Northrop News 2019

Northrop News 2019 *

*I realize it is 2020. But, I am optimistic that next December I will actually write a 2020 letter and send it off before 2021. There’s a good reason I’m late. Read through to the end if you care. :)

Dear Family and Friends, 

Trace Adkins sings, “You're gonna miss this, You're gonna want this back, You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast, These are some good times, So take a good look around, You may not know it now, But you're gonna miss this!” When our kids were little, it was always noisy in our house, our van, everywhere. And now? Not so much. I mean, our kids are still here. But sometimes, they’re here, without being HERE. I realize that the time I have them in my physical reach is quite literally slipping through my fingers. Before, I just needed to get through each day until bedtime when I would find joy in the peace and quiet. Now, they don’t need me to tuck them in anymore. No stories need to be read or continued from the night before. They sleep with their bedroom doors closed and I don’t often peek in to see their chests rise and fall. I still relish the quiet and the chance to breathe and think and just be.  But more and more in that in between space, I feel it. I feel the loss of what is to come when it will be quiet ALL the time. So, for now, we plan to encourage the noise and the busy and the chaos. 

Gabe

Sixteen. Oof. We have a driver and a young man who’s thinking about the direction his life will move. Gabe is a great student. He doesn’t need our help or direction with his homework, and we have no worries about deadlines or due dates. He’s independent and yet, sometimes shows us the mushy prefrontal cortex by asking us things like, “Where is the cottage cheese?” when it’s in a giant case in Costco directly in front of him. He earned an academic letter last year and an athletic letter in track and field, where he high jumped for the varsity. He was confirmed in April and we enjoyed a celebration with family. He also built his own computer after learning what he needed to know from YouTube and with the financial backing of his Uncle Seth. Gabe played football last fall and is in the middle of basketball season, where he’s playing with the Junior Varsity.  He is my Target shopping buddy and still enjoys hanging out with me and running errands. Gabe sings in the choir and plays percussion with the band. He is thinking about computer science in college and exploring options about where that might lead him in the future.

Ben

Ben is such a loving boy, who sometimes needs redirection from his momma when his passion comes out at me after I say, “Let’s gooooo, get out of BED!” He LOVES all his grandparents and smothers them with love and kisses when he gets to see them. Ben has some great friends and concentrates in school on trying to be a good friend and a good teammate to others. After first quarter in 7th grade, he has taken full responsibility for his grades and his learning and warns us in advance if we are going to see something that is not up to our expectations. Ben had a supporting role in “Willy Wonka” this summer and simply shined on stage. He is fun to watch in concerts - both choir and band. You never know what you might witness from him. As my mom said, “Is he supposed to be doing that acting during the concerts?!” Ben also played football this fall, is currently in BB, and is looking forward to track and field this spring, where last year he LOVED his experience as a thrower. He knows everything you can know about Marvel and Star Wars and animals. We wonder how he stores all that information!  

Lyndee

Oh, my heart. She’s almost 13.  Soon, I will be shortest in my family. I look at her and wonder how I was so awkward at her age, and she’s just NOT. She checks her grades (to excess) and is deep into perfectionism. I’m sure I modeled that for her often, but hope that she will find meaning in her life in other ways as well. Like Ben, Lyndee also acted in the Willy Wonka play last summer and sang in the ACDA Honor Choir last spring.  She amazes us with her beautiful voice and her talent at the trumpet. Lyndee loves to read books over and over and is our most serious animal lover. She still is considering what life would be like as a vet, but wonders how she’ll handle her cat allergy. Lyndee loved volleyball this fall and is enjoying BB this winter. She’s playing with the 8th grade team as a 7th grader and is also looking forward to being a JH track and field athlete this spring. (“Mom, I am NOT running the 400.”)  

Matt

Last year, I’d see him the hallways at our school and think, “Wait, why are you here?” and then my brain would catch up to realize we both worked at the same school.  :) He resigned his position from Rochester this summer to truly begin his journey at Pine Island. It was scary to leave behind all the earned sick leave and seniority for sure. In the end, he decided it wasn’t about that, but about career fulfillment and family, which many times is one and the same.  I admire his intensity as an educator. He demands a lot from his students both physically and from their character. Matt had a track and field season that was amazing last year. His team won the True Team Section, Conference, Sub-Section, and Section. Many of those titles had not been won since the 1980s.  To top it off, he deservedly won the Section Coach of the Year honor. I am so proud of all of the time, effort, and energy he puts into coaching. In addition to coaching track and field, he also assisted in the football program this fall. 

Amy

Coaching, teaching, and family are my themes as always. I am ridiculously grateful for our kids. Even though I’m all up in their business, they still love me and think (some of) my jokes are laughable. I get courtesy chuckles and more than a few exasperated sighs of “Oh Momma.” They try to keep me in the loop about trends and help me figure out what’s cool and what went out a long time ago. Last spring, I took on a new role in the track and field program as the Head Girl’s Track and Field coach.  It was challenging and rewarding and I can’t wait for the upcoming season. In Cross Country, I was fortunate to have two athletes who qualified for the state meet in November. Running with the team (well, behind the team) gives me a chance to work out and connect with athletes while coaching. The Hot Cider Hustle was my 6th half marathon, so CC really helped me in my training for that. I continue to teach MN History to 6th graders. Every single day I think I about how lucky I am to be doing a job that I love. My whole heart lives in that school building with my husband, my kids, my friends, my students, and my athletes all in one place. How lucky can one girl get? Now, if only I could bring my dog to school, life would really be perfect!

