For the girls

I keep wanting to sit down here and write up a little blog post but there is something that stops me. I think I've figured it out. I keep thinking of why I used to sit here. What was my drive to be so on top of keeping up to date? Sadly it was not what I said it was.

I wanted to be noticed. I cared what people thought. I wanted to be noticed outside of my little world. I wanted to have people comment, I cared about how many views each post got. I know I have said in the past that I write here for my girls but I am sorry to say that was not true, not fully.

The past weeks as I think about sitting here I worry that I cannot string words together in a pleasing manner. I want to have "great" stories to tell vs. the mundane day to day.

So now I remind myself that it is the mundane that maters. It is the life I live with my family. This is what I do. Little snippets of a quiet life. Of a life lived in quiet. (or noise but it's simple noise).

When the world all around keeps telling me that I must produce the most astounding of photos and the fullest of words I wonder at what my contribution is worth. But when I look into the steel and sky blue eyes of my girls I remember what really matters. Why I am really here. SO...

Suzie and Jade this ones for you.

Remember this guy?

Remember when we went to Grandpa and Grandmas just to play with him.


He loves the snow. Even when you throw it at him.


Plop!!


Jade you probably don't remember how you felt when he jumped up on you. But I can say that it wasn't your favorite. He thought you were a big moving toy and so much fun. You thought it was a bit annoying how he bit at your mitts. That's why your hands are where they are in this picture.


Climbing the snow plowed mounds in the front yard at Gr.pa and Gr.mas




You thought your were out of Ree-bar's rough housing reach. Turns out you were wrong.






Oh little Ree-bar you're a cutie.




I don't think he looks to impressed.


Jade you liked to pretend you were a myriad of creatures. Here you are being a snake I believe.




And the interactions with the older Orange Cat. (yes that is his name). At first Orange Cat was not too sure but he started to warm up to Ree-bar. Grandma said this was one of the best interactions so far. Actually playing together.










Puppy nose and tongue.


Grandma and her new baby.


Here they are, those steal blue eyes. Love the bow in your hair. A bow from some wrapping that you found in the guest room and took it upon yourself to put it upon yourself. Love you my dear sweet Suzie.




Exploring the window fogged by your breath. Oh how I do love you too my dear Jade.

I Think you two to be the two sweetest girls I know. Funny how any mom will say that about their girls. Well It's true. When you talk about the changes that will take place in your lives when you are "mommies" I imagine the changes right along with you. Look so forward to watching you grow and mature. Love to see the little girls you are and the little women you will be one day.

Somewhere this summer time got away.

I won't even begin to pretend that this is going to become a regular trend. If I got back into a regular schedule that would be great but I'm not going to pretend. I am going to do this though. I am going to post when I do and I am not going to try and explain why these pictures look like they came from summer when we in fact just got a cold snap with wispy snow falling. The leaves are gone and the cold is settling in for the winter. Better yet they did that nasty day light savings thing on us this last weekend and now the sun goes down in the middle of my evening, giving me reason to believe that the day is over earlier than I am used to.
And that will only get worse as the season deepens. By the time we are in the darkest part of the winter the sun goes down some time around 4 pm. Making me believe there is nothing but an indoor world.

Needless to say here is a little visit from Great Grandma S. and other happenings that day.

Great Grandma came for a visit.



Yes, like Suzie's finding out that Grandpa and Grandma's place has an out house.




Who wouldn't rush to use and out door toilet?


Helping Charlie find and stomp on the grasshoppers.




There's more here Charlie.


Yup, Stomp it.






Jade fell in love with great Grandma.




Totally enamored.


Every time we went back to the farm after she had left Jade would ask where she was. Even not that long ago Jade mentioned it again.




And again how could you not love this wonderful woman? She took the girls for a walk and drew Jade pictures as often as she asked. And of course just her love and care is such an amazing gift that she shares with anyone who crosses her path.


See.


We love you Great Grandma and can't wait to see you again.




Sleep tight my loves and enjoy a cozy curl up on the couch with the dear to you, near to you.

Friday Fun #49 A good book to read.

I know that I have said this before But I think this might actually be for real. I am back and I hope to post more. I my photo hosting site changed and with it's major change over a task that used to be a short process turned into a time consumer that I had no desire to put up with. I have since changed a setting and it is back to a shorter process that I will not feel is sucking the life out of me. So here's hoping I am back to more regular posting. Now on to the post at hand.


Suzie and I have finished reading her first chapter book. Or maybe what I should say is I finished reading it to her. I have tried a few times to read a larger book to her to no avail. Every time we'd get to a page that had a picture on it she could not "hear" what I was reading if it did not immediately pertain to what was visually in front of her.


But this time I took a few precautions through out the weeks of reading it to her. In the past I would have read her the first chapter and then she would have taken the book to her quiet time and spent the hours to come mulling over the visuals.


She would have the entire book memorized in little snippets of drawings. We would get to the page with any given drawing and she would already have a list as long as my arm of questions as to what was happening.


She could not focus on what I was reading because it was not answer her questions instantaneously. So this time I took out Charlotte's Web and would not allow her to study the book. 


Each time we turned the page and a scene appeared in ink she would ask "What's happening there?" and I would tell her to listen. "You will find out if you listen to the words that I read".

And she would sit with a studying look. Kind of like this one. I knew that she was paying attention when the Goose and all the other barn animals start to call out directions to Wilbur after his escape. Mr. Zuckerman and Lurvy are chasing him around the apple trees and the goose is really excited about the chase. I could tell by her reaction that she was seeing it in her minds eye.



And this was kind of her reaction.

I look forward to sharing many more books with this dear little one who is growing up so fast.

And to see her imagination opening up. It often seems to me that she is much more analytical than a lot of kids I know. That she has only learned in the last half year or so how to make believe. And even when she does she is certain to inform you that it is "Just for pretend".


She has no trouble dancing about and singing her head off with strange words that she is making up on the fly though. So I guess the imagination is just not what I expected.


It is safe to say that she knows how to play. And she can talk for all the day straight till she sleeps. In fact I think even before her eyes are fully open in the morning the words start to flow.


And so I want to encourage her vocabulary. And what better way at this time in her life than to read. To open her world up and to show her there is so much to explore. And so we have started into the world of chapter books. And so now to purchase the next book on the list. The problem is that I do not know what is next on the list.


Till then we will head into the world of Beatrix Potter. First little friend we met today was Peter Rabbit in his little blue jacket and tiny black shoes.


This past weekend we spent some time out with Paul's parents. (In fact that is where all the pictures from this post were taken). For the first time I attempted to take pictures of all the birds and I found that my telephoto lens is better than I had known.

I capture moments that I had never thought possible for me. Little Chickadees in their home.


And these two feeding in peace.


Till they are interrupted by the black and white wonder, The chickadee.


Off they go and leave him to is stolen goods.



And here are a few more pics of farm exploration.



"Moo, Moo!!"








And there you have a bit of life this past weekend.
I really hope to stick to a few more posts than have been taking place. As I said in the start I know I have said this before but I do so hope with this simple change that will change a frustrating task to a more simple one that I might be more inclined to be here more often.

Here's to you on this next weekend to come. Enjoy the days, enjoy the hours. The minutes of simple pleasures and also of hard work. There are great things to observe and take part in all around us.