Playground

116/365
Bad news: still very overcast and cool for June 30th. Good news: at least the slide was dry.

Birdie or Bogey?

115/365
It was a slow day. Finally stopped raining long enough to take the camera out.

Fun & Games

114/365
She taught him a new game. First, she would thrust a Magna-Doodle into his hands, and point to the screen, commanding him to draw. (Was that English? Or Tamil? No matter...) He would comply, and hand the toy back for her approval. Then she'd get a glint in her eye, and take the pen, and scribble all over the sketch, or erase it completely. He would feign horror and surprise. To her, this was hilarious. He enjoyed it just as much.

Socked In

113/365
I hadn't taken a single shot all day, but I figured we'd stop at the harbor on our way to dinner for a few photos, maybe capture a picturesque sunset... Since skies were clear over our house, we were surprised to find it as thick as pea soup just a few miles away.

Bubble

112/365
Summer vacation is off to a good start.

The Challenge

111/365

I started a new class tonight. Just as we were getting underway, The Corporate Challenge race arrived under our window. Our first assignment had begun.

Waterlogged

110/365

The rain hasn't let up in at least a week. Everything--the ground, all the plants, my shoes -- is soggy, but the grass is growing like gangbusters.

In the Cards

109/365
These two have been pals since they were babies. There was a time, around age 2, when the relationship was a little rocky... but as they both became better at sharing, things improved. Once upon a time, we were next-door neighbors; now they see each other once or twice a year. It's always great to see them pick up right where they left off.

m&ms

108/365
Here's a little problem to keep your mind sharp over summer vacation: If you take three kids to NYC, and allow them each to fill a "small" bag of m&ms with the color candy of their choosing at M&M World in Times Square....how much would that cost?
On second thought, don't answer that one. Too painful.
But -- can you guess how many of those m&ms fit in this jar...?

Ellis Island

107/365
On May 7, 1920, my grandfather immigrated to this country, as a steerage passenger on the S.S. Celtic from Liverpool. It was a journey that could have taken anywhere from a week to a month, in conditions that were hardly plush. He waited in this hall on that day for his turn to be "processed", and then allowed to continue on his way to Boston.

Our visits this weekend also included the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center site. I was unprepared for how moving our sightseeing adventures would be. Being in these places, one feels very small, yet fortunate to be part of something much greater. A word like "sacrifice" takes on new meaning from my comfortable perspective. A word like "gratitude" acquires new depth.

Times Square

106/365
Took the kids on a field trip this weekend, including a brief stop in Times Square...

An Evening of Jazz

105/365
For his birthday, my old friend Harold thought it would be fun to gather some musician friends, and set up on the deck with drums and horns and keyboards and bass guitars and microphones and amps and colored strobe lights and a fog machine, and play some jazz. It was the best concert I've been to in a long time.

Banana Cake

104/365
Banana bread is almost miraculous, when you think about it. What other recipe takes an ingredient that is just about rotten, and transforms it into something so delish?
If you know of any others, please let me know.

JJ's

103/365
Last day of school...where else would you celebrate?
I'm not sure why "Hot Dogs" and "Hamburgers" feature so prominently on the sign. I've never, ever, seen anyone walk away from the window with a burger or dog in hand. The other sign, the one closer to the road, tells the real story...

Totally Osum

102/365
Well, first grade was osum...*

Peony

101/365
This is their week in the garden. They sure make the most of it.

Everybody Gets a Trophy

100/365

It's that very Gen Y time of year when everybody gets a trophy...

 I decided that this year, since they're handing them out anyway,  I'll take a trophy, thankyouverymuch. After all, I've made it to Day 100, and that deserves some recognition, right?

Come to think of it, that's a problem with my field, this profession called "motherhood": the efforts and accomplishments are enormous, but nobody's going to give you a trophy.  Not even the SuperMoms get trophies. I checked.

So, help yourself to a trophy. It's that time of year. Everybody gets one.

ps: I'd like to add a shout out to Linda, and to anyone who might have found themselves here because she mentioned this site in her newsletter! I know you all have a trophy coming to you!

Star Light

99/365
With far-flung family come to visit, we filled a table for 10. We had a great time getting reacquainted...and acquainted... Lots of chatter and laughs, good food, and a few beverages...Good night!