Family

Last Christmas, we traveled to San Francisco to spend a week with Seth, Michaela, and the girls. We packed tons of activities into seven days, including the kids’ favorite - skiing in Tahoe. We also squeezed in two vacations with friends over the summer. In July, we drove to Chicago and spent four days with our friends the Winters exploring the city, going to a Cubs game, swimming in Lake Michigan, and eating deep dish pizza! In August, we drove to Colorado with our other longtime friends, the Koppelmans. We hiked Garden of the Gods, went white water rafting on the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge, made it to Pikes Peak, did an unintentional seven mile hike in Winter Park, and mostly just hung out and enjoyed our time together. Finally, the reason this letter is late. On December 21st, Seth and Kaela provided the opportunity for our family and Matt’s parents to accompany them to Costa Rica. Two weeks in an amazing country with great food, Seth’s cooking, adventures galore, and excellent company was the trip of a lifetime. Each one of us had a favorite activity, but the top rated for us were the 1. Chocolate and Coffee Tour, 2. Finding a sloth in our very own backyard, and 3. Ziplining for three of us and parasailing with Grandma for Ben and Gabe. Most of all, time with family is precious so just occupying the same spaces was entertaining and good for the soul. We hope to travel and visit even more family in the months to come. 

Pets

Here’s the 2019 rundown–Dash - 8 years old and has run away 4 times this year, loves us, but wants more adventure than we can offer.  Tucker  - 7 years old, loves Lyndee the best, though eating cat litter is a close second.  Mia-The tortoise who is STILL at camp with the Kohners. Let’s be honest, she likes it better there anyway.  Wrigley – age unknown, hates storms and absent owners, often shows his displeasure by destroying small areas of carpet.  Cats #3 and #4, Lucy and Pepper - disappeared, probably joined the neighbors’ cat commune for a more exciting life. Cat #5, Sunny - loves Gabe the best and hasn’t been outside at all. We can’t expose her to the outside world due to our fear that she will end up like cats 1-4. And, we think she’s pretty cute and want to keep her around. 

Since this letter greets you after the 2019 holiday season, we hope you were able to find pockets of time where you could  enjoy being present with family and friends. And, when you are in that in between space, take a good look around and remember to value present over perfect. 

Love, Matt & Amy

Gabe, Ben, Lyndee, Dash, Tucker, Wrigley, and Sunny

For the Love of Minnesota, signed a Teacher

I've seen lots of posts lately on social media questioning, "Why do I live here?!" I'd like to preface this post by saying that I don't work outside. There are no animals that I need to care for that live outside of my house. I'm not in the field of public safety. As a teacher, I'd like to think that I'm an essential employee, but in reality, when my students aren't in school due to weather, I have options for whether or not I will go in to work in a quiet building.

I love Minnesota. I love it in the summer. I love it in the fall. I love it in the spring. And yes, I love it in the winter.  I was born in Minnesota. I've lived here all my life, except for 3 months in college when I lived in Florida. And no, I didn't love it in Florida.  Some people do! This girl didn't, so I was happy to come home. I adore Minnesota and am incredibly lucky as a teacher to teach what I love - Minnesota History!

Today, while driving into town during a winter weather advisory, I tried to be funny with my husband (who was doing the actual driving.) "Hey, get this," I said, "Winter weather advisory in December - 'Looks like we better stay home!' Winter weather advisory in February - 'What time should we head into town?' "  Hahahahahaha, I laughed at my own joke.  He didn't laugh. I said, "Sometimes I wonder if you even like it when I talk to you." He smirked, "Yeah, I like it. You think you're pretty funny." Yes, this is why I laugh at my own jokes, because I know that no one else will laugh or even understand my humor.

Where I live, our last few weeks have gone like this:

Monday, January 28th - No school due to snow and ice
Tuesday, January 29th - No school due to dangerous windchill (online learning day)
Wednesday, January 30th - No school due to dangerous windchill (online learning day)
Thursday, January 31st - No school due to dangerous windchill (online learning day)
Friday, February 1st - YAY! SCHOOL!
Monday, February 4th - No school due to snow and ice (online learning day)
Tuesday, February 5th - YAY! SCHOOL!
Wednesday, February 6th - YAY! SCHOOL! Our 6th grade students had a PERFECT Learn to Ski Day at a nearby ski hill.
Thursday, February 7th - No School due to snow and blowing (online learning day)
Friday, February 8th - 2 hour delay due to blowing snow

Now, here I am on Sunday, February 10th, staring into the face of another potential winter storm starting Monday night into Tuesday. Some models have suggested a possibility of 10+ inches of new snow.

Most people are gritting their teeth and again saying, "Why do I live here?!"

Me? I really, truly adore it. There is nothing better than sledding down our hill in fresh snow. Or waxing my cross country skis and going into the woods with huge flakes coming down. Or playing dominoes, or boggle, or something else with the kids. Or having a movie marathon, or two cups of coffee in the morning, or baking something yummy, or finishing a project that's been staring at me for too long.

Please, don't crucify me and other teachers on snow days with comments like, "What do teachers even get paid for anyway?! Did you see everything she likes about snow days? I wish I had a job where I didn't have to go in to work on a (scoff) snow day!"

The truth is, that I actually don't let myself enjoy any of those things (except the coffee) until after my school duties for the day are done. That includes answering emails from parents and students, getting up early to communicate with my team so that we can send a coordinated email regarding assignments for the day, or grading things that I took home with me anticipating a weather related delay or cancellation.  Did you know that the time that a teacher puts in outside of contract hours is exponential? Please realize how passionate we are about our jobs and our community's children. We are so passionate that we will ignore our own children on a snow day so that we can answer a student's email about how he/she can earn extra credit because the grades on the regular credit are not up to par.

