DJ, age 9

Why does nine seem SO much older than eight? It's been a big year for DJ - he got to try out surprise homeschool for the spring, then switched schools, then played a new sport this fall. But he still loves all things Marvel and Star Wars, math, history, baseball, football, and basketball (and now, soccer). Recently, Kevin and I were pondering DJ's love for sports. We remembered how sick Kevin was when DJ was born (Kevin had spent his own birthday in bed) and how we spend all the time in the hospital and most of the next week watching college bowl games on TV. That's probably where it started. Now, we're sitting together on the couch in our matching Vikings jerseys. 

Last night at dinner, we went around and shared what we love about DJ. The theme was that he's always up for anything his siblings want to do--but he's definitely his own person, too, with different interests than the rest of the crowd and all kinds of thoughtful questions and big ideas. Here's what he has to say about his year. He's a man of few words.

This has been quite a year, with lots of changes. What was your favorite memory from the last year?
Covid-19 is the most memorable thing. But my favorite memory was at school at Beagle when I ate six pieces of pizza. 

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?
He kept me healthy and not get Covid. I made new friends at LCS. We're learning at school that we're "Given to Give." We were born to share God's love with other people.

How do you feel about being nine?  
Not very different. Except I'm more confident for doing Lego sets that are for 10 and up.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
The Super Bowl. I like the football snacks.

What new things or skills are you learning?
Learning how to play the ukulele. I'm learning the new video games I got for my birthday. I learned how to play soccer. I learned how to read hard chapter books.

Who are your best friends?

Wesley, Brendan, Collin, Christian, Jayce. Otto. And maybe Eddie.

What kinds of things are you good at?

[Don't look at what Annie said! This is about you.] But I AM good at cursive and ukulele! And math and reading. And I have nice handwriting. I'm good at baseball and basketball, and video games. [What would your friends say you're good at?] Football.

What careers are you considering?
Paleontologist.

Why are you interested in paleontology?
Because I don't know about dinosaurs and I want to learn about them. Also, Eddie said he's going to own a museum so I can work with him.

What’s your favorite song?   
"Help" by the Beatles.

What's your favorite food?
Pizza or chicken pot pie.

Favorite movie?   
The Sandlot.

Favorite book?   

Bud Not Buddy or Indian in the Cupboard.

Favorite color?   
Lime green.

Favorite place to be?

The library.

What are your favorite things to do?
Read, play video games, or play catch with Dad.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you as a nine-year-old?   

It feels awesome!

Christmas 2020

There's a scene in the Jim Carrey version of The Grinch where young Grinch gleefully exclaims, "Oh Martha...oh Christmas!" That became a popular mantra around here this December as we tried to soak up every ounce of Christmas joy. We could often be heard saying  things like, "Oh cookies...oh Christmas!" 

Word on the Wernet kid street is that Christmas 2020 was a great Christmas. It was different, to be sure.  We had four Zoom Christmases (including a talent show and dramatic reading!) and a virtual band and choir concert, for example. Annie made all the Christmas cookies for us instead of gathering to bake together with my mom and sisters. There were no parties for hosting--other than for Kevin and the kids. Though I have to say, keeping the house "us clean" is way easier than "guest clean" during the holidays. But of course, we missed everyone.

There were some parts of our Christmas and the break that were (sometimes surprisingly) delightful. We did have a few short outdoor opportunities to spend time with family in person--at the playground to trade cookies and gifts before Christmas, meeting the Wernets for a visit with Pam complete with impromptu caroling and playing on the dark beach, and around the campfire for Kevin's birthday. The kids enjoyed their gifts, though the Best Gift Ever award goes to the hand-me-down Doc Mobile that I bought for $10 on our school sale page that has already gotten hours and hours of play. 

I think Kevin and I would agree that hands down, one of our best gifts was a performance the kids put on for us. They spent hours and hours practicing in the basement (which was a gift in itself)--they had costume changes, background music, choreography, and a program. Words can't capture how sweet and occasionally hilarious it was. There was even a skit that they wrote themselves. I keep remembering how our Head of School once noted that Nellie would be directing something someday. It was no small feat herding those little siblings. 

I recorded the whole thing for posterity, but here's a small taste.

And here are some fun pictures of favorite moments.

At the lake

Christmas morning with the boys

The girls

Mary and her Doc Mobile giving her dino a checkup

We don't have a picture WITH Pam but here we are in all our masked caroling glory!

