Gnocci

 This meal is a memory for me.  I was already having an emotional day for some reason when I started this dish.  Italian comfort food.  Little potato pasta dumplings.  

The last time I went to my Grandma’s house she taught me how to make it at my request. I had driven myself there with my brother and a friend.  It was over my Christmas break sophomore year of college.  It was my last visit because she passed away that spring.  We made a small batch together, and her instructions were not like a typical recipe, more of a tactile guideline “Just add in flour till it feels like this…”A little hard to remember 20+ years later.  She didn’t teach me how to roll it down a fork to make the little ridges.  She didn’t fuss with those. I had to pick that up from the internet.  Time consuming and unnecessary maybe.  Her food wasn’t trying to be fancy or impress you.  Gnocci was just a humble dumpling she made for her picky eater granddaughter who wouldn’t eat the eggplant parm or ravioli she was serving.

I imagined her with me as I cooked today.  Maybe she would have thought I was doing it wrong or taking some silly unnecessary steps.  But I’m sure she wouldn’t have criticized.  I could almost hear her say, “Isn’t that nice!?!” As she always did.

Letting one leave

This new phase of parenting has not been my favorite.  I prefer having all my people under the same roof every night.  This kid has grown into such an amazing person who I love to hang out with and now he's leaving me.  Spring was a whirlwind of graduation festivities.  Here are a couple pictures from his graduation party.

Many of his cousins made the trip.

The tradition is to decorate your cap to indicate where you will be attending college.

This picture illustrates what Luca is like as a big brother.  Here we are packing up to leave from a summer swim meet.

College orientation visit.

He let me take his picture for a book we made together.

High school did a signing day for all kids who plan to play a sport in college.

This was the last ride together in our family minivan.  It was actually hard for me to let go of the van and downsize.  We were coming back from a trip to Shenandoah.  Often times all our personalities in one confined space for hours would lead to conflict, but this moment was silly and peaceful and I realized how much I would miss this.

18th and 9th birthdays.  Combined party at sky zone.  I figured the older kids didn't get invited to sky zone parties much anymore.

I have said this before, but swimming is the best family sport.  This was their last summer practice all 4 together.  I don't know any other sport where a 9 year old and his 18 year old brother can have equal importance and opportunity in scoring points for their team.  One of our goals since we started summer swim was to have all 4 kids double trophy at champs meet.  Last year we came close, but Tommy got too scared to swim one of his events.  This year we did.  8 top 10 finishes at champs.

Our last Sunday together at church before Luca left for college.
 

Water Polo

Both older boys are playing water polo on club team at Calvert Hall this spring.  It has been amazing to watch them play together on the U18 team.  James played last spring and this fall, but it is Luca's first time.  He had 3 goals in his first game!  It's a tough exhausting sport but so fun to watch.  Jeremiah got me a new camera and lens for Christmas so I have been having fun trying to get good action shots.  More to come.

 

Easter Solo

 I am posting more frequently lately.  Feeling more sentimental with the upcoming departure of my oldest to college.  I know everyone says "it was just yesterday..."  But wasn't it?  When he wouldn't hold my hand as he toddled down the sidewalk?    Here Luca is practicing for an Easter Sunday solo.  I couldn't record the actual at church.  I am going to miss hearing this strong voice beside me every week.

Kitchen Window

 Our house has floor to ceiling windows in the kitchen.  They're not glamorous.  Old and drafty, the frames are scratched up by the previous owner's cats.  Luca looked at me standing there awkwardly staring out the window.  He could see me from the other room, but he couldn't see out the window down to the driveway.  "What are you smiling at?"  He asked me.  Confused why I had been standing there motionless with a silly smile on my face.  Just watching my kids play hopscotch on a warm spring day.  Just feeling perfectly happy for a few minutes.

Rocky Mountain High

We had a fantastic time visiting Uncle Tommy and Jean and skiing the slopes of Vail and Beaver Creek.  

 

Some of my favorite moments weren't on the slopes, but rather at Tommy and Jean's beautiful new home.  An old family tradition of ours in a new space.  I love these moments of working together and then eating together.

And probably my favorite moment of the trip.  My 4 kids sat down together designing and drawing ski mountains.  I have been so blessed by their creativity.  This moment struck me so profoundly for a couple of reasons.  It started as the younger two drawing, but the older brothers took an interest and joined in.  We are so busy at home with everyone's activities that moments of the four of them all together are not as common as they once were.  Also, my Luca is a senior, the days of us all together under one roof every night are fleeting.    

Lastly, upon our return home, Luca conceived this idea and enlisted the help of his siblings to bring it to fruition.  

Going to be a part of it, New York

 For my birthday weekend we took the Acela train to NYC.  Train was the way to go!  So much better than driving.  We were there in less than 2.5 hours.  We enjoyed snacks and a game of cards at the table.

Hotel gyms have been an obsession for all my kids.  Tommy takes it to a new level.  He would be too fatigued to take another step on our walk around the city, so Jeremiah had to give him a ride on his shoulders.  Then Tommy hit the treadmill for a 15% uphill sprint at 6 mph.  Good thing he saved his energy.

Last time we visited the Empire State Building, I had to nurse baby Luca in the restroom at the top, so it's been a while.

Luca and James with their buds Max and Oliver in Times Square after the show.

My favorite Tommy quote of the weekend.  As we are walking from Penn Station to our hotel surrounded by hordes of people leaving a Rangers game, overwhelming pot smell everywhere, Tommy says, "There are so many different smells in NY, Mom."