Day 30 Westport New York

I just put the kids to bed, and now I’m sitting on the floor outside their room, eating graham crackers and waiting for Matt to call. We haven’t seen him very much this week, but it has been more than I expected. Yesterday he came over for the afternoon and dinner, and I tell you, having someone to watch your kids when your cooking dinner in an unfamiliar house is VERY helpful! Matt doesn’t really know his schedule yet, so we’re just going day by day, and so far I’m feeling pretty good about it. It does get a little lonely at night, but I usually find something to wile away the hours: organizing finances, tidying our little 6x6 hallway, swimming, reading. I’ve been trying to observe the Divine Hours, but so far I’ve only been able to keep the morning office and Compline (kids!). Yesterday I had this though that this summer might be rather monastic for me, a time to just be, to reflect, read and pray…well, at least when the kids are asleep. I have to admit the thought is very appealing.

A little more on our home away from home: the fun never ends! People keep showing up! I was informed over dinner that our hosts’ son and his family (wife, 3 year old and 2 month baby) are sleeping in the living room on Friday night. Yes, the living room that everybody walks through as they go the kitchen. The place feels very full right to me (current count: 7 dogs, 13 adults, and 2 children), but apparently there’s plenty of room. Actually, it is pretty fun to me, and it makes it so I don’t feel like I’m imposing. The worst time is dinner time, because really there is only room for about 1 1/2 adults in the kitchen (it is tiny!), and 4 people in the dining room, but we all crowd in there. And the 16 year old golden retriever that is blind and lumpy from tumors drools on my feet as I feed Sebastian (who is feeding the dog) and Dora throws a temper tantrum and ineveitbly someone is using the oven even thought the temperature in the kitchen is already 10000 degrees with 10000% humidity, and there is dog hair everywhere. And everyone is hungry. Not a good combination. But besides dinnertime, the house is perfect.

I’m off to see if the fireflies are out: it rained most of the afternoon (thank God!) and the heat broke and it is delicious outside. And I’m going to try to call Matt again: the phone lines at Meadowmount are always busy in the evenings. Adieu!

Day 26 Westport New York

We're here! I had this strange deja-vu moment when we drove up to our home for the summer: I swear I had seen it before in a dream. We are living for 7 weeks in the oldest home in Westport, built in 1807! I don't think Phoenix even existed in 1807! It has that antique, museum semll to it, and lots of rooms added on (my dad is going have a good laugh when he sees it--he's a contractor), and doors in strange places and the electrical outlet situation is a little sketchy to me. We don't really have 2 rooms, like our host told us--we have a room that has a bookcase built into the middle of it, so it is divided, but really it is one room. Right now I'm sitting outside our room on the floor, in the midst of 4 bags of small toys to entertain children in the car, one broken chair, a hiking backpack for Sebastian, an antique dresser and a sink. Yes, there is a sink in the hallway at the head of the stairs, which just so happens to be right outside our room. I was outside on the porch earlier, looking out at Lake Champlain as the sun was setting, and the fireflies were twinkling, but the mosquitoes were getting bad and I could hear Dora and Sebastian doing something mischievous onver the baby monitor. It's really hard to believe that we are finally here. I'm off to find directions to church--yes, we are going to church while we are here. More on that later...

Day 25 Olivebridge New York

It's hard to believe that we are leaving for Westport tomorrow. It has been such a relaxing week hanging out with Matt's sister and her family. The first day was a little rough: I think my body was use to 75 miles per hour, and the stillness and quiet made me feel a little stir crazy. But by Tuesday I was finally able to relax, to breathe and just be. What did we do this week? Not much, and it was wonderful. Becky (Matt's sister) and I played with the kids, Dora and I walked down to the hen house to count cacoons and eggs, we threw rocks in the creek and caught pretend fish, we ate lots of snacks, took naps and generally just hung out. It was a very nice transition from the driving part of our summer to the being still part of our trip.

So Sebastian is in love with the dogs. The past few days he just can't get enough: he pets them, he chases them around, and best of all, he gives them kisses. On their necks, on their backs, on their wet noses. I think that Dora is continuing to recover from her experiences with Titus (no offense Dana and John! I didn't prepare her very well), and she will touch the dogs and tell them what to do (she is the big sister), but she hasn't got to the affectionate stage yet. I'm thankful that we have another 7 weeks around dogs, and I'm hoping that the dogs at our place in Westport are somewhat tolerant of small children.

