There's a First Time for Everything

Growing up without TV, movies - no TV, we read a lot of books and had a lot of books read to us.  We also had to eat a lot of bananas.  I now don't really consider myself a big reader and I don't like bananas.  Nothing on my upbringing, I've just found I don't like to sit still long enough to finish a book, and bananas make me gag.  Regardless, whilst growing up we listened to a lot of The Berenstain Bears.  Papa and Mama Bear sure did have a lot to say about the world, but one thing that really stuck with me was something Papa Bear said.  "There's a first time for everything."  There was a first time I listened to a book and a first time I had a banana.  Everything I've done has had a first time.  There's many more things I want to do in life and those first times haven't come yet.

This last school year was filled with a lot of "first times".

First Time.  .  .
Carter went to school.
I was a principal.
Miles was alone without his brother.
Carter learned to read and write.
I learned how to make my skin thicker.
I had pink eye.  (Last day of school, who knew)
Carter got a Green Card.
I wrote a Suspension Letter.

Carter and Mom's first day of school!

Carter's final days of Kindergarten!

This list goes on and on.  Overall, it was an outstanding year.  I mean outstanding.  We are so lucky to have such an amazing elementary school for Carter to attend.  In fact, our entire district is remarkable.  We are relatively newly unified and we were recently named the #2 school district in CA based on "bang for your buck".  Test scores, class sizes, and median home values.  Pretty good considering we lost to a wealthy Bay Area school district.

We couldn't have asked for a funnier or more compassionate teacher to introduce Carter to the next twelve years of public school.  Thank you Mr. Merrihew.

I'm sure that year two will be full of firsts.  (That's right, I just signed another one year contract.  Admin contracts are normally written in one to three year increments. )  I can't wait to see what fun awaits for Carter in 1st grade, Miles in his last year at Eileen's, and myself in my second year.  However, for now.  I'm looking forward to celebrating ten years of marriage to my best friend in the entire world.  We're feeling guilty leaving our kids for eight days, but there's a first time for everything.  I'm running 230 miles this weekend with 11 of my running buddies and then it's off to Cabo we go.

We've already started our summer off with more firsts.  We've hosted an English "football" coach for a week.

Jake's been a delight and he's had a few firsts of his own here in Scott Valley.  Cheers to a summer of firsts!

Mother Runner

On my 30th birthday this year, a good friend of mine gave me a pair of tall running socks emblazoned with the words "Mother Runner".  It certainly is a great play on words with a sly appeal.  I do love to run, and I have a decently strong personality.  I can't say the words "Mother Fu####" loosely, but it rhymes and still has the perfect amount of intensity.  I am able to get my tired behind out of bed by 4:45 six mornings a week to run or lift weights.  Nothing takes the stress away or creates a new canvas for the day quite like a run.  Some of the best are when the boys ride their bikes or sit in the stroller and talk to me.

This Mother's Day I was treated to a Mother's Day Party at school.  I got to put on my mom hat for a while and the principal was indisposed.  My cute Kinder greeted me at the door with his arm out and escorted me to my chair, which he also pulled out for me.  He then got a me a plate of fruit, and managed to sneak in a few chocolate donuts onto his own plate.  "I know you like to eat healthy mom!"  He presented me with a nice book all about me and then sang some very nice songs to all the moms with his class.





The book was full of "fill in the blanks" about your mom and hand drawn pictures. With all of my background in education, I'm always looking at how kids draw pictures.  You know what they say about kids who only draw their parents frowning or are pushing so hard with their crayon.  .  .  Luckily, I was smiling in all of my pictures AND the crayon lines appeared faint.  Carter made sure to only guess I weighed 50 pounds, "because I didn't want to be impolite mom", and he made a few references to running.  If my mom had more time she would_______________________ (run).  My mom really loves________________________(running), I think he was supposed to write himself there.  Whoops.

That's okay, buddy.  I do love running.  It makes me a better mommy.  He did however write quite a bit about how I play with him, and that my favorite thing to do with him is play baseball.  A cute cookbook was also included.  In this piece Carter decided to write about how well I make Mac and Cheese.  It's organic folks, okay.  

Miles also made a nice fill in the blank piece about his mother on Mother's day.  He pretty much nailed it with "she would do it right away".   He also got a huge kick out of the flower arrangement he gave me which included Baby's Breath.  "Can you believe it mom?  It's called Baby's Breath."

