Tuesday, December 10, 2013

november 23 - december 10

Saturday November 23, 2013.

The day started and ended with the love of my family - what happened in between shouldn't matter.
85/365


Sunday November 24, 2013.

I didn't know how much I needed the space.
86/365


Monday November 26, 2013.

His creative soul continues to inspire me to try new ways of thinking.
87/365


Tuesday November 26, 2013.

I know that I have seen this and captured it before; the first snow still holds magic for me.
88/365



Wednesday November 27, 2013.

The excitement of the kids on the playground was palpable.  Rules were broken and snow flew through the air.
89/365


Thursday November 28, 2013.

Unedited Potential.
90/365

Friday November 29, 2013.

The men in my life warm my heart.  They are good in every sense of the word.
91/365


Saturday November 30, 2013.

I've had to learn to let go and accept my limitations.  In saying goodbye I've made room for new traditions.
92/365




Sunday December 1, 2013.

Today I felt their love and pride.
93/365


Monday December 2, 2013.

I was impressed by his art, even if I wasn't impressed with the medium.
94/365


Tuesday December 3, 2013.

Sometimes I forget that while he will always stand beside me, it's not up to him to carry the heaviness I feel.
95/365


Wednesday December 4, 2013.

HERS - Actually it was his but he was kind enough to share.
96/365


Thursday December 5, 2013.

His happiness and good nature is contagious.
97/365


Friday December 6, 2013.

Even in the midst of a crazy busy season, it is important for me to remember, revisit and reflect on the reverberations of  2013 and project on 2014.
98/365


Saturday December 7, 2013.

It should always be this easy.
99/365


Sunday December 8, 2013. 

John and Charlie were put the lights and garland on the tree so that we could decorate it that evening. By the time we finished dinner we all decided that watching a Christmas movie together was about all the excitement we could handle.
99/365


Monday December 9, 2013.

I haven't officially gotten the flu that is going around, but by the end of the day I felt exhausted and bare.
101/365


Tuesday December 10, 2013.

The gift wrap room.  Enter at own risk!
102/365

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Saturday November 16, 2013.
Big Deal  -
We were trying to look as cool as the other families and act as if visiting the college that she wants to attend was no big deal.  As much as I wanted to, I didn't succeed.  I snapped this picture from my phone; I wanted to document this day, just as I have documented other firsts in her life.  Because the truth is - cool or not, getting ready to send our first born out into the world is a big deal.  
78/365

Sunday November 17, 2013.
Almost Done -

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but the way out is through"
79/365


Monday November 18, 2013.
Ordinary Gratitude -
I'm taking Brene Brown's e course based on her book "The Gifts of Imperfection."  This week I was reminded of something that I know very well: those who are truly joyful practice gratitude.
This truth of the universe isn't the reason that I started the blog, but it is the reason I continue it. Documenting and musing on the very ordinary, sometimes messy, moments of my life brings not just external happiness to me but a surge of warmth to my soul.

With that in mind, this week I've posted a slew of pictures.  Ordinary moments of gratitude and joy.

For a long time I wanted to be a teacher.  I'm pretty sure this dream was mostly because of the colored chalk.  Each day when I fill out our family command center I feel very teacher-like.

I sent the Granny Smith apple back and forth for a week.  It was obvious that he wasn't going to eat it even though it was his special request.

Let me introduce you to The Mayor.  He is the balloon unicorn that Josh and Kenzie ordered online for Charlie's birthday.  The Mayor is huge, and you never know where he will show up.

Josh was pretty happy that his laptop finally came in.  We were pretty happy how he advocated for himself.


Charlie proudly reading us his rock star report card.  Way to go Little Man.



Tuesday November 19, 2013.
More Random Bits of Joy -
This is the kind of picture that I love.  This is my ordinary.  Kenzie coached Charlie on the art of omelet making.


Wednesday November 20, 2013.
MORE Small Things That Make Me Smile -
The heater element in our dryer broke this week, so I had to get creative.

Family Dinners are always an event; this one was especially sweet because it was the first Wednesday that Kenzie has had off since she started working at the pharmacy.


Thursday November 21, 2013.
Headbutt -
Sam wasn't too pleased that Charlie left him to watch videos with his Dad.  




Friday November 22, 2013.
Take it Easy Boys -
PD days are lazy days.  Enjoy.  


Friday, November 15, 2013

round four - november 6 - november 15

Wednesday November 6, 2013.
Gifts -
Sometimes something happens to me in between when I shoot my picture of the day and when I sit down to reflect on it.  I remember feeling like the sunrise was a gift, wrapped up with pretty pink ribbons.  But as I sit down to put the feelings of gratitude  into words and I look at the picture I feel like the pretty pink ribbons are too loud, too garish - just too much.  As I write this I know that, for today at least, I don't need a party, or an in your face gift.  Today what I need is to find space for quiet and soft.  Today, I need to be gentle.
68/365

Thursday November 7, 2013.
Kick it -
Thursdays are soccer night.  And this kid loves soccer.
69/365


Friday November 8, 2013.
How Things Line Up -
I have words that go with this picture, but they won`t be shared here.  For now, those words hurt too much for me to work through on the blog.
70/365
He proudly pointed out the giant mustache sticker that he put on the family portrait.  "Oh my gosh Charlie, why would you do that?! You've ruined my picture!!!"  As soon the words were out of my mouth I regretted them - even more so when tears filled his eyes and his face went instantly from pride to shame.  In that moment I felt as small as I made him feel and I gave him a hug.  "I'm sorry buddy - I know why you did that, you are a fun, funny boy and you did it to make me smile. You didn`t know that the sticker would break my picture, and I`m sorry for making you feel bad.``
The mustache made me smile, and he deserved the apology,
70b/365


