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.  

Charlotte Writes Her Name And Gets a Library Card

 

A couple weeks ago Charlotte wrote her own name for the first time.  We were signing in at preschool, like we always do.  There is usually a scribble/writing sheet for the kids right next to the parent sign in sheet.  (After Charlotte had proudly written her name, I realized that the potluck sign up sheet had been put in the same place...oh well).    

Of course, she learned to write her name gradually, but it felt like it was all at once.  In November, Nova showed her letters using Popsicle sticks.  A few months later Charlotte made the document below, all her own creation.  Circles, lines and loops combine with A, N, H and S.  Proudly displayed on the fridge, the document was exposed to a little bacon grease.  

In our family, when a child can write his or her own name in a small space, it is time to get his or her own library card!  Charlotte was VERY excited.  Our library has several designs.  She chose the arts themed card.

And checked out her first books!

The Orphanage Museum

Did you know that Owatonna Minnesota is home to the only Orphanage Museum in North America??  Its official name is the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children.  Quite an imposing edifice, especially to a child.  The main building housed the administrative offices and the dining hall.  Today the building is the Owatonna City Administration Building, in addition to housing the museum.  

Our book club took a field trip to the Minnesota State Public School after reading The Extrodinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart, which takes place in an orphanage.  The book has been nominated for this year's National Homeschool Book Award, along with three others.  While the buildings, grounds and displays are interesting, the best part by far was listening to and asking questions of Harvey Ronglien, the director of the museum former orphan (technically ward of the state).  Harvey lived at the Minnesota State Public School (MSP from 1932-1943.  He was about five in 1932 when he and his brother entered and he left when he was old enough to be independent, about 16. Harvey and his wife Maxine are the driving force behind the museum.  Here he is speaking to our group in what was the dining hall.  

Though Harvey liked MSP, he emphasized just how important a family is by describing the things he missed without even knowing.  For example, as an adult he had no idea that one should celebrate birthdays or visit relatives on holidays.  Maxine set him straight.  It was interesting to hear the ways in which being brought up at the State Public School was advantageous, and ways in which it was not.  The children were fed, housed and clothed at the height of the depression.  They received a high school education at a time when lots of kids did not go beyond the 8th grade.  The orphanage had electricity before the town.  On the flip side, the children grew up in an institutional setting.  Creativity and individuality was discouraged.  Discipline was harsh.  Socially, it seems might was king, which did not translate to the outside world very well.  On the brochure it says "for some, it was a circle of hell; for others, a safe haven."  

Ariadne was especially taken with the infant display.  The mannequins where just her size and right at her level.  I think she wanted to ride their rocking horse.  

Here are all of the kids along with Harvey Ronglien outside cabin 11 (c-11), where he lived for the majority of his childhood.  In fact, his memoir is entitled Boy from C-11.  The door behind us the main entrance, but all the kids were required to use the basement door to the right.  Similarly, there was a formal living room, the children weren't allowed in it except for special occasions like Christmas.  Instead they spent most of their time in the basement.  So did our kids.  All the toys were down there.  

We ended our visit with a picnic on the extensive grounds.  During Summer there are audio stations throughout the property, where Harvey Ronglien's stories are available at the push of a button.  

Sewing A Rain Suit

Charlotte's preschool requires rain pants.  They really do use them almost every day.  They are justified.   For reasons I cannot entirely justify, I decided that I should make them, for everyone.  Except Ariadne, she got a whole rain suit (and a whole blog post to match).  

The first step is finding some good affordable gore-tex fabric.  For us this meant a trip to the SR Harris warehouse.    We came back with six distinct colors.  All the better to grab the appropriate pants and not get to the woods with size 4 rain pants. 

Gore-tex calls for a heavy duty sewing machine needle (I think I used 90), heavy duty waterproof thread, and paper clips in place of pins.  

Next, get some good pajama patterns.  For the rest of the family, we are just using pajama bottoms.  For Ariadne I used a hooded sleeper pattern that I modified slightly.  The first modification was a placard that goes behind the zipper to keep the rain out.  The top folds over a bit to make a little stop to keep the zipper pull from pinching Aria's chin.  (I copied this from an old Land's End rain suit).  The second was a had brim on the hood.  It is four layers thick, to make it stiff enough to stand straight out.  And...a rain suit.     

