Oliver is 6!

Family, by lauren, August 14, 2015, 12 Replies

DSC_0229DSC_0219DSC_0228Happy, happy birthday to my dear sweet peach of a boy, Oliver. Six is going to be your year, I can feel it. You are on the verge of so many things!

Over the past year, Oliver has matured in a way that I didn’t anticipate. He is compassionate, stubborn, determined, sensitive, and athletic. He is a complicated kid, moody and tender all wrapped into one. This past year, he has become more physically confident and able, learning to ride a two-wheeler, climb to the top of the swing set at the playground, do a tuck roll in circus class (but more so at home), and is on the verge of reading independently. Oliver is currently obsessed with Star Wars Legos, which he plays with for hours on end (usually with Emil). He can follow directions well, but mostly likes to build his own creative versions of things. He takes such good care of his stuffed animals it’s almost heartbreaking; he tucks them all in every night and sets them up just so (no covers over faces… they need to breathe!). He tells me he’s going to be a good papa someday. I agree. DSC_0223DSC_0230Oliver sees the world with different eyes, and I mean this in the best way. I can count on him to find small things in a bigger, more complicated picture. He notices everything, forgets nothing. His brain is an endless abyss of memories and smells and tastes and colors, and the way he relates them to the world leaves me in awe.

Oliver is hard on himself, often losing it because of frustration or discomfort. He refuses to wear pants or shorts without an elastic band, loves salmon (but only if Andrew grills it), needs a lot of hugs and kisses at nighttime, adores his little brother, and admires his older brother. He is happiest amongst his friends and his own space; when I pick him up from camp or school, no matter how sad, angry, or frustrated he was when I dropped him off (not a morning person), he comes back to me happy as a clam. Oliver thrives on teams.
DSC_0072DSC_0079And I’m so honored to have him on mine.

Happy sixth birthday, dear Oliver! We love you, buddy!

These Crazies

Family, by lauren, August 13, 2015, 7 Replies

DSC_0187DSC_0157DSC_0164I laughed out loud at the vet’s office yesterday when the receptionist commented on how well-behaved my boys are. I hadn’t meant the little outburst of laughter; it had just slipped out, and as I glanced back at them, I nervously nodded in agreement. They were playing and reading quietly and politely while we waited to be called back, no sign of the wild animals I had seen just the previous afternoon.

Their behavior baffles me. One minute they are all quiet and calm, polite and helpful, kind and gentle and thoughtful with one another; the next minute a total chaos and a kind of brutal aggression ensues and as they are growing and getting stronger and bigger (while I stay the same size), it is getting more difficult to step in and physically separate them. It’s a joke to think that words alone can halt some of the behaviors, despite wanting to be all touchy-feely and respectful of their space and bodies… it’s all great in theory, but sometimes physical restraint is necessary when one is running toward another with a blunt object in hand. DSC_0170DSC_0141Just the other day, during a play date, this very thing happened. The screaming, running, jumping, yelling, throwing, grabbing, wild-animal behavior came out and there was nothing short of a miracle that was going to stop it. You can throw them outdoors only for them to return minutes later, door slamming open, screaming and screeching and crying and tearing through the living room as fast and deadly as an August tornado.

I am often apologetic and embarrassed when this happens and there is either no energy or no idea about how to stop it. I am not in control of my children; there are times they will run loose and free, and there it is. It has to run its course. I often take them aside later, when all is calm and I know they are listening, to discuss how I felt about them behaving this way and being too wild in the house, but half the time I have no idea if that message gets through. I feel like admitting this somehow makes me less of a parent, less of a good parent. But then again, to expect little people to be well-behaved at all times is completely crazy, right?! Better in our own home than in the vet’s office.
DSC_0168DSC_0083That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Olio

Food, by lauren, August 11, 2015, 1 Reply

DSC_0451DSC_0448This past weekend, two of my best friends made it a point to get me out of my funk (and out of my house) by inviting the boys over for dinner and a movie so that Ingrid and I could go out to dinner all by ourselves. Brent offered to watch the five kids and when we left, all was quiet upstairs with the four older ones aside from the sound of an accordion playing, and Emil was dressed as Darth Vader, galloping slowly across the wooden floor on top of a much-too-small white horse. Obviously we left laughing!

