I've just run a marathon. It feels like that anyway. A marathon of very special events: holidays, birthdays, baptisms: within a period of two weeks, we had them all!
You want things to go well for your kids -- of course you do. When important celebrations approach, you just hope so much no one gets sick and that travel plans do not get disrupted by weather. That the little ones hang in there and put on their best smiles, not out of duty but out of sheer joy. That the food is fresh and honest throughout and that you have the energy to be of help. That at the end of it all, everyone walks away with a big, happy sigh of contentment.
We nearly faltered a couple of times. The weather threatened. The flu is making the rounds in Wisconsin. My mom had a rocky month.
Still, in the end, it all came together beautifully. Celebrations, one after the next. Always with family, with Ed. Little ones to catch and hug, big daughters to adore and admire, with Ed on the couch at the end of the day, asking me -- do you want some popcorn?
Okay, but how did this day turn out? Where were we on this Sunday with all our celebrations?
Well, I wake up to gray skies and very cold temperatures. The cheepers are most unhappy with the icy pathways. I let them out of the coop, they walk daintily from barn to garage. At the end of the day, they will reverse course: from garage back to the barn.
I fix a quick breakfast for the young Chicago family. We'll be in a hurry, so it's just fruit and bread product and coffee.
The two girls never say no to my fruit dishes.
Hey, Primrose and I are both wearing dresses with polka dots!
This is the day of Sparrow's baptism at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison. We hurry to get there in good time for the service.
The little guy is at an age where he is not going to go along willingly with all that is thrust upon him. Let's just say that there were moments of protest along the way during the ceremony. Nonetheless, all's well that ends well! Sealed with a kiss.
With the godparents.
With his aunt and cousin. Do you get the sense that Snowdrop and Sparrow are all photo-ed out? That if one more person asks them to smile for the camera, they might actually throw a minor rebellion?
My older girl holds a party for all her friends and family at her house. You can tell it's big when she goes the catering route. Delicious, warm foods, lots of Prosecco for the thirsty. With a toast, in honor of the little guy, who is hanging in there, considering he is way overdue for a nap.
(There are many people whom I know from my days at the Law School, and it's good to catch up a little with them, but ultimately, I am drawn to the ones I know and love so much! Like these three.)
(Let me reintroduce you to Sparrow's other aunt and uncle. You don't see them often here, because they cross paths with Sparrow's family mostly in Chicago.)
But hey, ultimately, the day belongs to this guy! Here he is, much relieved that he could finally take his shoes off. Turns out his feet grew so much that the parents could hardly shove the shoes on today. Oh well, I'm sure he could have been baptized in his snow boots. It would have been very "Wisconsin."
Oh man, do I love my kids and their families! I know, I know -- we all love our families. Still, at these milestone moments, my heart just swells with emotion!
Tomorrow, we return to our winter routines. Tonight? As I sort through photos, I turn to Ed -- I'm ready for some popcorn.
You want things to go well for your kids -- of course you do. When important celebrations approach, you just hope so much no one gets sick and that travel plans do not get disrupted by weather. That the little ones hang in there and put on their best smiles, not out of duty but out of sheer joy. That the food is fresh and honest throughout and that you have the energy to be of help. That at the end of it all, everyone walks away with a big, happy sigh of contentment.
We nearly faltered a couple of times. The weather threatened. The flu is making the rounds in Wisconsin. My mom had a rocky month.
Still, in the end, it all came together beautifully. Celebrations, one after the next. Always with family, with Ed. Little ones to catch and hug, big daughters to adore and admire, with Ed on the couch at the end of the day, asking me -- do you want some popcorn?
Okay, but how did this day turn out? Where were we on this Sunday with all our celebrations?
Well, I wake up to gray skies and very cold temperatures. The cheepers are most unhappy with the icy pathways. I let them out of the coop, they walk daintily from barn to garage. At the end of the day, they will reverse course: from garage back to the barn.
I fix a quick breakfast for the young Chicago family. We'll be in a hurry, so it's just fruit and bread product and coffee.
The two girls never say no to my fruit dishes.
Hey, Primrose and I are both wearing dresses with polka dots!
This is the day of Sparrow's baptism at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison. We hurry to get there in good time for the service.
The little guy is at an age where he is not going to go along willingly with all that is thrust upon him. Let's just say that there were moments of protest along the way during the ceremony. Nonetheless, all's well that ends well! Sealed with a kiss.
With the godparents.
With his aunt and cousin. Do you get the sense that Snowdrop and Sparrow are all photo-ed out? That if one more person asks them to smile for the camera, they might actually throw a minor rebellion?
My older girl holds a party for all her friends and family at her house. You can tell it's big when she goes the catering route. Delicious, warm foods, lots of Prosecco for the thirsty. With a toast, in honor of the little guy, who is hanging in there, considering he is way overdue for a nap.
(There are many people whom I know from my days at the Law School, and it's good to catch up a little with them, but ultimately, I am drawn to the ones I know and love so much! Like these three.)
(Let me reintroduce you to Sparrow's other aunt and uncle. You don't see them often here, because they cross paths with Sparrow's family mostly in Chicago.)
But hey, ultimately, the day belongs to this guy! Here he is, much relieved that he could finally take his shoes off. Turns out his feet grew so much that the parents could hardly shove the shoes on today. Oh well, I'm sure he could have been baptized in his snow boots. It would have been very "Wisconsin."
Oh man, do I love my kids and their families! I know, I know -- we all love our families. Still, at these milestone moments, my heart just swells with emotion!
Tomorrow, we return to our winter routines. Tonight? As I sort through photos, I turn to Ed -- I'm ready for some popcorn.
