Birthdays. Part 1.

I've been delinquent on posting my typical birthday posts and so I've decided to combine them instead of back dating new posts. Much of what follows was written months ago, but it feels more appropriate to update it with all the things that have happened since July.

First of all, Mr. Finn, you are now fabulously four. Oh my. For your birthday this year we contracted Nick Schneeman and Eric Gough to steal the swing set out of Miller's backyard. While you played happily at Schneemans, your big cousins carried said wooden swing set across the street (it was a beautiful hot day) you were totally surprised by this enormous gift - you even said "But my birthday's tomorrow." I thought this was the grand-daddy of all presents until Bob and Paula showed up with spider-man roller-skates. Lord. Who can compete with that? Danger. Cool brand. Going fast. It has all the ultimate elements. Thanks Winsors (you rotten, hateful people).

Katie spent the night with us (you love when she has a "sleepover") and got up early to make you chocolate chip pancakes. Mom, Dad and Paula also got up early and headed over to the Lifetime Triathlon - this maybe wasn't the best timing that the tri and your birthday were the same day, but you didn't seem to mind. Katie dressed you up in your new birthday duds and brought you all down to the river to cheer for us. I got to yell Happy Birthday from my bike and that was truly the highlight of the event. We had stories and long naps together in the afternoon. Peggy hosted a family party and we had spider-man birthday cake and a nice swim in the pool (those of us who did the triathlon mostly soaked in the hot-tub). It was a wonderful, fun family day. And you are a wonderful, fun big boy.

You like to run with daddy and I - we often have to take a lap or two around the block (or the cabins) with you before or after we go running. We talk a lot about modeling healthy exercise habits in the family - its something that dad and I both enjoy but that we both have to work at. Even though I wouldn't have ideally chosen to have a race on a special milestone for you - I do like the idea that you get to see us enjoying exercise personally and as a family (we wore our "Tri Hard. Tri Often. Tri Together." t-shirts. At the cabin this summer, several people commented on how fast you are and what a good stride you seem to have already - Fast Finnie is becoming a very fitting nick-name for you.

Mr. Finn - we are so proud of you - of the kind of big brother you are to MJ (and big cousin to Connor) - of how much fun you have playing with Seamus. Even still, you and Seamus are best of friends. You have become so helpful to dad and I - picking up, making your bed, helping MJ, grabbing milk from the basement. I can already count on you for so many things - that is amazing to me. You have emerged as a kid who is very reliable - not something most people would say about a four year old.

Even though you are getting older, you still love to cuddle. I know someday you won't want to snuggle in bed and read stories with me, but it hurts my heart to even think about it. I love story time. You are also learning so much right now - writing numbers, letters and even words. I think that your small pre-school class is going to be such a great experience for you. I know that you'll be ready for kindergarten next year, but I don't know that we'll be ready to let you go. It's hard learning that parenting is as much about letting go as it is about holding on.



You are a delight - everyone says so. You've developed this special relationship with Aunt Julie ("My Godmother" as you always say). We spent last weekend in Chicago for Seamus's birthday and it was so much fun watching the two of you dote on each other. Your connection to her is a little bittersweet sometimes - we know how much you and Tom would have enjoyed each other - how special that connection would have been. I take comfort in knowing that I've met your guardian angel - and I know that you're in very special hands. Kids have this special sense - I think its their unspoiled connection to God. You and Connor seem to have been born to be special buddies and there is something ethereal to me that you seek each other out. I'm sure I won't think it's ethereal when Andie and I are wringing our hands at the trouble you've gotten into together - but at least I know that you'll always have each others backs (Good Lord).

We love you more each day. So happy to be sharing these years with you. Happy Birthday, Mr. Finn.

25K? You Say? I say, Mimosa!

Two weekends ago, James, Paula and I ran the Cities Lakes 25K race. James, Kate and I did it last year and for some strange reason,we decided to do it again.

