I get by with a little help

     This week was initially hard for me.  The sub-zero temps don't normally keep me indoors (I have the best all-terrain stroller on the planet), but the bitter wind, sub-zero temperatures and a mitten strike kept us indoors.  On Mondays we usually go to Tot Time at the Rec Center and on Tuesdays we usually go to Sara's Stories at the Red Balloon Bookshop.  We skipped both.  By Tuesday night I was going a little batty, having not seen other adult humans and listening to a long list of complaints ("I not like this!" from William, "My teeth hurt!" from Wesley) for too many days.  Our friend Christine from the Community of St. Martin came to my rescue Tuesday night, allowing me a little conversation with someone who is not packing the willpower of a draft horse into a two-year-old body.  She also played ball and read to William, allowing me a little rest while Wesley napped in the early evening.  Wednesday was survived through the help of our friends Sasha and Pete who lent us their extra car for Zac to drive to work.  The high on Wednesday was 1 degree Fahrenheit, so I was grateful to be able to drive to our friends house for a playdate.  Emery and William played all morning long and Wesley decided to learn to sit up on their hard wood floor.  He only fell over once, and hasn't fallen over since!  Emery's mom, Annie, is a perfect comrade during these long cold winter days full of two-year-old melt-downs.  On one hand, we can share a sense of humor about the two-year-old stage, and on the other, we can also share in our amazement and enjoyment of our boys' developing personalities and interests.  William has started an African Dance and Drumming class and, within two weeks, already picked up how to hold the drum (tilted so the sound comes out) and plays using many different kinds of tones.  He usually sings while he plays.  I haven't actively instructed him on this, but his observations of the class were enough for him to pick this up at home.  
    Even after a fun morning playing with friends, I was more than excited to leave the house with Zac to go hear Bill McKibbon speak at the University of St. Thomas Wednesday evening (made possible by babysitter Grandma Susan!)  If you haven't heard of 350.org or Bill McKibbon, I invite you to learn more and get involved in the movement to reduce the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and stop climate change.  It will be impossible for human life to exist on this planet if we continue to burn as much fossil fuel as we are planning to.  If the Keystone Pipeline is built from Canada (where there is 7 times as much oil as the Middle East), it will be global suicide.  But, of course, there is a lot of interest in producing oil on this continent and pushing the inevitable transition from fossil fuels to another generation who will also be dealing with all the natural disasters and disease climate change will bring.  One psychologist from UST, Dr. Elise Amel, said the global climate crisis is not an environmental problem, it's a human psychology problem.  If we were rational beings, we would of course stop doing behaviors that were self-damaging.  But we are not rational beings and it is very difficult to change our behavior, even when all the evidence suggests our behavior will lead to the extinction of our species.  Heavy stuff, but I left also feeling inspired and revitalized by all the energy in the room and the humor of all the presenters.  There is a global movement ready to make this transition and make the sacrifices necessary to preserve our planet, but the work is still ahead to win the hearts and minds of the people who still are oblivious or nonchalant (which is maybe more dangerous than ignorance).
     Thursday we were back in routine, heading to our E.C.F.E. (Early Childhood Family Education) class.  By the time we were home for lunch-time I was more than relieved to see Grandma #2 (my mom Ann) in the driveway, ready for two days of grandkid time.  I enjoyed a full morning of running errands Friday without kids in tow.  I know my life is different because, when I am at Target without kids I think to myself, "Wow, this is amazing."  I have never had this experience in Target before.  Friday afternoon I had a little rehearsal for an upcoming gig and Friday night I enjoyed Happy Hour with my friend, Diane, who introduced me to one of the best things I have ever eaten--Figgy Pudding.  I have been longing for it ever since.
     This weekend we are out on the town--visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Art and IKEA--two great institutions of high culture.  I am sick to my stomach from a hot dog whose only virtue was being $.50.  We spent Friday night eating pizza and playing music with Sasha and Pete, who are planning their May wedding.  Wesley and I had a great time at the bridal shower for the beautiful Sasha Saturday afternoon.  This morning (Sunday), Mom and Dad and both kids are enjoying a relaxing morning in pajamas, listening to a soundtrack of William's play-chatter and high-pitched singing.  At some point Zac will need to work on another project he is doing on a contract basis, I will need to finish writing my Shared Word for the Community of St. Martin tonight, and we might all need to get dressed.  But Sundays are meant to be unproductive and all that can wait.  Zac and William are headed outside to play in the snow.
     I had a hard time this week, but I made it with the help of a large community of people who care about us and help.  Thank you.  I'll leave you with a Native American saying meteorologist Paul Douglas shared with us Wednesday night:

   "We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children."  (Thanks, kids!)

Wesley is a different baby now he can sit up!  So much more to see from above ground level!

William likes to play games with Wesley.  In this game he covers him with a blanket and plays peek-a-boo, usually rolling on the floor with him. Wesley squeals with delight.  I like this picture because it is an honest picture of how our house usually looks, but in a real flattering light with my Valentine roses on display!

T.G.F.G.!