Pretty in Posies
Pretty in Posies, February 2, 2010
I’m doing design work for a wonderful new client who has such fabulous goodies in her shop, this headband being one of them. Kate was beside herself when she opened the package, and she gasped when she saw the loveliness. She’s been wearing it ever since. Isn’t it sweet?
Double Jackpot
Double Jackpot, February 1, 2010
When I picked the kids up from school today, Henry was quite excited to share his great news!
“Mama, tengo cien porciento en matemáticas y en lenguage!“ (Mama, I got 100% in math and language!).
Moments like these would make any mama proud, but being Henry’s Mama in moments just like this makes me want to weep with happiness. My mind flashes back to 2007 (the months before Henry was to start kinder), and I remember how incredibly overwhelmed I felt. Hank and I were faced with some pretty major decisions regarding Henry’s educational journey, and despite some negative feedback from the district psychologist, we pushed forward. The psychologist and her team of specialists suggested a path that would have resulted in a very different outcome for Henry’s future, and we chose the road not taken.
The last three years have been filled with doubt, uncertainty, fear. There have been days when I’ve felt like we’ve been marching and climbing a constant uphill battle, but on days like today? I feel blessed with hope, faith, and trust. Friends and family commend Hank and me for all the support we’ve provided for Henry, but I always defer to my little guy. He’s the one who’s doing the marching and the climbing. He’s the one who never gives up, who greets each task with pride and determination. He’s the one who takes no short cuts and the one who wakes up each day trying and trying.
And today? Today he’s succeeding.
Meat + Potatoes
Meat + Potatoes, January 31, 2010
*Sigh* The weekend was over much too quickly. We spent nearly every waking minute of the two days out and about, and tonight the kids barely made it to their beds before crashing completely. Kate went to bed without any hesitation, though she did complain of a tummy ache. She and her best friend spent much of the weekend together. On Sunday morning her friend woke up with a fever. Hmm, this doesn’t bode well!
Fuzzy and Bright
Fuzzy + Bright, January 30, 2010
My little man is always chipper and ready to start the day, no matter what time the clock reads! From sunrise to sunset, this boy is ready to roll! I love the fuzzy and bright look that morningtime brings!
Snow Days
Snow Days, January 29, 2010
Every January, Kate’s preschool has a “Snow Day” in which an ice truck comes and dumps a ton or two of snow onto a tarp. Since SoCal has really mild weather, the kids here never get to enjoy snow, and for many of them, this is their first experience with snow ball fights and snow angels. After having our first white Christmas, today’s Snow Day here in SoCal was pretty darn good fun.
Verb Conjugations = The Suck.
Verb Conjugations = The Suck. – January 28, 2010
Alison and Henry are in a dual immersion program at school which means that since kindergarten, they’ve been immersed in Spanish. Everything they do and learn in school (from math to science, from language arts to history) is in Spanish. Now that Alison is in the 4th grade, she’s required to read, write and speak in her second language. It’s pretty amazing!
Yesterday she was quite proud that she scored “Advanced Placement” (the highest mark) on the most recent math test (a pretty hefty one too, I might add). But today? Today she wasn’t quite pleased with her homework: Spanish verb conjugations. Just the word “conjugate” transports me back to 9th grade Spanish:
Yo veo, tú ves, él/ella/usted ve, nosotros vemos, ellos/ellas/ustedes ven
Bleh.
Childhood. It’s What’s for Lunch.
Childhood. It’s What’s for Lunch. – January 27, 2010
A very hungry Kate was very patient with me as I stopped her mid-meal to snap this photo. Now tell me. Is there anything better than a PB and J sandwich?
Shutterbug Series: Sittin’ Pretty
Shutterbug Series: Sittin’ Pretty
A couple of years ago, my husband scanned hundreds and hundreds of old family slides and converted them into digital photos. Among them were photos of my in-laws on their honeymoon. Pictured here is my mother-in-law in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late ’60s (right, Joann?). I was so mesmerized by these fabulous photos that I transformed some of them into my Shutterbug Series in my shop. I always love telling my customers the history behind this card series, and they always seem intrigued to know that these creations are actual family photos.
Today, Kate and I were hanging out listening to Madeleine Peyroux while it drizzled outside, and somehow the music brought me to this photo of my mother-in-law. It seems so chic and French (even though it’s in Chinatown). I fired up Photoshop, and quickly doodled some balloons and a bouquet of flowers. I love combining little illos with old photographs. Something about it just makes me so happy.
Land Coral
Land Coral, January 25, 2010
So while Henry was at school, the girls and I dashed out to do a quick round of grocery shopping. I’m not sure how I’ve overlooked this, but there in the middle of the parking lot was this bizarre looking quirky plant with spines like coral. Strange, isn’t it? It was a nice surprise of color on this rather dismal, gray day. Has anyone seen this before?
The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece, Januar 24, 2010
So. Hank has this crazy insane puzzle. After being cooped up from the rain, he managed to complete the entire thing, and guess what? There’s one piece missing. One. The one right smack in the middle of the puzzle.
