February Adventures

February started off with lots and lots of energy. Besides the pillow forts and Ninja warrior moves, our house was getting pumped up for the big Super Bowl game.

John's beloved 49ers made it to the Super Bowl, and it turned into quite an event in the Patton household.

John's brother and his family made the trip down from Seattle.
John and Rob, two lifelong devoted fans, needed camaraderie during this most tense game.
The emotions in the house swung drastically from elation to despair in a matter of moments; and ultimately the defeat led to some mild depression, disappointment and tears.

To Levi, it seemed that the world was doomed to cease spinning on its axis. I tried to explain to him that nothing is going to change in his little world tomorrow when he wakes up.
Evie wailed that she was "so sad for Daddy."
Daddy is gonna be ok.
I  promise.
After a day or two.

He had to be ok because he had a very special date with a very special little girl.

 The Daddy-Daughter Dance at the school is always a big event, and Evie looks forward to dressing up and having Daddy all to herself.

These two have such a special bond. I love it. 

February 7 marked the most anticipated day for the three little boys in our home: TURNING SIX! 🎉🥳

It was a weekend of celebrating.

Evie decorated the kitchen for the boys.
She really wanted  them to be "flocked" (after observing what took place in our neighbor's front yard).
 Streamers and pictures would have to do.

Evie wanted to spend some of her own money to buy this special birthday gift for her brothers:
a basketball shooting game. It takes up half their bedroom but it sure is fun!

The Harlem Globe Trotters came to Portland on February 8.
The boys enjoyed it but would have preferred more actual game playing rather than all the show and glitz.

Then there was Valentines Day.

 I'm totally obsessed with their little school parties.
I'm sad that this is their last one in Kindergarten. 

There are only so many years when they will really want Mom to be involved. 

They were so delighted by all the little valentine cards they received from their friends. 

John was gone in San Diego for business the week leading up to Valentines Day.
However, the kids and I were going to meet up with him after school on Friday in San Diego for a long weekend of family fun.

I was paranoid for weeks leading up to our February 14 family vacation departure. The last thing I wanted-the last thing any parent wants- is  kids throwing up on an airplane...especially when I would be traveling solo with my four kids for the first time.

Everyone is in charge of their own stuff. 

Definitely going to gate check all these. 

I never ever  EVER thought that I would be able to fly with my four kids alone...and not be that nervous about it!

 A few years ago, my mom encouraged me one hectic afternoon as we corralled the triplet toddlers in our living room.





"Someday," she said, "you will be able to leave the house by yourself and it will be perfectly normal and fine. They will follow you like normal people."

I really didn't believe her because life at that time was so chaotic. The thought of flying with them was terrifying and unimaginable.

But my Mom was right; they aren't toddlers anymore.

Once we got to the airport, I was on high germ alert. With the Coronavirus and all the gunk everywhere, I frantically began trying to wipe down everything they touched.
I soon realized that I couldn't follow them around the next four days with a bottle of Lysol, so I committed to giving up my paranoia right then and there.
Nope. My heart didn't skip a beat as they pressed their hands and faces up against windows and public railings and then played with the chewing gum in their mouth. 😜😳


Despite all the hacking and sneezing on the plane, the damp public restrooms, sticky rides and even licking the glass on the monkey cage (yes, you read that right) we managed to stay healthy.



Sunny San Diego!

Blue skies and palm trees. Good for the soul. 

 We've been married almost 15 years and John still put a little Valentines Day card in the passenger seat of the rental car when he came to pick us all up. He never fails to let me know he is thinking of me, even if Valentines Day is a Hallmark holiday.😍
It wasn't  candle light and wine that night; it was crying, exhausted, slightly greasy kids crawling into the hotel beds late at night.
But it was romantic in its own way.
In fact, there was something about the entire next day navigating the insanely crowded LegoLand that drew us close.

Building our life together is about as romantic as it gets. 

Waking up each morning with kids in our bed and carrying tired bodies around amusement parks defines our season. We remember to laugh at the wonderful absurdity of it all.

Oh, don't get me wrong, there were moments of frustration and crabbiness; but I found myself gazing at  my delighted six year olds and eight year old, etching the memory of who they are in this moment in my mind.

We spent two days in Lego Land. We were here two years ago, and this is a place that they have been talking about ever since. They were thrilled to return and relive the magic.

Our third day was spent at the San Diego Zoo.
It was a massive zoo, and the kids were a bit tired and blinded by the bright foreign fireball in the sky.

