It’s been a rough week, at work, emotionally, and in general. This is not to say it didn’t have its wonderful moments, too. and here are some of those:

It’s a blurry shot but David did this wonderful page:

and I got to take him swimming since Jake was gone.

I loved being there with him.

He loves the water.

i love this shot cause they both laughing.

david read up about this game and then drew it, cut the pieces and created the game.

and then they played it together.

then we took a walk, but of course not before I took some photos and they made funny faces.

I love how Nathaniel’s looking at David to make sure he’s doing it, too.

Since the kids were at home and we couldn’t go away on vacation, we took an afternoon and went to the arcade at the movie theatre.

the kids really loved it. they shared a milkshake.

and played air hockey.

and driving games.

then more air hockey.

I snapped this special moment of brotherly love.

David decided he wanted to play Blokus.

we opened a new box of markers.

And the kids were very happy.

they drew for a long time.

Nathaniel was delighted to discover he could use the white pen on the black paper.

Nathaniel’s crying here cause he wanted to sit on Daddy’s lap.

and tickle time! they attacked daddy.

love tickle time.

and here we go. Here’s to hoping things still keep getting better.

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

I am grateful to say that things are getting better. Slowly but steadily. And I am working hard to get back into my routines, keep my spirits up and move forward. The kids are doing great and so is Jake. I promise I will start writing more detailed weekly updates soon again but for now, keeping it short and sweet and letting the photos speak.

with that, here are some highlights from last week:

Nathaniel really likes me to take photos lately and will tell me to take a picture often.

and then pose for me.

paper airplanes are still big here. Making, coloring, and throwing them.

I love this shot but can’t really explain why.

i love how Nathaniel has to imitate all David does so now he gets his own Wii remote (without batteries) so he can “play” too.

happy face!

of course, he plays with airplanes too!

I was getting my hair done last Sunday night so Jake and David had their own “family night” playing monopoly.

Nathaniel had no school all week and despite a low grade fever all weeklong, he spent a lot of time drawing and then coming over to show me his drawings.

he’s showing me specific colors here. (or trying to.)

the high point of the week was the whoopie cushion Jake brought home.

There was much laughter.

and hours of enjoyment.

Nathaniel is also really picky about what he wears recently. He likes polo shirts with buttons and the pants with zippers and buttons. Nothing but fancy for my boy.

I got David a limited edition Lego Moleskine and he loves writing in it and drawing in it.

Since Jake was leaving town we took family shots early this week and I love getting one of just my boys. (Nathaniel had just woken up from his nap.)

and love tickle-time of course!

I played “What doesn’t kill you” this week a few times and this is what Nathaniel likes to do while he listens. Cracks me up.

David reading his school book. This one was about Alexander Graham Bell. He’s really into nonfiction and science and space lately.

And here’s Nathaniel sticking crayons into an empty thread spool. Yes, they got stuck in there, of course.

The boys colored on Thursday while I worked and Jake was gone. Mommy cannot tolerate noise so we do quieter activities when it’s just me around.

We turned the play table’s top yesterday so the kids could build a city. You can’t really see it here, I have to take another shot.

and just at bedtime, one of David’s top teeth finally fell off. Not the super-crooked one but the other one. Now he has two teeth missing on top and two on the bottom. Very soon the crooked one will fall too and he’ll have almost no front teeth, my boy!

and here we go. Here’s to hoping things still keep getting better.

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

This was my first week back home. I will admit that I am not back into the swing of things yet. Mentally, practically or emotionally. My routine is still out of sorts. And the next two weeks won’t help because the kids have back to back spring breaks. But I am getting slowly better each day and trying to give myself space and time to heal. I also want to say I have gotten so behind in emails and comments that it’s become embarrassing but I just cannot get myself to sit and go through. If you’ve emailed me, I want you to know I deeply appreciate your kind words and please don’t take my lack of response as a lack of care. I am just trying to take some space.

with that, here are some highlights from last week:

For about six minutes, the kids were allowed to play this game where they ran from the other room and fell on the couch. They loved it so much that I had to let them do it but just two times.

here’s the little boy imitating his brother.

David’s front teeth are all crooked because the big ones are coming but the baby teeth are still hanging on. It’s been this way for weeks now.

i love these photos of Jake and Nathaniel reading together.

and laughing.

Jake’s parents were here last weekend and brought David a Thomas puzzle. Which he loved.

And David got Monopoly.

which they sat down to play immediately.

while Nathaniel did and undid his puzzle.

he’s very into noises and makes this each time he hears an unexpected noise.

my beautiful boy.

There was some shooting.

Which came with a lot of noise.

David fell down.

But then rose to shoot right back.

There was also sticker-time.

which Nathaniel loves.

This is his “don’t take my picture” face.

