Today was David’s Halloween party at school. I am the yearbook photographer for the class so I took a million photos. But as it turned out, not many of David. Here he is playing bingo.
And the little baggies his teacher prepared for each of the students. She’s awesome.
Nathaniel was there, too. He played the whole time. Jake’s parents were there so they kept him busy. It was so great to have the extra hands.
And here’s my boy. Hulk, baby!
Then we came home and Nathaniel went down for his nap. I got some work done and then it was time to get David. We rushed to a playdate he had and then rushed back home. My treadmill showed up so we got that setup while Jake’s mom gave the kids some toys.
Nathaniel watched his brother and he learned how to unwrap, too.
While Jake’s mom read directions, he was already grabbing parts.
David spent the rest of the night putting legos together and playing with Silly Bands while we put the treadmill together and Nathaniel played with the blocks and Jake’s mom. And then it was time for bed and date night. We saw Conviction. Great movie. And now I am off to bed. Art journal page coming tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we get date night again. I love going to the movies so much.
2. I am grateful that the treadmill is here. I cannot wait to try it tomorrow.
3. I am grateful that it’s the weekend. I really really need the rest.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with meme (while we were setting up the treadmill)
2. halloween party at school
3. going to maggie’s house and making milkshakes
Journaling Reads:
In 2007, I took Shimelle’s class on making a Christmas minibook. That 31-day course was the first time I created a book focused on the season. The next year, I discovered Ali’s December Daily and I was immediately in love.
Since then, I haven’t missed a year and each year I prepare my book earlier and earlier in anticipation of all the wonderful memories and excursions and family time we plan during the holiday season.
This book has become my favorite project of the year. It’s my way to capture my artistic width and depth and for me to capture the way we’re living our lives right now and for me to take a moment every single day to remember how grateful I am for my life. For our life.
These books are among some of my most cherished items in my life. We regularly look through them and talk about the memories. It’s a minibook that always sits on my mantle. This is not just another scrapping project, it’s a way for me to enjoy Christmas while it’s happening and it heightens my awareness.
Another sick day but better than yesterday so we’re on the way up. I am all raw on my lips and nose from blowing it so much. I took today off work and just rested. I started at the ceiling a bunch, rested a bunch and just let my body recover. Nathaniel, as usual, played with David’s stuff while he was at school.
After we picked up David, Jake’s parents arrived so the kids were overjoyed. David started showing his books and talking and reading and Nathaniel played with the multitude of yarn balls Jake’s mom is using to make a blanket.
Sorry to be quiet, not much going on right now. Mostly resting and recovering. I hope you guys are doing better than we are.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we get date night tonight.
2. I am grateful that I am feeling better for the most part and definitely seem to be on the way to recovery.
3. I am grateful that I am able to and choosing to take a little time to rest, it does appear to be working so far.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. having Meme and Papi here
2. playing on pbskids.org
3. doing my pattern homework
Here’s today’s page.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. How the past stops you from being free and creating the future you might create for yourself. I think that before you can be free to make choices, you need to let go of the past and your stories around it.
These butterflies are from my new MS border punch. I cut them out and glued them over the ledger paper. Then I used some watercolors for the background. Some stickers and we were done.
details:
Here’s the little boy looking through my book again.
When my book club originally sent the list of books to vote on, I remember seeing She’s Not There on the list and not being interested at all. Transgender issues are of no interest to me one way or another and I wasn’t sure if it would be good. But the book got picked and so I read it.
And I was so wrong.
The book is fantastic. Well written, interesting, deep, thought-provoking, funny, and a really really good read. I truly enjoyed every moment of it and recommend it.
Well, it was coming. No matter how much I tried to avoid it, I was unavoidable that I got sick, too. So now all three of us are sick in varying degrees. I spent every moment of today lying down and praying the pain in my head and jaw would go away. I know this splint is for my TMJ but man it hurts my gums and teeth and even jaw so much. I took care of Nathaniel and worked a bit but for the most part, I was completely useless. Especially since Nathaniel’s up at 3am for four nights in a row now, too. Thankfully David was at school and neither of the kids has fevers. When we picked David up, he went right to working on his workbooks.
He loves them so much. The little one was a bit more rested after his nap and played a bit and visited me.
I then put a few cartoons on and they both climbed on the couch near me. I love snuggling up with them and smelling them. If it takes cartoons, so be it.
I love that Nathaniel was sitting between David and me and kept giving David impromptu hugs. He’s so so cute. and so loving.
The kids went to bed, I worked on my art journal, and now i am lying on the couch again. Cold, tired, in pain. Ugh. Here’s to a better tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that neither of the kids have a fever. Nor do I. This could be much worse.
2. I am grateful that Jake and Nathaniel went out to dinner together tonight 1-1 and also bought another halloween costume. Yey for daddy-son dates.
3. I am grateful that I found a replacement for my volunteering tomorrow. I’m in no state to go to David’s school, especially since I will be there Friday. Here’s to feeling much better by then.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching giants on daddy’s iphone
2. having dinner with daddy
3. making my peek-a-boo thing at school
Here’s today’s page.
Today’s entry is also inspired by the free Mixed Media class I am taking. I cannot encourage you enough to RUN to this class. Tam is amazing!! Truly amazing.