 But, perhaps better than the zoo was the Safari Park, which we visited on the fourth day before we headed back to the airport to return home.

 It really felt like we were on a safari in Africa. 

If you ask the kids what their favorite part of the vacation was, I believe they would probably say, "Ice cream everyday."

"The hotel pool."

 "The all you can eat fruit loops in the morning."

" Pizza dinner on the couch in the hotel room while watching TV."

Don't get me wrong, I know they had fun at Lego Land and the zoo, but it was the smaller, less extravagant things that they seemed to be most thrilled about.

I also think they would say "having Mom and Dad's constant attention."

I love vacations because there is time to hear the thoughts of my kids.

James is such a deep thinker and observer. He often comments on the stars in the sky, sunsets and beautiful flowers.

Caleb takes notes on how he can replicate at home all that's going on around him. He wants to build his own amusement park and create his own zoo show.

Levi is constantly trying to determine who or what is more advantagous.
"Mom, would a bear or a lion win?" 
"Dad, would a Cheetah or a gazelle be faster?" 

Evelyn is just trying to figure out the adult world and how she can fit in it. She enjoyed "counting her steps" on John's old Apple watch and taking pictures on the phone.

She was also really enthusiastic about the flamingos at the zoo.

I'm always glad to return home though.
Four days living in a hotel room with my kids and being pulled and hung on constantly wears me out.  Once again I'm so pleased that they get to return to school for the day! :)
I really love doing the mounds of laundry and grocery shopping upon our return in the quiet.

Dreaming about our family and the future is something John and I talk about a lot; what we witnessed this past weekend was a dream becoming reality.

We have a whole, happy family.

We have a team.

We are doing life together and making memories.

This family is getting really fun :) 

A Good Sigh

In a family, there are so many relationships to attend to and nurture.
 Sometimes it can feel like a full time job.
Between the sky scrapers of laundry and the never-ending pile of broken toys that need batteries or repairs, life has a way of filling up every spare moment, which leaves very little time for the things that matter, the people.

Welcome 2020. What a party.

Having lunch with a girlfriend the other day, she asked me how I was doing.  To my own surprise, I answered her with a big (happy) sigh. I was taken back by my response because since the start of school, my replies to this question have always been an exaggerated (but honest) "Amazing!"
When I took a moment to reflect on my sigh, I realized that it was due to the desire and pressures to maintain so many very important relationships in my life.
And, I'm striving to do better than simply maintain them; I'm trying to thrive in them.


As my kids are getting older, my role has taken on more than just caretaker to them. I now want to have a relationship with them. It takes a lot of intention and work because I don't just want to be with them, I want to know them, understand them and encourage them. And that takes time.

James on our rare one-on-one date at Burgerville

Sitting in line at the DEQ the other day, I quickly dialed the number to our children's doctor to make my kids a long over due "well child" visit.  While on the phone with the receptionist, I am interrupted by a call from the school nurse telling me that Levi is in the office complaining of a "hurt jaw and bottom teeth pain."
"He told me is ran into a soccer pole 10 days ago," the nurse said.
This is news to me. When she asked me what I wanted to do, I told her to send him back to class and I'd investigate it later.
Clicking back to the receptionist at the doctor's office, she informed me that she finally found a time slot that would work for all four kids to be seen at the same time.
"We usually don't do this large of an appointment," she explained. "But your situation is unique, so the doctor gave permission."
Unique.
 If that is my case, I took some solace in that and diagnosed my sigh.

A lot of my days are filled with tasks and errands that are related to my family. There are always new shoes to buy, or pants or coats; there is hair to untangle and nails to clip. My life is filled with so much maintenance that I have to create space for growing relationships. And for someone who needs my own space, without anyone, to recharge and not talk, it can leave me with only a sigh.
 It's a good sigh, but a sigh.

I've grown sympathetic to the fact that the boys share a room and there is constant noise and activity in their space. I often wonder if in fact they desire a quiet retreat, a dwelling apart from all the chaos and activity and discussion.
We've recently refinished the guest space in the basement, so the extra room upstairs is now open. I've offered the boys the space, in case one of them feels like they need a break from sharing a room with two others.
They haven't taken me up on it. They don't know an existence apart from sharing a room with two other brothers.
 However, recently one of the boys will wake up grumpy the next morning, claiming that one of the brothers "kept them up all night." Usually it's the jokester, Caleb. He thinks it's hilarious to wake up next to one of his brothers, occupying their twin bed together.
Levi and James think it's completely obnoxious and annoying, and despite telling him to stop, Caleb still manages to end up in one of their beds in the morning, so amused by his scheme.