Highlights of our time in Olivebridge: watching Sebastian walk a circle through the house, playing scrabble with Becky and Jimmy (oh the sack talk!), Wyatt's big grin and they way he gazes adoringly at Dora and Sebastian, going to Becky's softball game ("check out the arm on that outfielder!"), riding in what Dora calls the "rocket" (their lifted Excursion), the rooster, and of course, John and Lena (the dogs).

Day 21 Olivebridge New York

Last night we finally arrived at Matt's sister's house--hallelujah! It was very fun to be on the road and I think that we are all ready to be in one place for a few nights. We just have dial up here, and I can't get online with Matt's computer right now, so my posts from our stops in Cleveland and New Jersey will have to wait, along with the pictures. But hopefully soon...

Today we had fresh eggs for breakfast (like RIGHT FROM THE CHICKEN!), played with the 2 dogs, threw rocks in the stream, took naps, made cookies, played with cousin Wyatt, and read the paper. I'm starting to feel a bit sad about Matt leaving for Meadowmount though. It has been so wonderful to be together for the past few weeks. I know that it will be wonderful in Westport, but I need to just allow myself a little sadness for this transition, and to say goodbye to our dreamy roadtrip experience. Jeesh, I sound like a cornball. I'm off to watch Dharma and Greg, or Fear Factor or whatever.

Day 19 Madison New Jersey

We are done with our long days in the car! We drove through the rest of Ohio and Pennsylvania today, wondering the whole time how far it was to New York (there were NO mileage signs the WHOLE state of Pennsylvania!). Finally at about 4:30 we crossed the state line into New Jersey, and I realized that we only had 45 minutes to go. Oh happy day! We pulled up to our neighbor’s restaurant, La Alegria, and sat down to an AMAZING Italian meal—I had gnocchi and Matt had pasta with pesto. Kristin, our neighbor…okay explanation: they moved to New Jersey about a year ago to help run the restaurant, but they still keep their place in Arizona) gave us a tour of Madison, and then we went to her in-laws house where we are staying the night. Josephine, Kristin’s mother in law made us espresso (she is responsible for Matt’s love of espresso) and Matt played a Bach Cello Suite for her to thank her for her hospitality, and I told Matt afterwards that his playing was so sincere and lyrical that it really was quite moving. Tomorrow we are going to Mass with Kristin and Anthony and their two BEAUTIFUL children Corina and Milena (Dora and Corina have become good friends just in the 2 hours they spent together tonight), and we will spend part of the day with them before we head up to Olive to see Matt’s sister. Ciao!

Day 18 Cleveland Ohio

I didn’t get to list the highlights of our time in South Bend yesterday, so I will do so here: visiting Notre Dame, Dora talking about how when she turns 18 she will go to a school like Notre Dame, Sebastian’s experience with the ducks (they nibbled his fingers), the way Dora just walked into the Dolan’s house and starting looking around, getting frozen custard with Aunt Pat and Uncle Jay, going to the Potawanami Zoo, seeing Matt’s old house in South Bend, and having lunch with Joan Crovello.

Now I am listening to Matt and our University of Puget Sound friend Christine Fuocco play together and it is SO beautiful. They played duets in college (she’s a pianist), but there is something so redeeming about hearing them together now. They have both been through a lot: health issues, injuries, difficult spiritual journeys, times when they couldn’t play. And the maturity that has come as a result of these experiences shows in their art. Christine said that they should play together again in 10 years and see what it is like, and I would love to be there and see what more God develops in them.

Christine’s husband Anthony is so taken with our children—they both love Dora and Sebastian, but Anthony seems to have a special connection with them (they both look at Anthony like he is the most fascinating thing they’ve ever seen!) and he just can’t get enough of their curiosity and innocence. It was fun to watch him playing with them.

Highlights of our time in Cleveland: talking with Christine during our trips to the store, eating pizza in the back yard as the sun was setting with the children at our feet, remiscing about our time at University of Puget Sound and catching up on the UPS gossip, talking to Julie Knerr on the phone (she told me about her family’s website), eating Panera’s Cinnamon Crunch Bagels for breakfast (my new favorite breakfast food!), and of course, listening to Matt and Christine play.

