Thanksgiving 2019

Another wonderful Turkey Trot in the books!  I need to run more, but it was another 10k and a lot of fun!

Another fantastic trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving.  This was my 20th year making the journey.  There are no other traditions I hold as dear as seeing my family each year in November.  Each year, Uncle Fred and Aunt Irene host an amazing weekend full of laughter, hugs, stories, and amazing food.  Over the years I have been so lucky to be a part of this annual gathering, and also to see my cousins grow up, my sister has also started attending, and now I am bringing my wife and children....amazing to think that I started as a 19-year-old flying in from Washington...now I'm 39 and drive with my family!  How times change yet stay the same in so many ways.  The drive home is a nice way to reflect on our visit and life itself, and also give me some time to prepare for life waiting for us upon arrival home.  We arrived back home late last night, and are just now starting to arise from our holiday slumber.  While leaves are ready to be raked, and laundry ready for folding...I cannot help but first post our pictures and relive the memories of our latest adventures before returning to life as we know it!  Happy Thanksgiving.

-a

Our arrival on Wednesday evening!  Always so nice to give hugs and see what everyone has been up to!

Pasta dinner after Uncle Stuart arrives!

Riccardo and Violet.  She loves him so much!  MMA buddies!

Sam decided to skip the Drumstick Dash in favor of throwing sticks into the lake and watching the ducks.

Sam on the lake.

Sam and stick outside on Thanksgiving morning.

Looking up into the sky. 

Uncle Fred and Sam playing kick.

Uncle Fred playing songs to Sam.  

Uncle Fred singing Blackbird.  So wonderful!

(from left) Sam, Emma, and Riccardo finish the Trot!  

Just before running another Trot!

Emma and Sam on the couch.

I love this light.  It is the first light I see when entering the house, and it cast such a warm glow.  So welcoming. 

My place setting, card designed by Audrey.  So many things to be thankful for.

Abel and Kim.  I am so lucky.

Violet, Andrew, Eden, and Audrey at Thanksgiving dinner.

Riccardo.

Emma and Riccardo.  Newlyweds.  

Emma, Audrey, and Sam.  Cousins.  

Violet loves Sam.

Violet, Sam, and Audrey.  Cousins.

Abel and Eden.  Siblings.  

Aunt Eden and Audrey.  

The annual pumpkin custard with cream and glass candy.  This is the single item that most represents Thanksgiving to me....this and the figs.

Aunt Irene and Sam set the table.

Sarah made so many figs for the wedding, that she decided to not make them for Thanksgiving...except a secret small batch for me!  I am so spoiled!  

Violet and Riccardo.

Emma, Sam, and Aunt Sheila laughing at face filters on the phone.  Such wonderful happiness!

Violet and Sam playing at the ARC Park.  

Sam and Violet sliding!

Sam and Violet playing at the ARC Park.  What a beautiful day!

Sam snacking on the couch.  

Sam looking at the Shabbat candles.

Sam helping blow out the candles.

Aunt Eden and Audrey playing a game.

Around the coffee table just being a family.

Emma, Sam, and pizza.

Before we hit the road, we brought Sugar Shack doughnuts for our goodbye breakfast.  Bacon-Maple, Chocolate frosted, Samoa, Salted Caramel, Red Velvet, and Blueberry Cake.  Very tasty.  

Full

Uncle Stuart and the kids chow down!

A football game is on while Kim and Sam light-up the Christmas tree.  It is a lazy Sunday, with lots of Thanksgiving leftovers from our dinner yesterday with my dad, uncle, and friend.  The sun is setting and I am comfortably plopped on my dad couch next to the fire.  The house is fairly clean and laundry will be ready to fold soon.   

This is a pie called "Fat Elvis", which involves layers of pretzels, banana chips, banana pudding, chocolate pudding, and peanut butter topping!