Finally on day, Levi and James had had enough. I found them one Saturday morning hauling boxes of their toys and clothes out of their room, down the hall to the open guest room.
Apparently, they decided that they were going to move out of their shared bedroom, leaving Caleb to it alone. The two of them where setting up their new room down the hall.
That night the two of them shared the queen bed happily, while Caleb had the entire room to himself. He was a little apprehensive about sleeping alone, but I comforted him saying that now he could jump to whatever bed he wanted during the night without anyone getting mad.
He remained in his bed the whole night.

I wondered how long this sleeping arrangement would last.

Levi and James slept fine together in the queen bed. However, by mid morning, I heard arguing upstairs. Upon investigation, I witnessed James grumbling and scowling as he hauled boxes of trains and clothes out of the guest room back into the other room with Caleb.
 Levi came after him with, "Here, you forgot these too!"
Now Levi had the whole guest room to himself.

By nightfall, Levi realized that he was scared to sleep in a room by himself, so he moved his blankets back into the room with Caleb and James.

Learning to navigate relationships is so important; but, having an open, undesignated
 room is probably a good idea in a family of six. ;)

Wild Wild West

Do you see them?!!
All of them.
....Those big red faces,
                   those large noses,
                      deep set eyes, 
        stoic lips and chins. 
They are serious, all these faces,
ages of minding their own business,
silently
watching the world below.

There is power in these red rocks. 
John and I feel it as we stand above, perched on top of Cathedral Rock, over looking the Sedona canyons.

It is obvious why this place exudes a sacredness and a Presence.

It is the finger print of a Creative God who delights in us, crafting towering slabs of granite; we can't help but  gasp in awe.

The vastness of it all makes me feel as if I am a foreigner in an unknown land. I am struck by the beauty and fragility of life.

 It is here we celebrate the successes of this past year. John was awarded Top Performer last year at work, and thus, we were awarded this amazing trip to Arizona.
It was a time for just the two of us, (thanks to the unwavering love of grandparents at home!)
It was a five day retreat into the red rocks of Sedona, under the most striking blue sky I have ever witnessed.

The temperature was chilly and one morning we awoke to the rocks dusted with snow; it was exhilarating to be alive in such radiant surroundings, to be so free.

We spent our time away playing, exploring, relaxing and reflecting.
Some times there was conversation; other times there was simply companionship. 

This is part of our collection of shared experiences over the years, over the almost fifteen years of marriage together.

We hiked every day.
As we set out to climb, the towering rocks above me seemed impossible to maneuver.
When I gazed up at our goal destination high above me, fear began to seep in.
The rocks were so high, so out of reach, and the journey seemed treacherous as I analyzed the route.

Once we began, I focused on only the trail right before me, on the next step, the next ledge in which to put my foot.
I concentrated on the cracks and crevices in which to pull myself up and over.
And as we ascended the rocks, I was amazed every time I looked up.
We were indeed climbing,
 rising,
going somewhere.
Together, the two of us; we were conquering this intimidating red giant.

And as we pulled ourselves up over the final ledge, we marveled at what was before us. What we saw was more magnificent than we could have imagined at the beginning of our climb.

We had faith that it would be worth it, but oh, we had no idea! 

And in that moment on top of the mountain, I was suddenly struck with such clarity and insight into my life.
Perhaps it was a whispered word from God upon that sacred overlook. In my heart I felt that suddenly I understood what was expected of me in my life.

  As we climbed, I realized that the only thing we had to concentrate on was the moment right before us, being faithful to navigate the cracks and crevices we could see and do the best to pull ourselves  onward, to live with a vision cast Upward.

And suddenly the Giants we thought we had to conquer were gone; the fear of having to figure this whole thing out-this thing called Life- in an instant was vanquished.
And in its place was peace. 

As we celebrated our victory at the top, John realized that ahead there was more.
The trail said "end," but beyond it was hints that this wasn't it.
So we continued, we explored, we cautiously traversed the opposite end of the canyon.

Fueled by our success and unexpected encounter with such bounty, we were zealous for more.
Our curiosity and efforts paid off because there was indeed more, so much more.

Perhaps life is lived in the crevices and the cracks; 

it is the faithful plodding along, one step and then another. 

And before long we look before us, and we marvel at how we got here. 

And we gasp at the beauty of it all.