Well, I never saw today coming. My plans for this weekend were the opposite of audacious. I wanted to rest some, play with the kids some, and read a bunch. I hoped to get up and take David to Target for back to school shopping and then to the library for some books. And we did do all of that. Then I came home, already dead tired to find Nathaniel’s thumb swollen and filled with puss. So I called the doctor who told me to bring him in right away. So I rushed right back out. Then we waited for way too long. Nathaniel has just woken up from a too-short nap and hadn’t eaten. After the really long wait, the doctor had to have two of us hold him down to puncture his thumb, get a sample, put ointment and wrap it like crazy so even if he sucked it, it wouldn’t matter. Nathaniel was weeping the whole time.
Then, we had to go to the Stanford Children’s Hospital to drop off the sample she took which involved a very tired mommy having to walk a long long way and then wait in long lines. Then I tried to get his medicine but the pharmacist wasn’t sure what the doctor wrote and the doctor’s office was already closed so we had to wait for over 45 minutes for the doctor to call us back and confirm the medicine. By the time we made it home, we were both a huge mess. I put him right on his chair so he could eat. And he swallowed the food like he hadn’t eaten in days.
Having only one thumb made things considerably harder for the little boy.
During lunch, David’s third tooth fell off and he was super-excited.
Once he was fed, Nathaniel did return to his good mood.
Even with a sock covering his arm.
As the day wound down more, he got a lot more frustrated and emotional. Cause he wanted to play like he usually does but he didn’t have the two hands he usually does.
During bedtime, we had to unwrap the whole thing and put a new one. And that was yet another challenge. Lots of weeping, turning purple, mommy freaking and yelling later we finally had him in bed. And I must say I am ready to crawl in bed myself.
Best laid plans.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I had the mind to call the doctor when I saw his thumb.
2. I am grateful that the school shopping (at least preliminary) is done.
3. I am grateful that my whole family is a lot more relaxed and chilled out than i am cause I don’t think it would work any other way.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. new legos he got for doing so much work on his reading.
2. mommy.
3. daddy.
One of the things I really wanted to do this year was to find a reading group.
51. Find a reading group
After several months into the year, I finally decided to start my own. I emailed a bunch of friends from work and we started. Around the same time, I also enrolled in Palo Alto Menlo Park mom’s group and joined their book club, too. And just recently I decided to try out the local library’s book club, too, but they then shut down abruptly, so that one didn’t work out. But then my friend Kathy started a “children’s and young adult book club” and since I have not read most of kids books I thought that would be fun!
So far the one I started has read:
– Let the Great World Spin
– When You Reach Me
– Lonesome Dove
Up Next: The Forgotten Garden
The PAMP one read:
– The Post-Birthday World
– East of Eden
– The Happiness Project
We’ve already picked the books for the next six months and they are:
– Of Human Bondage, by W. Somerset Maugham
– She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, by Jennifer Finney Boylan
– The Cookbook Collector, by Allegra Goodman
– Foreign Affairs, by Alison Lurie
– Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese
– The Imperfectionists, by Tom Rachman
And finally, the list for the C.O.O.L. club (Children’s (Or Other) Lit) is:
– Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
– Island of the blue dolphins
– Peter and the starcatcher (Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson)
– Sisterhood of the traveling pants (Ann Brashares), Winnie leads/Kathy hosts
– Tales of a fourth grade nothing/Superfudge (Judy Blume)
– Ozma of Oz, Road to Oz (L. Frank Baum)
– The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
And I am really enjoying all of them. Just being a part of a book club is something I really like having in my life.
For reasons that are truly inexplicable, I am still quite grouchy and I am waiting to snap out of it. It hasn’t been easy being around me and I am frustrated with myself for letting it get to me so much and for not being able to snap out of it. That’s my goal this weekend. Serious attempts to snap out of it.
Nathaniel took a four hour long nap today so I spent the time working and being grouchy and when he woke up, we all went out to lunch. And then did some grocery shopping. So it took me much longer to snap photos today. I started with the big boy.
