I woke up all sick and congested today. Expected but it still sucked sucked. I can’t take anything for it cause of the nursing so I just whined and felt sorry for myself. Until I saw David’s face and realized that he had a shiner under his left eye. (it’s subtle but I swear it’s there.)
then i felt bad for him. his best friend at school punched him twice this last week. i wrote to the teacher about it and talked to david and told him to make another friend. i am really upset about it but trying not to talk about it so much since it puts his focus on the bad stuff and right now he still loves school a lot. let’s see what the teacher says. I then dragged myself to my hair appointment cause rescheduling is a nightmare. When I came back, David was playing wii and Nathaniel was not napping in his bed.
so I picked him up and gave him some food and lay on the couch, feeling some more sorry for myself. Then I realized that Nathaniel’s thumb was getting infected again so I put the cream, wrapped it and called his doctor.
It turns out the sample they had taken ten days ago shows staph in the bacteria so it’s not such great news. he’s going back to the doctor on monday to see if we can do more tests. and so then i felt bad for him, too. Especially since he was back to being sock-arm-boy.
He didn’t care. He just wanted to be like his brother. So when he saw the extra Wii remote, he was in heaven.
So went our day. I talked to my mom, I napped while Nathaniel took his afternoon nap and David played. I tried to read more of my 1300-page book which is really boring me. I read the Phantom Tollbooth out loud to David. We then did some more reading exercises. And it was time for them to go to bed. I still have to read 700 pages for this book to finish. Ugh.
Long day.But at least I didn’t have work and spent the day with my boys. Grateful.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my boys are so sweet and when I feel terribly ill like now, they are mostly easy to take care of and when they are not my husband is amazing.
2. I am grateful that I got my hair done, always makes me feel like a star.
3. I am grateful that I did all my must-get-done items and so I can just relax and be sick this weekend. This week is going to be rough at work so it’s best to rest as much as I can.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
I’ve been working with David so he can be more specific with his items.
1. I’m grateful that I got to play A Boy and His Blob on the Wii.
2. I’m grateful that I played with Nathaniel on the big bed at bedtime (they wrestled and laughed together).
3. I’m grateful for Daddy cause he gave me peanuts while mommy was napping.
4. I’m grateful that Mommy read the Phantom Tollbooth to me.
And now that my week is over I am all sick. Runny nose, leaking eyes, headache, congestion, exhaustion. You name it, I have it. And I can’t take an anti-allergy medicine cause I am still nursing so I am not allowed. Woe is I.
The little one has a drippy nose too so I get a lot of this.
But thankfully, also, some of this.
And reaching for out of reach toys is his very favorite activity.
After we went to get David, I emptied his lunchbox and he drank water from his bottle which, of course, Nathaniel wanted to do, too. So after a lot of strong encouragement from me, he let him. Love seeing these photos.
I know all about looking up to an older sibling.
And another day is done and so is the first week of school. Save for several instances of recess punching, he seems to be loving every moment of it. I am trying to help him and watch out for him while not being insane. The instinct to preserve, protect and worry is very strong. Very. But I am working on it.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that this weekend is a quiet one. I am too sick to even think about doing anything.
2. I am grateful that I fulfilled many of my upcoming commitments so I can relax a bit and catch up on everything else for a day or two.
3. I am grateful that we’ve survived the first week. I am hoping and estimating that it will get easier.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. making friends on the school bus. (he made friends with some second graders)
2. going to the office at the school.
3. daddy.
I am a huge huge fan of seahorses. I took around fifty shots when we were in the aquarium. Love these things.
This week I’ve been bad about taking photos. It’s been so hectic, so insane that I captured what I thought I wouldn’t want to miss and the rest sort of fell on the floor. I asked David if I could snap some shots of him this morning. I got this one.
And this one. And that about sums up why i don’t take as many photos of him alone anymore.
Little boy woke up with a stuffed up (and leaky) nose. I had a brief moment between dropping off David at the bus stop and having to go to his school to volunteer, so I snapped a shot of the little one.