Mother's Day morning was spent eating an Isbell Men cooked brunch with all of the ladies in the family at Marcia's house.  What a treat to spend the morning across generations and with cousins.  Miles was the waffle man.  Our original plan was to hike into Ruffey Lake, but by my second Mimosa I decided that a quicker hike into Hidden would best suit my afternoon nap agenda.

It was a really nice day.  One in which my kids know me so well.  Nothing else quite fits me like Mother Runner.  Certainly not Mother Baseball Player, or Mother Mac and Cheeser, or Mother Snuggler.  Mother Runner, that's me.  

Miles turns four!

Technically, the interview happened one week and a day after the actual birthday, but I feel it's pretty accurate.

What is your name?  M - I - L - E - S

What is your favorite color?  Green

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A grown up

Who is your best friend?  All of them.  Like Savi, Savina, Clara, Adrian, Ella, Brady, my brother is my best, best, friend.  

What is your favorite food?  Basghetti and Mac and Cheese

What is your favorite thing to do?  Help my daddy.

Who is your favorite animal?  Rocky our horse.

What is one thing you don't like?  Sushi

What can you do now that you are a big boy?  Listen and help.

What was your favorite part of your trip to San Francisco?  Opening my presents.

Where do you like to go to eat?  The pub.  

Instead of a party, we took off to San Francisco for Miles' 4th birthday.  After a LOOOONNNGGG tball game on Thursday evening, we took off in the Subaru.  The boys woke up just in time to go over the Bay Bridge under the lights.  We awoke Friday morning, ordered some chocolate milk from room service, and enjoyed a nice breakfast (read pancakes and bloody Marys).  

From there we hopped on a Big Red Bus and began our whirlwind day. The first stop was in Chinatown.  Armed with $20 each, they made some interesting purchases in the trinket filled shops.  For Miles it was a Golden Crystal and a tiny Thimble.  Carter chose a Ninja costume.  Packing our new treasures along with us, we took in more sights from high in the sky and ended up at the Wharf for lunch.  We wrapped up our time at the wharf with sea lion sightings and street performers.  A small nap for all of us made sure we were prepped for the Giant's game.

Bradley scored sweet seats for Friday evening, only 11 rows behind the Giant's bullpen.  This seating was ominous as we were able to watch at least four pitchers warm up.  It was a terrible game - Giant's lost 0-9, but the fireworks at the end were nice.  By the end of the game, the bright lights of the stadium were triggering a headache for me.  Unfortunately, this morphed into the worst migraine I've ever had.  I had no medication on me, but our insurance allows for a doctor to phone in a prescription.  This was good in that I was able to get it under control, but unfortunately the prescription was sent to what would nicely be described as the ghetto.  Bradley had the boys with him and chalked it up as another cultural experience.

We made a trip to the hotel pool before heading down to the Ferry building for some lunch.  A ride on an old street car was enjoyable.  We made our way back down to the wharf where the highlight of the afternoon was some time at the arcade.  This was NOT the adults' highlight, but the kids enjoyed it.  Another nap was enjoyed before we took off for Miles' fancy birthday dinner.  Our restaurant was overlooking the water, Miles got to enjoy basghetti, and the kids were well behaved.  I brought some party hats, a number four candle, and we got to sing to the birthday boy.  After we finished dinner we walked down to the beach.  Miles let a homeless man know it was his birthday, and the man replied with, "Happy Birthday to you, put a bill in my shoe".  This jingle is still being sung at least once a day, a week later.  We walked further down and found some live music in a restaurant.  Miles danced away for over an hour in front of people he didn't know.  What a way to cap off your birthday evening!

Sunday morning was full of surprises.   We walked on the Golden Gate Bridge and took a tour of the Jelly Belly factory.  Carter was adventurous and tried "booger" and "stinky socks" flavored Jelly Beans.  

The birthday celebration rounded out on Monday when Miles enjoyed a pinata and cupcakes with his friends at Eileen's.  I really can't believe that he is four years old.  I do believe it was an amazing birthday for Miles, and our whole family.  You can't put a price of life experiences, that is of course unless it's your birthday and you need to place a bill in a homeless man's shoe.

Spring Break 2015!

