Mission Accomplished

If you live in California and you are in fourth grade, doing a California Mission Report is a rite of passage.  I helped organize G's fourth grade class field trip to the California Mission Museum, which was located on the beautiful grounds of Cline Cellars in Sonoma.

The tour and scavenger hunt were at no cost to the school and we had a picnic lunch in their beautiful gardens.

The kids were rapt with attention and quickly went around the room looking for the mission that they had researched all year long and recently completed building a model of that mission.  The students rang the mission bell, fed the mission donkeys and cruised the grounds burning off their pre-teen energy bursts.

We also went to see the 21st (last) mission built in California, the Mission San Francisco Solano located just off the square in the town of Sonoma.  Our docent was downloading facts as fast as she could, as we were pressed for time at the end of our day.  An outstanding day of California history and I was impressed with the attention span of our gang of 10 year olds.  I learned quite a bit, too.

This week was the last chess class at Tomales Elementary School.  I asked the five chess tournament participants to wear their medals and/or bring their trophies to school for a group photo.  We ended the chess session with chess-inspired sweets & the promise that everyone would play chess over the summer.  I'm so proud of these students and look forward to helping the PTA build permanent chess tables on the school campus next year.

I'm missing my sister quite a bit this week.  She's been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and I worry about her health and my three nieces.  I have got to make a plan to get out to New York for a visit.  Sending you my love, Traci Ann.

Business Cards + Pollock Project

Grady's business card order arrived and he loved all of them.  I ordered a small box from Moo.com, with about a dozen different card covers.  He's been handing them out to friends at school and a few farmers we know.  His occupation is stated as :: Artist.  So cute.

I had the opportunity to work on an end-of-year teacher present with Grady's class this week.  I used an old board that was painted with chalkboard paint and extra house paint I found around the house.  I had done this Pollack project with G's class when they were kindergartners and they loved splattering the paint on this make-shift canvas.  They also were great in deciding what color(s) needed to be added and hid secret messages written in splatters to their unsuspecting teacher, Mr. D.

Bloomfield Farms

Our weekly sojourn to Bloomfield Farms was rewarded with a pop-up, pay-what-you-can farm brunch with guest chef, John Lyle.  We picked our weekly veggie haul and brunched with a few other families before my sinuses kicked in and I sneezed myself all the way home.

I also made an easy strawberry balsamic jam and helped make a double batch of chicken paté with friend and neighbor, Jill.  Having that stash of paté will be great for spur of the moment entertaining, as well as a quick dinner substitute when paired with the fancy Trisquits & cheese.

We were lucky enough to witness the California Amgen Bike Tour come through Valley Ford on Sunday.  We walked down to the end of lane, grabbed a cow bell & cheered on the two leaders and the massive peloton.  It was over in about a minute.

The artichoke harvest has been big this year.  We typically don't cook the chokes, as they are not too meaty and have been on the small side (and filled with bugs & critters!).  I learned a new way to prepare them and that I should cut them in half, remove the choke, slather them with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake them under aluminum foil for about an hour.  They were still on the small side, but tasty.

G as Mr. Demsher

This week was Spirit Week at G's school.

Monday :: Pajama Day
Tuesday :: Twins Day (G and his bestie dressed alike)
Wednesday :: Teacher-Student Switch Day (aka - Dress Like You're a Teacher)
Thursday :: Crazy Day (G wore two different shoes & his shirt backwards.  Crazy, eh?)
Friday :: Wear Orange + Field Trip to Cal Skate with the 4th thru 8th grade classes

The girls are back.  Yes, Jim & Beaula's llamas were moved to the pasture behind our house, where they will "summer" until late fall.  It's such a sight to see these beautiful, quiet, big-eyeballed creatures.  They are such wise, fierce protectors.  Grady loves waking up to them just outside his window.  Actually, so do I.  They give me a scare some mornings when I wake up groggy and half blind without my glasses, but they make me smile and laugh at myself, too.

I've decided to open up my blog to a few friends I've met via instagram.  I just love reading the raw honesty and perusing the amazing imagery on Maggie's blog and I've been quite inspired by Natalie's embroidery on instagram and crafting on her blog, too.  Natalie used to live just a few miles down the road from me in the tiny hamlet of Two Rock Valley and now resides in Kodiak, Alaska.  We never met while she lived here, but I feel like I know her.  It's funny how connecting through social media feels strange and strangely safe.  I've enjoyed sharing my life in pictures with this new medium & words with friends and strangers, who no longer feel like strangers to me.  I feel a connectedness that I just haven't felt with a lot of people as I've gotten older.  I feel like these women and mamas get me and/or accept me.  It's a new feeling, for sure, and I guess it's like a clean slate.  I'm trying it on for size and opening my heart to meet new people, virtually and in person.

