January 29th, 2018 by mica
We’ve begun the new year with much activity!
At school, Ronan is hard at work. This term, he’s testing and experimenting to determine the optimal chemical make-up of clothes that will endure life on Mars!
After school, he’s busy climbing. That’s kinda the simple routine around here. School, climbing gym, sleep. Repeat. Last week he was so excited to have his buddy Seth accompany him for an afternoon on the walls.
I think this picture says it all.
About a week ago, Ronan and I took a road trip down to Los Angeles for a surgical procedure– a lingual frenuloplasty. Fancy words for removing the string under his tongue, allowing more mobility in his palate. After all these years, we’ve learned that Ronan has had a tongue tie, which explains much! And surprise, surprise- he was part of the minority of kids who reacted to the sedative with complete hyper activity. Thankfully, we were in a hospital where we had the option to put him under with anesthetic and he did great. We recovered in Los Angeles and my navigator helped me weave through the LA traffic to get back home.
Austin continues to be one very happy girl in Sausalito. We’re back on a houseboat, which feels like a tremendous gift. A short walk to school, friendly neighbors, and a home that rocks us to sleep at night.
And then there are kayak rides with dad at sunset. I mean what could be better?
Austin is all about music these days:)
Here she’s preparing for a duet with her friend for an upcoming school performance. Learning languages and piano, practicing for the school play— she’s able to do what she loves during the day.
This has been a challenging season for the Underwood parents as we try to figure out how to serve the needs of two very different children, now in schools in different cities. I am hopeful that we are getting closer to figuring out how to run life with additional ease:)
As I reflect on this past month, I am thankful for my friends and all their listening and advice, for the endless support my folks have given these past few months, and for Gentry, who has stretched himself between jobs and kids and showed up as an incredible father.
I love this picture of him, gliding across the lagoon in one of our neighbor’s boats. I appreciate how, in the midst of all that he has going on, he seems to find openings into beauty, nature, adventure and new friends.
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January 8th, 2018 by mica
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January 7th, 2018 by mica
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December 15th, 2017 by mica
It has been a joy to watch Austin discover the piano. She has a natural ear and gift for music and her new school is helping to expose her to many more opportunities around musical expression.
I’ve also never met a child with so much of her own “magic.” One night, we were preparing lunch for the next day when Austin remarked that she’d really love to bring something special to share with her friends during the meal. The doorbell rang and the next door neighbors in Sausalito brought us several freshly baked baguettes that they’d been perfecting in their kitchen. Austin, smiled with an “of course” reaction to the visitation.
We’re learning that Austin has a quick mind for math as well a persistence to keep on when problems get tough. Here Gentry is teaching her about fractions, to which she caught on to surprisingly fast.
I love these shots from Ronan’s Brightworks photo shoot. I mean what other school encourages kids to show up for their pictures in clothing that best represents themselves?
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December 11th, 2017 by mica
At the end of November, Ronan entered the world of double digits! Pops sent us this beautiful pic of Grandee holding a newborn Ronan…
Ten years ago, Ronan was a wide-eyed and alert baby, taking in the whole hospital and refusing to miss a moment of life by sleeping or eating. He continues much in this vein today, so deeply immersed is he in the job of learning…
On his birthday, he received many gifts and one of his favorites was a present from Austin– a first aid kit for his lab. Below he is evaluating the kit and adding in new pieces to make it more comprehensive and useful.
Through Brightworks and the gentle nudging of one of the collaborators there, Ronan has recently found rock climbing. We spend hours together each day after school on the bouldering walls.
I also learned to belay (which is quite an accomplishment for a knot challenged person like myself) so that Ronan could top rope. Last week, Ronan made an impromptu goal to climb 1000 vertical feet in one afternoon. After tying him into the ropes, I watched him continue to master the 50 foot wall in front of him, over and over again. So proud of the task ahead of him and the chance to learn every nook on that one path up the wall.
For his birthday this year, instead of a big party, he wanted to invite one of his favorite friends from Brightworks over for the weekend. The boys did chemistry experiments, built molecular structures, ate chocolate chip pancakes, hiked into the canyon, wrestled with Nugget and enjoyed byrne together. It was just the kind of celebration that fit Ronan.
Hard to believe that we are one decade into parenting— still working with some of the challenges that a Ronan brings and still in awe of his intelligence, deep focus and commitment to learning and mastery.
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November 29th, 2017 by mica
Hope you all and a wonderful Thanksgiving. Out here at Byrne, we hosted a potluck turkey-lunch, with all the fixings:) The natives were restless waiting for the big meal:
We were fortunate to have a beautiful day at Byrne to eat outside. The cast of characters included Baba, a (pensive) Mica,
a very hungry (and happy) Gentry,
Ronan the Scientist,
Cowgirl-Chic Austin,
And the wonderful Luba, John, Buddy, Nana, Nina, Lisa and Nugget.
Desserts were an integral part of the meal and one that Austin woke very early to help create.
A little after-meal-hike was in store to help the food settle. These two, invariably, were in the middle of a math or science “quiz” that they give each other on long walks.
With gratitude for family, friends and a special home to host all.
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November 21st, 2017 by mica
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November 6th, 2017 by mica
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October 5th, 2017 by mica
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September 28th, 2017 by mica
We’re just finishing up our first block at The New Village School, and what a start to the year it has been…
Austin has enjoyed many sunset kayak adventures with Gentry:
And just this past weekend, Gentry accompanied her on the all-school camping trip to Mendocino. Many adventures with new friends and a very welcoming introduction into the NVS community.
The Gentry/Austin duo is a pretty incredible thing to witness these days. They both share such a love for adventure and spontaneity and are perfect companions. The pair stopped at this beautiful beach on the way home from Mendocino.
Looking back on the past six weeks, it has been so wonderful to see Austin in full bloom- exuding smiles, joy and spunk. Our new friend, Mitchell, who lives on the dock and works at NVS, says he’s yet to see Austin without a smile on her face.
We have deep gratitude for our stay on the SS Maggie, which comes to a close today. The ship has been home base for our first stint in Sausalito and our introduction to life on the water. Pure magic…
We shall see what block two has in store for us!
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