Changes

Last weekend when I was hanging laundry on the line - big people laundry like tennis jerseys - I remembered how this very clothes line looked with rows of very white diapers hanging from it. That makes me sad.

It was a really creepy feeling last Sunday night when I got a phone call from Kathryn in the emergency room in Redwing, MN. They were the same creepy thoughts I had when James went out to ski at Nationals in NH - what if he got hurt way out there? How would we handle it? Well I found out with Kathryn - Brian is very bad in an emergency and I am on my own. I picked Kat up on Sunday night in EC and brought her home the rest of the way and it felt better after I actually saw her and had her in my possession, but that Mommy thing is still pretty strong.

Northern Michigan University

Funny how after you have been married for a long time, two people start thinking exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. As we were heading way up north with James in the backseat on an exceedingly long stretch of desolate yet beautiful road, I started thinking about how far away our boy would be from us and how seldom we will see him once he is at school. I knew that if I opened my mouth to speak my thoughts the tears would flow! At exactly that time, Brian spoke the same thoughts I had.

Kathryn isn't coming home this summer and James is moving to Marquette in the fall. It's hard not to be excited for them both - after all this is all really cool stuff. Brian and I are at that point - the one that seemed a hundred years from now just 17 years ago.

"The rituals seemed to stop, like all the other natural endings - such as the last time one of the boys crawled into bed with us, or I carried them on my hip, or saw them naked, even. Such moments evaporate so quietly that you don't realize it's the last time until long afterward."

"Last year my son asked for my Christmas list over the phone. I promptly responded by saying 'A tape of you singing holiday music.' He laughed at my request, but it was my real desire, to hear his voice as smooth as maple syrup, the sound more soothing for me that an aria by the Three Tenors." excerpts from A Year by the Sea, Joan Anderson.

Braces

Today I had my 5 week ckeck up with Dr. Jarvis and I am ready to wean off this horrible brace. He thought a backpacking trip in late May will be too much - I won't be strong enough by then.

Brian, James and I head up to NMU tonight for a tour of the campus tomorrow. We are all very excited!

The 2 songs James tried for pop concert have made the first cut.

Kathryn's poster is finished for her presentation - I tried to download it here, but it didn't work.

NSL #5

Today James races in the the last of the NSL meets. This is the one that determines the northern conference champion and James has a pretty good chance of taking the title! I am nervous and trying to behave in such a way that won't tip that off to James before the race. My standard good luck line is "Ski Fast, Have Fun!!!" I have to remember to say those exact words to him so I don't create anymore sense of nervousness.

Last night Kathryn told me I was the best Mom.

Brian and I had a wonderful dinner at Mino's to celebrate our 23rd anniversary. We had a great conversation and wonderful food in a great atmosphere.

Today, I ski all day and all night. Tomorrow we are hosting the team dinner at 6:30 pm, and at 5 pm I am leading a staff meeting at the Y. Monday we head to Christie Mountain for James race and Tuesday I go back to work for a rest!

Winter Hike

Kathryn and I just came home from a 3.7 mile hike out at 9 Mile. We hiked the snowshoe path, snowshoes optional right now - we need another foot of snow. Great exercise we completed the hike in one hour 5 minutes.

Took a pic of James this morning with his new sweater on. Finished plying the unspun roving from Schoolhouse Press. Now I need to start working on that California Red.

Indianhead Race

Yesterday Mom, Kathryn, Lisa and I drove up to Indianhead to cheer on our Wausau West skiers. The team did very well and James placed 2nd overall. The girls and I hiked up the hill three times and thanks to Mark, who drove us to the bottom, we were able to "buttwhamp" down the bottom headwall in honor of Mom's 70th birthday! Perfect day!

James' sweater woes

1/11/10 I got up really early and thought I had finished James sweater. I blocked it beautifully and prepared it for the zipper. After careful review of the finishing instructions there are two more I-cords to complete into which the zipper will be sewn. Right now I am really tired of this sweater and need a new project.

I had a wonderful weekend at the hill! James placed 2nd in the Granite Peak invite (fast boy!). I had the chance to ski with my brother for the first time in over 20 years! Great day - most of my family was at the hill - James raced, Mom came down to help with gatekeeping the course, Tom skied with Brian and I and Becky and Kathryn were spectators. James left after his last run to get dressed for the dance with Elizabeth. Great day and plenty of vitamin D.