Eveleth Home of Hockey Tournament

Shawn and I are chaperoning a St. Mark's hockey team trip to Minnesota. Currently, the team has played two games (1 win and 1 loss in overtime), we've visited the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, dined in some fine establishments in Eveleth and Virginia, taken in a few good saunas, and squeezed in a great visit with the Sundquists. Tomorrow, the team plays one more game, and we head back to the Twin Cities to go to a Wild game on New Year's Eve. Shawn also arranged a tour of the the arena and passes to watch the team's morning practice--good ol' Wild connections. Lachen and Aksel will meet us at the Xcel Center after a undoubtedly fun time at both grandparents' houses.

Shawn's snoring on the bed...I think I'll join him.

Lille Jul Aften

Aksel and Lachen were both at Lille Jul Aften, but Aksel positioned himself in front of the camera more often. Lachen was a shepherd this year, and Aksel was Joseph. We had four wise men this year offering gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh, and jar of body butter. It's what every baby really needs. (Double-click on the photos to enlarge them.)

We arrived early to avoid the snow storm, we enjoyed the batch of Guinness Clone Shawn and the boys made at Thanksgiving as well as some hard cider pressed from Dad's apple trees. Soooo delicious. Good times dancing around the tree, the pageant, Christmas carols, and great food. I know that I ate 3 dozen cookies...and that is no exaggeration.

Christmas is coming!

My computer and camera are not speaking to each other right now. I'm not sure if this is some sort of holiday tiff or if one of them have contracted a virus. In any case, I can't post the Christmas Pageant videos right now. I can tell you that Lachen did an excellent job as a speaker up at the big pulpit with a microphone. He spoke clearly and flawlessly. What a relief that he takes after his father and not his warbly-voiced mother! I didn't tell him, but I had a wretched gut ache all morning. Apparently his butterflies were in my stomach instead of him.

Aksel was decked out as a shepherd and he belted out his choir's songs with gusto. This is definitely his forte. His favorite was "Go Tell it on the Mountain." We had watched our Lille Jul Aften friend, Sofie Stern, sing at her church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzOSczFchA and then we watch a couple episodes of Glee to inspire showmanship and projection. The research definitely paid off!

The boys have their piano recital on Thursday at 7:00. Aksel's wearing a red vest that Grandma knit for Peter, and Lachen and I have our horns locked over his attire. Stay tuned for videos of these performances.

Playmobil Forever

Lachen and Aksel combined efforts and the Rock Castle bad guys have made a truce with the Good Guy Castle. The two kings are sitting side by side in the throne room below. If only all wars could be settled this way...I do have to wonder why the queen has been moved off the pedestal. A lesson in feminism will be another day. Oh, wait. Lachen, my over-the-shoulder editor has just informed me that the only reason the queen was de-throned was because there wasn't enough space. She's still the queen, and she retains all of her powers. Aksel adds, "She's still in control of EVERYONE." Oh, I guess I have raised two feminists!

Halloween!

It was a dark and stormy night...no, it really wasn't. It was about 70 degrees, with a warm wind, and a bright full moon. It was oddly warm, but it made for a pleasant trick-or-treating stroll. Since Aksel is getting over a cold, I was glad to send him out in mild weather. No snowsuits under the costumes this year! Davy Crockett quickly filled his side pouches with candy, and then moved on to filling the traditional plastic pumpkin bucket. There's a new version of the Davy Crockett song by They Might Be Giants. Take a listen.
Note Davy's shoes: Minnetonka Moccasins--perfect to complete the King of the Wild Frontier's costume.
Harry Potter made another appearance to the delight of all the boarding school students. Harry really fits in here!
And, after the annual faculty children photo opportunity, the birthday boy relaxed on a neighbor's rock wall while the boys gathered their goodies. Happy Halloween to all!

A snapshot of our yard at 4:00 on a weekday

Apparently, Aksel's getting ready to pose for his senior pictures, ...until you see how high up in a tree he is! He knows no fear of heights. I literally walked out my front door the other day, and this is what I see: my older son patrolling with a Star Wars weapon, my younger son hanging out in a tree. Moments later, Shawn walked out of the woods from a path you can't see. It was all very surreal. The leaves are just now changing colors. The photos with no boys dangling in them were taking on October 29th. I have to admit the colors out our front door are amazing. The brilliant yellow-leafed tree is the same one Aksel was in.

Harry Potter Dinner at St. Mark's

No one can accuse the Reid Family of being humbugs. St. Mark's hosted a Hogwart's-style evening meal, and we all dressed up. Shawn was Slughorn, I was Madam Hooch, Aksel was Harry Potter, and Lachen was a Gryffindor student. The whole dining hall was set up like Hogwart's, and each form dressed up in house colors. It was quite a hoot!

