Marching on

Welcome Oskar to the family!

Our little family has expanded by one.  Oskar has joined our lives.  He is a 12 week old lab mix (we think boxer) and has quickly found his way into our hearts....although the potty training has tested us a couple times!  Many more photos to come, I am sure.  For now, we are enjoying this introductory phase and learning how to live with a puppy.  The girls are over-the-moon with him, and Sam shares his toys and tries to play, although he does not like the puppy nipping sometimes.  

Sam and Dad Selfie

For now, we find ourselves in the month of March, which is teasing us with some sunshine and warmer temperatures...then bringing them right back to freezing.  The added sunlight is nice, and motivates me to get out to run more...which is helping in preparation for Grandmas' Marathon in Duluth in June!  Also on the calendar is the Shamrock Shuffle later this month in Chicago, and the Flying Pig Half Marathon in May in Cincinnati.

Audrey dentist visit!

Violet makes going to the dentist cool.

Sam snack!

Other than that, our daily lives of school and work and LEgenda of Zelda continue.  Violet has moved-up the ranks once again in Taekwando as a Green Belt!  Audrey continues her successful academic career, and possible swimming classes are in their near future!  Spring break is on the horizon as we continue to March onward as a family.

-a

Oskar nap

Watching Oskar eat for the first time.

Violet Dad Selfie

The Grandma's Marathon training zip arrived!  Lots of motivation!

Oskar

ds

Deep Snow

It has snowed over a foot in the last 24 hrs.  We are nestled in our house enjoying a long weekend, as School was canceled on Friday.  

Life continues moving forward and we have battled through a stomach bug and possible the flu in the last week.  Nothing like a microscopic virus to humble one and make one thankful for good health.  

This weekend will involve yet more cleaning and some more school work and grading.  The midterm has arrived and I am desperately attempting to keep my head above water in terms of paperwork!  

I am actually writing this in Warden Dojo as Violet prepares for her green belt taekwando test!  We are so proud of her, and she has worked hard.  

As more snow promises to arrive later tonight, we take a deep breath, continue with the work and enjoyments of the day, and look for the small moments to enjoy.  

January Driftingy

One for the Road

It is a few hours from 2018.  We are enjoying a night with friends, food, and games.  It is bitter cold outside, her clear and the full moon lights up the snow on the ground.  How lucky we are and have been this past year.  Our lives are full, yet we look forward to more adventure and challenges in the new year.  Where will we be in a year from now?  Where were we last year?  What do we want to accomplish?  What do we need to accomplish?  What is something I have always wanted to do, but have yet to attempt?  We all have a window but we do not know how long it will be open.  Even in our lives, there seems to be finite time to accomplish certain things, and as I start to see some of my windows close, I look for all windows still open and consider them while I still can.  A new year does not mean a new me.   A new year means new opportunities.  

Winters Past

Sam watching our first winter snow. 

This morning I awoke to the sounds of nothingness.   It was absolutely quiet, not even the slight breeze was audible as I lay in my dark room.   I turned and pulled aside the window curtain and was forced to squint at a world blanketed in snow greeted me.  

The sounds of the world are muffled beneath the first true layer of snow this winter season.  I have opened all curtains and blinds, letting the views of outside enter our home.  The falling snow is hypnotic, and brings a kind of inner peace to me.  

Kim has been busy with all things Christmas and the kids have been enjoying the holidays, including Hanukkah and driving around the county viewing amazing and complex Christmas light displays.  

Sam has been very fascinated with the candles and lights and now snow.  He observes and smiles and babbles at everything.   Life is good for this one year old.  

The snow continues to fall, bringing with it memories of my own Alaskan childhood.  It is genuinely shocking to me to have our first real snow on Christmas Eve.  In Juneau growing up, it was possible to be trick or treating in snow gear!  I remember nights as a young person where I walked in complete silence as enormous waffle snowflakes fell in the darkness.  Everything was silent safe for the patter of the flakes hitting the ground.  Each step I took left the sole print on the ground, as everyone else was asleep.

Now I sit, listening to my children play...although they should be cleaning their rooms.  Sam is crawling around his playroom while I type this, and Kim is in the kitchen planning her Christmas Eve dinner.  More wrapping awaits me while I watch the Bears finish their woeful season at noon.   Life is good...

And though I look forward to my winter break and Christmas tomorrow, I am kept content by the memories of my winters past.

-a

I have been baking a lot as the weather gets colder.  Here are the bagels I made for my team breakfast at school.

Sam waiting in anticipation for his first birthday smash cake!  It was an epic mess!

Latkes on Hanukkah!

Silly selfie with Dad and Sam during Latke making!

Audrey making he first ever batch of latkes!  She is going to be a great cook!

Sam is 1

Happy Birthday Sam Edward Orelove.  We love you.  You bring your own light to our lives.  

Cooling Down

Sunset

Winter is knocking at our front door.  The wind howls some mornings, and others it is just a mild breeze.  Either way, the cold is not starting to nip and bite at times.  I find myself covering up and making sure gloves and a hat are with me at all times, as well as with my children.  As any good suburban family man, I have completed my final raking of the leaves today, and gone to the hardware store to make sure I have plenty of salt from the driveway and the cars both have extended ice scrapers and snow brushes.  We are ready for the snow, although I don't mind driving on clear roads.

Our little family is snug in our home, and we are thankful for all that we have.  We are preparing for the holiday season, and my thoughts wander towards my family and friends all over the country and world.  I take time to be thankful for my health, which I hope to improve in this next chunk of time, as I will be training for another marathon in June, as well as a half or two before then.  

Mostly, though, I give thanks for my children and my wife.  While every day is a bunch of laughs with Sam and Audrey and Violet, there were a couple close calls when Sam was born...and I am just grateful that both he and Kim are alive.  There are so many things in this life that seem important, but when we realize they matter not when held up to life and death.  So now I am getting my family calendar prepared, and looking on Amazon for some gifts for people...but I am content knowing that everyone I love and care about are happy, safe, and healthy.  

-a

Clouds

Eggs!

Sam on Swing

Family Selfie at the Zoo

The girls at the Zoo Lights festival!

Sam in his Bears gear!  It's been a long season!

Our winter lights are out!