The motto of Spring Break 2015 was "Work Hard, Play Hard".  It was ten blissful days of chores, Spring Cleaning, baseball, riding bikes, snowshoeing, Easter Egg dyeing, yard work, playing in the snow, double ear infections, fixing warranty issues on car, movie theaters, shopping, family movie nights, haircuts, organizing, and birthday parties.  More importantly, it was a week to be home and enjoy each other.  A week to appreciate each other and our home.

Of course the week had a few highlights.  Easter was fun, and better than Easter Eggs was the fact it snowed lightly.  The cousins had fun together and memories were made.

I earned another "Mother of the Year Award" towards the end of the week.  I was ambitious about getting out into the snow and enjoying the outdoors.  The boys were pretty whiny all day and rather argumentative.  I pushed onward and ignored their moods.  The Subaru was loaded with snowshoes, a kid carrier, and sleds.  We didn't make it all the way to Hidden Lake, but we did enjoy a breathtaking view about a half mile in.  I was very proud of Carter as he went snowshoeing for the first time and nailed it.  The kids did a few sled runs when we got back to the car.  As soon as we got home, I asked them to paint the fruit trees and I mowed and fertilized all of the lawns.  Again, they were cranky and grumpy, but I pushed them on.

That night both boys complained of their ears.  .  .  The next morning I had to take the Subaru up to Medford to get something replaced and I was able to squeeze them in at our Pediatrician.  Yep.  Both boys, double ear infections.  Oh, AND Miles threw up in the car on the way up.  I was carless, roaming the streets of Medford, with two boys who had been pushed too hard by their mommy, and were sick.  

Like I said, Mother of the Year.

The boys rounded out the week with a birthday party for Miles' four year old friend Clara.  At the party, Clara's dad asked me if I had heard about the "lip-lock" he had witnessed between his daughter and Miles.  No, I had not.  Apparently, upon picking up his daughter he witnessed the two of them kissing.  Eileen had walked to the kitchen for one minute and came back to find the same situation.  I had a long talk with Miles about how we showed our friends we liked them by giving hugs and compliments, and furthermore he wasn't allowed to kiss a girl until he was A: 15 and B: he asked her permission.  Carter was listening intently and chimed in, "Yes, Miles.  Plus, it wasn't polite of you to kiss her because you knew you had a cold".  

Let's not get too judgmental there Carter, shall I remind you of this.  .  .

Following the birthday party we enjoyed an evening out to dinner at the Pub.  While we were sitting and waiting for our food, musicians began arriving and Miles caught the eye of an older gentlemen with a mustache.  Turns out his name was "Cowboy Johnson" and he shared a business card with Miles.  Miles spent the next hour dancing up a storm to the live music and ended the evening waving goodbye and giving thumbs up to Cowboy Johnson.  At least he didn't try to kiss him.

To finish I'll leave you with Mr. Baseball's first hit of the season!

Big Six!

The big brother turned the big six this year!  The night before his birthday he lost a tooth.  The upper front tooth to be exact.  He didn't so much lose it as he grabbed it and his elbow got knocked out, but either way it's a hell of a deal for the kid because it turns out the night before a birthday, the Tooth Fairy shells out the big dough.  $10 to be exact.

Carter invited six friends over to participate in a Jedi Training Camp.  All young Jedis reported for training camp and were given a robe, light saber, and task cards.  

Bradley constructed a black hold in the garage from 2x4s and black plastic, the kids popped StormTrooper balloons with light sabers, practiced their shooting skills with Nerf Guns, dodged lasers, and crossed hot lava to defeat Darth Vader.  We topped it all off with some pizza and cupcakes.  The highlight of the party was Auntie Raylene's Sumo Bumpers.  Next year we may have to hold a sumo wrestler training session.

In keeping in line with tradition, Carter answered his annual interview questions this evening.  Here goes.  

Name:  Carter Bradley Isbell

What is your favorite thing to do?  Build mini legos and play baseball.  

Who is your best friend?  Aidan Stewart

Favorite Color?  Red

Favorite Toy?  My BB gun

Favorite Food?  Corndogs

Favorite Drink?  Chocolate Milk

Perfect Day?  My birthday!

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Airplane Pilot and President

What will you miss about being five?  I will REALLY miss Kindergarten

What are you looking forward to about being six?  Doing more fun stuff like another year of T-ball with my brother, going to first grade

What are you really good at?  Building legos and playing baseball.

