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| Ken: Age 5 |
A variety of September life events have passed at the Corrigan-Conrad abode. And yes, it's high time to document them: We've started school. Mom launched into a new job at good ol TGT. Our summertime nanny returned to her full-time fall gig. (We miss her, but schedule regular dinner parties with her -- just so we don't lose touch.) Dad brewed 10 gallons of home brew -- 5 gallons of an IPA and 5 of an ESB -- from the hops grown in the backyard. The annual Conrad Brew Review ensued. Regular visits to Grandpa Conrad's are beginning to heal our hearts.
Most notably -- My fifth birthday coasted to the curb and stayed just long enough to celebrate with a
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| First day of school |
- Learn to ride a pedal bike (training wheels optional).
- Visit the Mall 'Mur-ka (a.k.a. the Mall of America) to ride the bumper car ride.
- Eliminate all whining from my repertoire when asking for things. (Truth: Mom suggested that one.)
- Learn to tell time with my cool new Lego watch. (Thanks, G-ma Corrigan!)
- Begin the count-down to our next parish block party. (I missed this year's block party due to an unexpected fever and weird cold virus. Only 327 sleeps till the next block party!)
While these challenges may seem a trifle minor relative to the scheme of life in store for me, I contend that each is important in its own rite. For with each challenge, I learn something new. And, new is exciting. New is hard. New requires being not-good at something for a bit -- until you figure out a routine. Find your voice. And discover a pattern.
Dad scored a handful of new coloring books last week. As Sam and I
settled into the business of deciding which pages needed the most work, Sam declared, "Look, Ken! A pattern!" He'd arranged his coloring tools into a row of neatly organized shapes and lines. Impressive.
Georgia's also into patterns. Checkered, spiral, floral, striped -- you name it, she loves it. Her best days entail a mixture of patterns -- ones that she has hand-selected from her collection of articles sized 2T. For an example of the completeness of her patterned paraphernalia, see attached photo.
Much like little-sister's love for eclectic combinations of patterns, the cadence of our days this Fall are eclectic, new, and not-so-easy. But, we're discovering new patterns together. And I'm finding that with each new challenge, you sort out what's important, arrange your pattern, and weave it all together -- one step at a time. Soon, you're flexing your new muscles, not repeating your mistakes, and rising to the occasion of this not-so-new-anymore pattern.
For now, dear reader, may the patterns of your life be readily arranged and full of enough challenge and color to keep you honest, grateful and striving for even better.
Until next time,
Ken
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| Georgia: Age 2 |
settled into the business of deciding which pages needed the most work, Sam declared, "Look, Ken! A pattern!" He'd arranged his coloring tools into a row of neatly organized shapes and lines. Impressive.
Georgia's also into patterns. Checkered, spiral, floral, striped -- you name it, she loves it. Her best days entail a mixture of patterns -- ones that she has hand-selected from her collection of articles sized 2T. For an example of the completeness of her patterned paraphernalia, see attached photo.
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| Sam: Almost 4 |
Much like little-sister's love for eclectic combinations of patterns, the cadence of our days this Fall are eclectic, new, and not-so-easy. But, we're discovering new patterns together. And I'm finding that with each new challenge, you sort out what's important, arrange your pattern, and weave it all together -- one step at a time. Soon, you're flexing your new muscles, not repeating your mistakes, and rising to the occasion of this not-so-new-anymore pattern.
For now, dear reader, may the patterns of your life be readily arranged and full of enough challenge and color to keep you honest, grateful and striving for even better.
Until next time,
Ken
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