Today they played together better than they have in a long time. I think the break from school will be good for them.
December 19, 2011
December 15, 2011
DDP: Day 15
Today while baking turtles, Ben convinced me to step into a closet so we could turn into vampires. We then had to step into another closet to change back into humans. While in the second closet I tried the door only to find that the doorknob turned without catching. We were stuck. It was 11 in the morning and I knew no one would think to look for us until well after 3 o'clock when I was due to pick Miles up for school. There was no way I was spending 4 hours in the closet with the oven on. So, I sat on the floor of the closet with my back against the wall and pushed on the door until it ripped and I was able to stick my hand through the crack to reach the doorknob on the outside. We were free and no turtles were burned in the process.
December 11, 2011
December Photo Project: 11
Every time I walk into the coop I'm reminded of one of the reasons I love him. I love him because even when it is just a coop he's building; he puts his heart into it. He made a chicken coop beautiful. Not many people would care enough to do that.
Goodbye Grandpa
Dear Grandma,
I wanted to let you know that Grandpa passed away this morning. You are still here on this earth but were moved to a nursing home while Grandpa stayed at the assisted living facility. Grandpa still sat in the chair next to yours even though you haven’t sat there for a long time. I wonder if he thought of you every time he saw your chair. If he wondered how you were doing. He never asked. Not because he didn’t care about you I don’t think, but probably because he was afraid to hear the truth. He was used to you taking care of him and when that changed, it was probably hard on him. He was ready to go Grandma. He didn’t ask me about my kids or husband or anything about the outside world. I know he was ready.
I just thought you’d want to know that he no longer sits in the chair next to yours and that I know he loved you.
December 06, 2011
December Photo Project: Day 4
We took a trip to the courthouse at the end of a rainy day. I feel like a kid coming here. The building is beautiful all on it's own, but with this display of lights, it takes my breath away. I experience some of that awe and magic that was the Christmas' of my childhood.
December 04, 2011
December Photo Project: Day 3
Today it was too hard to choose one photo. These photos are from our town's annual Candlelight Walk.
December 03, 2011
December Photo Challenge - Day 2
He pulled the felt ornament from the pocket marked "2" and it was a heart. I was just saying to them how cool it was that the calendar was right next to the picture of Grandma Kincaid, the person that made this advent calendar.
"The one who made DeeDee?" asked Ben.
"Yep, she was a very talented lady, wasn't she?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah." He said. Then he touched the felt and sequined heart that he'd gotten from the pocket on to her picture. He and Grandma Kincaid have a special bond even though they've never met in the flesh. I can feel the love he has for her. Again, I found myself feeling admiration for this woman, my husband's grandmother, that still has such power and love in our everyday lives. She's one lucky lady.
December 01, 2011
The December Photo Challenge - Day 1
It's time, again, for The December Photo Challenge which means I will post a photo for each day of the month of December. I love the way this challenge forces me to slow down and notice those beautiful moments which make up this busy month.
Today we awoke to frost and the boys excitement when they thought it was snow. Not quite snow but pretty nonetheless. I ran outside with my camera when I noticed how pretty the morning sun looked on the frost covered surfaces. And, of course, I couldn't resist a picture of our rooster, Chief, who I think is one of the prettiest creatures in all of the world.
He earns a right to be a little sassy with all of those beautiful feathers, don't you think? I could sit and look at him all day.
November 29, 2011
November - A Month of Gratitude
Although I feel like I do a pretty good job of counting and noticing my blessings on a daily basis, I love that there is a holiday devoted to recognizing and voicing aloud those things and moments which make a life worth living. We hosted our first Thanksgiving and so I got the chance to try an idea I'd seen on the web where we passed around a bowl of prompts such as "I appreciate (insert name of fmaily member) especially when he/she ____." or "One of the best moments from the last year for me was when ____." It gave us a chance to recount small moments and blessing that would have otherwise gone unnoticed or forgotten. It was lovely.
Just after Thanksgiving we made our annual trip to the tree farm to get our Christmas tree and to visit Santa.
Just as we got to the front of the line my camera jammed and I missed taking pictures of the kids on his lap and of the beautiful tree farm. But, we had a great time and ended up with the most perfect tree which was tagged a "Charlie Brown Tree" but I love it and think it's perfect.
Just a few days after Thanksgiving we celebrated Miles' 7th birthday. I can't believe he's seven. He lost his first tooth a few days before his birthday, another milestone that he just seems to be bounding over these days. He decided to decorate his own cake to look like a ice hockey rink.
He has matured so much lately that I hardly recognize the toddler that I still envision. He is becoming such a kind and mature kid. He is concientious, creative, loving, attentive and when he is passionate about something that passion is intense. He wanted hockey gear and after receiving it on Sunday, he's worn it almost constantly since.
He even fell asleep in it on his birthday night. The box that all of the hockey gear came in has been a constant source of entertainment for Ben. He will spend long amounts of time in it. After one long episode of complete silence from the box I opened it up to find this:
Blessings. They are everywhere.