What are your chores?  I feed Rocky and the chickens when my dad needs my help.  I help my dad build projects.  I empty my green folder from my backpack and get my snack ready for the next day.  

Favorite thing to watch?  The new Lone Ranger, Indiana Jones, and MacGyver

What is your favorite thing about school?  Recess!  I like greeting everyone in the school with my mom.  

Anything you'd like to add about yourself?  I really like going to Disneyland and CarsLand.  

You've never met a more responsible, kind, smart, creative, and detail oriented kid.  We love you to the moon and back a bajillion times Carter.  

Love the Ones You're With

February was only 28 days long this month, but I swear we packed enough into those four weeks to fill a year.  A day short of Valentine's day Miles and I took off for a weekend in New Mexico with my college roomie and her triplets.  Carter was invited along but he has perfect attendance at school and didn't want to miss a day.  I left behind some V-day treats, ensured the frozen food supply, made sure our Amazon Prime credit card info was up to date, and left the boys to fend for themselves.

Miles and I spent a night in Medford, hopped up out of bed at 5am and jumped aboard two planes.  Greeting us in Albuquerque were Kendra and her three beautiful almost two year olds.  Miles was quite the travel companion and did really well all through our visit.  His worst moments came post gummy worms at a yogurt place, and I don't really think that counts.  I wish I was half the mom Kendra is.  Her patience, easygoing nature, and schedule make for parenting genius.  I got to see her husband Micah for a bit and we were both appreciative of the night on the town he provided us with.  It was genuinely heartwarming to watch our friendship pick up right where it left off.  You know you're pretty well off, when the toughest parts of your mini vacay are pushing triplets in one stroller at 6,000 feet on a run.  One hell of a workout.  We were mommy warriors.  We ran, went to the zoo, an aquarium, botanical garden, outdoor mall (with really bad drivers), an REI garage sale (save yourselves), and even out to brunch AT A RESTAURANT.  Olympic distance triathlons have nothing on that business.

Better than the trip itself was the time spent one on one with Miles.  That kid is an AMAZING traveler.  Not only did he get TWO sets of wings, but he never complained, didn't cry once, and enjoyed free rides on my rolling suitcase.

Valentine's Day was spent without my other two true loves, but I was able to love the ones I was with.  The day after we returned I took both boys on a run and bike ride.  Love this view.  .  .

Love Grows

When Bradley and I got married I struggled with what to engrave on his wedding ring.  My mom helped me come up with the phrase "Love Grows".  Being 20 years old, I basically associated this term with his love of gardening.  Ten years later, it rings true a million fold.  Your love for your partner or your children grows.  In growth we can change, but in essence we grow.  When you get married, you can't imagine loving anyone more than your husband or wife, but then you have a child.  You can't imagine loving anything more, and then you have another child.

Sometimes I tell my boys and Bradley that I love them, but simply saying "I love you", doesn't seem to justify how truly deeply I care about them.  Our love pours over into our pets too.  Last weekend Maggie went to doggie heaven.  We got Maggie when Bradley and I had only been dating a couple of months.  She's seen us through many twists and turns of life and has always shown nothing but undeterred love.  Except when I went on a run and didn't take her.  Then she went to my nightstand, took my glasses, gobbled them up, and spit them into several pieces.  She was an excellent friend and companion to all of us and we truly miss her every day.

This week Carter received three awards at school (Citizen of the Month, 100 days of perfect attendance, and Scholastic Achievement) and was also a part of the homecoming royalty at the high school.  My love for this kid runs deep.  Pride and love.  He does the right thing time and time again.

Miles has felt a bit left out this week, and my love for him grows as I see more and more of his personality.  This week he stepped out of the car at the end of the driveway, took a deep breath, and said, "Mom, it smells like crap!".  "What did you say Miles?"  "You know mom, those things we caught at the ocean?".  "Oh, crab Miles.  You thought it smelled like crab."  "That's what I said mom, crap, it smells like crap".  I don't know if I love more the fact that I totally could assume he would smart off and say what I think he said, or that he so innocently mispronounced the word.  As Carter got dressed up for homecoming, Miles joined in the fun too.

It seems so timely to speak of love during the week we celebrate Saint Valentine.  What could the world accomplish if we all believed that love grows?  Plant the seed, and grow the love.