Then I went to David’s school. I volunteered in his art class and it was amazing. So much fun to watch them and him and be there. I am so glad I did it. And when the class was over, I went back home, worked, fed the little boy, and then went back to David’s school to meet with the teacher for Back to School night stuff since I am the Head Room Parent. And then came back home to my boys. While I was at the school, I noticed David was sitting with a different group of people at the end of school than he should be (he takes the bus but he was sitting with another set of kids, playing.) so when the lady who walks them down to the bus took off, she left him behind. Thankfully I was there so I told her my son was sitting at another table and I went to David and told him he had to pay attention and the bus was going to leave without him. He got sad and started sort of crying and I tried to talk to him but they had to go and so did I. So the lady who walks them over kindly held his hand the whole way there. And I had Jake call me when he got off the bus and all was ok but that was disturbing and sad to see how easy it is for him to be missed like that. I don’t blame anyone, it’s hard hard work to organize this chaos. So I told David that the end of schoolday is one of those times he has to pay super-extra attention to make sure he knows where to go.
It all worked out at the end, of course. When I came home, David was coloring and Nathaniel was cranky (as he’s been most of today.) But David told me to take a photo and he made Nathaniel laugh by making silly faces.
And he laughed and laughed and then came out from under the table.
And gave his brother a hug (even though it looks like a bite here).
And then looked at him up close.
And I just love these photos. I love seeing them together. So much. Makes me so deeply thankful.
And here they are being ordinary. David coloring, Nathaniel snacking and playing with legos. Perfectly ordinary and perfectly wonderful!
Once they went to bed, we went to Back to School night and I got to meet a lot of parents and talk and I love his teacher and I hear she’s awesome so I am very happy for him and I really hope he loves it and thrives and I also hope that I can make some good friends myself even. Let’s see.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got to volunteer in David’s class today. It was wonderful to see him and the whole class.
2. I am grateful to be the Head Room Parent. I am a dive-in kinda gal so I dove with both arms. And I love it so far.
3. I am grateful that tomorrow is relatively quiet. This has been a long long week so I am happy that I get to experience a more “typical day” tomorrow.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. riding the school bus.
2. coloring
3. daddy.
A dragon fish. Aren’t they exquisite?
Today was the first day David was scheduled to take the school bus. So we walked him to the bus station in the morning and chatted while we waited. David walked around and enjoyed the morning weather.
He was quite happy.
We started to get worried cause there were no other parents there but about two minutes after scheduled time, the bus showed up and David got on and he was super-excited. He said hi to the bus driver (who’s awesome by the way!) and he thanked us so much for letting him take the bus! The driver buckled him in and they were on their way!
Once he was gone, we walked back home and I packed up for the morning meeting I had at his school (I am his class’s head room parent.) I brought a bunch of food, some legos and some water for the little boy. The meeting was scheduled for two hours and ended up taking over three hours. Nathaniel was pure joy most of the time. Towards the end, he got grouchy (by this point we would normally have been two hours into his nap!) but I held him and he was pretty awesome to be honest.
Then we came home, he took his nap while I worked and by the time he woke up and ate food, it was time to pick up David. We all walked to the stop and waited for some time. Nathaniel spent this time making some of his many faces. Like this one.
Or this one.
And screamed.
And then gave us the “please pick this up for me” look. He gives this look a bunch of times a day.
Then he laughed.
And finally the awesome smile!
We show up ten minutes early for David’s bus. So we waited for some time since they were also ten minutes late today. I was getting anxious, I have to admit. But the bus came, David came off of it and he was super happy. He said he had another fantastic day! Tomorrow I go to volunteer in his class, then get to meet with his teacher and then go back for back to school night. And then things should quiet down a bit. Or so I hope. I am hoping, guessing, praying that the next ten days or so will find us settling into our routine, finding our new normal and my anxiety will dissipate day by day.
I hope so!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that David loved the bus. Yey for the bus!
2. I am grateful that Nathaniel did so well through the meeting and I didn’t have to leave the room but once.
3. I am grateful that I get to volunteer in David’s class tomorrow!
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. riding the school bus.
2. my batman backpack.
3. daddy.