Again, before complaining about teachers on snow days, note above that we have had FIVE online learning days. This is something truly innovative. Something that for someone who doesn't observe it or plan for it, is really difficult to understand. We are educators. We KNOW that the best learning is done in the classroom. We are fully aware that there are some assignments given on snow days that kids can't or won't complete for a variety of reasons. This is why we HATE being gone from our students, even for legitimate reasons like weather or illness or our own child's illness or appointments. It's why I've scheduled FIVE appointments on President's Day when we don't have school. It's why I moved my mammogram from tomorrow to spring break, so I don't miss time in the classroom with my students.

Despite what one might think, online learning days can be valuable. They teach more lessons than just about particular subject areas. Online days teach perseverance and communication. When a student doesn't understand the assignment, he/she has to communicate via email or message to the teacher who has to be able to explain it without being physically present. A student sometimes has to search for where the online assignment is posted. Is it emailed? Is it posted online? Is it messaged? Is is a calendar item? An online assignment forces students to be independent. They don't have their peers or table mate to ask clarification questions or to get answers. And finally, it teaches follow through.  If a student did not do the online assignment, he/she has to follow through and still complete it in a timely manner.

My own three kids have had varying levels of work to do on the online days. My freshman legitimately had 4+ hours of work each day. My seventh grader, and this could be due to how long it takes us to normally complete assignments, too, had about two to three hours of work. (Side note - we also realized this weekend that he was STILL missing three snow day assignments. Luckily his teachers are gracious enough to accept the late work. And yes, my son had consequences for those missing assignments.) My 6th grader had an hour of reading each day and an assignment from each core class. Altogether, probably 1.5 - 2 hours of work.

So, you see, snow days aren't what they used to be.  It's not a free for all for students and teachers.  We don't get "paid to do nothing." We get paid to do our jobs, just like every other day. We grade, we communicate, we team with our colleagues, we post assignments, we plan ahead.

And again, I realize that there are LOTS of people who don't get to stay home and do their jobs remotely. I do not envy your position, where you have to put your job above your own personal safety. I do not envy those people who keep us safe when we have to go out and I give them my utmost respect.

As I've gotten older, I've become less of a complainer or lamenter. I choose to embrace what is happening, because really, there's nothing I can do about it anyway - especially when it comes to the Minnesota winter weather. While I won't ever be a "when it's raining, dance in the rain" kind of person (I'd much rather watch it rain from inside), I AM an "embrace the winter" Minnesotan. It's why I live here. It's one of the reasons I love it here. And, it's one of the reasons I'll never leave. Keep me guessing, Old Man Winter, it's one of the things I love about you.

Parenting as a Coach, Coaching as a Parent - 2018 - Lu

“You yelled at me!”

The statement above came just a day ago from my daughter after her league games. As her coach, I clarified, “Yes, I did yell at you, and I yelled at most of your other teammates, too.”

“Okay,” she huffed, “but you yelled at me most.”

“I yelled at everyone,” I repeated. But in my head I admitted, “You’re right, I probably did.” Then I hugged her tight. “It’s tough being the coach’s kid. I am so proud of you. I have so much fun watching you play.”

And she is right. I did yell at her, just like I yelled at the girls I coached before she came along.

She is my 3rd child. Coaching basketball at the junior high, junior varsity, and varsity level was what I did for 13 years before I became my daughter’s traveling coach. During those years that I coached at the high school level, I was pregnant with each of my three kiddos. In fact, during the holiday tournament before my daughter was born, there were those spectators who were afraid of a courtside birth.

Two weeks later, she was born on a cold day in January, and after calling friends and family, I called the head coach of the high school team. It was 2:30 pm and he said, “Well, you’ve got half an hour to get to practice.” It wasn’t 30 minutes later, but two weeks after she was born, when I wheeled her stroller into the gym and parked it in the corner. Her lullaby became the bouncing basketballs in a gym. Is it any wonder that she can sleep through almost anything?! When she was three and half, and I went back to my teaching job, I left the basketball coaching ranks. Seven years later, I returned, not with high schoolers, but with my daughter’s fourth grade team. I did not realize at the time that the head girl’s coach had just assured himself of a coach for that grade level for the next three years! When we started, I thought my high school coaching experience would be enough. I quickly found out how wrong I was.

After coaching her team the last two years, there are a few important things that I have learned about coaching HER.

1. She is just as competitive as her momma.

2. She rejects a compliment on her play if she doesn’t feel it’s deserved, and yet craves the compliments that reflect how she thinks she’s played.
3. She has high expectations of her teammates and doesn’t understand when they don’t do the things she thinks are obvious.
4. She still wants basketball to be fun as evidenced by the Fortnite dances witnessed at practices.

This is the 3rd year that I’ve coached my daughter’s elementary basketball team, and each year I’ve ramped up expectations for myself and the girls. When we started in 4th grade, we were literally teaching everything about the game - how many girls were on floor at one time, what the lane was, the fact that you can’t dribble and pick up the ball and dribble again. The list goes on and on.

Coaching young girls for the last two years has also taught me more than I anticipated, but here’s my biggest take away to date:

Never assume the girls know what you’re talking about when you are coaching. They will pretend they do and you'll never know the difference until an important moment in a game.

My favorite two examples of this actually came last season when they were 5th graders. All season long I had been yelling at my point guards to penetrate. And they never did. I finally clued in when I asked my daughter, “Do you guys know what penetrate means?”

And she said, “Uhhhhhh, back dribble?” I sighed, dropped my head into my hands, and took a deep breath and called all my point guards to the top of the key (I actually just said, come over here since “top of the key” is a phrase we haven’t gotten to yet) to explain. (Meanwhile, one of my other players -not even close to being a guard- could be heard saying to another coach, “Am I a point guard?”)