Gorgeous Fall Day

Aksel and I just went on a glorious autumn walk with Reilly. The colors are stupendous, and so it seems the perfect moment to enjoy an Oktoberfest beer and send a note out to my world. I made a batch of Byerly's Wild Rice Soup which is just waiting for Shawn and Lachen to return from the rink to be devoured. I bought the rice at the pow-wow this year, so I am especially excited about this pot o' soup.

We carved pumpkins outside on the patio because it was so sunny and warm. Of course, I have to enter grades and progress reports before 8:00 a.m. tomorrow for 20 students, but that's what nightfall is for, right? Yes, I am ever the procrastinator. But, really, isn't it equally as scandalous to squander a glorious fall day?

I just cleaned, peeled, and sliced at least ten pounds of carrots from my garden. It's the never-ending supply. I wish carrots were as easy to mail as garlic. I don't think they would fare well. I am thoroughly enjoying the garlic cloves my mom sent me via the postal service. In a cardboard box that lets them breathe, they are highly sendable, and they make quite an odiferous entrance into any mailroom.

Finally, I have been reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and it has gotten me thinking about so many different parts of my childhood, American society, parenting, and so many more things. One thing that I feel so intensely living in New England is what an agrarian lifestyle I am used to, even though I certainly didn't grow up on a farm. Gladwell juxtaposes the culture of herders versus farmers and how herders have to protect their flock and always be on the defensive. Sheep are relatively easy to steal or kill, right? Conversely, farmers have to work together to produce a successful crop, and the notion of someone stealing a harvest seems comical: "By moonlight, the neighboring jealous farmer stole a whole year's harvest of potatoes." Sheayh! Right! The cut-throat, suspicious herding mentality isn't really necessary. Compare the violent threat of a wolf versus that of a grazing deer, or imagine the wrath of a jealous neighbor whose flock is overgrazing the sweetest clover. Granted, tempermental weather can be an evil foe as well, but in that case, all the farmers suffer a drought, a flood, or an early frost with equanimity.

This isn't to say that I'm surrounded by herders here in Massachusetts. The metaphor doesn't follow that seamlessly. Rather, I think that the distended link between food producer and food consumer strains--if not obliterates--those agrarian cultural roots that are apparently part of this place as well. Yes, there are apple orchards around. Hugely commercial, with apple pies made in a factory and apple-flavored candy made in China. We can go and pick apples...for $24 a bag.

Today, I'm really yearning for a harvest gathering. Crock pots of steaming, hearty food. Peter's home brewed beer. Pies made with lard. A firebowl or fireplace that forces everyone to gather around closely to stay warm. I remember gathering on a farm the first September that I wasn't a student. It was the year I was in LVC. I had gone to a conference and learned about Hmong families and their urban garden plots; I learned about reviving a nearly-lost language and the symbolism of the four seasons, directions, and elements from a Lakota woman. And then, I returned to the city to join my roommates on a to trek out to our CSA for a harvest party. I posed for a picture on a mountain of brilliant orange, bulbous pumpkins. Then I cupped my hands around a mug of steaming lentil-potato-chard stew in a barn sitting on a metal folding chair. All of my cheeks were numb with cold, but my palms, belly, and soul were toasty warm.

Please tell me that somebody is doing that this Sunday afternoon.

Drying Herbs

My carrots are plentiful and sweet, and the herbs did famously this year. One thing I love about growing my own food is that I never really know what the harvest will hold. Volunteer tomatoes were the hardiest of all this year, although I did harvest more tomatoes than anyone in Massachusetts, I think. I've always wanted enough herbs to hang and dry. Finally!

Lachen's 8th birthday party

Aksel's latest song

Back to School

First Day of School! Every year, these are my favorite photos. The boys are all spruced up with new school shoes, tentative smiles, eagerness to see what this day will hold...I love it! Lachen rode his bike to school on the first day (with a Daddy escort), and Aksel was one of 7 children to get on at the St. Mark's stop at the top of our hill. It's a very short bus ride, but I know that I'll still drive them to school so we can have those great 10 minute car chats on the way.

The school year has started smoothly for all of us. I am teaching two classes again, and it looks like my Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons will be teh times when I'll be doing Mom Things. This week, I'm preparing for Lachen's birthday party. He's having a street hockey party this year, and I need to figure out how to make a Stanley Cup birthday cake and black puck cookies. We found other party supplies at the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto --yes, I was actually shopping for his party months in advance--stop chortling. We're looking forward to having 8 friends over for his 8th birthday.
Do you like Aksel's red shoes? What's better than new red school shoes, right? These are Kangaroos with the hidden zipper pocket on the side. I had a pair in 3rd grade. Mine were pink, purple, and yellow. They were nothing short of perfection. Aksel wanted these for months after seeing them in a little shoe store in Boston, across from Mike's Pastry. He got them for his 6th birthday. He's always had the best taste in shoes.
These are my boys! They've started taking piano lessons, and Lachen is determined to catch up with his little brother. This has only driven Aksel to play and memorize the hardest song in his book. There's no shortage of competitive spirit in our house!