Christmas Zooms

Covid-19 Social Distancing: Fall Edition

 

See Eddie's reading meeting at 12:15? I wrote it here and on the fridge calendar. 

Then told him to log on at 12:30.

Several weeks ago, LCS decided to have all students move to remote learning the week after Thanksgiving. It was a wise, thoughtful decision that offered a long window after the holiday for everyone to be home monitoring symptoms.

At the Wernet house, however, it was not a very smooth week. 

On one level, it was sort of my dream come true. I always go back to school after Thanksgiving wishing I could be at home, surrounded by Christmas decorations with cookie-scented candles burning and Christmas music playing. So there was that--we built lots of fires in the fireplace and got to enjoy the fruits of our decorating labor. And I really do like the hands-on experience of helping the younger kids navigate their schoolwork and see all the things they're learning. DJ is working on an opinion paper, and his topic is, "kids need more math in school." He convinced me! :) And Mary, thank goodness, is far more self-sufficient than she was in the spring. She was very good about entertaining herself for long stretches while I helped the boys, taught lessons, and attended meetings. She made endless crafts out of popsicle sticks and took out nearly every toy in the house. I also loved that our house was filled with music. Nellie and Annie are in band, Nellie is also in choir, Eddie loves to play piano, and DJ is learning ukulele for music class. It was practicing, practicing all the time, and it was quite pleasant! I can't believe I'm saying this after last Christmas's zillions of holiday concerts, but I will really miss hearing them perform this year.

But you guys. It was barely-controlled chaos. Unlike the spring, Annie, and Nellie's schedules were far more demanding, so I couldn't count on their help. And the routines were different and we didn't quite have the norms in place for homeschooling. And THERE WERE SO MANY ZOOM MEETINGS. It seemed like every possible space was occupied at every moment. I was relegated to a camp table set up in the playroom to teach my classes. I think that between the kids and I, we had 59 meetings. That is not an exaggeration like the concerts, it's the actual number I get when I add them up. On Friday at 10am, five of us were in meetings at the same time. I laughed out loud when a student commented, "It's kind of fun to have this experience where everyone's at home. We get to see how teachers are managing everything at the same time." This was after Mary Cate couldn't figure out how to unmute herself and I had to interrupt class to get Eddie to help her. I'm glad my students were enjoying it, at least! I know I have friends who have been doing this every day, all year. I honestly do not know how you do it.

We ended the school week with Annie making dinner for us as a health class assignment. Which was good, because by then I was useless as a human being, let alone a functioning parent. But, we managed. As of 8:00 tonight, all the assignments were completed and backpacks were repacked. The laundry is folded and put away, lunches are packed, lessons are planned, emails are piled up in the inbox ready for responses...sometime. We are ready to go back to school and will appreciate with renewed rigor each day that we can learn in person!

Thanksgiving 2020

 I love Thanksgiving--for lots of reasons, but especially the reminder to reflect on the year and just be grateful. This year, I found myself feeling extra thankful for all the things I always feel thankful for--family, friends, faith, a job and colleagues I love, a comfortable house. 

But a few new things made their way to the top of the list as well. For example, I'm really and truly thankful that we have health insurance! Broken leg + ambulance ride + broken leg + surgery + hospital stay = $$$$$$$. Grateful. I'm thankful for our local library, and how they let us check out an obscene number of books and DVDs on March 14, which we then had for months through quarantine. When they reopened, it became one of the very few places we took the kids. DJ developed a love of reading. Grateful. I'm thankful for the precious times we did get to see family, especially for Nellie's musical right before everything closed down. So grateful. I'm thankful for our families and the many families and friends at school who helped us through Nellie's injuries with meals, books, running errands, and everything else that helped us get through. Grateful. And the list goes on! Thank you, Lord, for strengthening us and holding our hands as we weathered all the events of this year.

We had a lovely first-ever Thanksgiving at home with the seven of us! Kevin and I ran 5K, then the day was full of the parade, football, Zoom calls and trivia with family, cooking, eating, Christmas music, board games, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and The Mandalorian. There were only a couple of minor setbacks--like when I took out the chicken broth but reached for the apple juice that someone had left out and accidentally invented apple turkey gravy. It wasn't terrible!

