 

"She's doing it. I'm not moving them at all" Lois said. 

Again and again Ariadne played pat-a-cake with her G.G., all smiles and loving the part where you 'toss it in the oven.'  

After our visit with GG Lois, Kathy, Jean, Joan and Glen, we followed Joan and Glen to their house to spend the night.  They were wonderful hosts.  Joan is a collector of antiques, and they are arranged in thoughtful groupings through out  the house.  Ariadne noticed the little cradle with dolls right away and Joan let her pick out one to play with.  The one she chose looked something like a cupie doll with molded swirling hair.  Solomon asked about a large wooden bowl with an unusual wooden paddle.  Joan explained that it was a butter bowl.  She lifted the lid from the butter churn near by to show the kids the turn dash, telling the kids how one would use it to shake the cream till it turned to butter, and then transfer it to the butter bowl and work the last of the liquid out of it.  Next to the butter bowl and churn were two butter molds, a small one with a star and a large one with a sheaf of wheat.  Joan told the kids that if you were wealthy and had company coming, you would use the little butter mold to give each person a little pat of butter.  
"What do you think this is?" she asked Solomon, holding up a sheet of interlocking metal circles on a metal handle.  "Chain mail." Solomon answered.  
"I've seen chain mail before and it looks like that.  But I guess you couldn't wear that."  

"It is for scrubbing pots." Joan supplied the answer. "Could you imagine getting potatoes out of the bottom by scrubbing with that?"

Upstairs Charlotte and Ariadne spotted the children's table in the kitchen.  Joan brought out a little tea set, and Charlotte played tea with first one sister, then the other.  In the living room we looked at some of Glen's carvings.  
"How did you get the whiskers in?" Nova asked, looking at a sleek and happy otter on the table.  
"They are paint brush bristles.  I made little holes and stuck them in." Glen told her.  
Across the room Charles and Solomon admired the fine feather work on a carving of a wood duck.  Glen used to carve with Charles' Grandpa McKitrick.  We all chatted a bit longer, looking at pictures of the Wheelers five children and their families.  Glen got Ariadne to laugh and hold her arms out wide.  The  older kids excused themselves to go down to bed, and fearing the little ones were about to 'melt' we went down not long after and got everyone to bed.  There was a fuss about each sister staying on her half of the bed, while Solomon found a rare moment to enjoy being the only boy.

At night, Charles and I lay awake, talking about the day and our lives.  

Mother's Day

This year my Mother's Day had it all.  The night before, I went to see Aida with my mom at a local high school, just the two of us.  On Mother's Day itself Solomon made me breakfast in bed.  We did that funny little dance where he tried not to wake me up, and I tried not to come downstairs so that he could give me breakfast in bed.  Nova and Charlotte made drawings and a Happy Mother's Day banner.  After a morning shopping for plants on my own, we all piled in the car and drove east to Willow River State Park.

The falls were as beautiful as I remembered, but with a lot more water rushing over than the last time I'd seen them.  Swallows dipped and wheeled in the rounded hollow of the cliff behind the falls.  Rock climbers inched up neon cords a few feet away.  We sat and soaked up the sun and enjoyed our trail mix as long as we could before it was time to head back.

This is from the banner Nova and Charlotte made me.

We all tagged along to Charlotte's dance class, getting there in the nick of time (the next weekend was the recital, so she sort of needed to be there).  Afterward we went to a Los Arcos, an authentic mexican restaurant in our neighborhood, for an early dinner.      

Recital Weekend

May 19, 3:00 p.m. was recital time for not one but three of our children.  Nova and Solomon had their Spring violin recital, and Charlotte had her first dance recital.  How to do this?  Well, we split up.  Grandmas and Dad went to Charlotte's.  Grandpas and Mom (and Aria) went to Solomon and Nova's.  We met up for hot chocolate afterward.

Solomon, Nova, Ariadne and I were able to get in on the dress rehearsal of Charlotte's recital and snag a little video.  Charlotte is the one closest to the teacher (video quality does improve as the dance progresses).  The song is about a charming mosquito.  Charlotte's dance school, Zenon, is very casual.  The lessons are drop in and the kids were allowed to wear whatever they wanted for a costume. Offerings range from ballet to hip-hop, which makes for a delightfully varied recital.  Below is a group warm-up.

Solomon played Gavotte by Martini.  He had dynamics!  So fun to see them progress!  Nova played Witches Dance by Paganini, quite the favorite at our house.  She worked hard on her high 3s and 4s, and bowing.