Paris...Oooh la la

OUI! That's right, Cody and I recently traveled to Paris and Amsterdam. His company sent him to Holland and so I met him there after his work portion of the trip for some leisure travel. We took the bullet train from Amsterdam to Paris and spent a few days in Paris before returning to Amsterdam for a couple days. I think one our favorite parts of the trip was watching the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower. Since we have been back, I have attempeted to make Boeuf Bourguignon and failed miserably. (Note to self: don't try to cook foods you cant pronounce.)

Sleeping beauty

I can't think of anything sweeter than a sleeping child. Whether they are sleeping contentedlly in their beds after a long day, or snuggled cozily in my arms, or a newborn who will sleep through anything.

Lego Angels

I try not to say no ALL the time...but I do say it a lot. I guess I was in a yes mood when Kyle said, Wouldn't it be fun to swim in Legos?" Visions from the scene in Patch Adams (with Robin Williams) went through my head. You know, where he fills a pool with spaghetti so the elderly lady can swim in it and die happy. So, like a crazy person, I dumped out a bunch of the Legos on the floor and told Kyle to go for it. He didn't want to at first because he thought I would make him clean them all up...smart kid. I promised to clean them up myself so he got in and did the backstroke!
I took a picture of his Lego Angel and then spent the next 5 years cleaning up my huge mess! Because as Kyle (too) cheerfully reminded me, "When you make a mess, you clean it up!"

Freckles!

Homework

We have entered a new phase in life...homework. I have been dreading figuring out how to begin to fit this into our lives, but we are getting the kinks worked out slowly but surely. Cody heard some advice that once homework begins, you should have time that you set aside everyday for doing it. On days that the child doesn't have homework, they still have to sit at the table/desk and do some kind of assignment or studying for 10-15 minutes (increase with age). This helps with the problem of saying they don't have homework when they really do because they know they are going to have to do something no matter what, so they might as well do their homework. Also, it just keeps them in a routine and forms good study habits. Barrett's teacher has them draw and write in their journal 3 times a week, but we have Barrett do it every school afternoon. At first, he complained but now he knows the drill and just gets it done. He has a hour after school to play, eat a snack, and/or watch tv before I expect him to get started on his homework. So far, so good! Annabelle sometimes climbs up for a kiss, and Kyle sometimes does "homework" with Barrett.

When the house gets quiet you never know what you'll find

Sometimes, when the kids are home, the house gets unexpectedly quiet. Usually when this happens, it means it's time for me to make a sweep of the house and find out what the kids are up to. I was doing just that when I found this scene.






I ran for my camera hoping I wouldn't miss it. This moment. My sweet child reading with his baby sister in her room. Laughing. Talking to her as if she is his own age. Without being told. Because he wanted to. Because he loves her. This was one of those moments that would be lost if they saw me, so I sneaked into the bathroom and shot through the open door. Was the lighting terrible? Yes, but a flash would have distracted them. Is the photo grainy? Yes. Are Annabelle's toes sticking out of holes in her tights? Yes. Am I embarrassed that she is even wearing holey tights? Completely. Do I mind? No. It just proves you cannot perfectly stage every photograph. It proves that sometimes the most precious, meaningful moments happen in poor lighting and when we least expect it. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't bother photographing it. There is beauty in the imperfections of life. There is beauty in what's REAL. Like love...and holey socks.

Spring already?

This morning after I dropped off Barrett at school, I spotted some lush green grass on the side of the road. First, I glanced in my passenger seat to make sure I had my camera...check! Then I looked in my rearview mirror to see if either of the kids were presentable...check (at least Annabelle was)! On any other day, she would probably still be in her jammies, but since she covered herself (and pajamas) in her breakfast, I had to give her a quick bath, fix her hair and put some clothes on her. Kyle was still in his Transformers pajamas (ugh.) and he wasn't keen on the idea of having his picture taken.
I miss the snow we had last year and years before, but it has been really nice to be able to spend a lot of time playing outside this winter.