Where Have I Been Wednesday

Busy at work. I can't wait to share my most recent family shoot with you. Moms, dads, children, grandparents, and babies--captured together--in one afternoon. Sounds like a day at the beach, doesn't it? Well, it was! For now, so many photos to edit. But, how can I complain when my "cubicle" looks like this?

Yes, that is Nicholas above. He was invited to come along. After taking this lighting test shot, I knew the rest of the day would be a success!

His Heart

“How far away is my heart, Mommy?” Nicholas asks me.

“Your heart is inside your body, baby. It isn’t far.”

“Yes, it is far. It’s very very far away. That’s why Heller is far away.”

“Heller is far away, to you, because you can’t see him. You can’t see him because he is in Heaven. But, he is also in your heart because you love him. We say, ‘he is in our hearts’ because our hearts feel our love, and we love him forever.”

Nicholas is insistent. “My heart is far far away. Very far. Further than the farthest far.”

I try again.

“When we love somebody, or something, we say that it is in our heart. It means, our heart holds a part of that thing forever and ever. You are in my heart, Jenny is in my heart, Daddy is in my heart. It means we love someone.”

Nicholas gets the final words. “Well, I love my stuffed animals, but they are not in my heart. They are at home, on my bed.”

I’ll try again tomorrow.

I Heart Faces - Let's Hear it for the Boys!

These boys are fierce! They’re the roughest, toughest soccer team around! So, when it came time to choosing a team name, these fearsome four-year-olds didn’t mess around. Their motto—“Mess with us, and you won’t forget it!” This may be "Bitty Sports," but there's nothing bitty about the Orange ELEPHANTS!

Yeah...we don’t get it either.

Let’s Hear it for the Boys this week at I Heart Faces!

I Heart Faces - Vivid - To Infinity and Beyond!

They meet their instructor along the side of the pool, and their lesson begins promptly at 6:45. Moms and Dads watch from afar as they gather together along the water's edge on blankets, towels, and whatever empty chairs they are lucky enough to locate. This is no “mommy and me” class. These boys are in the big league now.

First, the instructor lines her little eels along the edge of the pool wall, securely fastened into what she playfully calls their “space backpacks.” She begins her address on the rules of safety. They listen. Next, she proceeds to demonstrate the goal. They watch. Finally, she pulls each boy into the water, one at a time. They do.

I am intrigued by the instructor’s ability to capture the focus of these boys for the full half hour. Whether she is teaching them one on one, or in a group, these boys offer her their undivided attention. They seem to know that this is important. I am focused too. I am thankful for my camera’s zoom.

Pleasantly exhausted after a good swim, my boy goes to bed early on lesson night. I am able to sit down and browse through my photo captures of the day. In these quiet moments, I can vividly see the future as I imagine he sees the future.

I pretend to hear my little guy talking to his friend. “One day,” he says, “we are going to cross the pool!” Yes, my little one, even without your backpack, I know you will go “to infinity and beyond!”

This week, I Heart Faces wants to see our Bright and Vivid photos. Check them out here!

Choosing Sunshine!

Fever of 101. Sinus infection. Double ear infection. As we arrive home after a visit with the doctor, Nicholas has two choices--cozy up on the couch, or head outside and Capture Sunshine!

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD. ~Jeremiah 30:17

I Heart Faces - Best Face Photo of March 2011

Through the Fence "When I was little," he tells me, "I didn't play T-Ball." I just love these "experienced" eyes. Although he is way on the other side of the fence, he still checks in every now and then to allow Mommy a few close-ups. This is my favorite March Capture, and you can vote for it here. While you are there, check out other March Favorites at I Heart Faces this week.

Upgrade!

Another year--another pair of Chucks! They just keep getting bigger and bigger. Nicholas calls these, "Eleven Tall."

Best Money Ever Spent - Strider Bike!

The Strider™ PREbike website claims, "Bike riding becomes a breeze when you teach your child balance and coordination before pedaling." I am pretty confident this is true, but we haven't yet converted to a pedal-less bike. Our Strider Rider is so much fun!

(Scroll to bottom of page to pause site music before clicking PLAY)

After several attempts to circle the neighborhood for our evening walk, with Nicholas riding his training-wheeled bicycle, we gave up and encouraged him to walk with us. The over sized bike with trainers was cumbersome and slow, and managed to get stuck in minor cracks and tip over at a moment's notice. Nicholas didn't seem to mind putting the bike aside. In truth, he wasn't having much fun anyway.

In November, his grandparents bought him a Strider for his 4th birthday.

Day One with the Strider was slow-and-go. As with any bike, it took a little while to get used to. Day Two was better. We navigated the neighborhood, without any falls, but Nicholas remained tentative, and his feet mainly stayed on the ground. At the end of Day Two, we checked out videos at the Strider Bike website and Nicholas decided that he wanted to try to do "tricks." I told him we should give it try, so we headed right back outside and gathered up his bike.

Immediately, Nicholas walked his bike to the top of the driveway, lifted his feet, and glided to the bottom. My heart was in my throat as he hit the lip at the bottom of the driveway and seemed to lose balance for a moment. Without hesitation, Nicholas righted his wheels and continued his glide.

"Wow, Mommy! Did you see that 'trick'?!" he asked me.

He spent the rest of the day telling everyone what an amazing bike rider he was.

Balance AND confidence with one blow!

Thanks Strider!

Wordless Wednesday - Sleep is for Humans

Water Hazard Wednesday

miniature golf - mini-golf - midget golf - goofy golf - shorties - extreme golf

crazy golf - adventure golf - mini-putt

We just call it FUN!

Nicholas truly enjoyed his first miniature golf experience at a recent birthday party for his great friend, Zachary. Perhaps I will post Zachary's photos after his mom gets to see them first! We knew the course was close to our home. (Who could miss the awful blue water as you pass by it on the street?) We never knew how much fun it was! Expect more putt-putt in our future!

I Heart Faces - Hearts

I Heart Faces is getting into the spirit of Valentine's Day a little early this week with their challenge topic--Hearts! Check out what others are doing with their hearts here.

2 Kids/12 Times/12 Colors

The end of 2010 found me desperately trying to fill a photo album with photos of my children (taken together) over the course of the last year. I found that it could not be done. I was forced to settle for separate, yet similar, captures. It seems that their fourteen-year age difference does not contradict the definition of sibling rivalry. I could see it in their photos--my children each competing to define who they are as a person, and each wanting to show that they are separate from their sibling.

Well, that just would not do.

It has been said that our siblings are the people we practice on. They teach us fairness, cooperation, kindness, and compassion. Jenny is beginning her adult life this year. Nicholas barely knows the joys of being a full-fledged kid. They are still learning and growing together, and I intend to capture these moments while I can.

If I had the pleasure of raising them together as small children, I confess, I would have dressed them the same and paraded them around in all their cuteness. Sometimes, it happens naturally, and I secretly love it. For my project, it will happen at least once a month.

So begins a new project--2 Kids/12 Times/12 Colors.

This is not a new concept. I admit, I borrowed it from several members of my photographer community. Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without your inspiration.

So it begins…

2 Kids/In January/In RED

Another Visit from Mapa--Another Train Hat

One of these days, we're going to get on the train.