Treasure

 

     3/52: A picture of my children once a week, every week in 2014.

Through out the summer and fall, Monkey and I would walk the parameter of the lake. Often we would find what he began to call treasure- the remnants of battle's lost by local fisherman. Each time we were out,the game to find as much treasure as possible grew. Unfortunately, at times my lack of desire to be knee deep in muck would cause quite the heartbreak. But as mother's do in those moments of disparity, in an attempt to hold back the alligator tears, I made promises of future adventures. So after weeks of Monkey asking, and sub-arctic temperatures I determined the ice was officially safe for a "treasure hunt". Truly, one mans trash is another mans treasure.

Monkey Business

            2/52: A picture of my children once a week every week in 2014.

Monkey Man this week you amazed me by:

• your never ending sense of humor, sometimes even laughing at your own jokes
• continued to excel in school- having scored 100% on every spelling test to date,
• got a new book on snakes and read the whole thing cover to cover- I now know everything there is about Anacondas and Water Moccasins,
• melted my heart leaving secret messages for me all over the house.

Bubblicious

 

 
    2/52: A picture of my children once a week every week in 2014

Bunny, this week you:

• were home all week with a terrible cold,
• played nurse to your lovey Betty...she caught a bunny cold too,
• found great joy in making bubbles, you giggled and giggled,
• discovered you love to wear your hair in a ballerina bun,
• and asked if you could take ice skating lessons.

The Year of the Horse

To celebrate Lunar New Year 2014, The Year of the Horse, I thought I would proudly share my little Monkey's beautiful interpretation of Farnz Marc's Blue Horse 1. Unlike Bunny, Monkey is not a fan of art class or making art in general, with the exception of play-dough and mud sculptures. So believe me when I say, most often I am lucky to get a picture with a few scribbles and a three legged stick-man. Thus, I was doubly impressed by  his effort and outcome. And while I am sure he enjoyed the proverbial hugs and smooches from his adoring fan, I think it was the proud display of his work framed on my office wall which brought a smile to his face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/52: A photo of my children once a week every week in 2014.

 

Monkey: This week you

• discovered you really like to make homemade pudding
• got a perfect score on your math exam
• you impressed me by reading a whole chapter book in a day
• continue to take Aikido lessons, and love your instructor
• saw your first college wrestling match and thought it was great "their moms let them do that!"

 

52 Project

Sometime last summer I began to see more and more mom-bloggers joining a photo-journaling revolution called the 52 project. The projects author, Jodi Wilson,(www.practisingsimplicity.com),is a writer, photojournalist, and mother. I connected to her projects intent to capture the everyday, however mundane, in all it's brilliance. Every week, in 2012, she post one photo of her children. At year end she had 104 pictures- a modern memoir embracing those precious moments time seems to indiscriminately erase. Her photography’s are eloquent, vibrant, and capture the essence of motherhood. It doesn’t hurt her son Che and daughter Poet were obviously at the front of the line when they were handing out good looks.   

Therefore, while I am not usually the kind who goes about making New Year’s resolutions,(I prefer to make the resolution in the moment of inspiration), I felt today, the Lunar New Year, is a symbolic starting point to join the 52 project. I have always admired those who can illuminate life through the art of photography. To help me with this goal I have also joined an online photography class.  The time has come to stop letting my camera's auto mode dictate how I view the world.

 

 

 

 

      1/52: A photo of my children once a week every week in 2014.

Bunny, this week you:

• are on the verge of reading your favorite book Too Many Cats
• opened your first bank account $185.33 in pennies
• impressed the bank teller by signing the papers yourself
• jumped in the pool at swimming lessons, without being scared
• are obviously growing, your appetite has been ferocious

Snowy Man Day

    Today is yet another day to remind us to savor those dog days of summer. Every single one of those days, hot and sticky with popsicle juice dripping down their chubby little arms.  There is no question the blustery cold, followed by the eight inch blanket of snow is proof Jack Frost has taken up permanent residence. Now if I could only charge him rent, or at least shovel the sidewalk.

 

   And while I see these days as an excellent opportunity to hunker down with a hot cup of coffee and a good book, the wild things among me have a different plan. Here's to the optimistic view of those who see their glass always half full. Have a Snowy Man Day!

Hibernation

It would be easy to hand out excuses and say my absence from this sight has been due to a deep hibernation, but my husband pointed out today even the bears in Colorado have been spotted milling around.

As for this little monkey, cold weather is not a deterrent either. I imagine someday I will be sent a text from atop a far off mountain or polar cap letting his mother vicarious live through his exuberant desire to explore the world.