Last year I intended to walk with Katie, but ended up running the majority of it. This year I planned on running though I did not plan on training which seems like an error in judgment, but alas it's just how it all happened.

Paula finished in the top 5 in her age group, James ran the whole thing in under 7 minute miles (6:53). I was 31st out of 44 in my age group - so what that means is that I wasn't the last person to finish (YEAH!!!)

Thanks to Bob and Rob for rallying support for us - everytime I saw Rob he looked at me like "why would register to run and race - and run as slow as you are?"

James is thinking about running a marathon now because he thinks that he could qualify for Boston - I'm not sure that he's actually THINKING about running Boston, but I think he likes the idea of qualifying for it. He rocks.

After the race, we had brunch and drink at Craftsman. That was totally the best part. Until next year...

New Beds

Grandpa Barbara sent the kids new beds for their birthdays this year.

Now most kids would be more excited about candy and toys. My kids? Nothing cooler than new clothes and furniture! They were beyond thrilled about the new beds. Seamus came home from school hollering "Are they here?! Are they here?!"

They had lots of opinions on how to arrange the room and when to change things around. Right now, Seamus decided that he'd like to have the bunk beds as single beds (I think because they secretly want to jump from one to the other). But he said it was so he could see Finn when they talked at night. Finn has been told that when the beds get "bunked" again - he can have the top. He is eagerly waiting...

This was a very special gift for the whole family - we know how truly spoiled we are. Thanks Grandma Barbara!

Finn's First Day

Finn also started back to school last week. He and Will (center two boys) are back to being thick as thieves and Maureen and I are bracing for trouble. These are all four boys in their preschool class. It's a small group this year which will be very nice. He is loving every minute of it and asks each morning if today is a school day (he also asks if its a church day so he can wear his Sunday clothes).

Finn & MJ at Home

It's been strange and lovely to have just Finn and MJ home during the day, but as with all things, we're getting used to it. Today was the first time that Finn really missed Seamus. He started to cry when I was trying to make a cover/sheath for his "knife" which is a piece of blunt wood.

He asked me "when is Seamus getting home - he's the only one who knows how to make a good one."

It has been nice to spend time with just the three of us and now when Finn is at preschool - MJ and I have the first all girl time of our lives together. It's all so precious.

First Day Photos

Seamus was so proud (almost as much as me). He woke up every day this week, brushed his teeth, got dressed and washed up (he showered two of the mornings), ate his breakfast and got his backpack ready like he was an old pro. I actually stood in the kitchen these mornings and watched him grow up. It was wild.



















After school drop off, Finn, MJ & I went to mass for Bob and Helen Class's 60th wedding anniversary mass. I told the kids we needed to look nice and this is what "looking nice" looks like to Finn. He was so pleased with how handsome he looked - it was adorable. As much as I felt like Seamus was growing before my eyes, my experience with Finn has been even more profound. New parts of his personality emerge every hour of every day - he's becoming much more patient, more independent, but he's not losing any of his affectionate and cuddly qualities. It feels like a golden time. He was a little wistful about Seamus leaving today (who can blame him) but he was resilient and it was as if he turned to MJ and said "Well, we've still got each other, so that's not so bad."


















Buddies forever.



















MJ is also changing all the time - my favorite new quality is her sense of humor. She is sarcastic and dry (a two year old!!). She doesn't look like it here - which makes everything even funnier to me - but her favorite thing now is to tease everyone (less with her head-butting and more with her words). Who expects a two year old to mess with you?













All together now.











Waiting in line for the bell.
































Cousin Lizzy.












Neighbor Leslie.












Together for the last few minutes.


















Seamus and Helen on her anniversary.



















Seamus & Jack breaking the rules already...



















Let's hope there is no rule breaking here...






















Awesome, Dude.



















In the classroom during orientation.
























Proud Mama.

