Weekly Diary 2012 « karenika

Weekly Diary – July 14 2012

Maybe because I had so many last week, this week was lower on photos. Here are some snapshots from our week:

We took a little trip to the local playground.

The kids loved this closed, winding slide but I was so scared.

I kept thinking they were going to get stuck.

Nathaniel liked to lift his leg while he was inside.

David just liked going down in different ways. I asked him to sit so I could snap one more.

we also went to another playground near the golf course around here. (I even drove on the freeway to get there!) I snapped a shot of my boys.

For some reason I don’t have many from the playground which is shaped like a pirate ship.

but the kids liked running around.

and laughed together.

and steered the ship some.

I realized a few days later that I hadn’t been taking photos so I asked the kids to let me snap some.

I told Nathaniel to lower his head a bit, and I got this.

David is all used to my antics.

then it was family shot time.

we said each other’s names again.

and laughed and laughed.

nathaniel even tried to tickle david during tickle time.

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – July 7 2012

Since my work was out wednesday through fridays this week, we did a lot of family activities in lieu of going away. Here are some snapshots from our week:

Since I love looking over the water, Jake drove us to Half Moon Bay and we ate at a sweet restaurant overlooking the water.

The next day, I got my hair colored.

Then, we went hiking. It was nearby and wonderful.

The next day, we went to a playground in the area that was supposed to be one of the best. The kids loved it.

they ran around

and so did Jake.

I just snapped and snapped

and mostly watched them be adventurous

and joyful

so very joyful.

when we got home, Jake put together Nathaniel’s new bike (which he loves)

the next day we went to a local zoo-ish science center where they have local rescued animals like coyotes and porcupines and owls. The kids loved them

and I loved the light.

i love Nathaniel’s face here.

my wonderful boys.

on 4th of July, we went to a friend’s house, bbq’ed and chatted while the kids ran around and played with waterguns. then we came home and had fun with sparklers

it was our first time so i wasn’t sure how good the photos would be.

but i like how they turned out

and the kids really enjoyed them so much.

even the little boy.

after that, it was time to go watch the fireworks. we drove to the hills so we could see them all and we got lucky enough to find the perfect spot.

the next day we mostly rested and laughed. (and went to the movies too!)

i am truly grateful for a full week of wonderful family time.

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – June 30 2012

This was a low-photo week. But, we still got some wonderful ones. Here are some snapshots from our week:

the kids got a new table for the backyard where they can play with sand and water.

Nathaniel loves the water table at school so I figured he’d love this too.

I was right.

i took this one out the backyard window while they were playing. I love how he’s laughing with David.

having the kids at home all summer has challenging moments.

and purely wonderful ones, too.

david and i started a new project, more about it in a few months.

mid-week i decided i needed some more photos.

nathaniel wasn’t as accommodating

and just wouldn’t smile.

by the time he did, i was way out of focus.

during family photos this week, we shouted fun words and laughed and laughed

and then we said “we love daddy, we love ne-ne (nathaniel), we love david, we love mommy!” and we laughed some more.

it was a great way to end this long week.

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – June 23 2012

Here are some snapshots from our week:

our weekend started with blowing bubbles.

both kids loved it.

and wanted to do it nonstop.

i took the opportunity to snap photos, of course.

love my boys.

nathaniel checking to make sure he’s smiling.

and his big brother

then the boys colored outside.

the next day we played with glowsticks in the bath, it was awesome!

and the next day it was water gun day.

nathaniel was having a blast.

david loved shooting him.

and he liked it too

can you tell?

i can’t get enough of this joy.

his school ended on friday so I snapped some photos of him with his teachers.

he wanted david there, too.

and he looked so serious.

then they played together for a bit at nathaniel’s school.

and fixed cars together

Friday morning, I took one last shot with all the teachers. We loved this school and will really miss the teachers.

and the family shots came out blurry this week, but I love them anyway!

