2009 In Review - Setting Roots

Sorry we didn't send our annual e-Tine last year, some of you stumbled onto it, but we never "sent" it so don't feel bad if you didn't hear from us. We were a bit tied up buying our first home (a foreclosure that was neglected and will keep us happily busy forever). We have yet to "catch up" with life, but didn't want another Valentine's Day to pass (too far ; ) without sending our love.

We care about each of you. You frequent our thoughts. We hope that all is well and that your lives are full of love and laughter. To those who have sent updates... thank you! We love to hear from you (even if we can't find the time to respond). To those of you who remain silent... we still think of you and would love to know how you are doing!!!


This very week marks our first anniversary as mortgage owners! We were sad to leave our old community, but we love the three minute commute to Ben's office, our great yard, and wonderful new associations. Now that we're in our 30's and have four kids, it has been a relief to finally put down roots (time to plant asparagus)! We love filling our extra bedrooms with family/friends, so call if you're going to be in the area!

E's started kindergarten and is a great reader. Spike and Mike is her favorite book. She cranks out about ten books of her own each week. In November, she used Papa Rich's images to teach her class about nebulae. At recess, she leads her own spy club. She and her agents ask for permission before spying on others so as not to hurt their feelings. She is a patient and engaging big sister. She is extremely articulate with the occasional, fun blurp. (Today, she expressed great concern that the "Helaman" was leaking from her brothers' Valentine balloons. )

B loves preschool and is getting lots of help with his annunciation. The little guy is pretty amazing with his communication adaptations though. His sound effect tales are unparalleled. His therapist giggled though most of his speech assessments - I guess not too many kids use lip smacking gulps to identify fish ; ). B melts hearts and is very sensitive to others. He's always the first to notice when Mommy doesn't have water at dinner and races to remedy the situation. B still loves to place things in perfect rows. I found him with the Pull-Ups in a meticulous arc across the living room floor this week. He has learned to be gentle with his little brothers just in time for them to be able to take him on. His favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham - he loves to take turns reading the parts.

S reads EVERY letter he sees. He is the first of our children to take interest in ABC books. He lives in them. On the side, he explores electronics, sings (with amazing projection), flirts like crazy, and carefully absorbs the world around him. Thankfully, he is just starting to think about scaling the side of his crib (G - who sleeps in a deeper crib - would have done it by now). Most mornings, he sings and waits for liberation.

G makes a point of tuning out the world. He figures if he closes his eyes, you disappear, and he can do whatever he wants. He lives for cars, trains, being outside ("shoes" was one of his first words), and dancing on tables. I kind of like the dances because he tries to smooth things over with great cuddles (rare from him) when I take him down. I really can't keep up with the stunts though, so the chairs are often tied to the table. True to his life propulsion, Trucks is his favorite book.

Note on twins: We are often asked which of our twins is more "naughty" or "difficult." Even though you might guess the easy answer from the above anecdotes, we do try hard not to label S & G or to overgeneralize their behaviors. Both boys have active, sedate, joyous, devastating, mischievous, and compliant moments daily. Though the above descriptions are indicative of this phase of life, who knows who they will each be next week. They are both just "normal" two-year olds.

Not only is Ben an incredible therapist, but he is now the office manager, is a board member for our state's Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and teaches for Argosy whenever we feel up to it. Though he is immensely busy providing for us, he usually takes the morning shift with the kids so I can have some "Mommy time." He does much of his own "defragging" over breakfasts with other therapists & racquetball/weight lifting/golf/etc with friends. The kids are never so happy as when his gigantic, gentle, joyous, unconditionally loving presence is in the room. Today I decided that I need to be more like him when I grow up. ; )

(Note: Thanks to Ben's great discipline, his "gigantic presence" is now 30 lbs lighter. Oh that discipline were infectious!)

With the exponential increase in intensity in our home, "Mommy and Daddy" have had to explore more parenting resources. Love and Logic classes and Screamfree Parenting have served us well this year. As for our alter egos, it's hard for "Sarah and Ben" to get out much, so we're refining the art of "in-home" dating - planning the renovation of our neglected backyard (it was all glass and dust when we moved in), playing German boardgames, and consuming a lot of science fiction. This year, we discovered the Ender series of novels by Orson Scott Card and have moved from Star Trek: DS9 to Star Trek: Voyager in our Netflix queue.

I love being home full time with our children. I am coming to understand the eternal woe of motherhood - children growing faster than I can keep up with; not enough time for everything I would like to do for/with them; the sad irony of ending the loveliest of days with a threat ("stay in bed or...!"). There aren't enough hours in the day for things on the home front, and yet somehow, I have been lured to dabble in my field a bit this year. I love it, but as I "neglect" the kids a bit to do so, Kermit's questions play through my mind... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name. Are these the sweet [Siren] sounds that called the young sailors?... So I move forward in fits and spurts as a "wind pioneer" - promoting wind energy in this corner of the state (volunteer), and pursing my goal of six years - Master Gardener certification (wish I had done this before the MS - it would have helped the learning curve). Both activities are invigorating and play into my vague vision of making "urbanity" more sustainable. But for now, I'm trying to "do good" without sacrificing too much. There are (richly rewarding) things at home that only I can do. What a rush to explore with E and her microscope or to throw some new science topic at her just to see how much she'll absorb! So far she's a sponge and the boys are right on her heels!

We're truly blessed and are grateful for the impact you have had on our lives, and on those of our children in turn.

Loves!
The Erwins