A special time and place.

Last year I spent the better part of a day capturing video at Art's preschool, Willow. Recently I finally had time to edit the thing. Art and his friends are in kindergarten now, but in this video they'll forever be building with blocks and dancing across the room hugging. Baby Nora, Ms. Jen's daughter, makes an appearance in this video (she's now a toddler...), as does her older son Will. Now Lewis goes to Willow, playing and learning and growing.

Some photos from Willow

I stole a bunch of photos off Ms. Jen's wonderful tumblr page where she posted a bunch of beautiful Instagram photos from Bailey and Netta's last year at Willow Preschool. Jen has been a gift to our whole family, creating an inspired place for children to explore and play and learn.
I hope these photos might serve as tiny doors to childhood memories when they come back and check this blog in 20 years.  Starting of with a couple fun videos Jen took, then a bunch of photos.

Bailey hammering her loom together #slowmo

A video posted by Jen Boss (@jenboss) on Jun 16, 2015 at 3:33pm PDT

A video posted by Jen Boss (@jenboss) on Apr 28, 2015 at 9:30am PDT

Lots more photos after the jump!

Music class at Willow.

On Wednesday's Jessica holds a little music class at Willow, Lewis' preschool. And Wednesday happened to also be his birthday. So it was a big fun special day for the little boy. Here he is jumping around in his new birthday shirt during a jumping song.

Bailey (and Netta) are always on hand.

Kids 'sleep' during the ending lullaby.

Willow piggies.

Some photos from Lewis' preschool Willow. From top left clockwise: Anika, Oscar, Lewis and Anthony.

Art's new school.

Jess: Starting at the beginning of this month Art started going to his new school. Actually, it's in a woman's basement. Last week he actually said, "This is not a school. It's a house!"

I think the fact that it's in a house, that it's small (there's only six kids total), quiet and play-based make this a really wonderful place for Art. He sends us off almost moments after getting in the door and I can just tell he's having a good time. His mood has been really high lately.

That's Miss Jen, the mother of three (including a 2+ week old baby!) who is the teacher/creator of the little Willow Preschool in her basement. She's very creative. I wish you could see the play kitchen she created out of overturned IKEA cabinets and wooden blocks. And you can just tell that the space is so bright, gentle and cheerful.

Even though there are only six kids and even if only two kids are there every day has a leader. Today Art was the leader! I asked him what that meant and he said that the leader gets to pick books out for story time, is first in line (to go upstairs, outside, etc.) and maybe does something else. Here he's holding a ball for his turn in Circle Time. Apparently he shows his boo-boos at every circle time. At last that's what Henry said.

We're real happy for Art having a great place to go three days a week. A place where he learn school skills like taking turns, following directions and such, and gets to be with friends. And Ben and I get to have those mornings together with Lewis, which is a great bonus for the three of us. Happy for everyone!

Nora's night.

Jen and Nora.

Last Sunday all six of us schlepped down to Hell's Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate the short (and eventually long) life of Nora Boss. She's the 2-year-old daughter of our friends Jen and Andy Boss (that's Jen, the Ms. Jen of Willow, our kids' longtime preschool). Nora has Wilms disease, a rare childhood cancer which affects the kidneys (there's a 90% survival rate). She's had multiple surgeries (another was today in fact). Jen posted this on Facebook earlier:

"Dr. David Vandersteen is amazing. He got those tumors out. Reconstructed the right kidney and saved 50% of the kidney. Nora was awake for a little bit and is now enjoying her epidural cocktail...sleeping and comfortable. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts."

Jen and Andy's neighbor put together the big fundraiser for them at Hells Kitchen (I'm sorry I didn't post about it before it happened). Andy also made a entirely moving plea for help on YouTube and posted it on a little blog they've made to update folks about Nora. If you'd like to write Andy or Jen a note of support, even if you don't know them, I'm sure they'd appreciate it (they're contact is linked from the Fox9 story below). They're also gathering donations to help defray the cost of health care. They have insurance for Nora, but not after a shameful $30,000 deductible. I think it's horrible we live in a country that would require someone to spend $30,000 of their own money to help their child who has cancer. That's the last thing they need to think about. We oughta all be paying real high taxes and have completely free health care.

Anyway, the Boss's were profiled on Fox9 before and after the benefit if you want to hear and read more about their story (or learn how to make a donation). It's an privilege to know and be a part of the Boss's lives. Jess and I many times have talked about how lucky we are that our kids have been able to grow up in Jen's basement under her wings. As Jess wrote in a comment on Facebook about the big fundraiser, "That night was a result of a life lived from a place of generosity and peace. That's how I see you, Jen. You live your life with generosity, peace and openness and it makes people crowd for a chance to give and help out."

Bridget with Nora.

Back at school.

Art started Willow preschool again this week. It's such a wonderful thing for him and our whole family (Jess is now able to nap with Lewis earlier in the day!). Art has some close friends and will be making some new ones. Ms. Jen, the teacher, has three chickens in her backyard now, and she even added a super cool loft in the basement. Art said that it was a boat and he had already taken a few trips to places in it.











Si plays a sweet ballad for his classmates.

Jessica teaching music class today at Willow

Jessica sometimes teaches music class at Art's preschool. Today Lewis and I joined them and here's a little video from my cell phone.

Willow end of year party

Today Art and his friends from school all gathered at Evva's house for their last day of 'school'. Here are some photos of the fun times:

Picking Art up from school is fun..