When I got the girls together, I said again, “Do you guys know what penetrate means?” Blank stares told me that I had inadvertently neglected instructing the girls on something I thought they already knew. “Actually, no, it’s the opposite of back dribbling. It’s when you dribble IN toward the basket, not back AWAY from the basket.”

“Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh,” realization dawned on the faces of 4 little girls.

Still this year, I ask periodically, “Do you know what I mean when I say penetrate to the basket?” Now they roll their eyes as if to say, “Why does she think we don’t know?”

The second instance came in during a game last year. All season long, I had been working with our post players, encouraging them to use their bodies to *ahem* post up. “X!” I yelled, “Post Up!” She ran to screen for the wing at the same time the wing passed her the ball. Turnover. The next time down the court, “X! POST UP!” She screened for the wing as the ball came flying at her. Turnover. The third time down the court, “X! POST HER UP!”

She glared at me from just outside the lane and said exasperatedly, “I don’t know what you mean!!!!”

Ohhhhhhhh, realization dawned for me! Time out, explanation ensued. “Ohhhhhh,” she said, “Why didn’t you tell me that before?!”

There have been other instances where I am reminded how much teaching about the game that I still have to do. The vocabulary itself makes it seem like a whole different language. We added new team members this year so I back up more often than I like to explain over and back, full court press, and side out.

I am also frequently surprised by the other things I’ve learned coaching my daughter.

1. I am just as competitive as I’ve always been - no matter what level I’m coaching.

2. I reject compliments about coaching, because after all these years, it really IS about the girls and how I can help them be strong and confident.

3. I have high expectations of my players and those who coach with me.

4. I want basketball to be fun AND challenging at the same time.

5. This time I have with her is so limited. It breaks my heart and fills it with joy at the same time.

For now, I get a front row seat to the action with my daughter. I get to be on the bench with her, coach her, teach her, challenge her, and love her, sometimes all in the same game. Next year will be tougher for me. Next year, I’ll be in the crowd along with the other parents. She might appreciate the respite from mom/coach and I’ll have to be willing to give her up to someone else on the bench.I’ll have to be willing to allow her a significant relationship with another coach, like the parents who have trusted me over the last three years.  I’ll have to remember that I’m her mom, not her coach, and I plan to be her number one fan.

Parenting as a Coach, and Coaching as a Parent 2016

Parenting. Coaching. Coaching. Parenting.

These are tough things by themselves. And then, you put them together and it becomes exponentially tougher.

I've coached sports since, well, it feels like forever. I was a high school 3 sport athlete. I was a college basketball player.  And then I started teaching and still wanted to be a part of the athletics that helped to shape my life and that I loved so much.

So, I started coaching. That journey is another post, but suffice it to say that before I became a parent in 2003, I coached (and parented) many student athletes from 1996 to the present.  I've coached 3 sports - cross country, basketball, and track and field. My husband has coached 4 sports - soccer, football, basketball, and track and field.

Becoming a parent is a game changer in more ways than one when you are also a coach.

It started when the kids played Tball, then Little League. At batting practice with Gabe one day when he was about 8, I said to him, "Okay honey, I'm going to talk to you like your coach now and not as your mom. Suck it up, get in the batters box, and act like you want to be here. Your dad loves playing baseball with you and this pouting is NOT going to go over well with him."  Dad's dreams of a left handed pitcher in the majors supporting his parents were just that, Dad's, and not Gabe's.

Next comes the time last year in the gym when Matt and I were working with Gabe on basketball moves in the post.  I decided to work with Ben when my time with Gabe was over. Ben just wanted to play with the dust bunnies and the broom handle he found in the supply closet and adamantly refused to work with me on basketball. This did not go over well and I said one of those ridiculous things parents sometimes can't resist saying, "Fine, well, I guess I'll never work with you on basketball again. Too bad, I was really looking forward to it. Good luck learning on your own." He obviously didn't care because as I walked away, I heard him making light saber sounds as he sashayed his way across the gym with the broom handle.

Now, we have a 7th grader, a 5th grader, and a 4th grader all playing basketball at various levels. Gabe is learning that his mom and dad may actually know a thing or two about the game, now that Matt is not his traveling BB coach. He has worked with me on Sunday afternoons throughout this winter, getting comfortable playing with contact while I play defense on him and hack all over him, just like my dad did with me.

Ben will come with us to the gym, but whether or not he wants to be coached is hit or miss.  One time when Gabe and his friend and Ben and I were playing 2-2, he decided to say out loud that he thought he was better than me. Big mistake. Huge.  I proceeded to block his shot multiple times and blow by his defense.  I'm pretty proud that I can still beat an 11 year old. My 13 year old? Not so much. That same day I lost 10-3 to Gabe.

Lyndee's playing 4th grade this year and myself and two other moms are coaching them. It's been really fun to see their progress. It is still evident to me how many more skills boys come into the gym with as opposed to girls.  We started with information such as how many people are on the court at a time and how you know when you're on defense or offense. My bias is all toward teaching fundamentals and worrying about the other things (like plays, how to sub in, and take the ball out) later.  Our first game we lost something like 22-4. We won our most recent game 28-5, but all the other games in between were losses. The girls know improvement is the name of our game right now, and on that level, we've been successful.  At one of our games last weekend (a loss), Lyndee came out of the game frustrated. I was giving high fives to all the girls coming off the court and when I got to her, she dramatically turned her body away from me, refused my high five, and flounced to the bench, where she sat down glaring at me.  In no uncertain terms, I informed her that that would never happen again. Then I asked the other two coaches to communicate with her about what she needed to do differently from then on so that she would be open to listening.  I told Matt about all this and he chuckled and said, "Yep, she's your daughter."  Truth is hard sometimes.