Tonight, Lachen will be starting a bookclub tonight with other 2nd and 3rd graders at the library. He's ready for the 4th Percy Jackson book, so that will be my charge while he is eating pizza and talking about books with his peers. My book club is meeting next week, too, so I'd better start my book, Twilight. At least it's a light, quick read! I'm reading God's Mercy by Kerstin Ekman. She's a Swedish author whom I highly recommend. Shawn's reading Mean Spirit, a Native American novel which he read ten years ago, and now he's going to lead a student discussion about it at St. Mark's. What's everyone else reading?

For immediate release September 12, 2009

Framingham signee pays dividends in first game
Reid's four points lead the way in Flyers victory

Approaching a summer of free agency, ex-Triboro Titan Lachen Reid knew he had to end the season on a strong note to appeal to other programs. Luckily, his hot streak led to the Framingham Flyer organization bidding for his services. The Flyers’ decision to sign Reid to a one-year contract looks like they knew what to expect from the hard working player.

Saturday afternoon at North Star Rink in Westboro, the Flyers got off to a slow start against the Demons and were losing 1-0 before Reid got his team going. Playing defense for the first game of the year, Reid picked up the puck to the right of Flyer goalie Connor Angus and went around his net. Two Demon players converged on Reid but he sped up and split the players. A third Demon bit on Reid’s dipped-shouldered move and he was off to the races. As Reid sped into the Demon zone being chased by the defenseman, he let rip a shot from the left side. The rebound trickled through the crease for a Flyer teammate to punch home for a 1-1 tie going into the second period. The Demons had a strong second period as they put three past Angus.

The third period was all Framingham. After the opening face-off, Reid powered the puck into the Demon zone which led to a goal just 30 seconds into the period. Then Reid provided a highlight-reel goal of his own, his first of the year. He picked up the puck in the offensive corner, went around three total players and let another hard shot go from the top of the slot. The Demon goalie never saw it but it hit his stick, deflected off the inside of the far post and slid over the goal line to bring the Flyers within a goal. The Flyers tied it up one minute later as Connor’s twin brother Nolan threw the puck at the net and it deflected over the Demon goalie.

Midway through the final period Reid’s dazzling effort led to the winning goal. After a face off in the Flyer zone, Reid eluded a Demon and shot the puck out of the zone. Jake Despres raced after the puck, shot and put the Flyers up by a goal. Mia LaPlante finished the scoring for the Flyers for a final of 6-4.

If this game is any indication of the season to come, look for a big season from Lachen Reid for Framingham!

Fast August!

Wheh! August has flown by. Yesterday, we celebrated Aksel's 6th birthday with a Pirate Pool Party. After a 40 minute serious fret session because the chlorine levels were "off" in the pool and swimming was not permitted, we finally opened the floodgates and the many bodies leapt in squealing with glee. We had to entertain 14 small sweaty bodies on the pool deck, and I've never been so happy that I overpurchased for a birthday party. I bought a pirate pinata, and that filled a good 25 minutes.

Today the boys are taking their second piano lesson with Mr. Perez. He's a great teacher: encouraging Lachen's diligent work ethic and managing Aksel's exuberance. And, we inherited an old St. Mark's piano, so now the boys can actually learn a thing or two about dynamics.

Our friends from Minnesota Mike and Amy are coming into town tonight. Shawn's charge today is to find a good restaurant in Boston--no easy task because there are so many to choose from. Signe Jordet came for a visit last weekend. She blended right into our family and before the first day was over, the boys had hauled her upstairs to see their latest set-ups. Shawn and I enjoyed an amazing meal in south Boston with John and Christine: Shawn had seared tuna and I relished a blackened salmon. Ah, the seafood! Still, it may be time for school to start to keep us out of the restaurants. 'Taint free!

Shawn closed out his softball season with a dignified 2nd place finish. The best part of the game is the after-game time. The sons of the players have had endless fun running the bases and racing around the outfield with all the other little boys while the Gravediggers enjoy their 10th inning in a cool can. It's a good crew of people: some who have lived in Southborough for generations, others transplants from the Midwest.

Along with the pool party pictures, I added a shot of the boys at Grandma and Grandpa Reid's house where they had a joint birthday party with their Reid cousins and family. Fun times!

