Around here

Here's a little bit about what our life is like right now, written in response to a general invitation by Ali Edwards.

Around here, the weather is transitioning from summer to fall.  Mornings and nights are chilly, and daytimes have ranged from bright & nippy to blustery to rainy to sunny & hot.  That means putting away summer shoes, bug spray and garden hoses and bringing out jackets, gloves and the hot chocolate mix.

Around here, our schedules are transitioning into the school calendar activities: classes for kids (including the first year of high school for our son) and subbing for me; band & choir & dance & music lessons; youth events & Sunday School; the frequent question, "Can ___________ come over after school?"

Around here, Ramsy's name comes up a lot as we approach the first anniversary of his death.  We love to remember him, to tell the stories connected with him, to see pictures of him.  Lots of times we laugh or smile, and sometimes we cry.  It's dauntingly difficult to know how to parent these three very different kids through their grief.  Sometimes I feel assured that it's going well, and other times I'm positive that I'm doing everything wrong.  That's how it goes.  We are preparing for an event we have planned for Saturday to mark the day, and that helps give direction to all the memories and feelings swirling around right now.

Around here, I'm spending a good chunk of time each month on memory-keeping.  Last year I chose a new format for keeping our photos, memorabilia and stories all in one album.  I felt that if I did not consciously make an effort to do this as a project, I would lose a whole year of memories- it's hard to drum up any "I wanna" feelings for taking your first family photo when one member isn't there anymore.  I am delighted with the results, with all the little conversations and events written down in this album, and with the fact that I periodically find the kids paging through it.  I'm absolutely going to continue doing it this next year.

Around here, we are reading lots: The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman, vintage British detective fiction, and James Herriot's vet stories (me); Margaret Peterson Haddix, Suzanne Collins, John Green and Fox Trot comics (the kids).  We are watching The Mentalist and YTV's That's So Weird and anticipating the next season of Downton Abbey.  We are listening to Anthem Lights (Katy), Taylor Swift (Jane), and a lot of vocal and instrument practice.  We are eating delicious cherry tomatoes brought to us by gardening friends and (new discovery) mango-peach applesauce.

Around here, life feels pretty normal a lot of the time.  We're thankful for that.