While it's hard coaching your own kids, this year has proven that it's even harder to sit in the stands.  We are cursed with too much knowledge of the game and more than once have had to check and balance each other on what we say during the game, who we say it to, and how we say it.  We have had to learn that we are G's parents first, and coaches second. It's been a hard lesson to learn for us. Where other parents say to their kids, easily and naturally, "I love to watch you play," we want to coach him and say, "We love to watch you play, but...."  After the first few games and a few arguments between the two of us, I am encouraged that we seem to be learning how to talk with our kids after games.

Poor Gabe is our learning curve. The other two will benefit from the path he has forged and will continue to forge with his parents as coaches. This spring, we'll get to experience that in a new way, since G has decided to give Track and Field a try.

Northrop News 2018

Dear Family and Friends,

My grandma Myrtle used to collect and display bittersweet. It’s one of the things that I’ve always been told about her, “Grandma loved bittersweet.” As kids we were always looking for it, and last year I found the perfect spot along a trail and snipped bunches on a beautiful fall day. I was wishing in that moment, that my grandma was there with me. So, I did the next best thing. I brought some to my mom, so she and I would have that shared connection of her mom present with us.  More and more, I know that traditions and mementos and memories are so important to share with each other.  The word bittersweet describes how Matt and I sometimes feel as the seasons flow on around us and our kids get older. It seems that every season of our lives has a taste of bitter and a taste of sweet and maybe my grandma knew that, too.

Gabe - 15

High School. The very thought of having a high schooler is strange.  When he turned 15 this summer, he got his first phone per our very old school family rule. Like many 9th grade boys on the planet, he’s into Fortnite, ifunny, and Clash of Clans. He towers over me, but still likes to hug his mom, just not always in public. He got his driver’s permit in July, though he has only logged a few hours so far.  He is easy going and likes to go to Target or the mall with me, especially if I’ll buy him food. He still loves to read, although more reading time is spent on homework this year. Last winter he played basketball, and did well as a thrower and high jumper for track and field.He earned his first varsity letter by scoring points in the high jump at the Conference meet. G also played defensive end and tight end for the 9th grade football team this fall. Matt’s parent got to see him catch a pass for  a touchdown on a visit to Minnesota. I know he still finds it to be challenging to have parents who are coaches. We are still working on our own skills of parenting and not coaching from the stands. He will be confirmed this spring and has enjoyed getting to know more about our own faith stories through our weekly discussions prior to class. Gabe also is a percussionist in the band and sings in the choir.

Ben - 13

Oh Ben…..our most snuggly (even though he’s 13) child. He has the biggest heart and is filled with empathy for others. He decided this fall that he might not be a farmer. Instead, nursing might be on the horizon. He’d be fantastic in caring for others. Ben Bob is in 7th grade and after first quarter, is learning to manage his time, his sports, his homework, and his video gaming. Let’s just say his grades are much better second quarter. :) He still loves to read books about Marvel characters and could tell you the backstory for any and all of them.  He’s got an amazing memory for anything he’s read and yet, still forgets to turn in homework, brush his teeth, and on the first weeks of having his retainer - lost it...while sleeping…... Ben played center on the 7th grade football team and is currently aiming for 10 rebounds a game on the basketball team. Ten rebounds = Arby’s. (We are not above bribery for performance). His imagination is alive and well with the amazing stories he makes up with his action figures. Ben had one line in the summer musical, Aladdin, where he was a royal guard AND played the pivotal role of the front end of a camel. Then, he took his musical talents to the 7-8 ACDA Honor Choir in November.  He also plays percussion in band and loves the bass drum most of all.

Lyndee – almost  12

She is my definite mini-me. Lyndee Lu is almost 12 and in 6th grade. I get to teach her in my Minnesota History class every day. It’s very different being her teacher than it was teaching the boys. The boys were not easily embarrassed. But, when I did the floss, dabbed, and did a fortnite dance at a middle school assembly, she was mortified and told me later it was “cringey.” Ooops. I forget sometimes what it was like to be 11, almost the tallest girl in your grade, AND the teacher’s kid?!  While I think she is amazing and beautiful, it’s hard to feel that way as a middle schooler when all you want to do is fit in. My perfectionist daughter gets upset at an A- or a missed free throw. It’s challenging to try to live WITH her in her frustration and not try to make her feel better. She’s playing 6th grade basketball and I get to coach her for her final year of elementary basketball along with 18 of her teammates.  I love to watch her play and hope that my lofty expectations don’t color her joy for the game. Lyndee is a diligent trumpet player and has far surpassed her dad’s skills during his brief stint in the brass section. She also sings in the choir and loves to read, play with barbies, make imovie trailers, and is still huge animal lover.

Matt

Change happens whether we want it or are prepared for it. After 21 years in the Rochester Public Schools, an opportunity came to apply for a position in Pine Island. Back and forth, pros and cons, ups and downs, and loads of talking about our future dominated our spring. He took a one year leave of absence from the Rochester schools to teach in Pine Island and see if this is the right direction for our family AND for him as a professional. As in every first year, there are joys and challenges. He’s teaching 6th graders for the first time in two decades, teaching high schoolers, and also teaching Adaptive PE for students with disabilities. That’s an additional licensure that he will be working toward. It’s all new to him, but he is amazing (in my not to be humble opinion) with that population of students. Personally, I love having him in our school and am so grateful that I get to see him every day!  As a Pine Island Track and Field coach for 22 years, Matt had another successful season and got to take two individual athletes to state. Usually the State meet is bittersweet because our competing athletes are seniors and we have to say goodbye to them after that weekend in June. This year, the athletes were underclassmen so it was just SWEET! We moved up to Class AA in True Team and still finished an impressive 3rd in the Section True Team meet, though we were the smallest school population. Matt also took on the adventure of coaching football this year as the JV Coach. The learning curve was steep, but it was so fun to watch him interact on the sidelines and for him to bring his voice to the game.

