Family Foto

I taught Sockie's preschool group today.
We learned about the letter F

F is for Family
This is what he created:

There are SO many things that I love here. I love his additions/illustrations of my brothers. I love that Dad has pokeys on his chin. I love that he drew loves connecting me and Dad, as well as from him to me and from me to him. I LOVE Grape's hair. I also love how the pink eyes on Pencil give him a slightly crazed look that keenly captures his whirlwind personality.

My son is an artist. Preschool is a riot.
I need a nap.

Saturday, in the park

We had a lovely, lazy weekend.
The highlight was running and playing at the park.
(and of course having Dad home for the whole weekend!)

Bring your kid to work day

So my husband works in the Emergency Room.

I am no stranger to Emergency Rooms... having visited at least four different ones myself, multiple times. (We have a special relationship, the ER and I....) Some might find it to be funny that I married an emergency Physician after the doctor of my childhood joked that I single-handedly paid for the ER in our small town. It's ok, though. I have a thick skin.
I've been a patient enough times to know how it rolls and not be too afraid of the process. I have, however, always dreaded the day when we would have to go see Dad at work. (In my head it was never a matter of 'if' but of 'when')
Turns out that day was today.

Put it on Ice

I have been quick to complain as of late.
Today, instead of grouching, I am choosing to see that life is hard, because it is meant to be hard, and it is in the living of it, after all.
So my complaints and grouches (mostly the under breath variety about kids who don't listen and schedules that don't cooperate) are all being put on ice.

Apropos because we have begun the adventure known as skating lessons. (yes, in Southern Arizona.... maybe not our most economical choice, but one that makes my little big girl happy)
She spent a fair share of that first hour learning how to fall and get up again, but she did it all with a smile on her face. By then end of her hour she had crossed the down the middle of the rink with no helps and loved every minute of it.

Monkey with a death wish

Today Pencil found three pennies.
He was walking around for about  30 minutes talking about his moneys.

Then he came to me and said, "Money innit"
He walked over to the TV stand and sat down with his shoulders drooped like he does in time out. His face was sad... or guilty.

I immediately thought of the Wii. Two of the moneys were on the rug, but I was sure the missing penny had been inserted into the Wii disc slot. (It would not be the first time...)
I unplugged the whole Wii console and set it aside for when the Doctor could come home and surger it. (again.)

Weary...

 They say you should search the scriptures often, and apply them to your own life.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Today has been a day to try the patience of my very soul. Sockie is sick (fever and hacking cough) so the boys and I stayed home from church while the Doctor and Grapes went. Sockie was not the child wearing my soul today, however.

Pencil is the one. After today, I just know he has a diabolical plan to make my blood boil right out of my brain and make me keel over dead.

In the 12 hours since he woke today he has: (in no particular order)
*stolen a computer game disc out of the desktop
*thrown not one, not two, but three full-out bawling tantrums about milk
*broken a DVD disc (RIP, Jo-Jo's Circus)

Experiments in Photography

As mentioned in the last post, I now am the proud owner of a fancy camera. (Not professional or supremely impressive, per se, but fancier than our old point and shoot)
I have been playing with it, trying to learn how to use light and all the information I'm trying to glean from every possible source. (Like my brilliant brother and his knowledgeable friend, my other brother, when they were here.)

I've already learned that the camera doesn't make a good picture, it is only a tool. I've learned that light is KEY, and that chasing monkeys may not be the ideal way to practice. (evidenced by the zillions of pics I flat out erased in order to get a few worth even looking at)

Here are a few of the shots I think are ok so far. Enjoy.

Note the partial nudey. I can't keep his clothes on and shoot pictures!