Footnotes

98/365
Hands may tell a story, but, if you want the real scoop, check out the feet. This pair, belonging to my 7 year old, reveals a multitude of details. They say, "I do my own pedicure." Or, "I enjoy fashioning jewelery out of shrinky-dinks." And, "I prefer wearing flip-flops or going barefoot most of the time." Also, "I need a bath."

Field Day

97/365
I have been sweating about this shot for days. The first time anyone ever asks me to take a photo, and it has to be of 120 fourth graders in a poorly-lit school cafeteria. I've slept fitfully, dreaming of flash malfunctions, dead batteries, accidentally erased memory cards, and...120 fourth graders running amok.
In the end, it all turned out ok. For that, I must thank Lindsey for giving me a mini crash course in external flash; Andy for corralling the kids, and providing on the spot advice & general hand-holding; and Larry, for his editing expertise and the best deal in town on 5x7s for all the kids.

Cheeky Monkey

96/365
We had a visitor today...such a nice change of pace from the usual crowd of large, loud and awake kids we normally get around here.

Shower Trouble

95/365
Time was, getting the boy to bathe was challenging. Those days are over, but there are new obstacles.
For instance, on Sunday the shower faucet handle came apart in his hand as he was turning it off. More obstacles ensued. First, there was the jet of water that shot straight out of the wall. Then came the frantic search for the shut-off valves. Next was the dismantling of the adjacent linen closet to gain access to the pipes. Then Mr. Fixit took apart the fixture, pulled out the Reader's Digest Handyman Encyclopedia to learn how to fix it, conducted an exhaustive but unsuccessful online search for the broken part, and, finally...declared it time to call the plumber.

En Plein Air

94/365

We were killing time, waiting for a piano lesson to end and decided to check out the scene at the pond.  There we found a couple of dogs, one mallard duck, and four watercolor artists.   My youngest, who loves to draw and paint and wants to be "an artist who works at an aquarium" when she grows up, was fascinated.  

Drippity

93/365
It was a perfect day for planting, weeding and watering.

Saturday

92/365
I have been craving this all week. To kick back on the patio, fruity drink in hand, and enjoy the company of good friends and eat tasty food...that is the vision that has sustained me since Monday. Must do this more often...

Ironing 101

91/365
It's part of our Basic Life Skills Curriculum. No reason why he shouldn't learn. As soon as he masters the clothes hanger, he'll be all set.

Sprout

90/365

The girls painted and planted with the help of a babysitter a few weeks back.  This time last week, it was still just a pot of dirt.  All of a sudden, it's four inches tall.  Magic beans...?

The Tween

89/365
With her Barnes & Noble gift certificate, she bought two American Girl mysteries, and another volume we learned about on the radio the other day: Math Doesn't Suck. (Those folks at NPR know how to pick 'em!) It's all about showing girls that math can be "easy, relevant and glamorous". So, even though she's pretty good at math, I figured bring on the glamour! Lay it on thick! We have to fortify ourselves for the tumultuous years ahead, when she might get the idea that smart isn't cool, or something...

Which was all well & good until we ended up at the Middle School for Prince Firstly's last big to-do this evening, and we ran into the principal. She charmed him by saying she thought he was a funny guy. And then he noticed the book in her hand, and asked what she was reading. "Well, this is an American Girl mystery. But I got another really good book today, too!"
Really? Which one?
"It's called [with raised volume for emphasis] Math Doesn't SUCK!"

At which point, Prince Firstly makes for the nearest exit. Mr. Principal is looking at me, kind of wide-eyed. Apparently, he is not an NPR listener. I'm stammering something about it is an actual book, and so great for girls...blah, blah, blah.

Oh well. We have a couple of years before she goes to Middle School. By then, I think the sequel, Kiss My Math, should be out in paperback.

Mother's Little Helper

88/365
It started on Sunday, with a quick stop at the convenience store to buy bananas...for the children...so they could have a healthy snack in their lunchboxes this week...
But at the checkout, this guy caught my eye. Almond Joys are my all-time fave. I figured, a King Size -- 4 candy bars! -- should last me almost all week, right? Sadly, by the time I finish posting, they will all be gone...

The Raleigh

87/365
“There are at least 10 great pictures within 10 meters of you right now.”
So claimed the tweet. Being low on other ideas today, I gave it a try.