Saturday November 9, 2013.
Rockin' Out -
We all needed to play tonight.
71/365


Sunday November 10, 2013.
A Day In My Life -
 1 -the wind blew the wrong way and every leaf in the neighborhood ended up on our driveway.
 2 - we decided to go for a walk - just the two of us.  I`m loving the extra energy we have.
 3 - when I look at myself, I see his love.  this time literally.
72/365


Monday November 11, 2013.
Sadness -
Sadness lingered over the dark wet day.  The heavy weather seemed an appropriate fit to the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  Lest we forget.
73//365


Tuesday November 12, 2013.
Doing Just Fine -
My former boss dropped by the bakery to say hello.  Even though I should know better, I couldn't help but ask how the old frozen food shop was doing.  Sales are up.  The store is doing just fine without me.  The news was a bit of a blow.  So I shared this with my family at dinner.
Right away, Charlie looked at me and said,
"Yeah, and you're doing just fine without them", and then to emphasize his point he raises his hands in the air "BAM!"
He's right, I am doing just fine. BAM!
74/365


Wednesday November 13, 2013.
Backseat -
His clear view from behind is very different from the frosty, foggy window that blurs what is before me.
75/365

Thursday November 14, 2013.
Tea & Honey -
Did you know that nicotine blocks caffeine absorption?  Neither did I.  As well as giving up nicotine we've had to seriously cut down caffeine.  Raspberry tea and honey anyone?
76/365

Friday November 15, 2013.
Stretching Lessons -
This is one of my favourite books at the library.  I sign it out every chance I get.  Every page has it's own gems - little words of wisdom to encourage you to listen to the whispers and goosebumps of your life.
Some of my favourites:
'It's not about trying - it's about allowing."
"There's a difference between hard work and unnecessary suffering."
"It's a slow thing to give strength to your song."
"What we do with our lives makes us an artist."
"Accepting success can also be a stretch."
77/365

Friday, November 8, 2013

round four - October 25 - November 5

Friday October 25, 2013.
Best Daddy Date Ever -
Kenzie and John were so excited to go see Matt Good in concert.  As a special treat, they got their tickets upgraded to VIP, which meant that they were third row center, and got a chance to meet with Matt after the show!  It was such a great experience for them to have together.  
56/365


Saturday October 26, 2013.
Changes -
Great conversations have a way of altering the way you see the world.  I had one on Saturday that still has me thinking, pondering and rethinking.
57/365


Sunday October 27, 2013.
Rallied -
I spent the day tired and hung over.  By the end of the day, I rallied and decorated the front porch with John for Halloween.
58/365


Monday October 28, 2013.
Physics -
The mousetrap car was a physics group assignment gone wrong.  Kenzie ended up bringing it home, working for hours to get it to where she was happy with it.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines physics as a science that deals with matter and energy and  their interactions.  I believe that for Kenzie, this group project proves that matter, energy and interactions will always be a balancing act.
59/365


Tuesday October 29, 2013.
Pumpkin Carving -
Kenzie and her friends went to the school dance so it was just me and the boys carving pumpkins this year
60/365

60/365
Wednesday October 30, 2013.
Morning Dew -
One line at at time the world comes into focus.
61.365


Thursday October 31, 2013.
Trick or Treat -
In our home, Halloween has always been a little chaotic, but in the last few years it is more so.  It has become tradition for our "country mouse" cousins to trick or treat with us in the city.  My kids don't get their costumes on until their cousins arrive and once in costume, they are rearing to go.  I barely get one or two shots before they are out the door.  I have accepted that my Halloween pictures will never be great.  Great pictures have been traded for great memories.
Charlie the Banana
Two comments on this picture
1.) what's with the hole in his sock?!
2.) He was right, he didn't need all the extra layers I forced him to wear.  He came home smelling like a stinky wet boy.
62/365
The gang braving the rain.
62/365


Friday November 1, 2013.
Lady in the Black Hat - 
By herself, she sat doing crossword puzzles in the pub.  Clapping her hands to the music and drinking her ale you could tell that she was, for the moment, completely content.  How she came here -not to the pub alone - but to this place in her life intrigued me and reminded me once again that everyone has a story.  
63/365


Saturday November 2, 2013.
11:08 -
I've made it to bedtime.  It's been a long hard day.  Day one of killing the Nicotine Monster is over.
64/365


Sunday November 3, 2013.
Golden Keys  -
I think that the key for me to get through the withdraw will be space.  Space away from distractions and noise.  Space to regroup and refocus.  Space to fill my lungs with air and exhale.
65/365


Monday November 4, 2013.
Fleeting Moments in Time -
The golden light of sunrise lasts only for few moments
so too does their childhood.
I continue to capture both in any way I know how.
66/365



Tuesday November 5, 2013.
Missing What I Never Knew -
As much as I enjoy my collection of old things, I know that they are from a time that I will never fully understand.
Today my husband and his family will morn the loss of his Dad, Jack.  I never met Jack and regardless of how many stories I am told, or how many pictures I manage to collect for my husband, I will never fully understand those wonder years when Jack was alive and death and heartache seemed naively impossible.