He loves to play with tiny little things and I love how he smiles knowing I am taking his photo but won’t look at me.

but of course he can’t resist.

Then we had some fun with the bowls.

I just love these photos.

he kept telling me to take his picture. I love when he does that.

The boys went to the library with their daddy and checked out a bunch of books. Nathaniel wanted a Star Wars book just for himself.

Here he’s saying “tar wars” (that’s what he calls star wars).

Nathaniel had just woken up when we took our family photos.

he didn’t want to laugh during tickle-time.

but we got him to anyway.

which was the best way to end my week.

and here we go. Here’s to hoping things keep getting better.

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

Alas, another not-so-great week at work. So I will keep this brief. I am hoping things will start getting lighter soon. In the meantime, here are some photos Jake or I took this week and they make me happy. And grateful.

here are some highlights from last week:

Nathaniel playing with David’s Batman computer. He loves that thing.

Over the weekend, both kids got some legos. I loved watching Nathaniel follow instructions and try to put his own together.

he even managed a few things all on his own.

and then called in daddy to help.

David’s front tooth is all crooked because the next ones are coming but this one isn’t ready to fall off just yet.

The best thing I get to see every day. The best.

David had pinkeye on Sunday. Here he is with eye cream on Monday. He was really worried about the cream but it turns out it didn’t hurt (which I told him it wouldn’t but alas he wouldn’t listen.)

love my boy.

this one, too. He loves his new Star Wars pajamas.

he’s so happy.

I feel so grateful that I seem to have such happy kids. I was pouty as a kid.

The boys cleaned up while I was at work, too. Love my boys.

I am the luckiest girl in the whole world. Just to have these three.

Nathaniel just refused to look at the camera. He thought it was funny not to.

And here’s the tickle-time.

and here we go. Like last week, I am extra grateful for my family. I want to hug them tighter and closer. Here’s to hoping things are better next week.

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

When I thought last week was rough, I had no idea how much rougher it was going to get, I guess. This was one of the roughest weeks I remember having. I am still in the middle of the craziness I am afraid so I won’t get into detail. I wasn’t at home much all week so there are few photos this week. Jake took a few to help me, too. I wanted to make sure to get them here because I know some of my family checks it. And, mom and Yona, I know you’ve been worried. I am ok. Just struggling. It will pass. I love you.

And, here are some highlights from last week:

David working on a big art piece.

Nathaniel working on his letters.

more letter-fun.

he really likes standing up on the chairs and it drives me insane cause it scares me a lot.

early last week as I worked like crazy at home, Nathaniel found ways to entertain himself. With food,

drawing,

watching movies,

and more movies.

here’s one Jake took while I was at work.

and a more serious one.

Nathaniel watching more movies.

They also played with stickers a lot.

and then our family shots today. I like how David’s laughing sneakily here.

and tickle time was the best part of my whole week.

I needed that laughter so much. I am so so grateful.

and here we go. On these tough weeks, I am extra grateful for my family. I want to hug them tighter and closer. Here’s to hoping next week shines some light on my work.

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.

This was a rough week for me. Work-wise, emotionally and mentally. But alas, it’s ending really week. My weekend so far is peaceful, kind, and restful. I am deeply grateful for the kindness and laughter of my family. My boys had a good week. They went to school, played at home and laughed a lot. My husband also had a good week. It was productive and mostly quiet for all others but me. Here’s to hoping next week is a little less rough on the edges for me.

And, here are some highlights from last week:

Nathaniel is really good at finding joy in the small things.

And his joy is contagious.

hugging. I love to see them hugging.

chatting with jake’s parents.

more hugging.

i used to love doing this as a kid.

David gave up on waiting for Nathaniel and went ahead of him.

Nathaniel kept going.

until he saw a crack and got scared to step on it.

then we practiced tying shoes. David’s proficient now!

for family night, we made paper airplanes.

which the kids colored the next day.

nathaniel really likes coloring now.

David put some grass seeds in the backyard, as Nathaniel watched.

while he was doing that, I finally buried the letter I’d written to my younger self (part of body restoration class.)

David took a good look around and took his job seriously.

another one of Nathaniel’s creative and joyful moments was when he looked at his legos through the binoculars.

here he is, laughing at me.

and then playing with his legos. making sounds.

writing stories in his mind.

and laughing about them.

the boys posed for me as we setup the family shot today.

Nathaniel told daddy to sit and read to him. So daddy obliged.

all of my boys. I adore them so.

Nathaniel was in a funny mood as we shot the photos. He kept being mischievous.

and tickle time!

see how David’s reaching over to Nathaniel?

and here we go. Another wonderful week gone. So grateful for my family. Here’s to a great week next week!

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Weekly Diary is a project for 2012. You can read more about it here.