Amy

I like to think that I’m pretty much an open book and I  hope that I don’t give off the vibe that life is always perfect and stress free. More often than not, it’s perfectly imperfect. And, even in its ordinariness, I truly feel like I am “Living the Dream.”  I am stunningly grateful for our kids. The car ride conversations are the best. I don’t always get their humor, but luckily they’ll explain things to me. And I hear, “Oh Mama, I love you,” more than I deserve. I am thankful that my husband of almost 23 years is patient with me. I love my job teaching 6th graders and coaching young runners. Two runners from my team made it to State in CC this year, and every year, I just love this sport more. It’s so brutally honest about work ethic and talent and how far one is willing to test physical and mental boundaries. I try to be a good role model for my athletes, and one of my best moments of the fall was rounding a corner while running the Med-City half marathon and seeing the girls on my team with signs and water and jumping up and down and cheering for me.  A new challenge awaits me this spring as I’ve been named the Head Girl’s Track and Field coach in Pine Island. I am excited to build on the tradition that is already there while bringing the boys and girls programs together.

Family

Let’s just say the kids are sick of driving. This year, we drove to Destin, Florida to celebrate Matt’s parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. In Florida, there were 27 of us in a house together. We got to swim in the ocean, find jellyfish and sand dollars, stay up late, swim in the pool, shop at gift shops, go out to eat, and enjoy time together.  It was challenging sometimes to step all over and bump into each other and try to remember that spending time together is more important than PERFECTION. As you can imagine, sometimes the house felt big and sometimes it felt small. We laughed and cried and learned more about each other as adults and the fierce love we feel for each other and our children. On the way home, we had two days in Kentucky with Jill and Mark. We got to spend time at the lake with my dad and Karla, have Heidi and Allan here in May and again at Thanksgiving, and Jill and Mark here in October. Mom and David are in Rochester full time now that they’ve sold their place in AZ and are enjoying getting to everyone’s basketball games and concerts.

Pets

Here’s the rundown–Dash - Great Pyrenees/Goldendoodle - 7 years old and thinks dog food is the best thing on the planet.  Tucker – Golden Retriever - 6 years old with a deep affinity for Lyndee and frozen poop.  Mia-The tortoise who is STILL at summer camp with the Kohners. Wrigley – yellow lab – age unknown, likes to demonstrate ownership of his spot on the couch.  Cat #2 - Leo - went to the litter box in the sky when he wandered too close to county road 3. As of the writing of this letter, I’m hoping my cat luck turns around as #3 and #4, Lucy and Pepper respectively, have taken up temporary residence in the laundry room until the garage dogs accept them into their midst.

This Christmas season, we hope that you have more sweet than bitter. But if you don’t, rely on those memories of times that were sweet. A quote from a new favorite author, Shauna Niequist,  “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” Let us be present enough in this season to celebrate and to grow, and if the two can coexist, we can do both.

~Love, Matt & Amy, Gabe, Ben, and Lyndee~

Dash, Tucker, Wrigley, Mia, Lucy, & Pepper

Northrop News 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

We had some grand adventures early in our lives together - Paris, London, Aruba, Antigua, Scotland, and many places in the contiguous United States. We loved those times and yet, there’s something marvelous about this time in our lives as well. We still travel, which you’ll read about later, but home is definitely NOT a four letter word, if you know what I mean. We’re raising homebodies who are so involved that being at HOME becomes literally precious time. Especially now, when all three kiddos spend an inordinate amount of time in gyms with us on the bleachers or the side lines. When we see people whose kids are out of school, they tell us we’ll miss this time, much like when our kids were babies and they said we would miss that, too. At some point, we’ll reminisce about this busy time, just as we occasionally miss when our kids were babies.  We’ve also made the purposeful decision that the stage we are in, whatever it may be, should have the opportunity to be the best stage in our lives together….so far.

Gabe - 14

This kid. I marvel at how much he’s grown and how he’s still not embarrassed to hang out with me. G is in 8th grade and at 6 foot 1 inch, I literally look up to him.  He’s a pretty laid back kid, which is in stark contrast to those years of 45 minute tantrums. He is a creative, easy going, quirky teen with a great sense of humor. He still loves to read, his ipod, and video games, too. Last winter he played basketball, and surprised us both by joining track and field in March. He enjoyed throwing discus, high jumping, and long jumping. G played defensive end and tight end in football for the 8th grade team this fall, and is playing both 8th grade and C-squad basketball so far this winter. I’m sure he finds Matt and me a bit trying after games. It’s a challenge to sit in the crowd and be quiet (we’re not often successful with the “quiet” part). I also know that we can be a bit intense with our expectations, but we try as much as we can to say, “We just love to watch you play.”  He has an amazing confirmation leader and a great group of boys during this second confirmation year at church. Gabe also is a percussionist in the band and sings in the choir.

Ben - 12

Ben Bob is in 6th grade and I am grateful to teach him about Minnesota History every day. He’s got a creative and loyal set of friends and is kind to everyone. He has the biggest heart and especially loves to show affection to his grandparents and great grandparents. He loves to read books about Marvel characters and could tell you the backstory for any of them.  He’s got an amazing memory for anything he’s read and yet, still forgets to turn in homework, brush his teeth, and put in his rubber bands. Ben played baseball this summer, grudgingly attended track and field camp, and played flag football this fall on the same team as his sister.  He still loves his action figures and has developed a fascination for a few out of the ordinary video games = Undertale and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Ben has the biggest heart and a deep ability to care for others. He knows when someone needs a hug and is quick to make amends if something’s gone wrong. He knows just the right thing to say and definitely uses that to his advantage when negotiating bedtimes and treats, etc.