Nathaniel was snacking on animal crackers when I snapped his photos. He was putting them in his hair, which he loves to do.
So I just snapped while he made some faces.
And finally we both laughed.
Even the big boy.
And now I’m rushing to get the kids to bed cause I have to go out for my new book club. Maybe that will do the trick. Happy weekend to you!!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that the dev build went out nice and easy this morning.
2. I am grateful for my kids who make me laugh again and again.
3. I am grateful that I took the time to go out in the sun and to shop. I love when my fridge is full of delicious fruit.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. lunch with mommy and nathaniel
2. strawberry yogurt cheerios.
3. daddy.
I love love love love my little man.
I made this layout using A Million Memories August kit. It uses the sketch designed by Zoe. If you haven’t been using our monthly sketches and playing along with our challenges you totally should. You can win a gift certificate to buy goodies at the store!! Here’s the August challenge
(temporarily removed for publication, coming back!!)
Journaling Reads:
I have taken photos for as long as I can remember. In high school, I was the editor of the school yearbook. My closets were always overflowing with pictures.
But I didn’t really get into photography until I decided I really wanted a digital SLR. The camera cost a lot of money and I couldn’t justify owning one unless I learned some true photography skills first.
My husband had taken photography classes in high school and still had his 35mm, so we grabbed his camera and drove to Venice Beach where he taught me about aperture and shutter speed and so much more of the basics of photography.
That was the beginning of a true love. I have since started my own photography company, bought two other SLRs, and four amazing lenses. I take pictures every single day. Hundreds in a week and over 50,000 photos of just my family every year.
Photography has changed the way I view the world. The way I live. I know people say it stops you from living the moment, but for me it’s the exact opposite. It enhances my memories.
Lots of photos today. As with all mornings recently, I got up, gave the kids food, exercised, did some art, some reading with David, and then started work. I found Nathaniel like this today and I grabbed my camera right away. I love the idea of my kids reading and reading is definitely my favorite thing to do with my time so I hope hope that the love has passed on to them, too.
And, David, too.
I don’t know if you remember, but back when we went camping, I was looking for the shoes I bought for Nathaniel. I had looked and looked and couldn’t find them to save my life. And, guess what? Nathaniel found them today! (and he is wearing different clothes cause he peed on the other ones. happens often in our house sadly.)
And then tried to put them on.
And then gave up and chose to play with the box instead.
Then, I put them on for him. He wasn’t sure he liked them but since he discovered them, he didn’t complain.
He kept walking to the door, so we decided to take a little walk.
We often walk to this bridge by our house. I like to take photos there. So we did again.
On the way back, the kids played for a bit. I love the way David looks at Nathaniel here.
And how happy they both are, here.
And the way Nathaniel’s looking at his brother here. Look at that love.
On the way home, David did what he does best: run run run.
All in all it was a good day. Good time with the kids, good work done, some art done, some chatting with friends, and some reading with David. I am still in a bit of a funk but way better than yesterday which is good news for tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the art I’ve been creating. Some better than others but I like that I’ve been doing it consistently.
2. I am grateful for work being relatively smooth this week. I am not done yet and shouldn’t jinx it but so far, so good.
3. I am grateful that David’s making such big strides in reading. It’s so wonderful to see him get excited.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. legos
2. eating a peanut butter sandwich.
3. daddy.
I made this layout using A Million Memories August kit.
Journaling is about how much Nathaniel loves building blocks and legos.
Details:
I should have written about Hand Wash Cold a long time ago. I read it months ago and I loved it.
I loved it.
I really really loved it.
There are so many things I want to write about this amazing book. So many passages I highlighted. So much that has affected me and I want to read this book at least two more times and I never reread. I want to savor it. I want to think about every little piece of it. I was so moved by the book that I emailed Karen the instant I put it down. But if I wait until I can sit and write up all the passages I highlighted, I will never actually do it.
So just trust me that this is a great book. I really liked it and it really spoke to me.