Bloom & Grow

Change is a challenging prospect. Nothing new about that. The cliche is true that nothing stays the same (try as hard as we do to hold on). I am a little overwhelmed today by how many things have changed for us in the last few years, the last few months and of course the last few days.

I have so much to post about regarding our time at the lake, but a good example of the pace of growth these days would be the moment of our arrival home. Finn jumped out of the car (to be greeted by Bob and Paula of course) and grabbed the training-wheel less bike (at Bob's urging) and tore off down the sidewalk without training wheels like it was the most natural thing in the world. We hadn't even unlocked the back door of the house. He is just exploding. Here are some pictures from today - biking up and down the street with his favorite people. Something about Finn always makes my heart burst - I wanted to collapse onto the ground as he sped past. Yesterday he was wearing a three piece suit, today he's a bike racer, who know about tomorrow - it is never dull.



I'll add the movies when I can get them off the camera (we're having some technical difficulties with the camera/computer connection).



























Paula and Bob came with me to pick Seamus up from school and it feels so fitting to have them share all these milestones with us. You know they say it takes a village - I am grateful that our village is so generous, joyous and most importantly available!

Paula and her girl, hand in hand, heart in heart. We spent a big part of the morning sitting in front of Winsor's house, watching the kids bike and run back and forth, chatting and looking at Eric's semi's engine (I can recognize a turbo charger now). I think about sending Eric off last summer and now having him to home. He also seems like a new man, in wonderfully happy way. I think he's proud, content and grateful to be back doing all the things he loves with so many of the folks he loves. Jeff left for college two weeks ago and we had a little send off dinner. I think its lucky that Eric is back or I'd have some serious Winsor boy withdrawl. I remember when Jeff started at Cretin - so hard to imagine he's in college now. Change is good and healthy, but still it feels too fast sometimes.


The hibiscus from Paula's garden.














The girlies.

MJ has also blossomed this summer - no more diapers, lots more language and this wonderful sense of humor and timing (I've got to blog about my grandma's wig later).

She spent all morning saying "I bike too. I bike too". Please, darling, not so fast. These photos are the only time she wasn't on Finn's heels all morning.


































MJ and her favorite boys.

Orientation

Today, Seamus and I attended kindergarten orientation.

Whew.


Everything went smoothly and pretty effortlessly (on his part) but a little less so for me (lots of sunglassed weeping - thank God for dark glasses).

Let's review: today was only orientation and you'd have thought I was sending him to the moon.

Fortunately, Seamus is delighted and excited. It's not that I'm sad - the emotion isn't sad at all really - what I'm feeling seems best described as tenderness. These are the moments that hit me the hardest - the tender moments when you see your child for who they are and for what they are dreaming. They are proud moments, often quiet and gentle. The kind of deep breath that is private and almost holy - in fact I think it is holy. They are the moments when you feel so clearly that this child is more than just your child. They are their own person, bigger and unique.

Last night the movie Parenthood was on TV - this is one of my all time favorite movies and I haven't seen it since right after Seamus was born. Both sets of grandparents came to San Francisco when Seamus was born (Doughertys were around for about ten days) and Schneemans came out the day after he was born for the baptism (along with uncle Chris). The night Dougherty's left we went down to see Grandma and Grandpa Schneemans hotel and have dinner. We had a lovely night, but by the next night I was feeling tired and ready to just have my feet up. Dad made a great dinner and we ate at our condo on Van Ness and then put in a movie. Dad and Grandma promptly fell asleep and my dad and I watched Parenthood while passing Seamus (also sound asleep) back and forth. We laughed and cried and it was (for me) a special kind of moment - maybe it was even a tender moment for him - I'll have to ask and see if he remembers. But that was the last time I saw the movie and now a few more years and experiences into parenthood, I found I love it just as much. Life is a roller coaster and you have to sit back and enjoy all the ups and downs because it's over faster than you can imagine.

Seamus, we love you so much and are looking forward to sending you off tomorrow. Have fun with your new and old friends, learn lots and make us proud.