Lyndee – almost  11

Fierce. Sensitive.  Perfectionist. Loving. Lyndee Lu is almost 11 and in 5th grade. She loves school and is working for the A honor roll. It is so fun having her in the same building and that I get to see her every day in school. Lyndee went to Good Earth Village camp this summer and was away for 3 days, though to me, it felt like longer. She played flag football this fall and scored a touchdown during the homecoming halftime game! She’s playing 5th grade basketball and I get to coach her along with 16 of her teammates.  I love to watch her play and know that her fierceness will serve her well in more places than just the gym. Lyndee started playing trumpet this year in the band and unlike her brothers, never needs to be reminded to practice. She also sings in the choir and loves to read, play with barbies, make imovie trailers, and is a huge animal lover. We think there may be a vet in the family in the future.

Matt

In his fourth year teaching at Century High School, Matt has been challenged again as one of his classes is “Careers in Health Promotion.” He’s had to expand his teaching repertoire to include classroom tools and assessments. Matt’s been able to provide the chance for his students to hear guest speakers from all across the health industry - athletic trainers, prosthetic designers, officials, activities directors, adaptive PE teachers, and more.  As a Pine Island Track and Field coach for 21 years, Matt again led an impressive team of athletes last spring to 2nd place in the State True Team Meet. It was miserable and wonderful at the same time as it poured the entire meet. There are so many things learned by athletes and coaches through athletics - triumph and humility all in the same experience. Matt also gets to coach Ben’s 6th grade BB team and it’s fun to talk shop with each other on practice and game days.

Amy

I’m a messy perfectionist. My house is frequently disastrous. My children have been free range parented more often than I care to admit. I like to cook, but still fall far short of perfection in that and most areas in my life.  I read once that perfection in the Bible doesn’t mean without error, it simply means complete. I hold tight to that and hope that my children and my husband know that I give my complete effort to do the best I can at that moment. I am grateful for our kids and their conversations, imagination, and humor. I am thankful that my husband of almost 22 years is patient with me. I am fortunate that my job teaching 6th graders and coaching fulfills me, challenges me, and gives me purpose. Days are not easy, but there is something wonderful about each day.  Dr. Sood from the Mayo Clinic, in his book The Guide to Stress Free Living says, “For the first three minutes that meet your family, meet them like a long lost friend, and resolve not to improve or judge anyone.” So, I take a deep breath when I pull in the driveway, and resolve not to ask my family to pick up their dishes, socks, jerseys, etc. At least not until later…..

Family

We put almost 5,000 miles on our tires this summer in two separate trips. The kids are at great ages for long road trips and it is a whole lot less expensive than flying! In June, we drove north through North Dakota, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia to take in the wonders of Banff National Park.  Our good friends, the Koppelmans, traveled with us. We all agreed that it may be the most beautiful place we’ve even seen. We hiked, sat in hot springs, waded in clear Canadian water, rode a ski lift, and saw wildlife.  After a few days there, we drove south to Glacier National Park and Whitefish, MT, where we treated to an amazing hike around Avalanche Lake with our friends and former Pine Island residents, the Lenochs.  What a gift it was to enjoy fellowship in such beautiful surroundings. We kayaked, paddle boarded, rode alpine slides, and hiked. The kids also zip lined and Matt and Ben went horseback riding. If you haven’t been to Banff or Glacier, they should definitely be on your bucket list. In July we got to host Chris and Bree and family and Seth and Kaela and family and numerous friends. At one point, we had 22 people sleeping in our house. It was so great to step all over and bump into each other and just know that spending time together is more important than PERFECTION. Instead we were COMPLETE in our joy and love for hanging out with each other. In August, we drove out to see my sister and her husband in Brockport, NY. Heidi and Al treated us to a lovely vacation. We got to explore the college campus, walk along the Erie Canal, eat great food, play rousing games of dominoes, take an Erie Canal tour through the locks, and go to a Rochester, NY Redhawks baseball game.  We hope next summer to travel again and see some of Matt’s side of the family on either the East or West coast. They’ve got both coasts covered! :)

Pets

Here’s the rundown–Dash - Great Pyrenees/Goldendoodle - 6 years old STILL with a wanderlust and a short attention span. He thinks he’s a small dog and that dog food is the best thing he’s ever tasted.  Tucker – Golden Retriever - 5 years old with a deep affinity for Lyndee.  Mia-The tortoise who was Ben’s is now Lyndee’s in a trade I want to know nothing about.  Wrigley – yellow lab – age unknown. He loves to go for rides to pick up Gabe from BB practice and lets the other dogs know that he is king of the house, and the couch, and the beds.  Toonces, the cat, gave one backward glance to Matt and was never seen again. So, even though I said I’d never get a cat, I’m now on cat #2 - a strange little dude named Leo who we still can’t quite figure out. The dogs are better mousers than he is, but hopefully he’ll learn.

This Christmas season, we are filled with joy to share times with family and friends. We know we are imperfect and just hope for Grace in our lives in order to  live our best, complete, messy, lives. Merry Christmas!

Love, Matt & Amy, Gabe, Ben, and Lyndee ~ Wrigley, Dash, Tucker, Mia, and Leo

A Chosen Busy

I have a mini poster on my file cabinet at work. It says, “I don’t have time to be this busy.” These are true words. However, busy is what I am. And, busy is what I’ve always been.