Last night, our family friend, Davey, drove my dad and Uncle Stuart out to our house for an early Thanksgiving meal.  Since my dad is not attending our traditional Thanksgiving in Virginia, I thought it would be nice to have one with him.  Kim made the turkey and all of the trimmings...which we have also been enjoying all day today!  It was a nice evening of laughter, college football, taekwondo demonstrations, and contentment.  The next two days include parent/teacher conferences and packing for our trip.  This weekend was yet another reminder to how lucky I am to be a part of this family and recognize all that I have.  We spend time looking for things all too often, but today I take a moment to realize how much I have and how full my heart is.

-a

Cheesecake:  Amaretto, espresso, and pumpkin.   

MORE cheesecake!:  classic, chocolate chip, and key lime.

Kim was amazing and filled all of our plates.  

Davey walking, talking, and snacking while Violet shows Uncle Stuart her Kindle.

Sam playing at his alphabet table.

Audrey spending some quiet time by the fireplace.

Zadie and Oskar

Davey and Violet converse.  

Zayde and Violet chilling on the couch.

Violet demonstrating her red belt form.

Sam fell asleep on the Dad Pad.

Sam and Uncle Stuart holding hands.  

Sam and the men.

Kim and Sam start the decoration process.  Life is good.

Don't Miss It

Yesterday Audrey asked me when I was going to retire.  This is a question I have honestly not thought much about.  I have mixed feelings about retirement because I love teaching and working in a school setting.  I tried to explain how retirement was a strange thing to think about because it is really a time that we work for, so we don't have to work anymore, and have final chances to experience things before the end of our lives. 

So naturally, after this conversation, I started thinking about what I want to accomplish and achieve and experience in my lifetime.  Thinking about how I want to spend the remainder of my life is a strange, exciting, and slightly frightening process.  There is an endless amount of experiences and goals that I find on my list, but it is the end of life concept that is startling.  I have been thinking a lot lately about my personal beliefs and what happens after life ends.  While I don't believe in an "afterlife", I do think the energy in our bodies leaves out into the universe.  Whatever happens, I am trying to envision my life as this time here on Earth, with other living human beings. 

This idea is important to me, because I am not going to hold-out for an idea of eternal life once I die.  I am trying to live my best life right now with my children, wife, and friends and family.  I need to remember that each day is an opportunity to live rather than another tally mark in the countdown until death.  I don't want this post to become a cliche for living life to the fullest, or to live, laugh, and love.  Yes, those things are important to keep in mind...but this isn't Groundhog Day where we have unlimited opportunities to make every moment count.  I do believe, however, that we have the chance every day to show kindness or compassion in some sort of way.  Will I live each day as if it's my last?  No.  Can I try to find the good in others?  Can I try to exercise a little each day?  Can I find something to smile about?  Yes.  Each day doesn't have to be perfect...but each day should be thoughtfully lived.  Even in my bursts of anger or frustration or depression, I can still manage to help others, laugh at something, or at least allow myself to rest a little and be a better person than a few hours before. 

So I finish this blog post and now look ahead to a day of dog walks, laundry, and maybe some grading and a nap.  It is not a perfect day.  It is not going to be a day that I consider one of my best...at least I don't think it will be....but it is a day where I will do my best to laugh a little, be a healthier person, tell my wife and children I love them..and maybe find some contentment in the fact that I got out of bed today and accomplished some little things.  After all, it is the little things that add up to the larger foundations of a life lived.

-a

A Cold Blanket

And so it is winter. 

The days have been getting darker and darker, and the snow and cold seem to finally be here to stay.  We were blanketed on Halloween, but the snow melted a day or two later.  Now the wind is howling outside and the cold bites at my face and fingers. 

Images and memories of Alaska winters (albeit in Juneau) always creep back into my mind.  Time is funny in that I don't have as many vivid memories...but I can trace back feelings and flashes of the past.  I can remember quiet nights of walking in the snow, and the only sounds were of my footsteps and the large, fluffy flakes landing.  I can also recall sledding and bundling-up before heading out into the elements.  No wonder my main concern when I saw the single-digit forecasts was making sure our kids had boots, hats, gloves, and coats!  I am sure today parents are scrambling at the stores hoping to find remaining pairs of boots and any gloves to cover frozen digits! 