The gravy ingredients 😬

The turkey and my best helpers

The table

The post-dinner nap

The long-awaited launch of the Christmas lights

All the fall fun

I've found that when a school year is particularly challenging, the weekends become these precious 48-hour windows to catch up on house and schoolwork, play, and rest. This year, with all its uncertainties and changes and underlying worries, we sort of dipped our toes into anything fun with some hesitation. Going back to school in a pandemic, we knew we had to be ever so careful and give up many of the things we normally enjoy. But looking back over the past couple of months, I am reminded of all the big and little moments we had to enjoy creation, enjoy each other, try new things, and carry on with some version of fall traditions.

We went camping on the coldest weekend of the fall--but we survived freezing overnight temperatures to enjoy warm days in the woods.

There was a trip to the Country Mill for donuts, cider, and playing on the playground. I took the kids to the pumpkin patch for the first time, which resulted in 116 lbs. of pumpkins and lots of angst for Mary Cate over picking the perfect pumpkin.

Annie ran cross country and DJ tried out soccer, and both were able to learn a whole lot of new skills, be active, make friends, and stay healthy and safe.

Most days while Annie was at practice, I took the kids to the playground. I learned that they LOVE the tire swing, but also that there is such a thing as too much tire swing (via two pukers in the van on our way home one day).

Annie did end up with 8 stitches over her eye, but that was because of a PE collision. 

We walked the trails at Fitzgerald Park with Lisa and Sarah and Alex's family--it was great to see them for the first time since summer.

I had the opportunity to help lead professional development in West Michigan, while Kevin took the kids to the U.P. I got to spend an evening on Lake Michigan, which was beautiful and refreshing. It took some convincing on Kevin's end, but I drove up to Sault Ste. Marie when the training was over to spend about 36 hours with them. It was worth it. We visited the best coffee shop in Michigan on our way to our favorite beach spot on Lake Superior, where we hiked a long stretch of lakeshore. Just two months after our initial summer visit when we picnicked and swam, this time, there was snow.

We celebrated Halloween with a front yard bonfire and pizza before some social distance trick-or-treating.

We raked leaves!

Kevin, Annie, and I ran the Woldumar 5K (Annie beat us), then we went back the next day and met Erin and the kids! Again, it was wonderful to see family after so long, even masked and staying outdoors. 

We took the shortest-ever trip to Gull Lake to visit Pam. We took a cold walk/bike ride and exchanged baked treats and gave air hugs before heading home. 💙

The Wernets started a fantasy football league...I don't have any pictures of that, but here's a screenshot with our current rankings! It's not looking so good for Mario All-Stars and Mom (Eddie and me).

The best lines of the week

 Annie was making pancakes and two were starting to run together. "Oh no you don't," Annie cried while using the spatula to break them apart. "I'm like a chaperone at a 6th-grade dance!"

Last Friday, I asked the kids what they wanted to do after school since it wasn't a school night. DJ told me he wanted to do math because they hadn't gotten to the math lesson that day. "Okay," I said. "What's 21 divided by 3?" He immediately responded, "Seven. I know that one from football."

One night, DJ was extra tired and cranky. He finally plopped down next to me and said, "My legs are SO tired. They've been dragging around a 60-pound weight all day!" It took me a minute to figure out what he meant. "Do you mean...your body?" He did.

Mary Cate had to unlearn some bad habits she picked up from her siblings when she went back to school. She loves to "teacher read" books to her stuffed animals and imaginary students, and I overheard her reading, "Does God want you to say words like stupid, hate, and freakin'? No! God made you, and He loves you! He does not want you to say words like stupid, hate, and freakin'!" 😳 So, I guess she's learning?

Mary Cate, age 4

I'm actually pretty proud that we raised this child past age 3. Just kidding, sort of. Mary Cate has turned a corner and seems very grownup lately. Just this morning, she woke up, got out of bed, and walked downstairs by herself. When she saw us, she remarked, "Oh, hi Mom. Hi Dad." That might not seem like a big deal, but until recently, Mary waking up involved a lot of screaming. I guess she had to get it out of her system early. Or she was just getting her vocal cords warmed up for the day.

But really, four is such a fantastic age. Mary is fun, funny, curious, and helpful. She knows what she wants and she works hard to keep up with her siblings, and now, her classmates. It's been amazing to watch her start school this year so happy and confident. In her words, with "almost ZERO crying." 