Bad bad bad day. I woke up from the wrong side of bed today and could not seem to shake the feeling all day. I got grouchier and grouchier. It was insane. And I am still not done being grouchy it seems so I am going to keep it short today.
Nathaniel’s really into putting things in bowls lately. Loves to collect his little cheerios.
He puts them in the head of this guy.
And then eats out of it. Ugh.
And here’s the big boy who’s really been super patient with his amazingly cranky mommy today. I was a bad bad bad mommy.
I am going to say goodnight and let this day end hoping i wake up from the other side tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for happy mail today.
2. I am grateful for the two layouts I finished today even though I cannot make my peace with them.
3. I am grateful that my kids were still so happy, kind, and generous despite my totally grouchy mood today.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching my DVDs
2. watching Preschool Playhouse on dvd.
3. daddy.
I made this layout using A Million Memories August kit.
Journaling is about how David is so mature and helpful that sometimes I forget he’s only 5 and this is to remind myself that it’s ok for me to let him act his age a bit more.
Details:
Today went by way too fast. I can hardly remember it. I did however work out and work a whole bunch and read with david and take photos. Those are pretty much the norms of my day now. oh and i FINISHED the garage woot woot woot!!!!!
Early morning, we watched a little TV and when I turned over, I saw David sitting like this and had to snap a photo. Love him.
Later in the day, we found David’s DVDs so he spent a lot of time watching them as Nathaniel walked around.
And gave me looks.
Tried tasting some toys.
And then put them together.
And then my goodies from Tim came. So it was like Christmas in my house! (Exactly like Christmas actually since his products are often what’s on my Christmas list every year.) I wish I could stay home and play with them tonight but I am heading out to my book club. Tomorrow morning, after I work out, I will have to play some.
Now, off to feed the little boys.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the wonderful box of goodies from Tim. Happy happy joy joy.
2. I am grateful for the finished garage. I cannot tell you how amazingly happy I am about this.
3. I am grateful about going out tonight. I like getting the chance to go out every now and then and I always look forward to my book club meeting.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching my DVDs
2. reading with mommy
3. daddy.
For the last three years, I’ve been taking at least one photo every day. In 2008, it was a photo a day of my older son David. In 2009, it was my then newborn son Nathaniel. This year, it’s both of them. It’s flowers. It’s a special lunch we have or a special trip we took or some present or anything that’s part of our ordinary days.
The thing I’ve learned is that what I miss the most over time is remembering the everyday, ordinary things we used to do. The toy my son was obsessed with at the time. The breakfast I looked forward to every morning. The music my little one danced to, etc. The simple, everyday things are the first things to leave my memory. It’s because they are not monumental. We barely pay any attention to them. They happen every day so their effect has dulled.
But they are so extraordinary because they are artifacts of a specific time in our lives. And capturing them in film allows us to freeze that memory so we can hold on to it forever. So, years from now, we can smile as we remember the fondness of that time. So we can allow it to transport us back to the past and re-live it for just a moment. Remember the smell of my son. The words he mispronounced. The troubles I thought I had at the time and the joys of our then everyday lives. Photographs can work magic like that.
So, today, I challenge you to capture more of your days. More of your ordinariness. I know it feels like a burden to take the photos, to download them, process them, etc. Just make it easy on yourself. Take them at a certain time everyday. Say 10am. Or 8am. or 6pm, whatever works for your schedule. Whenever your life is most ordinary. And then download them only once a week. Don’t process them. Don’t show them to anyone else if you’re worried about them not being “perfect.” But take them anyway. And save them.
Years later, when all these people who might have “commented” on the quality of your photos are long gone, you will be so very glad you have the memories. I promise you, it will be worth it.
Just give it a try.
The following is cross-posted from the Weekly Gratitude Blog. I will post there every Tuesday and decided to post those posts here, too. For those of you who read both blogs, I apologize in advance. Some weeks the content might be different and other weeks, exactly the same.
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projects for twenty twenty-six
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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