So tonight we skip our normal taekwando session in favor of getting home and playing around the fireplace and getting a jump on dishes, lunches, and getting comfortable in pajamas.  Part of my mind is telling me to curl-up and snooze...but another part is telling me to get up and enjoy this time we have together in a warm house.  I know these things do not last forever...just like winter.

-a

Daddy and Violet:  Ghostbuster and SWAT team on Halloween!

Violet selected Crusade Burger for her birthday dinner.  This was the milkshake that she ordered.  Yes...that is a milkshake...with Oreo pie, Oreo cookies, and Oreo chocolate bark on top!  

Sam.

Sam eating eggs and typing on his computer.

Bagels that Violet made.  They did not last long.

Violet the baker.

Sam in the car.

Audrey and Daddy after getting haircuts this weekend.  

Audrey got 10 inches cut off.  IT was a little dramatic...but she looks great!

Oskar is back home after a stint in Indiana.  He is content tonight to snooze by the fire.  Good boy.

Changing Times and Seasons

Audrey and Violet cheer Eden and Andrew after finishing the Chicago Marathon last weekend!

It is one of those Sunday mornings where there are things to do..yet they may also be things to put off.  Lesson plans, newsletters, laundry...they all seem so much nicer when I add them to my agenda later in the afternoon as opposed to right now.  Sam and Oskar are up with me, and we have just finished breakfast.  Coffee is next, then a walk around the neighborhood. 

The fall season is here, and the leaves are turning.  The reds and oranges and yellows remind me to make sure we all have our hats and gloves at the ready, for when it really is time to dress for the weather.  The nips at my nose and ears from the cool air feels refreshing, and the trees and grass are slowing and finally considering a longer slumber before photosynthesizing anymore. 

As the seasons change, so do our lives.  Audrey is a "big kid" now, and she is really operating in her own world.  I am proud of her, and she seems to be handling the stresses of fifth grade well, and having some good laughs with her friends.  Violet continues to work at her taekwondo, but has slacked a little these last couple weeks.  She may or may not be ready for belt testing next month.  Either way, she continues to persevere.  I am very proud of her, also.  Sam is really starting to talk, and continues to be as active as ever.  He is wearing T5, even though he won't turn three until December.  He is a happy kid, and is always on the move.  After this blog, I will be taking him and the dog on a long walk. 

We are looking forward to Virginia again next month for Thanksgiving.  Until then, we are content to take part in the day-to-day activities in our lives...and I guess that includes a dog walk...as I now have a two year old and a dog looking at me expectantly....

Here are a bunch of pictures from the last few weeks:

Audrey and Me at the orthodontist office.  No braces...yet.

Aunt Eden visited on her trip to run the Chicago Marathon.

Violet won a Geico Gecko at the marathon expo.  

Audrey checking-out the Run Disney medals.  So much bling...so little time.

The Boston Marathon Medal...sigh...one day maybe.

Aunt Eden and the girls at the Chicago Marathon Expo.

Aunt Eden and the girls visiting Lake Michigan.

Audrey and Violet enjoying a sunny morning on Lake Michigan.

Visiting the tiny model rooms at the Chicago Art Institute.

Violet doing a Ferris Bueler imitation.

Dad and his girls...Violet was not excited.

Both Audrey and Violet loved this armor and sword.

Last cheers before Eden headed out to start the Chicago Marathon!

Girls cheering-on runners at the Chicago Marathon!

Grabbing some lunch with the Flamingo in Downtown Chicago.

Bundled-up and cheering on runners at mile 24.  

Sam inspecting the new order of Turkey hats for our annual Richmond Turkey Trot next month!

Sam.  

October Morning

Well it seems as if I took September off!  While this is true for the blog, it is far from any kind of truth in real life.  September saw a lot of work in my classroom and in our home.  Audrey turned 11, which still amazes me in that time continues to move too quickly when it comes to children.  She is still so amazingly bright, funny, and has that weird Orelove sense of humor.  Kim also had a birthday, and we enjoyed some quiet family time at home with some burgers and a happy night in. 