My parents tend to forget that I have always been busy.  The sighs and the “oh you’re so busy” comments began when I was young and continue now into my middle age. To me, it is not a deficit or a sign of weakness that I am consistently occupied. One other thing you should know about me is that I crave structure and predictability.  I am not spontaneous and even the first days of a vacation are a little unsettling and anxiety producing for me. There are people who criticize busy, who say that those of us who are, miss the more important things in life. The thing is, I am not busy for the sake of being busy. I am not occupying myself to escape other things or to stop me from being in the stillness of life. Whatever I choose to do, I want to do it well.  I am all in and fully invested in the things that feed my soul, my body, and my family.

When I was a kid, my summer activities had three basic categories – the pool, summer camps, and community education classes.

Basketball Camp and Vacation Bible School were in June. Church camp was in August.  Those weeks of camp provided even more of the structure I craved. That left July and small spaces within each of the other months for me to fill. 

If I were lucky, I would get to sign up for more than one session of swimming lessons. Swimming was something I was good at doing. My only problem was my age.  One had to be a certain age to pass each level. Because of that inescapable requirement, I would take some classes two or three times. I would pass each of the skill tests, not be old enough to pass, and would sign up again for the next session. Today, I’d be called a pool rat. Lessons were in the morning. After that, I’d bike home and make myself lunch and then head back to the pool. I was usually waiting outside the gates when it opened at one o’clock and then would swim until five o’clock when it was time to go home for dinner. A few nights a week, I’d head back to the pool for the seven o’clock to nine o’clock evening session.  Inevitably on some of those nights, it would be family night and that meant the pool was only for families from 7-8 and then would open to the rest of us from 8-9.  On the bench outside the fence, I’d wait out the hour with my towel around my neck and my bike in the rack. Toward the end of the summer, it was getting darker and colder on my ride home, but I’d still stay until the three whistle blasts told me that it was time to get out.  I’d speed home as fast as I could on my blue banana seat “Sky Queen” and hope that no bugs flew into my mouth.

My earliest “organizing my life” memory comes when I was eight and I devoured the community education brochure.  Every May, the brochure would come in the mail, or some of us would pick it up from the community education office early to get a head start on things. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, every community ed class was free. You just signed up for what you wanted to do. 

My bike and I were the best of partners in the summer. The town where I grew up wasn’t very big, so by the time I was able to ride, I rode all over town to get myself to my various activities.  This particular summer, I signed up for Arts and Crafts, Floor Hockey, Canoeing, and Softball.  

Softball practiced a couple of times a week and we would board a bus for the neighboring communities for the morning or afternoon games.  I was a terrible softball player. Catching the ball was not one of my talents, so I played second base. That is, until the game when a grounder hit the base, flew up, and hit me in the face.  Left field then became my spot...way out in left field. I didn’t care though, the sunshine and being with my friends made me happy.  Batting wasn’t one of my talents either, but I did okay, except for that one time when we were playing Wood Lake. I accidentally threw the bat after I hit the ball and knocked out the catcher. Literally knocked her out. Oops.  I wasn’t in the batting order very much after that.

Canoeing was at Memorial park, about a mile from my house. We canoed in the Yellow Medicine River for about 45 minutes, learned a few safety rules, and then slid back to the crumbling concrete boat landing below the big shelter house.  My bike would be waiting for me and I’d ride as fast as I could underneath highway 212 to the high school where floor hockey was held. As far as I can remember, not too many girls played that floor hockey. The boys on the opposing teams made sure I knew I was in the minority (before the days of protective equipment) and I would come out of the games with lots of bruises on my shins and if I was lucky, a few goals. Arts and Crafts class took place in the basement of City Hall, just a few blocks from the high school. I am sure there were other classes that summer, but those made the biggest impression.

Fast forward to age fifteen. Finally, I could get a job. So, I got three. I worked as a carhop at Oak’s Drive Inn (which we lovingly called Choke’s), where I’d take orders, bring them back to the window, and when the food was ready, bring it to the cars on little trays and hook the tray onto the window. Picking up the tray was determined when the customers would honk the horn or blink the lights at me. A quarter tip was pretty much what I could expect, but one of my regulars would always give me a nickel with a look that said, “I know I’m cheap, but be grateful anyway.” The tips were better when I waited tables at the Eatery Family Restaurant. It wasn’t my favorite job, but I’m a firm believer that everyone should be a server at some point in their lives. My shoes were always sticky and my summer perfume was kitchen grease.  My favorite job was working the front desk at the pool. While I longed to guard and teach lessons, the front desk was the only place I could work at age fifteen. Just as in my years of lessons, I wasn’t old enough to take the Water Safety Instructor and Life Guard course. Sixteen was the magic age. Walking beans was another job, but that was short lived and another blog post entirely. In addition to the three jobs, I still had Church Camp, Basketball Camp, and then got to (finally) add in summer basketball league.

At 45, it’s no surprise since I love structure and predictability that I became a teacher. It’s my own little microcosm of boundaries and schedules and passion for learning and love of kids. I’m also a wife and a parent to three active kids. I coach two sports for the high school and one 4^th-grade girl’s basketball team.

My mom recently said to me on the phone, “I’m so glad you can finally relax now that school’s over.” That’s a funny statement considering that during my first week of “relaxing” I coached an elementary/middle school track and field camp, ferried my kids to their activities, and did two days of Staff Development with my teaching team. Oh, and I did approximately 27 loads of laundry in preparation for our cross-country vacation.

We left for our vacation on Saturday. So far, 19 hours into a 25-hour road trip, I’ve read nine magazines, one book, and written two blog posts.  The only thing I’m sure of on this vacation is where we are staying. Rest assured, I’ll stay busy because I’m all in for this time with my husband, my kids, and our friends.