Day 17 South Bend Indiana

Last night as I was falling asleep, I was starting to feel a little bit of that grumpy what were we thinking mood set in: Sebastian still isn't sleeping well, the past few days on the road have been longer than I expected (thanks to road construction and my misunderstanding of time needed to drive between our stops), and the unsettling feeling that comes with being on the move and away from the familiar. So, I decided that today should be a blog entry of thankfulness, because in reality, we have much to be thankful for. And I need to remember that the frustrations are part of the adventure. So, I am thankful for:
1. Our hosts along the trip! We aren't paying for any hotel rooms, and we have been well taken care of. Thank you Kelzenbergs, Dana and John, Shelly and Otto, the Dolans, Christine and Anthony, Allocas and Becky and Jimmy!!
2. The McDonalds money that my mom sent: McDonalds is the Oasis for 21st century pilgrims, especially pilgrims with small children.
3. Our new laptop holster created by Bum Yong Kim: it makes a world of difference for the parent relegated to back seat duty.
4. The minivan: thank you Mom and Dad Kelzenberg! Driving cross-country in a Camry might be do-able, but not desirable.
5. The bag of goodies for children from Jean and Chiyang: every time Dora gets into the car for a day of driving, she opens a gift. What fun!

There are many more things I could be thankful for, but these are just the things that come to mind on little sleep and after a day of tooling around South Bend. We walked through Notre Dame campus this morning and went to the lake to see the ducks. Sebastian almost lost his finger to a mean goose, but he didn't seem too traumatized. Then we had lunch with Matt's friend Joan Crovello at a yummy Mexican restaurant, followed by a drive by Matt's old house at 615 Greenlawn. Then we made a brief stop at a park,
where Dora had her first experience with a Port-a-potty ("don't put your hands in the urinal! Yes, it is dirty, but you can go pooh-pooh in the blue water") and then we went to the Potawanami (spelling?) zoo. Phew! Now the kiddos are fitfully sleeping, and Matt is watching "Dharma and Greg" And I'm thoroughly enjoying this little bit of alone time. Adios!

Day 16 St Louis

uhg. Sebastian has been having a hard time sleeping at night. Last night he woke up at 11:30, and didn't go back to bed until 12:45, and woke up at 6:45, but I guess the good thing is that at least we got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Right now he is growling and playing with one of Bailey's footballs: he is such a boy.

Today we are leaving to go to South Bend to stay with Matt's friends, the Dolans. I'm pretty sure that they don't have wireless, so it will be back to the dark ages for me. I'm surprised at how much I love high speed wireless internet, and how cut off I feel when I don't have it. I'm hoping for some kind of miracle in New York!

Highlights from our tiime in St Louis: the BBQ with the Scotts and Bum and Angela, watching Dora and Sebastian play with Bailey, holding sleeping Isaac, getting Boba with Shelly, playing a very goofy game of up and down the river, and just the general fun that is experienced when two Shell(e)ys get together.

the cousins in Lincoln

the cousins in Lincoln
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Isabel, Sebastian, Dora and Ryan

Isabel, Sebastian, Dora and Ryan
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Dora kissing Ryan Bates

Dora kissing Ryan Bates
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Ryan and Sebastian

Ryan and Sebastian
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Dora at the park in Lincoln

Dora at the park in Lincoln
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Day 14 St Louis Missouri

We're in St Louis now, staying with our friends Shelly and Otto Scott. Dora and their son Bailey have hit it off, and yet again it is wonderful to be able to play outside. During the day. And not break into a sweat in 2 minutes. We went to the Science Center today for a few hours, but the most of the day we pretty much just spent the day here.

We had a BBQ tonight with our friends Bum and Angela and their 2 kids. Here's Bum's blog:
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=bumyong
I haven't read it, but I've heard it's funny. There were 6 adults here, and 6 kids, all under the age of 5. It was crazy fun, in a kid fighting, chocolate on the couch, bloody toes kind of way. We're all a little bleary eyed now, and all I'm good for is some Seinfeld. And maybe one of Matt's infamous chocolate chip cookies...

Sleeping Sebastian

Sleeping Sebastian
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Overlooking the DAM extension

Overlooking the DAM extension
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

beneath the DAM extension

beneath the DAM extension
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Tip of the DAM expansion

1809
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

Dora, Teya and Joy

Dora, Teya and Joy
Originally uploaded by shellzenberg.

This is from our night in Flagstaff: Dora, Teya Everts and Joy Mills. Cute!