Now we are into October, which is both wonderful combined with slight sadness knowing that summer is really over.  The cool weather is here, and walks and runs are absolutely perfect!  Speaking of runs;  I have registered for the Grandma's Half Marathon in June up in Duluth again!  I am excited to bring my family up again to explore around Lake Superior and enjoy this wonderful run with the great running community!  I am sure that another round of Marathon Spaghetti at Grandma's Saloon will also be fantastic! 

Today is a quiet morning, with the end of a sleepover for Audrey, and now we are all lounge lizards for the remainder of the day.  The greatest responsibility is making sure we get some laundry done.  The house is clean, the lawn mowed yesterday, and football on the horizon.  It is shaping up to be a nice Sunday as a family. 

So those are the updates.  I will work on adding more images moving forward.  Just know that life is good, and we are looking forward to seeing Aunt Eden this week as she travels to Chicago to run the marathon next weekend!  So much to look forward to....even the winter in strange ways.  Until the next time!

-a

Return to Fall

The dog is next to me, snoring lightly, as I jot down the thoughts in my mind.  Sam is on the couch opposite me, still partially asleep after his breakfast of eggs and blueberries.  It is barely 8am, and the rest of the house is quiet save for the cartoons playing on tv at a very low volume.  The coffee is starting to kick in, and I am feeling motivated to accomplish much on this Saturday before I give-in to the temptations of movies and naps.

The summer has ended, although blue skies and warm weather are still projected for a while.  There is a coolness in the air.  Not cold, but slightly crisp...like flipping the pillow over in the middle of the night.  School has started again, so the kids and I are all back to our nightly routines and early wake-ups.  I enjoy teaching and working with my team, and we are set to have another great year together.  The more time that passes, the more thankful I am for having the opportunity to return to teaching rather than administration.  The time I am allotted for my family is priceless, and I very much enjoy interacting with students on a classroom level.  There are all of the usual challenges with getting items covered and ensuring that learning is happening, but there are opportunities to also share and connect on a social level.  I love getting to weave the fabric of the classroom community and ensure all voices are heard.

Still, though, I look back at this summer with fond memories.  I miss Alaska very much, and all of my friends.  The trip to Juneau with Violet was a reminder about how special my hometown is.  The weather was fantastic, although close to eighty degrees and no rain was a bit startling, too.  It is strange to hear locals complain about nice weather, but also a bit scary to consider the climate change and the diminished Mendenhall Glacier.  My trips are always too short, but I am always better for having spent the time with my friends.  It was hard to leave, but knowing that Violet had a great time and we made the most of everything brought some sense of satisfaction.

With gratitude for the summer, we now turn our sights forward, and begin to anticipate things to come.  We will be fortunate enough to attend both a wedding and Thanksgiving again in Richmond!  The fall weather is the best running weather and I am back on track for another half marathon in mid October or November.  Getting back in shape and getting to see family are both highly motivating and fill me with excitement!  The girls are enjoying school and looking forward to the challenges and rewards their education brings.  Violet will belt test next week, and she is practicing hard and will be successful if she maintains her dedication and focus.

Today has been productive yet restful.  With the long holiday weekend, we find ourselves tucked-in at home.  Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, getting some laundry done...all good things to make us appreciate the nice house we live in and the luxuries we often overlook in our day-to-day lives.  After a nap, the skies opened and it rained for a solid hour.  Now the last few drops touchdown as the sun sets behind grey skies.  A quiet evening with a movie and perhaps a dog walk await us, and the rest of the family are currently finding leftovers for dinner.  The windows are open and a cool, fresh breeze clears the inside air and brings a sense of calm to our evening. 

And so it shall go until bedtime, I imagine.  Tomorrow brings a long run, more laundry, maybe a trip to the zoo.  For now, though, it is time to enjoy an evening together watching a movie and letting the cool evening air draw us closer to our inevitable slumber.

-a