This week I was on a mission.  Literally & figuratively.  

I think I have arrived at my destination and it feels good.

A Mother of a Week

Artichokes plucked from the sole bush we have in our yard.  Homemade yogurt attempted, again.  Third time's the charm, as they say.  Dinner consists of the first heirloom tomato of the season, plus avocado + mozzarella.  Yes, food has been on my mind this week and all the cookbook reading I've been doing has inspired me in the kitchen lately.

We ate out on the deck for the first time this week.  The mornings have been grey and foggy, but it all burns off by noon and we're left with this sprawling view of the valley floor.  The farmers have been busy haying and my sinuses want to have a chat with them about that...

State Star testing took place this week at school and G was pretty stressed about the government knowing his test results and if it would affect his ability to make the Principal's List for this trimester.  I calmed his nerves and talked it through with him.  He's such a smart, sensitive kid.  I can't get enough of him lately.

He purchased these shoes above with part of a birthday gift certificate from Target and some of his birthday cash.  He thinks he looks really cool now and I'd have to agree.  He also splurged on a few new books and frozen yogurt.  It really takes so little to make him happy. 

I packaged up some homemade granola for a few of his teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.  I love the note (above) he wrote to his music teacher, Mr. Nokes.  Out of the mouths of babes, as the saying goes.

We attended the Salmon Creek Young Artists Show, which consisted of different mediums by the 7th and 8th grade students.  I think it's so important to honor children's artwork and having a show does just that.

Grady's school hasn't had a dedicated art teacher since January and that bums me out.  We've supplemented his art lessons with a private teacher and he spends a good amount of time in his playhouse-turned-art studio working on little projects using many different mediums.  I love knowing he's out there creating art that makes him happy.

The big event of the weekend was the Chess for Kids Scholastic Chess Tournament.  It was a first for us and five students from Tomales Elementary School signed up and rose to the challenge.

The kids were playing against other kids in their same grade level, but from different schools.  There were three rounds and no parents were allowed in the gym during play.  The children slowly emerged one by one and reported out about their matches.

In the end, all participants received a medal or a trophy based on their standings.  The kids were beaming as they walked out of the double doors and looked for me.  I gave them the praise they deserved and felt such mama pride.  Oh, and we won the grand raffle prize of a portable chess set.  See?  Everyone won something!

Speaking of mama pride, Mother's Day was on Sunday.  And while I didn't sleep in, I did rise early, check email, edit a few photos and make a big pot of coffee.  My guys are not early risers and that was okay with me.  I enjoyed the quiet and calm the early morning afforded me.

I enjoyed my time alone reading and checking in on fellow mamas on instagram.  Steve ended up making a double batch of pancakes and that helps me with breakfast for the next few weeks, as I'm the parent on morning duty during the school week.

I read a stack of magazines and library cookbooks in the sunshine on my deck.  Heaven.  Grady fashioned me two homemade cards that just melted my heart.  We had a big 'ole pan of nachos for lunch and ended the day with cocktails and a mean game of Scrabble.  Steve grilled a juicy steak for us and steamed some volunteer potatoes he harvested from our compost bin earlier in the week.  We dug around in the fridge for salad fixings.  It was perfect.

I didn't win at Scrabble, but I sure did win at this mothering gig.

Mud Run

Pastures Preschool circa 2007

Grady must be about four years old in this picture.  Paul, the boy reading to the little ones and a Pastures Preschool alumni himself, must be about 12 or 13.  I love this picture.  Grady looked forward to summers with Paul at Pastures Preschool and looked up to this sweet young man.  

Grady is looking forward to going back to Pastures this summer and wants to teach art to the kids.  Not sure how Stacy will channel that desire, but if I know Stacy...she will find the perfect way to make G feel useful and optimize his time with her creative, spirited students.  She's got a special talent in celebrating every child's interests, desires and dreams.  I'm so happy Grady still has a place at her one-of-a-kind school.

24 pound turkey cooked in my oven!  The Vigeant/Judd Clan brought Thanksgiving to our house in May!

We had dinner with Paul's mother last week at Charlie & Patty O's house (world-famous ribs! and Betsy made three, yes, three desserts!).  I learned that Paul is finishing up his first year of college and his mother filled me in on his busy, interesting year in Philadelphia.  We reminisced about Pastures, discussed the importance of high school internships and talked about how it all goes too fast. 