I drew the little girl on cold press (textured) watercolor paper. It’s more textured than I’d like but I wanted to try. I then cut it out and glued it on to a page of ledger paper. Before I glued it, I added some dictionary paper to the background, too. Then I colored the background and stamped a bit and added the sentence.
Many of us worry about being alone. But it’s ok to be alone. Sometimes I like being alone. At peace. Quiet. Alone doesn’t mean lonely. Just like being in a crowd doesn’t mean not lonely.
details:
Today promised to be hectic even before it began. After we dropped David off at the bus, Nathaniel and I rushed to my new TMJ doctor where I got xrays, fitted for a new mouth guard that I have to wear night and day (ugh!) and I got some massage/therapy, and a shot in each temple. Nathaniel whined most of the time. He woke up with a little fever so I gave him some medicine and he went for his nap as soon as we got home. I worked while he napped and then gave him food. Since he was so sick, I didn’t want to take a chance and take him out when I did my run so I put him on his high chair and walked back and forth in my tiny backyard. Tiny tiny tiny. It was quite a scene but I did it. For a whole mile. Then we went to pick up David. And I snapped this happy face.
While the little one eyed the markers on the table.
And then signed food.
Then we rushed to the doctor for Nathaniel’s 18month appointment. Besides being stuffed up, he’s doing great. No fever. 90% in height and 50% in weight. Average head (didn’t tell me percentile) and clear throat, chest and ears. So just a cold. Which he kindly passed on to me, too. Since he was a bit sick, he didn’t get any shots. David got his first flu shot and was quite sad. But we came home, he had some yummy food and some play time with daddy and was good as new.
Now nathaniel is complaining in bed but if I got in there, he cries more, or stops briefly and restarts so I don’t know what to do. I am trying to give him a little time to see if he’ll settle down. I am wiped. Congested. Tired. Eyes hurting and head hurting. And jaw hurting from wearing this new splint. I’ve never worn braces so having something plastic in my mouth all day and night is not fun. Not to mention all the jaw pain. Oh well…I do what I have to do.
A little Glee and I am off to bed, too. I hope you are all well and not getting sick like the karenika household seems to be!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got to be the guest poster at shutter sisters today. What a huge honor!
2. I am grateful that creative therapy is featured in artful blogging’s winter issue. This is also a big honor and a dream come true!
3. I am grateful that despite the pain and frustration, I am trying to do something about my jaw, here’s to hoping it works!
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting a lego sticker at the doctor’s
2. playing legos with daddy
3. making my halloween book
Here’s today’s page.
I’m still feeling a bit down and overwhelmed and tired and now a little sick so I wanted to make something simple but with a positive message. So here we go. Because beauty is everywhere. All you need to do is look. As for the page, it was yellow, I sprinkled some white india ink, glued some ribbon, doily, flower, butterfly and letters. Simple simple.
In honor of my tradition of daily photography and a guest post at shutter sisters today, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite daily photos since I’ve started karenika.com. They’re not in any kind of order.
They are over the years so they are taken with different cameras and have different amounts of post-processing.
First time doing lowlight photography.
Macro.
One of my all-time favorite shots of David.
Skyline Boulevard.
Another macro-ish shot in San Diego.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.
Hillside, Fethiye, Turkey.
Recent Nathaniel photo that Jake likes.
California Academy of Sciences.
and
La Jolla at sunset.
And of course the butterfly in the banner.
I am so grateful for my tradition of daily photography and how much it allowed me to capture my life over the years.
Last night when I was at the grocery store, I bought some purple lights and put them inside the pumpkin so now they flicker. I thought David would like it when he wakes up in the morning since it’s generally dark. But Nathaniel enjoyed it even more.
All day long, he kept walking to it and pointing to it.
When we got David from school, it was his library day so he came home with a book and immediately sat on the couch to read it. I cannot tell you the joy this brings to my life.
He also lifted Nathaniel’s spirits up.
And made him laugh so very hard.
The kids then played while i worked briefly on my art page and nathaniel spilled some water all over himself so I had to take his top off and when I talked to him, this is the face he gave me.
Even though the photos might deceive you, both kids are sick. David has a runny nose and Nathaniel has a runny nose and fever. He’s super cranky. He’s also drooling so I am guessing it’s teeth but thankfully his 18month appointment is tomorrow so we will find out for sure.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I walked 2 miles today. I felt better and walked as fast as I could.
2. I am grateful that I am home and can take care of my kids when they are sick.
3. I am grateful that people are being so kind and generous with me. And allowing me the opportunities I really wish for. I am so lucky and so grateful.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching a little TV with mommy and nathaniel
2. playing with daddy
3. checking out my book from the library
Here’s today’s page.
I feel like October went by way too quickly and the days are just passing without my control. I wake up and the next thing I know it’s 4pm and I can’t remember what I did in between those two times. Minutes and hours just fly by. I feel like things are a bit more chaotic than I am used to. And, of course, more than I like.
The background is just a combination of acrylics that I put on there with a palette knife. And then I added some Tim Holtz tissue tape, and letters, the butterfly wings, and journaling. that’s pretty much it.
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projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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