Day 12 Lincoln Nebraska

We just got back from the Farmer’s Market in downtown Lincoln, and now Sebastian is napping, and Dora is blowing bubbles with Matt in the front yard. I’m eating one of Matt’s cookies, looking out over Dana’s back yard: this is the life! There are so many things that are amazing to me about being here: trees! Cool weather! Buildings that are over 50 years old! Neighbors hanging out in their front yards! These are not things you find in Tempe. So far the summer is proving to be as I expected: very relaxing, free from worries (well, most worries), and time together as a family. It is very good.

Highlights of our time in Lincoln: meeting Ryan Bates, seeing fireflies, visiting with cousin Dave Beekman and his family, watching Sebastian try to touch Ryan in his cradle, walking Titus (Dana and John’s black lab), the lightening storms, and just hanging out in the front yard talking.

Day 10 Lincoln Nebraska

It only took us 8 hours to get from Denver to Lincoln yesterday--pretty miraculous considering we have 2 kids. Matt WORKS MAGIC with Sebastian, and can get him to sleep in almost any situation--it turly is miraculous to watch him at work. Nebraska is prettier than I expected: the drive along I-80 followed the Platte River, so there were lots of tall trees and green grass.

Just as we pulled into Lincoln last night the check engine light came on in Matt's parents minivan.

We're at Dana's office at Weselyan right now, and Sebastian is very needy, so I have to cut this short. More later.

Day 8 Denver

Yesterday we had the privelage of visiting the Denver Art Musuem expansion yesterday with our friend Sam yesterday--AMAZING! I don't think that any of the walls are perpendicular to the ground, and they even have hired an architect to design the scaffolding. If you have a chance, you should look at the website: denverartmuseum.org. It was so fascinating to walk through the skeleton of the building, and to realize what faith I implicitely have in architecture: I trust that walls will hold, and beams will support, and I rarely question structural integrity. There are so many things around that are like that, and so many talented people who make these "miracles" happen. Something to ponder...

Other highlights of our time in Denver: watching Sebastian get excited about seeing the turtles and fish at the Denver Zoo, having dinner with Sam, Dora's new achievements in swimming (she's willingly jumping off the steps and doesn't mind getting her face wet!), the rainy Saturday, our conversations with Matt's parents about faith and Church, the chocolate pudding cookies, playing Chicken Foot, and the hours and hours of TV.

Matt's parents have the van all ready for us to depart tomorrow: I'm so grateful for them sharing it with us! On the way here it was pretty cozy in the back seat, and the 3rd child, Matt's cello, blocked part of my view out the passenger window--not so safe. We would have made it work without the van, but it will be so nice to have the space, especially for our sanity!

All for now!

Day 7 Denver

Injuries suffered thus far:

1 lost toenail

2 scratched cheeks

1 mysterious rash

unknown bumps to the head

1 103 degree fever

Day 5 Denver

It's getting difficult to remember what day it is, so I know that I'm on vacation! So far our trip has been great, with few obstacles. We did have a VERY long day on Wednesday: we'd planned to drive from Flagstaff to Santa Fe (about 6 hours) and spend the night with our friend Tara's mom (I spend a few days there on the notorious Crazy Spring Break Road Trip 2000). We called her when we were in Gallup, and left a message on her cell phone. We called her a few other times from the road, but when we arrived in Santa Fe at 5:00 and hadn't heard from her, we started to get a little nervous. We drove downtown looking for a park (I had a vague recollection of one from my previous visit), but instead decided to chill at a Borders while we changed diapers, made phone calls and let the kids be free for a while. At about 6:00 we finally decided to just go for it and drive to Denver: the Ryan part of my Ryan-Kelzenbergness won out. And it actually wasn't too painful: Matt got the kids to take naps, we ate at a nasty Pizza Hut in Raton, and we watched "Finding Nemo" for an hour or so until the kids drifted off. We got here at about 12:30, and the following day we were a little out of sorts, but at least we weren't out of sorts in the car. It's been very nice to just relax with Matt's parents, and I had a most glorious walk yesterday morning: I walked around the lake by their house BY MYSELF, in pants and a t-shirt WITHOUT SWEAT POURING OFF MY BODY, and I got to see lots of pretty wildflowers. It was quite nice. Thank God we're not in Phoenix this summer! Today it was raining most of the day and I actually wore long pants, a long sleeved shirt and a coat outside! Matt and I are going to go on a walk soon while the children sleep--ttfn!