Wish we weren't here: A postcard from the boy

Yesterday we (the kids and I) headed to the mall to pick up some things we needed, which thrilled two girls and tortured one boy.  I gave Sam my phone to play with while we shopped, hoping to soften the cruel and unusual punishment that mall shopping is for 11-year-old boys. Here's what I found in my email box this morning:

So noted.

{Bored at the mall? There's an app for that!}

friday night fever

Last night was the traditional Sixth Grade Spaghetti Supper and Dance.  It's their first dance EVER so they invite sixth graders and their parents to eat pasta and then the kids go have the dance in the gym while the parents socialize in the cafeteria (remember when it was Maddy's turn?).  Dance training wheels.  Kids run in and out, chatting with parents and going back, and parents sneak in to the dance to watch and embarrass their kids.  It's a win/win (or maybe a win/lose in the parents' favor, depending who you ask).

We tried to sneak a peak at Sam but couldn't find him in the 11+12-year-old blob.  There was lots of chasing going on, and I mean literal running after each other, playground style. And it smelled like teen spirit. But our spy assignment failed.

Later on the ride home we tried to get details.  

"How was it?" Fine.

"Did you dance?" Yes.

"Who did you dance with?" Friends.

"Did you slow dance?" No.

Then, as we pulled into the driveway Sam forgot his one-word policy.  As he got out of the car we hit gold, information wise.

"Ouch! My knees hurt from doing the air guitar slide during 'Don't Stop Believing.'"

Ohhhh, so that's how he rolls.

Awesome.

Good night, 2009

Some of us are seeing the new year in with a bang

or at least a fancy party/ball...

^loving & sisterly after some get-ready friction about borrowing things and who's taller

Warm soup and a rousing game of monopoly by the fire for the rest of  us.

(Sam: "Mom, do we have to go in to Boston tonight?  I'd rather just stay here with you and dad.")

Sold!

Starstruck

Oh, I love this week between Christmas and New Year's, don't you? We are doing our best to cram our winter hibernation into this span of days: sleeping in, staying in pajamas until late in the morning, reading, movies & games. No routine, no lessons, no school, no homework.

Well, almost no homework.

Sam has a science class stargazing assignment: observe the night sky 20 times in the next month and identify + draw the constellations you see.  Most of these clear, cold nights you can find him in the front yard or back yard or down the block in the field, craning his neck, face uplifted. Then he hovers over a paper with a flashlight in hand, clouds of steam puffing from his mouth.  Up to the heavens, down to his paper, over and over again, recreating the heavens in his own way. 

(Watching him, I think to myself, I could do worse than follow his example.)

When he's done, we come into the lighted house, red-cheeked and starry eyed, satisfied that the jolly chaos of stars have been organized once more into a catalog of creatures and figures.  

Song: Holst   |  The Planets   |  Jupiter

. . .

Sam and G are heading out on a chilly campout tonight (where there will be much stargazing, I'm sure). I'm over at Segullah today, talking about spiritual epiphanies and the invitation of the new year.  Come on over, if you'd like.  More Best of .09 thoughts coming soon...

December glimpse: 2

12.20.09      |    Home   

Sam was the first person ready for our family photo shoot on Sunday:

so he let me do some test shots while we were waiting for the primpers.

I really love this boy.

. . .

Best .09: Best startup: what's a business you found this year that you love?  I discovered Paperless Post this fall and have used them several times since. They are a custom online invitation and announcement business that offers gorgeous and diverse designs to send via email for less than the price of a stamp (totally worth it).  Happy inviting!