I was thrilled to finally try Olio, an amazing and charming little restaurant just down the street from Ingrid’s house in the historical Botanical Heights neighborhood. The restaurant itself is situated in a renovated 1930’s Standard Oil Filling Station, which means it is tiny. But don’t let that put you off — the space inside is full of natural light (it was an overcast day when we went and the pictures of the food will show you just how light and airy it was inside the bar area) and is really quite charming. It would be the perfect place to meet for a date or celebrate any number of occasions. Plus, they do take reservations, which is something I find hard to come by these days. The space is so well cared-for, with each square inch carefully tended to and loved. It’s obviously someone’s pride and joy, inside and out. DSC_0449DSC_0450DSC_0454DSC_0458We did not have reservations, so we were seated in the light and airy bar area right next to a window. It was so nice to catch up with Ingrid, who had disappeared into the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota for the past 12 weeks. I had missed her so — it’s truly hard to be far away from good friends, but that makes the reunion so much sweeter, I guess! DSC_0455DSC_0457The food was all amazing, as were the drinks (we each had a version of a Slo Gin Fizz that was so refreshing). We ordered the kale salad (of course), the roasted cauliflower with caramelized onions and almonds on crostini, and the speck sandwich (which was light and zesty with lemon peel!). It was the perfect summer meal. Plus, the area surrounding is so cute. Here, the architecture across the street: DSC_0446Also, less than half a block away is Union Studio, a great local gift shop I hope to feature here soon.

Have a terrific Tuesday wherever you may be!

Weekend Shenanigans

Family, by lauren, August 10, 2015, 6 Replies

DSC_0496DSC_0536DSC_0501After their last week of summer camp, the boys were pretty much dog tired, so we had a very low key weekend. Last Thursday the boys put on a show to celebrate the end of summer camp. It included some song and dance and also awards for the campers. Oliver took home the “Future Pro” award, which has something to do with being really good at sports (he also took home second place in archery and the “Golden Arrow” award, which is just that, a golden arrow, happily hanging on Oliver’s wall of course) and Milo took home the “Competitor” award, which is no surprise to any of us. First born. You know.

It’s pretty fantastic to hear other people saying nice things about your kids, and also to hear about the friends they had made during camp. I’m willing to bet they’ll be begging to go again next summer, even though they are looking like homebodies for the next two weeks. I’m so happy to have them to myself before school starts up again. They are growing at an incredible rate and eating more than ever! Milo lost two teeth in two days and I swear grew two inches to boot.

We’re all missing Andrew, halfway through this last long trip of the summer, but this last jaunt has been particularly harrowing for me. Not because of the boys; they’ve been awesome and hilarious. It’s been a lonely summer for me and though I don’t want to whine or complain or sound spoiled, I’ve missed a lot of people this summer. Some have moved away, some have had huge life changes, others have been gone all summer long… it’s been a reflective time for me, but also a sad one. Sadness and reflection often come at the end of every season, that or an undeniable inertia or thirst for big change. I suppose that’s what is happening, but without my people to discuss it all with, I’ve been more in my head than usual. It will pass, or something will change, we’ll just have to see! DSC_0479DSC_0483DSC_0484DSC_0490I am so lucky though, really. I finally got my Ingrid back when she returned from a very long summer away, and she and Brent made such a fuss over us this weekend that I’m already starting to feel the love and community that I’ve missed so much. It’s hard to feel dependent on others for that feeling — it makes me feel completely vulnerable and not at all stoic and strong and unflappable like I’d like to be. But I need people. I need friends and a partner and my family and all of it. St. Louis, as great as it is, just can’t compare without my people here with me. DSC_0523DSC_0527DSC_0530DSC_0460Milo feels the same way. DSC_0474DSC_0459DSC_0471We need you, all of you: family, friends, far-flung once-neighbors. We need you and your amazing insights and jokes, your empathy and your wily tricks. We need your laughter and your stories, your tears and reminders of all the good things in life. We need all of it! I miss you!