4. kindergarten.
And here we are. First day of school. Little boy went without any fuss. And even with a bunch of excitement.
I tried to grab some photos but he faked the smiles. He wanted to play in the playground.
He even made a new friend immediately. Within minutes they were playing, holding hands, and laughing together.
And then it was time for him to go in. He went in, picked his name and that was that for me. We went to another room where I signed up to volunteer for a collection of events and then came back home.
The little boy took a nap and played legos to his heart’s content.
And walked around and got into mischief as usual.
And then we all went up to get David who was happy to see us but said had the best first day of school ever! Tomorrow he gets on the bus for the first time, another source of anxiety for mommy. There have been too many lately. I just tell myself to get through this week and that things will get smoother. They will, right?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that David loved his first day. So grateful that he feels happy and like he belongs.
2. I am grateful that Jake was here with us and helped me and was there every step along the way.
3. I am grateful that I have a flexible enough job that I was able to be there today and will be able to be involved and help out in his class. I am really thankful for that.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. my first day of school.
2. getting my new markers.
3. daddy.
Well the day that I’ve been dreading is finally here. Summer is over. over. Everyone thought I was crazy for not enrolling David in a school or some class or camp or whatever. How will you get work done? He will go stir crazy. Blah blah. As it turned out, he was awesome. He played hours of legos and ran around in the backyard. He learned addition and subtraction. He learned to read. (I mean he really can read now!! it’s amazing.) He played with his brother. And he was awesome. Neither of us regret it one bit. One little bit.
We had a meet-and-greet in his class today so we got his school clothes out. Which included these light-up Spiderman shoes. Of course, Nathaniel immediately wanted to put them on. And then, of course, he immediately wanted to take them off. My boy, so predictable.
And then he sucked his thumb a bit. It’s much better but now I’m nervous about it getting sick again of course.
David lay down on the floor, pretending to be asleep so Nathaniel tried to “wake him up.”
And then gave up and went to sleep with him.
And then it was time to go to school. David’s teacher had this photo of a school outside the door with all the kids’ names on each apple. I asked David if I could take a photo and this is the smile I got.
While we waited for it to be time, he played in the playground. And Nathaniel wanted to go too, but we didn’t let him.
Then we went in and he explored many of the corners of his new classroom.
And here he is with his new teacher. She looks quite nice to me.
After we came home, the kids sat on the floor and did what they do often: played legos together. Look at my boys.
And tomorrow is the first day of school. I know I am more nervous than David. I know he will do great cause he always does. Let’s see how well I’ll do.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that David’s new school and class appear to be wonderful. I really hope that he loves every minute of his school life there.
2. I am grateful that Jake’s taken some days of to do this with me. I am anxious and it really helps to have him be there with us.
3. I am grateful that I am a little back to my routine today. Tomorrow will bring a new routine but I am still grateful for having exercised, done some art, etc.
Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. going to his new school.
2. playing some didj games.
3. daddy.
Happy Sunday. Today was quiet and just the way I love it. Little boys played with legos.
And other doodads.
And then Daddy tickled the little one while the big one attacked him. Love these boys.
I love these boys so deeply.
So so much.
The little boy loves going outside, and wearing Daddy’s flip flops.
And we love him. So so so much. I have no idea how I got so lucky with all my boys but I assure you I am counting my blessings all the time. I did two layouts today, which is more than usual for me. I also started an artsy project. And read some. This book is going slowly but I will finish it.
Tomorrow starts the big week. We have a meeting at David’s school in the middle of the day and Tuesday he goes to school. Kindergarten. I don’t know why I keep thinking about this but back when September 11 happened, I remember this one story about Cantor-Fitzgerald which was a company at the World Trade Center. Every single employee who was at work that morning died. The CEO was walking his daughter to school on her first day of kindergarten and so he was late to work that morning. And he survived. I don’t know why I keep remembering this story but I do. And on Tuesday all of us will be taking David to school. We love him so.
I hope everyone’s week goes smoothly and happily.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for our perfectly ordinary day, filled with laughter and joy.