It's something I rarely get to do since I work, but picking Art up from Willow is really fun. As soon as you walk in a gaggle of fully bundled kids swarm the door to see who's mama or papa came. Today when I walked in I heard Arthur yell, "Papa!" Jessica and I have often marveled at how Mr. Jen is able to outfit 5-6 kids in winter gear when it's often nearly impossible for us to dress just two.

Preschool's over.

Today was the end-of-the-year party for Willow, Art's preschool. His last day of preschool (of his ENTIRE LIFE!) was yesterday, a sad and exciting milestone for sure. Art's teacher Ms. Jen has given him a wholesome start into the world of schooling.







And of course Evva never misses a chance to hold a baby...


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And some photos from yesterday, the last day of school. Lewis came, too.



Arthur's friendship with Silas has been the defining relationship of his preschool years. Here they are having a passionate discussion about something. I love how they hardly even look each other in the eye but instead just talking into space right next to your friend.

Homemade ornaments.

Lewis' at left (made at Willow) and Arthur made his at school.

In the midst of twins

Arthur and Lewis are doing well. Right now I feel like Jessica and I each have our own role. She's taking care of our new twin girls and I'm doing my best to keep Art and Lew's life normal or at least close to. Art already seems to be in a little less control of his body, but he also hasn't napped for three days straight. Alot of places to go and new really big things to think about for his little self.

Jessica was reading in a twins book (or perhaps just a baby book?) about how it feels good for Art and Lewis when people continue to ask about their lives and what they're doing and not just about what they think of their new sisters. I  just want them to feel like they're still important and thoughtful and everything isn't just about these two new strangers invading their formerly peaceful home.


Art's preschool Willow will be a wonderful constant for him. There, nothing will change. His friends, the attention he gets. It's a constant. Here's a recent post his teacher and our friend Jen made on the school blog:


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Today was such a big play day. There were at least 6 major castles built. 5 books read. The animal stacking game was played about 6 times. The magnets were played with by 3 kids. Dyed our golden capes. The colored pyramid blocks were played with with all day long in rotation. Soleil played with the train for a good hour. I checked in with her at least 6 times. It's all she wanted to do. Well she did take a break for snack, but went right over after snack. Art and Si built this today and I asked them what it was and they said it was "so they couldn't fight each other."

It was a beautiful preschool day. It was full of friends and games and fun.

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Anyway, as I was telling Jessica earlier tonight when I slipped off to the hospital while Bubbe fixed dinner for the kids--I miss the girls and look forward to getting to know them better. I actually haven't spent much time with them and have instead stayed at home and put Art and Lew to bed stuff. So it'll be great when they come home tomorrow. I know Arthur and Lewis are really looking forward to it, too. Lewis asked about them and wanted to make sure they were coming home.

Sledding party.

Today we went over to our friend Erin and Mike's house (parents of Evva) for a sledding party. Kids and parents from Art's preschool Willow came to play, eat and hold babies.

From top, Si, Art and Benji

Netta with Katie.

Bailey is so close to her brother Lewis.

Evva and Netta.

You call THAT representation!?

It is not true that all kids like to color and that you just need a box of crayons and some paper and they'll go to town.  Crayons at a restaurant were always useless for me since my oldest, despite his name, had no interest in coloring.  it was actually kind of stressful for him.  He practically begged to not go to his first preschool (before Willow) because the teacher made him do "hard things" like "play with crayons."  Anyway, Kindergarten kicked him in the butt with constant fine motor development and writing practice and since then I have been tickled by his drawings of bears, cacti, and our family. Then this year his second grade teaching assistant taught the class about Picasso and Matisse and we got this:
A pig seen with his parts "all in the wrong place."  Then what's that red thing on his head?  His stomach?  "His hat," says Art. Naturally.

And this...

This was his Matisse-style interpretation of the aquarium of guppies at his classroom table.  He named it Reflection.





And here is a chameleon.  The class learned a specific method for drawing them and Art has drawn a whole bunch of them since then.


Lewis has less resistance about crafty stuff than Art did at the same age.  Lewis loves to paint lots and lots of swirly abstracts but still gets put off by trying to color or draw anything specific on his own.  He did make this snowman from pre-cut pieces at preschool and painted this Harvest Moon as well.  I'm sure it's a fine motor thing.  I've learned to let go.  Anyway, I am being showered with artistic expression now and very happy.

Guest preschoolers.

Netta and Bailey stayed for snack the other day at Lewis' preschool. By the way, if you have a preschool age kid in Minneapolis Ms. Jen has space! She's near 18th Ave and 45th Street. I could go on and on about how wonderful Willow has been for our kids. Here are some past posts from the magical space.

Music class at Lewis' preschool

These are kids jumping up to dance during a lovely little music class Jessica, not pictured :(, teaches each week at Willow:



This is Bailey or Netta in the swing

Quiet time at preschool (and an Autumn walk).

Lewis now goes to preschool three times a week (at Willow, the same one Art did for the past two years). Ms. Jen just posted this lovely photo on her preschool blog (Lewis is the one laying down with the shaggy blond hair).



and here's a fun group photo she took after an Autumn walk:

The beautiful thing that happened today at Lewis' preschool.

http://willowpreschool.posterous.com/a-beautiful-thing-happened-today-at-willow

Art's beautiful eggs.

At Willow, Art's preschool, he came home with three dyed eggs. "They're super beautiful," he said when he showed them to me. We put them in the kitchen up high on a ledge and this morning first thing he climbed a chair to grab one. "Will you fix it if it breaks, Papa?" he said as he carefully admired the thing. He's worried about them breaking. Thanks to Ms. Jen for these lovely photos.