Friday, January 30, 2009

Growing Up

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Today was Pajama Day at my daughter's school. They have a small class, 7 boys and 3 girls, and this is their second year together, so they have a really nice dynamic. They had a slumber party atmosphere: pizza and games, and the girls made jewelry (I asked her what the boys did and she said "boy stuff"). She came home with her nails painted and sparkly strawberry lip balm in her pocket and announced to me that she wanted her own nail polish. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later and it's totally innocent (she didn't want to bathe tonight for fear the polish would come off in the bath), but it's a preview of what's to come. I hope I'm ready for it.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Celestial Moment

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I wish my photography skills were up to really taking this photo. No matter how much I fiddled with camera settings, I just couldn't get the photograph to depict the beauty of this evening. I need to take a course. Pointing and shooting and hoping for the best just isn't cutting it any more!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ChooChoo

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When you have a nagging worry in the back of your mind about your child, seeing him seek out his sister, chase her down -- giggling madly all the while -- and grab onto her shirt to play "train", is about the best moment of your day.

He seems to have a special affinity for his elder sister. It could be because she is home with him in the mornings so they spend the most time together. He looks so much like she did at his age though, sometimes we wonder if there's a stronger connection.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Sunday, January 25, 2009

My Glamorous Life

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This is only two thirds of three days worth.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Accessorize!

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In this economy you have to make do with what you have. You can always dress up an old outfit with cute accessories. Here we see Josh rockin' an adorable pink shoulder bag, only $10 at Target!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Icicles

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Outside our front window.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

ER redux

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This was at midnight, after about 4 hours of waiting. They cleaned and bandaged the wound and we were home early. 1:20am is early, right?

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Thanks for (almost) nothing

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This is what 3 hours at an ER with excrutiating nerve pain will get you. 30 seconds with a Physicians' Assistant who pokes half-heartedly at your shoulders and tells you to take ibuprofen.

Hmph.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Progress

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Please forgive the repetition: two in a row of my kids eating is boring, right?

Except this one is of my (previously) non-verbal baby eating the banana he asked for by name. His first word is banana. Okay, so his pronunciation isn't perfect (it comes out "ah-nah-nah"), but this is the first time he has verbally associated an object with its name. I asked him if he was hungry and he looked at me, grunted in the tone that usually indicates assent, and then very clearly and deliberately said "ah-nah-nah". I asked if he wanted a banana and he grinned big and wide.

So I gave him a banana and breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Delicious

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Don't you love how kids can eat and enjoy with such abandon?

Friday, January 16, 2009

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

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Staring into the fridge at 8pm after the kids are in bed and hoping a meal will jump out at you : FAIL

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Venus Over Captain's Row

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So it was 14 degrees outside (1 with the wind chill), and inside was a steaming plate of chicken cacciatore waiting for me. But after my fourth and final spin in the mama taxi I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of Venus rising over our building. So I ran inside and broke out my brand new (and very fancy) tripod, popped on the earmuffs, and headed out into the evening.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

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Usually at 3:30 in the afternoon I have a cup of tea or coffee.
Today I switched it up with a German lager and deep fried pickle.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Waiting

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In the drop off line outside school this morning.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Just a reminder ...

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... of why we're here. 

This is what I was gazing at while lingering over Sunday breakfast this morning.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Sixth Food Group

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Chalk. It's what's for dinner.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Bonus picture

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This is why I've been MIA.

Tech guy is coming tomorrow to replace the modem. Meanwhile I'm piggybacking on next door's wireless signal. Not having internet makes me panicky.

Little Kid Art

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She hearts her big brother. I hope it lasts!

By the way, that's him playing baseball, with a bunch of kids yelling "cheers" at him. The artist herself is in the bouncy house with her little sister and "old friend" Emily.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Stormy Weather

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Looking out my front window.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Naptime

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Not going as planned.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Dinner

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I've never made chicken and dumplings before. Dinner was actually pretty successful, which is not always an easy thing to achieve in a house with six people, four of whom have tastes that appear to change on a whim. Our two littlest even had second helpings!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

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There aren't that many people who can pull off this look.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Thursday, January 1, 2009

New Years Day

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So here we are, New Years Day 2009. I figured I'd start the year off with the faces of those who are the primary focus of each and every day for me. Then 364 days from now, I'll close out with those same faces. I'm simultaneously dreading and looking forward to seeing how much they will have changed.