2. I am grateful for the art I did today. Always happy when I get to do some art.
3. I am grateful for my life. for all the big things and the really tiny things. for everything that makes us who we are right now.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. legos!
2. drawing in my connect the dots books.
3. daddy.
We’re finally home! We spent the last four days in beautiful San Diego. Back when we lived there, we used to love the Crystal Pier Hotel and always wondered how it would be to stay there. So when I was able to randomly get a reservation I jumped at the opportunity. And we got cabin #14. And it was lovely. We had this beautiful deck and got to watch sun set over Pacific Beach every night. Quite magical.
After the really long drive, we finally made it home and I am really happy to be here. So were the kids.
Nathaniel was tired but it was too close to bedtime so I tried to keep him up and he wondered around and rediscovered his toys.
David played Wii since it was his day and he was already bummed to have missed some of it.
I just lay on the couch and tried to recover from the car trip. I am feeling exceptionally exhausted. Tomorrow starts the events for David’s school. We have a social and a ribbon cutting in the next two days. And then Tuesday starts school. Wow.
Well I am off to get my life a bit back in order. Put my clothes away. Find my neighbor to get my mail (there’s some happy mail in there so I’ve been waiting all day for her to come back home!) and to read my book.
More tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my amazing husband to drove eight hours there and eight hours back in four days without a word of complaint.
2. I am grateful to be home and that we have such a comfortable, happy home to come back to.
3. I am grateful that it’s only Saturday and I get to rest for one more day before it’s workday again. It’s extra nice to come home from vacation and have some more vacation.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. being home!
2. playing wii.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.
We started this morning nice and early at 5:30am. Kids were awake so it meant we were, too. We sat around for a while, desperately trying to wake up and then got the kids ready to go out.
This is the face David made when I told him to smile like he was about to get a ton of legos.
Then we walked down to Mission Beach and ate at a beachside cafe for breakfast. It was a little chilly but overall amazing. Nathaniel was already yawning 100 times so we came back to the hotel for his nap and we all ended up dozing a bunch (except David of course.)
Once he woke up, we drove to Scripps to get to the Birch Aquarium. I used to take David here when he was little and it was neat to go back. David loved every moment of it and ran from exhibit to exhibit. Here he is, on a special exhibit where you go into this room and then it records you reading the “news” and you can watch yourself on TV as a newscaster.
Nathaniel loved it too, especially the room with the huge fish tank.
After that, we went to our old neighborhood and had lunch at Wired cafe where we used to go regularly. It was neat being back there, too. Then it was time to come home so we could play on the beach which turned out to be a disaster. Both the kids got scared of the water, David took off. Anyhow, that ended badly. So we came back and walked down the pier and saw a bunch of dolphins which made the day amazing again. A little frozen yogurt, some healthy snacks for the kids and our day was over. I am tried and ready to stop living out of luggage. But I do love San Diego.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the walk down memory lane.
2. I am grateful that we took the kids to the aquarium. I have photos of David there a little younger than Nathaniel is now and it was so neat to be there again.
3. I am grateful to be going home and for this short vacation. It was really nice to be here. I expect the next two weeks to be stressful as we adjust to our new routine but I suppose the sooner it comes, the sooner we can create our new routine.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. the aquarium!!
2. eating a chocolate chip muffin for breakfast.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.
Today started with an early morning breakfast with friends of Jake. Both of the kids grew impatient after a while but they were great considering we were there for almost two hours.
We then came back home and went up to my favorite place in San Diego (or possibly one of my favorite places in the world.) Torrey Pines State Reserve. Nathaniel briefly fell asleep in the car which is why he looks so sleepy in this photo.
And here’s David “posing” for the photo. David did not want to go near the water but then he walked in too far and was caught by a wave that came in. His shoes and pants got soaked and he was really really upset.
We then rushed back to the hotel cause Jake had to meet with someone and Nathaniel needed to nap. While the little boy struggled and then slept, I snapped this photo from our balcony. We’re literally on the pier in Pacific Beach and look over to La Jolla. It’s stunning here.
I did some work on the computer, relaxed and read while David watched a bit of Thomas and played with his legos. To me, this is a lot of what vacation is about. Relaxing and doing what makes you happiest.