 

Ariadne is One! Easter Celebration!

This year Easter fell on March 31st, which also happens to be Ariadne's first birthday.  I looked it up--this will happen again, but not often.  She can look forward to an Easter birthday again when she turns twelve, 74 and 85 (should she live that long--lets hope).  We celebrated both with grandparents at our house.  All aunt and uncle types were far afield this time around with Matt, Marianne and Sylvan visiting folks in Winnipeg and Brynn at home in Brooklyn.

  

We started off with Easter baskets in the morning.  An egg hunt occupied the kids while the grownups chatted.  The egg in the vase of flowers wasn't found until late in the day.  Ariadne's eggs had chocolate and vanilla bunny cookies (like animal crackers) which she turned out to be quite fond of.

Our dinner was more the Easter side of things with salmon, herbed carrot soup, roast cauliflower, green salad and fruit salad.

Dessert was decidedly birthday--we continued the tradition of a banana bread bunt cake for Ariadne's first birthday.  She was happy with the cake, but what she really wanted was the vanilla ice cream.  Her dad was holding off--knowing it would be messy.  I finally slipped her a scoop and she said "yes!"  for the first time.  Not the 'yes, thank you' kind of yes, but the 'yes, score, awesome' kind of yes.  A highlight of the meal--everyone laughed.  It was fun to watch her eat.  Ariadne has a strong gag reflex--much like Solomon did.  Only recently has she been able to eat anything without mishap.

Ariadne was starting to get the hang of present opening by her birthday.  Having two older siblings' birthdays a few weeks before her must have helped.  Charlotte was ready to lend a hand at any point.

Nova is Nine! (and we survived our first sleepover)

Nova turned nine on March 3rd!  This year we ventured into sleepover territory.  Nova requested a dragon sleepover party.  And while some part of me was looking forward to leaving the whole themed party thing behind, it actually made it easier.  

 

As you can see in the photo there was some 'dragon slaying' piñata action going on (actually a triceratops with wings added by Nova--the mail order dragon piñata did not arrive in time).  We also rented dragon themed movies--How to Train Your Dragon (or perhaps it was the sequel), The Never Ending Story, and Spirited Away.  Narnia also got in there on its own merits.  The kids made dragon eye pillows while we were waiting for the pizza to arrive.

 Charlotte got to stay up through cake pops (if I were a professional blogger, I would also have posted about making gluten free cake pops), piñata whacking and present opening.  Gifts were all very Nova-appropriate and some also dragon themed.  Her friends know her! Solomon got in on the first movie.  I figured the girls would go to sleep around 1:00 a.m.  Really, it was about 3:30 a.m.  

The surprise was that they were also up by about 6:30 or 7:00.  A great number of games ensued.  Hide and go seek, night at the museum, twister, and pictureuka to name a few.  All the girls got along beautifully.  Most of them only knew Nova and one other party guest, so this particular group had never been together before.  Charles whipped up a breakfast of eggs and bacon while the preplanned rice pudding baked... turns out kids that wake up at 6:30 need breakfast before 9:00--who knew they'd be up by 6:30?!  (We tired party throwers enjoyed that rice pudding at lunch after our guests had made it home.)  The only late-night rule infraction we discovered was a little indoor pogoing on Nova's new pogo stick.  Reviews from parents in the next week were glowing.  All in all quite a success.  

That evening, which was Nova's actual birthday, we headed over to Grandpa John and Granne's house to celebrate with family.  They graciously hosted, which was even more wonderful than I thought it would be.  Sleepovers have a way of turning a living room upside down. Grandma Roberta, Grandpa Barry and Uncle Matt joined us there and we had good evening celebrating Nova's 9th birthday.  Nova's likes were well anticipated as she not one but two duplicate gifts this year--one a Lego kit and another a particular toy dragon.  Both were well loved and the Legos turned out to be even more fun doubled.  Aunt Mary (my God Mother) caught the end of the party, which was extra fun.  Though they don't see each other often, Nova and Mary get along famously.