This week following Fish Fest was a restful one.  I took a rest and looked to our calendar to schedule summer camps, vacations, road trips & our upcoming Legoland adventure when school gets out.

Grady has been doing really well at his soccer institute at Sports City.  The class starts at 11:30 am on a Saturday and it gives us just enough time to wake up slowly, read, make breakfast and plan for the day.  

Sunday was an earlier wake up call.  Steve and G were participating in the Russian River 5K Mud Run in Healdsburg.  It was a little cold, grey & breezy when we arrived, but that didn't stop these two from warming up and joining the 10 o'clock heat.  Grady took off like a shot!

BEFORE :: AFTER

We participated in this event as a family last October, along with the Rangels.  I didn't fancy doing it again, seeing as I almost broke my tailbone going down the blue-tarped rocky mudslide, but the guys were all about it.

Hecht Men Racing to the End!
Cold, cold showers were a sad reward for finishing

The guys completed the 5K, along with doing 10 obstacles throughout the course, in 39 minutes.  Grady placed 5th in his age range and had the satisfaction of beating his father across the finish line.  I was so proud of them and love the fact that they did this without me.  Yes, without me.  

They are embarking on lots of father-son activities lately and I hope it strengthens their bond.

The rest of the weekend was restful and we watched Lincoln and talked a lot about race, slavery & all men (and women) being created equal.

Except when you're racing, of course, then it's every man or boy for himself.

10

Dear Grady,

So you decided to turn 10 on me this week.  I'm having a hard time believing that 10 years have gone by, but it's true.  

I stumbled into motherhood without knowing if I would be good at it or not.  I had a lot of self-doubt and made many mistakes the first few years of your sweet, precious life.  While I tried my best, I let you and your father down in a lot of ways.  Your father saved me and our family by selling the shop we owned and working so hard, so that I was afforded the amazing opportunity to be your stay-at-home mom.  It was the best thing that's ever happened to me and the best job I've ever had.

Sleepy Birthday Boy w/ New, coveted iPod nano

The past five years have been filled with public school, art lessons, new friendships, tree house building, Lego collections, Pokemon fever, lots and lots of books.

You are funny, smart, silly, interested in the natural world around you and you love to spend time with me.  We try to hit the library once or twice a month and you devour the books as soon as we get back to the car.  Thrifting at the local shops is one of our favorite pastimes.  Our trips to the beach have always been one of my favorite things to do and now you're old enough to run ahead, play chicken with the tide rolling in and climb the gigantic rocks that dot the coastline.  I love watching you enjoy life and hearing all of your tales, as well as questions.

Junior Scientist @ The Gladstone Institute
Extracting DNA from a strawberry + live mice tests

As an only child, you have many opportunities to try new things and a community of friends that cheer you on at every turn.  You are learning so much as an individual and also as part of a team this year.  Your coping skills and ability to fit in and be kind and polite always make me so proud.

And while this birthday has made me a little melancholy for your younger years, I do look forward to the next five years and seeing where your mind and creativity take you.  There is nothing you can't do and I can't wait to see what sparks your interest next.

Grady Long Legs + Fave Birthday Gift

This year you gained a little technological freedom and after serious negotiations (between you, me and your father), we allowed you to use your own money to buy an iPod nano, the model that didn't have wireless connectivity or video games.  It's been hard for me to see that you need more freedom, but your father has convinced me that I need to let go...a little...and so we shall see how it goes.

Post-Fish Fest Fun
Osmosis, Books, Magazines, Gifts from the Sea + Father/Son Shenanigans

Your birthday always falls around Fish Fest weekend and I'm tied up with my volunteering duties and I feel a small amount of guilt about it.  You take it all in stride and never make me feel bad.  This year we celebrated your birthday for weeks!  With the final wrap-up being fun over Fish Fest weekend.

Bed Head + Birthday Breakfast
10th Birthday Lego Cake

Linda Lou made you amazing Lego birthday cakes, per your special request, and you wanted to share with your classmates.  You are always giving and never stingy or gluttonous.  You always share and never seem greedy.

Linda Lou has made you a special cake every year for your birthday since you were four years old.  She is such a special lady in your life and ours.

Fish Fest 2013

I love you, Grady Salas Hecht.

I think you can do anything you want to in life and I can't wait to see the young man you become and grow into.

I'm your biggest fan.

Love you so very much,
Mom