A Glorious Steamy Summer Night Under the Covers

If you read the title of this post and expect some sultry tale, I'm sorry to disappoint. Instead, let me explain. Today was a glorious, humid, HOT summer day. My favorite. Just working in the kitchen and lazy hand weeding my garden produced rivulets of sweat. Now this is summer. I love it. I went on a long run while my boys played baseball. I took a shower, and tossed a flowy sundress over my head. Still sweating, but who cares?!? It's summer! Glory! And then, my boys came home.

Finding it WAY too hot and sticky in the house, on went the air conditioners. We have two window units: one in the living room and one in our bedroom. Now, with Lachen and Aksel on pallets on our floor, a fan blowing, and the AC on full blast, I'M FREEZING! So, I'm literally under the down comforter while the three boys around me are laying shirtless on top of their covers. They're all hot. I just don't get it. All winter long, my extremities are frozen and numb, and for once the world around me is warm and moist, and I'm still cold. Maybe I should go and sleep on the couch. The hot, scratchy couch. Ahhh...

Except, I can't. Today was Aksel's 6th birthday, and I promised him that I'd nuzzle him tonight. He had a great day full of foods of his choosing (hotdogs, sauerkraut, soft buns--that is, not Mama's homemade crusty rolls--and carrots from our garden for dinner, lemon meringue pie and cookies & cream ice cream for dessert). His best friend came over to play all afternoon, and we wrote out the invitations to his Pirate Pool Party to be held later this month. It's good to be 6.

Excuse me while I find my wool socks.

Meandering through the Midwest

We left the endless rain of Massachusetts at the end of June, and now we're crashing at a long litany of homes. We're squatters, except that the homeowners know we're staying, so I guess not so much squatters as family members who show up on the doorstep with bags in hand.

We've had time at the cabin, time at both grandparents, a trip to Como Park Zoo, 4th of July with the toddler cousins, I co-hosted a shower with Jessa for our cousin Lindsay in Des Moines, and I quilted a quilt top. We've been eating endless quantities of fresh food from everyone's garden and CSA's. This black dirt does do a fine job with the veggies. Broccoli cones, anyone? Lachen and Aksel like to cut broccoli and chomp it down right in the garden. It is my bliss! I'm still luxuriating in a radish, mint, orange, and red onion salad from the Mittmans. Wow.

Constanza goes back to Argentina next Thursday, so Pops gave her an airplane ride today. She was ecstatic. Hopefully I can get one last Yerba Mate session in with her before we part ways :(

Lots of biking, lots of swimming, lots of visiting new babies (and their parents). So many great times! These are mostly cabin photos, but I'll post some urban ones eventually too.

Upcoming events include the Honor the Earth Pow-Wow, a Reid family picnic, great grandparent visits, a trip to St. Peter, Midtown Market and Mai Village in the Cities, moving Jessa and Eric into their new castle--I mean, house--and the arrival of Mary and Patrick's baby (due on July 4th. I was so hoping she'd deliver on my birthday, but no such luck.)

I hope you're all enjoying your July as much as we are! I just love summer.

A Visit with Gramma, Jac, and Brian

Less than two hours from our house, we can drive to the Connecticut coast to Auntie Jac and Uncle Brian's house. The boys displayed their competitive vigor in endless games of Sorry! and backyard games. We took a private tour of the Thimble Islands. Fun facts: The late 17th century pirate Captain Kidd buried treasure on these islands and they are names for thimbleberries (black raspberries). Lachen and Aksel scored great pirate hats and an "official" pirate map. Gramma Margie and Shawn scored authentic pirate beer. Despite a bit of drizzle, it was a great tour and the boys' favorite part of the trip.

We also sampled carnival rides at the Branford Festival. Shawn and I are now both too old for carnival rides. Aksel loves them, Lachen in his youthful wisdom already knows better. A seafood feast at Lenny's rounded out our evening, and with bellies full of clams, crab legs, and Maine salmon, we all slept soundly amidst the myriad of antique treasures at Jac and Brian's.

We strolled down the street to the ocean Sunday morning, and the boys each found shells to treasure. Then, well armed with maps and well fed with homemade baked goods (Thanks, Brian!) we explored the Yale University campus in New Haven. The ice rink is shaped like a whale, but its under renovation, so we'll have to tour it later in the year. After strolling around turreted buildings, grabbing some New York-style slices, and soaking up some erudite air, we headed home for a couple days before the trek westward for our Midwestern July.

We're so glad that we didn't take off for Wisconsin before Gramma arrived on the East Coast. I know of no other little boys with such a jet-setting great-grandmother. Lots of great memories made and no less than 10,000 calories consumed. We Hembergers do know how to eat!

Top of the Order: Laaaachhhhen Reeeeeid!

Lachen's on the home stretch of his baseball season. Enjoy these summertime shots!