A Half-Dozen Healys

I have been inspired by lot of blogs that I read online, and my style of blog writing has definitely changed since I first started writing. When Jason started our blog, I didn't really know much about blogging. It seemed like a really neat idea to have a place to record all our observations about Seth, so that our family could read about all his milestones. I didn't really consider writing too much about my feelings or my musings about parenthood.

We've celebrated Chanukah, and are now rounding the corner to enjoy Christmas, which will be followed by ringing in the new year. The kids are all able to understand and participate in holiday traditions at their own levels, and it's fun to watch.

“She’s like a baby, I’m like a cat; When we are happy, we both get fat and still It’s never enough, It’s never enough It’s never enough… Her life in a nutshell No way would she want it to change me It’s not that easy ‘cause My time is often decided for me” -“Life, In a Nutshell,” Barenaked Ladies

Sometimes, your plans fall through. Sometimes, when your oldest child is home for two days with a fever, you have to cancel your plans to take the twins to story hour. Sometimes, you have to accept that you won't get out of the house today. Sometimes, you have to abandon your plans of keeping the house organized, and just embrace the chaos. Sometimes, you focus on the fact that everyone is home and safe, and take care of your sick child. And sometimes you play in your house all day and treat that as an exciting event.

Sometimes, you play mommy and baby.

We live at the end of a little street with three houses. We are fortunate enough to have our driveway plus some extra space outside our house which is just perfect for bike riding and outdoor exploring. It is a straight shot from our house to the first house on the street, and with our supervision, the driveway of this first house is often a manageable goal for the children to ride to on their various bicycles and tricycles.

“See the children run as the sun goes down Among the fields of gold” “Fields of Gold,” Sting

When we celebrated Sukkot with our temple this past weekend, in addition to the usual meanings associated with the holiday, namely celebrating the harvest season and remembering the 40 years the Jews wandered in the desert before entering the promised land, our rabbi encouraged us to consider change. That things change, and we can't always do anything about the circumstances of what's changing. What we can control is how we react to change.

I've written before about thoroughly enjoying the symmetry that the four children in our family provide. There's also something wonderful about the symmetry that the two genders of our children provide. Before I had the girls, I thought maybe I would be a boy mom. Once the girls were here, and they were sleeping enough that I was somewhat awake enough to have time to think, I realized what a cool and unique situation it was to be raising two boys and two girls.

When Seth was born, all of a sudden, I was a mother. A mother of a beautiful baby boy. I remember a friend on campus admiring our family of three, thinking lovingly back to her own early days in the beautiful bubble of first-time motherhood. I thanked her, but secretly was thinking that time was going to go so blessedly slowly for me - I'd never outgrow that stage of sleepy, milk-drunk, trusting, snuggly slumber.

When Evan was born, I was a mother of two. Two boys. Brothers, who would be able to share clothes and interests.

"And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game” -“Circle Game,” Joni Mitchell

Tuesday is one of my mornings to spend at home with Nora and Maya. Knock on wood, it has gotten a little easier to take them on outings this summer. Believe it or not, we recently took down the baby pit - gasp - and reclaimed the middle of our great room. In its place I purchased and assembled a writing desk for Seth and Evan to use for homework and projects. It feels like a whole new room!

Seth started second grade on Tuesday, and Evan started back today to his second year of our campus pre-school, Tiger School. In past years, the boys have both been a little reluctant or hesitant to start new school years, but this year they both had that confident swagger that comes with knowing what to expect.

This week marks the beginning of back-to-school for all four kids - Nora and Maya on Monday, Seth on Tuesday, and Evan on Wednesday.

Jason has been working hard this summer on reformatting our blog, as well as making it easier for me to post entries with pictures. Though I haven’t written as much in the last couple years as in years past, it is still very important to us to maintain our family blog. It seems appropriate to post a short welcome back entry tonight, as we are preparing for all the kids to return to school this coming week.

Four. Four children. Four corners. 1. 2. 3. 4.

There is a certain beautiful symmetry to having four children. Two boys, two girls. Everyone has a buddy. Four pairs of shoes lined up by the door. Four portraits hanging on the wall. Four toothbrushes waiting on the bathroom counter.