I can't imagine our lives without this spunky girl! We love her to pieces and can't wait to see what this year holds. It's time for the birthday interview!

How do you feel about being four?  

I feel super big, like I'm five.

What makes you most excited about being four?

Going to Papa John's house and meeting Papa Mike!

What kinds of new things can four-year-olds do?

Help mom do dishes, count families of birdies, play basketball on the highest one.

Who are your best friends?

Let me think about this. Like Robynne, Allison, Leah, and Alexa. Otto! Lani and Corbin. Luke maybe, and maybe Elliott.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Alexa, Eddie, DJ, Mom.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Like doing crafts and not getting the glue all over me. Not crying.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Teacher. A doctor. How about when somebody gets hurt I'll be a doctor, and then I'll be a teacher.

Why do you want to be a teacher and a doctor?
Because I learned how to. I watched my teacher and I play doctor.

What’s your favorite song?   

Doc songs!

What's your favorite food?
Mac and cheese!

Favorite drink [this question was her idea.]

Juice! Juice.

Favorite movie?
Frozen! Frozen 2 and Frozen 1. Both.

Favorite book?   

Let me think about this one, Mom. The Frozen book where you can look for Frozen things!

Favorite color?   
Blue. You already knowed that.

Favorite place to be?

Impression 5!

What are your favorite things to do?   
Build with blocks! Watch shows like Doc!

What is your favorite present that you opened for your birthday?
My Doc McStuffins watch!

Why do you yell so loud? [This one was also her idea.]

Because I want Mommy and she doesn't come unless I yell that loud.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
That I find a bunch of fall leaves.

A different kind of summer fades into a different kind of fall

 As summer winded down, work continued to ramp up but we fit in plenty of fun. There were cousin sleepovers and last-minute mini-vacations to visit family and water. We held Mary Cate's front yard 4th birthday party a little early to see some family and friends before school started.

On a couple of trips to Pam's, we packed in swimming and synchronized swim performances, walks, delicious dinners on the grill, boat rides, bike rides, kayaking, and more. We also spent a few days in the U.P. for some safe-distance visits with John. We discovered the best coffee shop, the best Lake Superior beach, and the quietest sort of vacation we've had in a long time. It was peaceful and lovely.

Then, finally, it was back to school. After so many months of planning and preparing and wondering, the first day of school actually came. We're so happy to be back and everyone's adjusting just fine to masks and distancing and a block schedule!

As Nellie prepares to go back to school, thus marking the real end of summer break for the Wernet family, I asked everyone the (probably dreaded) question--What was the highlight of your summer? Here's what they had to say.

Kevin: Going up north to his dad's.

Nellie: The first time she jumped in the water at Aunt Pam's house after she got her boot off and her leg didn't hurt!

Annie: Trips to Aunt Pam's.

DJ: Learning to jump off the deep part of the dock without a noodle or float and jumping off the diving board at Otto's house.

Eddie: Jumping off of the dock and Aunt Pam's.

Mary Cate: Building with blocks, snuggling with Mommy and with her blankie.

We love summer life, but we're ready to welcome fall in all it's glory!

Mary Cate-isms

• T-ball and baseball games got boring, so Kevin made up a game where he would throw something--like a hat or mitt--and Mary would run and get it. Yes, he basically played fetch with her. Before she started running each time, Mary would gear up by yelling, "Super-try-out-what-to-do!"
• Mary Cate likes to put on her sunglasses and walk around, saying, "I'm a rock star, movie star, anything you got!"
• One of my favorite parts of summer was all the kayaking I was able to do, mostly with Mary sitting at the bow. When we finally pulled the kayaks up after our last time at Pam's, we found her practicing her rowing. Before she noticed Kevin watching, he heard her chanting, "My arms can't do it but I'll get through it!" It's a good mantra as we start the school year.
  
  
  
• Mary has started using the expression "as ____ as a pickle" to describe all kinds of situations. Every day, it's "I'm as hot as a pickle in a pie," or, "I'm as tired as a pickle!" We think it comes from a particular character on Doc McStuffins, and it's a good way to get a laugh. Pickle is a funny word no matter how old you are. 
• Mary: I'm tired. Me: I'm tired, too. Mary, hugging me: WE'RE TIRED BUDDIES!
• Me: My tummy is so big from all that food I ate today. Mary: And from all those babies you had in there.