Who Are You? Grandma?

Action shot - on the way to Wisconsin - 4 car seats - 4 adults. One hour. Nice work.






Here are some photos from our trip to Community Homestead in Wisconsin. We've joined an organic farm that delivers to St. Paul - so far it's been a wonderful thing. The idea was to take more seriously what we eat and how we prepare it - and in the process we get to show the kids where food comes from before it gets to our table or even before it goes to the grocery store. It's one thing to see the beets and the fennel - an entirely different thing to see the cows...but I guess it's a sort of truth in advertising...

Anyway, we all got to see the cows being milked and feed the new born cows (the whole thing was a little odd for a new nursing mother). The boys loved it. Now Andie, Katie, James and I were all ready for a power soaking with some serious soap and water. Let's just say, I learned not to wear sandals to the farm...




I have so many stories from the last few weeks I hardly know where to start...A few minutes ago I told the boys to "get moving" we're going inside to have lunch. At which Seamus responded: "Who are you? Grandma?" Horror of Horror. Not yet, but pretty soon.

Speaking of Grandma, the LifeTime tri is this weekend and the crazy Schneeman's got written up in the St. Paul paper - see link: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_6329759

Finn's newest phrase (if you can call it that) is YeeHAAA (really loud and then repeat). I'll add some video later.

Seamus also learned a new "sign off" from one of the neighbors. Maddie and Tommy stopped by to say hi this morning and as they were leaving Seamus yelled down the street: "See ya round like a donut..." The kids looks a little confused but I think it was his first intentional play on words.

Oh, there is so much more to get posted...

Dougherty Grandkids

Cannonfalls

James's Birthday

At The Site of Our Engagement
So today is my beloveds birthday. I've been thinking about this entry for a few days, as I feel like I've had a hard time finding the right words recently. We've been together for more than 10 years which doesn't seem like much when I think about my parents or even my siblings, but in those short ten years we've built a life together that has been rich and wonderful.

It sounds cliche, but I believe that we felt in love within minutes of meeting, and even though the path to where we are right now was not always perfect, I always knew that I had met my soul mate.






Daddy's Girl

James is truly the most remarkable person I know. And I mean that so sincerely. We've had a blessed life, but even when we've had major life changes, he's rolled through it with such strength, faith and confidence that I always know everything will be alright.

When Seamus was born, James changed his first diaper out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night, swaddled the baby snugly up, handed him back to me and kissed us both on the forehead. I looked at him and just knew, we were going to be good parents, that we could do this together.

Katie, Tom & James (Finn anyone?)
When we moved into our house, I discovered that James is wickedly handy. He went from condo living to an old house that needed TLC and it was like he could have been hosting This Old House on PBS. It was amazing to me.

Who has time to train for triathlons when you've got little kids? He doesn't. But he combines his commute with his workout (plus a little more when he can make it convenient for me) and then competes in Olympic distance events. And rocks at it. San Francisco hills? Swimming in the Bay? 105 degree Minnesota summer? -2 Minnesota winter? He can compete any any condition and just enjoy himself. No fancy equipment. No crazy schedules or diets. He just powers through everything and thrives doing it.

Life is complicated. We're still grieving Tom - I guess we understand that we always will. We miss all the Dougherty's and feel so blessed to have this extended visit with Katie. My family is wonderful and very present to us, but it is also wild and busy. We've got three kids under 4, a house and a challenging career. We know that we're luckier than 99.9% of the world, but still sometimes it feels overwhelming.

And there are some days we feel like we're barely keeping it together, but every day we look at each other and are grateful for all the love in our lives. Because even when we're tired or sad we still have each other. Seamus got up this morning and immediately wished James Happy Birthday and told him he loved him. These kids worship James and there is just nothing more fun than seeing what kind of father he is and how well the kids respond to him. There is nothing cooler than their dad and that makes me so proud of him.

Batman Begins

So James, Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. I'm looking forward to many more happy birthdays and happy years together. There is no better husband or father around. You are a blessing to everyone in your life - but none more than to me. You are my heart.








The Irish Boys














A Tree for Father's Day with the Charleston Dougherty's














Bathing Beauties












Doesn't He Look Like a Happy Dad?

This and That...

At the Cabin