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – June 16 2012

Here are some snapshots from our week:

after months and months and months, we finally got haircuts for the kids:

despite my worries, i love how they look.

david, playing at a party. the anger on the face is not making me happy.

both kids are home how a lot and there are beautiful moments like this.

which make me happy.

and david, too.

here is the big boy with short hair

and the little one.

nathaniel made this for his daddy at school.

and here he is explaining to me.

he still loves run run running.

all over the house.

and then he fakes falling

all the way.

he also loves the etch’n’sketch now. even though he can’t make much with it.

and then there are my favorite moments.

i love my boys so much.

and i am grateful they are around more now.

so we can have tons of tickle time!

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – June 9 2012

as might be expected, there are a LOT of photos this week. I just wanted them all, feel free to skip, I won’t be offended. Here they are:

we spent some time by the pool and I finally got to sit and sketch. nathaniel is pouting cause he can’t use my watercolors.

but then they got their own art supplies (thanks Yona!)

daddy took this one on his cell phone (the other two, too)

my dad and nathaniel on the ipad.

mom. i love you mom.

miss her already.

my sister wanted photos of all the kids so we sat them down and tried to get them to behave.

we started with tickle time.

which the kids loved.

but nathaniel was pouty and didn’t really want smiley photos.

he kept pouting and pouting.

my sister and her two wonderful boys.

isn’t that magnificent?

nathaniel is still unwilling to cooperate.

but i snagged one without a pout.

then it was tickle time again so he perked up

and all was well.

laughter and laughter.

and the little boy finally gives me a smile.

not the best photo but still me and my boys!

every morning, we sat outside to have our breakfast and this little dog came to visit us.

there was much ipad time.

for each of the boys.

my sister and her hubby.

the two drivers who took us everywhere all week. the one on the right has known me since i was teeny tiny.

on our last day, we went to a transportation museum.

more ipad time.

on my last night, we were at my sister’s and i snapped a bunch of last minute photos.

my love.

my wonderful mom.

more of my sister and her hubby.

yona played with nathaniel and made him laugh laugh laugh.

he just loved it.

then it was david’s turn.

who also enjoyed every minute of it.

then the boys finally got home so I could take their photos.

they, too, did some tickle time.

there’s nothing like tickle time.

i love this 1-1 time they had.

and the hugs.

but mostly the laughter.

it was miraculously hard to get them all together.

and even harder when yona tried to get them to pose a certain way.

i didn’t have a 1-1 with aksel and david so I snapped that, too.

and then we were on our way home. after a long, long flight, running through the airport with a lot of luggage, missing flights, and rearranging stuff, we made it home safe and sound. and i snapped a few more photos.

my boys colored while i rested and unpacked.

and then Friday I had work. nathaniel woke up at 2:45 am and so did I, so it was a long long day. But we took our family photo with love.

and laughter.

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – June 2 2012

we have been home with my family and I haven’t been able to write daily. I ended up not having as much free time as I originally thought I might have while I’m here. Haven’t even managed to do a single sketch. Alas, here are some great moments from this week:

My sister’s son Jeff with Nathaniel (who was trying on clothes for the barmitzvah)

Her other son Aksel with Nathaniel.

Nathaniel wouldn’t look at the camera.

my mom, on the phone, as she often is.

Jeff with David.

being goofy.

the kids have not eaten much of the food here but my sister’s muffins are super-popular.

Nathaniel wouldn’t stop eating even for the photo.

the ipad has been a good friend to the kids during the more “boring” family conversations.

my sister’s husband, Isaac, and Nathaniel have become fast friends. Here he was “skiing” on him and laughing and laughing.

they played for hours together.

there’s a playground where we’re staying and the kids loved it.

david claimed he didn’t but it’s clear to me he did too.

my dad pushing Nathaniel.

and David trying to figure out how to get himself started.

he figured it out.