Nathaniel woke up and we had an appointment at the apple store for me to get a new power cable, cause mine died. And just as we were leaving the hotel I saw that the diamond had fallen off my engagement ring. The ring was still on my finger, but not the diamond. I really freaked out and was so sad but decided to leave anyway and look for it when we got back.
We went up the the store, got a new power cable and then had some lunch. On the way back we made a brief stop at Anthropologie (yey!) and Michael’s and Paper Tales (local scrap store) and I bought a bunch of punches. Because I can never ever have enough as it turns out.
By the time we came back, we were all tired and I was again sad about my diamond. We got the kids ready for bed and Jake was supposed to leave again so I asked him if we could look for the stone for fifteen minutes. As I said it, I was making David’s bed and picked up the folded sheets. I heard a small sound and amazingly we found the diamond! it was right there. We couldn’t believe our luck.
Now that I was super-happy again, the sun was setting, so we went out to the balcony and I tried to take some photos. As you can see, not everyone was cooperating.
Nathaniel absolutely loved being outside and especially walking up to our neighbor’s door.
And up and down the pier.
We kept trying to get him back in to the room.
But as soon as we closed the door he’d cry and try to claw his way back out.
This little boy loves being outdoors. So, all in all, a full and wonderful day and I am happy to be here. To breathe some of the delicious, fresh beach air. I am really really glad we found my diamond. And thankful for getting to spend so much time together.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the beach air. For our comfortable hotel and relaxed trip.
2. I am grateful that we found my diamond. I am sad the ring broke but so glad we found the stone.
3. I am grateful to be healthy today. I am so sad for my wonderful friend Katie whose father just got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My heart and soul are with her and I am hugging my own family a little bit tighter tonight.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. the puzzle/coloring books I got today.
2. watching Thomas and being in San Diego.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.
Long long long day. We spent most of today in the car. And it also was one of the rare rare occasions in which David threw up. All over the car. All over everything. It was not pretty. Anyway, it was a long day. But we got here and Nathaniel was super-happy.
When we sat at our favorite cafe I asked Jake to snap some photos of David and me. And now you can see why I take so many photos of Nathaniel and not as many of David.
And then I just gave up and tickled him silly.
The kids are finally asleep and I must say I am wiped, too. All my muscles feel like they are aching. I look forward to tomorrow. To relaxing. To being together. To being here.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we made it safe and sound.
2. I am grateful that my kids are really amazing in the car. Eight hour drive and I heard maybe 10 minutes of whining total.
3. I am grateful to be here and to get a little time off. Time with my family.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with my legos.
2. being in San Diego.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.
Today started off late. Nathaniel decided not to sleep last night and I couldn’t fall asleep either. So it started our day on a hard path. But we still made it through our list of daily tasks, like exercising, reading, etc. So I’d have to say the day turned out much better than it could have. Here’s Nathaniel making another one of those piles I mentioned yesterday.
We received some boxes in the mail today and David decided it would be fun to get in them. He tried to get Nathaniel to follow suit.
But Nathaniel wasn’t as enthused.
Instead, he reached for David’s legos.
And David was pretty nice about it.
Then David leaned over to the chair to take a “nap” and Nathaniel thought it was so funny that he went on the other side and lay down too. I love how much he imitates his brother. His brother loves it too.
And he loves going through his brother’s toys. They are way more fun than his.
Here, I was trying to get him to look at me so I kept calling his name. He wasn’t easily fooled, though. He just smiled and kept going.
Perseverance pays off though and I did get my shot.
A lot to do tonight still. Emails to send. Some packing. Some fixing. Oh well… it will all get done.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we are about to have a few days of quality family time together.
2. I am grateful that we got to go to David’s school and meet his teacher. It all seems monumental and it’s stressing me out but I am grateful that he’s so excited.
3. I am grateful for an incredibly amazing happy mail today. I am a lucky lucky lucky gal.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with my legos.
2. going to my school and meeting my teacher.
3. daddy and mommy and nathaniel.
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projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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