a song: burgundy heart-shaped medallion.

If I had a spell of magic,

I would make this enchantment for you

A burgundy heart-shaped medallion

with a window that you could look through.

So that when all the mirrors are angry,

with your faults and all you must do - 

You could peek through that heart-shaped medallion

and see you through my point of view.

David Wilcox

Burgundy Heart-Shaped Medallion

summer skies

Alas, summer is over and fall is here. My favorite season, btw. Back in late spring or early summer (I don't remember when exactly) a friend invited people to join her in capturing the summer skies and then posting our photos for all of you lovelies out there. I decided this was a project I could get onboard with since I have my iPhone with me everywhere I go, and  I had done a similar collage back in December when we had some gorgeous, dry, sunny (cold!) days.

I may keep this up thru fall and winter...we'll see... 

a

linked 52: kitchen

My kitchen...I spend a lot of time there. More time than I'd like. I don't enjoy cooking, really. I used though - before I had Max when I had more time. I don't bake unless it comes out of a box. Well, I do make chocolate chip cookies. I can manage that. My repertoire of recipes is small. Very small. I make the same things over and over. And I'm SO tired of making the same things over and over. But I'm too lazy to look for new recipes and meal plan. Especially when I know that Max won't eat it (he eats a limited menu), and Eric will eat anything so it really doesn't matter if I make a fancy meal just for the two of us.

Anyway, I decided that while I was on my macro iPhone photography kick, I'd take a few shots of some gadgets in my kitchen.

And that, my friends, is all you will see of my kitchen for now! :)

Happy Friday!

52 Linked 2012 A new theme every week.

Tracey, Stacey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Kristin, Tracy, Janet, Rhonda, Rose, Carla, Heidi, Kristin, Heather, Liza, Kristi, Hanne   

the news & the olds.

Yes, Max was broadcasting the News and my dad was broadcasting the "Olds." The Olds? you ask...I guess because Gda is old and Max is new (I don't know the entire back story on this one.) Anyway, Mr. Toe (yes, Mr. Toe, you know who Mr. Toe is, right?...No?...) well, he kept interrupting the broadcast. That stinky Mr. Toe...always getting in the way and causing problems. All of this was important work to be done by my silly parents and my silly boy. (Okay, Gma would want you to know that it was Max and Gda's idea, not her's. She just came along for the adventure.)

Rather than join in the newscast, I decided to document the taping of the News & the Olds and Mr. Toe. My dad took many videos, but alas they are all so long that they are impossible to send. If he figures out how to edit them down I will have him send me a clip and post it here (Actually I talked to my dad last night and he may just put them on a DVD and send them to me...we'll see if I can figure out how to edit a shot clip!)  I had fun listening to a few of my favorite people in the whole wide world just giggle and giggle and giggle while I stood on the bed and snapped away.
These photos make my heart happy. 

the birthday girl!

We arbitrarily decided Sammy's birthday would be September 1st (loosely based on the fact that the vet figured she was born last September). But then Max decided her birthday should be the 2nd since two is his favorite number. But then we were too busy on the 2nd, so we kind of forgot to do anything for Sammy until the 3rd. So, there you have it...Sammy in a silly birthday hat from one of Max's old parties. I was shocked she just let me put it on and didn't really mess with it. Eric held up some treats so that she'd look (kinda) my way.

She's a really great girl. So calm and sweet and much more trainable than Maggie ever seemed to be (Oh Maggie, I still love you dearly!) She is just a perfect fit for our family. Hard to believe we've only had her seven months. It seems like it's been so much longer. And I just love that she sleeps under the bed on my side. I always sneak a peek under there and give her some love before I get in bed.

Wishing you many more birthdays to come, my sweet Sammy Sue! 

this one's for you!

A certain someone out there who shall remain nameless, emailed me upon seeing this first photo which I used in my B&A post and said she just about died laughing when she saw it. This post is for you, friend!

Max will use anything as a stage and sing to just about anything. You'd be surprised at how many songs he knows the lyrics to. I'm pretty sure he was singing Like a Prayer by Madonna during this performance (kind of hard to forget when your five year old is singing Like a Prayer on a little kid table)...not sure what I should think of this performance... sigh...

But I'm gonna take it as a proud mom moment. ;)

his first day of kindergarten.

That is the one and only regular old smile photo I got of this boy on his first day.
It kind of drives me crazy that I rarely get the non-goofy faced photos, but he's a funny man. That's who this boy is. He likes to make people laugh and smile. And that makes me smile.

We took these before we walked up to school yesterday. He did just fine. The afternoon Kindergarten kids met in the library for a story before going to class. We walked him in, he took off his backpack, and we told him to have a great day and gave him a kiss (SO happy I can still give him a kiss at school!) and then we left. I got that lump in my throat, but I didn't cry.

Another school year has begun. It feels quite a bit different with Max now in elementary school.
Walking him up to school at lunchtime...
Walking up to get him in the afternoons...
Asking him about his day on our walk home and getting the usual, "I don't know." and "Nothing" and "Okay" answers...(any and all remedies for getting boys to talk about their day are welcome. boys young and old...)


My oh my, I'm not sure I'm ready for all of this...

august 365+1

the day before...

Truth be told, there were many, many a day in the past five and a half years of being home all the time with Max when I couldn't wait for this day to come. For Max to head off to school every day. I dreamed of it (is that awful to say?...). It seemed like forever away.
And now it's finally here.
I'm not sure how I feel about it.
Or maybe I should say, I have mixed emotions, which I'm not even sure I will articulate all that well...
Part of me is excited: for him to be challenged and get to play and interact with other kids on a daily basis. For me to not worry about how to entertain him all day, and feel guilty when I have to do other things while he sits around playing on the computer or watching TV. It hasn't always been easy having an only child.
Part of me is sad though. I've heard all my friends with older kids say it: Once they start school it just flies by.
I suppose I'm worried about that part of it.
I'm worried that I will blink and he will be finishing high school and off to college. And our house will be empty once again.
Tomorrow marks a big life change for both of us.
He will spend a lot more time away from me. (And next year he will spend even more time at school...ugh) It marks the beginning of his venturing out into the world on his own. (Just typing that sentence fills me with anxiety and joy. An odd combo.)
And me? Well, I survived being the stay at home mom for those tough baby and little kid years. That part of my journey as mom is kind of over. A new chapter starts with the school years. I wonder what I will do with my time. I used to wonder what stay at home moms of school aged kids do all day. Guess I'm that SAHM mom now.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall tomorrow...
I'd love to see him at recess, and in PE, and music class (oh my! he will love music class), and sitting at his table with his new friends.
I have vivid snap-shot memories of kindergarten. I remember my teacher - Miss Shensky, and the classroom, and the days my mom helped in class...
I remember walking through that door pictured above.

My wish for you, Max, my one and only sweet boy-
smile
laugh
listen
enjoy
run and play
make new friends
remember kindness always
and dream big.

xo,
mom