Nathaniel kept saying “higher”.

higher.

the next morning was the barmitzvah ceremony so the kids dressed up.

not too much, just dressy shirts and pants.

that night, Jake and I went out to dinner to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary (which was last Sunday) and the kids hung out with my mom, dad, sister, etc at my sister’s house.

there was much roughhousing of course.

at one point my sister’s twins piled on top of their dad and then David on top of them and then they put Nathaniel at the very top. They fell over more from laughter than pain.

and then there was only Nathaniel left and he told Isaac he had a “secret” to tell him. (His secret, which he whispered very loudly, was that we were going to go on a plane!)

we took our family photo at my mom’s today and it was sort of late so there wasn’t a lot of good light. but we did it anyway. And we had tickle time too of course.

afterwards the whole family ate dinner together at my mom’s. it was loud and noisy and absolutely wonderful.

and here we go. i hope your week was lovely, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – May 26 2012

here are some great moments from this week:

the boys playing “david ball” a game david invented and rigs to win each time.

david drawing everything he knows about science.

Nathaniel being goofy.

David holding his art.

and the back where he’s listed all he knows.

nathaniel goofier.

raisins were big this week. and so was this loud, noisy, annoying toy. It finally had to go in the garage before mommy lost her mind.

but the boy never stopped being goofy.

he’s such a joy!

he wanted me to photograph the top of his head.

David’s “what?” face.

more more and more science.

i love this boy.

nathaniel said he wanted to sit on daddy’s lap alllll day.

david’s classroom assistant from this year.

and his teacher. isn’t she awesome?

i love her.

david had a conference today where he explained his school year to us and all he learned.

and then it was family photos.

and tickle time.

i just love this family so much.

and here we go. i hope your week was wonderful, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – May 19 2012

here are some great moments from this week:

david playing nano ninja and Nathaniel watching him.

look at that joy in that kid.

for mother’s day, I got surprised with a mango/kiwi smoothie, some toast and strawberries with yogurt.

and some tulips. oh how i love tulips.

my boys made me some signs. and some math cause david says “mom loves math.”

more signs.

then nathaniel played with slinkie a bit.

he had fun.

and then read some. he’s fully toilet trained now. it’s quite amazing.

he’s also mastered puzzle-making. he loves doing them.

David reading for school.

and smiling for me.

nathaniel and his blankie.

nathaniel loves running around the room. this week he kept running and saying “run run, runnin’ for my life!”

right after he woke up from a nap.

some mommy and david shots.

love these.

tickle time.

more tickling.

daddy and nathaniel.

i just love this family so much.

david made a drawing of “science”.

nathaniel was still tired.

so i just snapped some shots.

of both my boys.

so happy when they let me.

so happy to have them.

and here we go. i hope your week was wonderful, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – May 12 2012

here are some great moments from this week:

i prefer to use my washi tape on my art journals but nathaniel has other uses for it.

the kids played in the backyard and David was in his spiderman costume and i just snapped as many photos as i could.

david was being a great participant.

and gave me a ton of smiles.

so of course nathaniel wanted some too.

but he still doesn’t really know how to smile.

not like his brother.

he also was annoyed that the shady part was also the dirty part of the backyard.

he kept telling me it was too dirty.

this is the closest we got to a smile.

when we got inside, i snapped some more.

david posed for me.

and then i got a closeup of those eyes i love.

they found a little spider on the couch and just kept watching him everywhere.

i went to a flower-arranging class.

and then there was mother’s day tea at nathaniel’s school.

we only spent about 8 minutes there but he was so cute and i am sad i didn’t snap a photo of him bringing the plate to me. he was so careful and so cute.

and then the family shots.

giggling.

laughing.

which just escalated.

and made me so deeply grateful.

and here we go. i hope your week was wonderful, too.

Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Weekly Diary – May 5 2012

here are some great moments from this week:

for three years, now, we’ve been celebrating Nathaniel’s birthday with our neighbors so this year we did the same.

at the little park by our house. david brought along his paper airplanes.

i love that Nathaniel sang along with the others.

and then he blew the candles.

and dove right in.

those cupcakes were delicious.

one of the presents Nathaniel got was these moustache stickers.

the kids loved them.

and i loved the photos.

nathaniel’s potty training is pretty close to done. it does mean he gets to spend a lot of time with his underwear tho. And here he is using it as a pillow.