Category Archives: Photography

Daily Life, Project 366

Project 365 Failure

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Now, now, now, failure is a strong word, Kathy. Besides, technically 2008 has 366 days so you would be a Project 366 Failure.

Thanks.

My Little Princess

One of my most willing photography models.

Last year, when I set out on my ambitious Project 365, I worked hard to take a picture every day. I didn’t post a blog for each day of the year (only made 263) but I TOOK a picture daily. And I have the external hard drive to prove it. Gotta store those digital images somewhere.

This year. No consistency. No perseverance or stick-to-it-ness. Just a mess of random shots. Several times night has arrived without me capturing a single image on film.

david and sarah

The Princess and the Hood

If that’s not a wretched failure I don’t know what is. And yesterday I didn’t even post a blog. On the Works for Me Wednesday site I linked to an old blog I wrote about our homemade whiteboard.

recycling bin

When you don’t have a tree fort or play house, you have to be creative in finding play areas.

There are times when a homeschooling mom of five has to take short cuts. The month of the church’s big women’s retreat is one of those times. Meetings every week, hours of computer work to slog through, decisions to make and amidst it all, children to educate, feed and raise. Yikes!

I think Mom’s Stressed Out Week is going to be renamed “Spring Break” and we’ll all just move on. Sounds like a feasible plan to me, especially since it’s nearing the end of the week and we haven’t completed a full day of school yet. Eeek!

please may I come out?

Daniel’s cozy new abode.

I’ll be the one in the back fighting to keep my eyes open and NOT feeling guilty about my pathetic Project 366.

Kathy

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Holidays, Project 366, Rachel, Sarah

Advent Sugar Daddy

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Some families celebrate Advent as they look forward to Christmas, but our family has always been a little, well, different. Today I took my two girls out for an ice cream cone, in honor of Advent.

It is true that Easter came pretty early this year, but I think we still have a little time before the Christmas season is upon us. I’d hate to miss the summer, for starters.

Down to the cone
We were so busy eating, that I didn’t remember to use the camera until the ice cream was almost gone.

No, we were celebrating last Advent, in our inimitable style and tendency to procrastinate. As Kathy mentioned in her Advent Calendar post, each year we offer daily prizes to the kids in daily Advent calendars. One of the prizes they particularly appreciated was a small slip of paper, inscribed with these fateful words:

A Special McDonald’s Outing with Daddy

I found it amusing that the scraps of paper bore Kathy’s handwriting, and that she hadn’t bothered to check with me before she volunteered my services as a prize. Sometimes she panics when she doesn’t have quite enough little prizes for all five of the children, times 25 days.

Truth be told, I absolutely love Christmas, and I greatly enjoy foraging for ice cream with my kids, so it wasn’t much of an imposition. :)

Rachel enjoys a Sugar Day
Rachel has been very faithful on her 5 for $5 goals, avoiding sugar six days a week. But this was the seventh day, and she rested.

The boys redeemed their coupons pretty early-on, but Rachel and Sarah hoarded theirs. Thus the Advent celebration while April showers and flowers abound. I bought the ice cream and we sat companionably, licking the sides of the generous cones to prevent unsightly drippage.

Girl time over cones
Sarah positively adores her older sister, and with good reason — Rachel is very good to her.

After we finished our cones, Sarah wanted to explore the Playland structure, while Rachel and I looked on, swapping memories. “I remember,” Rachel sighed in reminiscence, “when Sarah was too scared to climb above the second level … and now look at her!”

Indeed, time flies. I remember when Rachel was too small to climb above the first level, and it seems like only yesterday. I am greatly privileged to be the Daddy of such delightful young ladies, and I’m intent on savoring as many moments as I can, before I look around and they’re off “on whatever adventure Aslan brings them”, as C.S. Lewis would say.

Sarah behind bars
Sarah, a true child of the blog, is always willing to pose for the camera.

On the way home, we stopped off at Wal-Mart to buy another one of those cool Jiffy Seedling mini-greenhouses that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. This time, in honor of my girls, we bought flower seeds.

Tim
Project 366, Day 97

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Daily Life, Joshua, Project 366

Ooop!

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Have you ever forgotten one of your children? You know, had a busy evening, watched movies, worked on the computer, exercised, and even done some laundry. All the little ones are safely tucked into their beds, the house quiet and dark. Suddenly you remember you were supposed to pick your beloved oldest child from church.

15 minutes ago.

With two of his friends.

And you live a good 10 or 12 minutes away.

And it’s almost midnight.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

joshua and stuart

“We’re drinking a toast to you, Mom!”

Kathy – Shooting for that elusive Mother of the Year Award
Project 366 – Day 95

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Daily Life, Project 366

Park Pics

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It’s late and I need to go to bed. We have a lot planned for tomorrow and a good night’s sleep would be a really nice way to start the day. Hmmm. Where are all my fellow night owls to make me feel better? I know you’re out there. In fact, you’re probably online right this minute reading blogs or sitting in bed catching up on your novel. Some are playing computer games or doing laundry.

The sun was out again today. Happy day! Daniel began the campaign for a park visit early in the morning.

take me to the park

There’s no stopping Daniel when he’s on a mission.

“I think we should call the R’s and the K’s and go to the park with them today, Mom. What do you think?”

Me, totally distracted by math lessons, muffin baking and other sundry chores, responded with a grunt.

girls are ready to play

Caedie, Jaalah, and Sarah were eager for a game of tag.

Daniel, not in the least bit dismayed at my lack of commitment, continued on, “So how about 2:30 pm? That will give us time to finish school, right?”

Again, no confirmation from the momster.

don't mess with this guy

Eli was up for a play date. Fiercely so!

Rachel chimed in with talk of exercise. “Mom, I really need to get in a workout today and the park would be just perfect.”

Next thing I knew it was mid-afternoon and Daniel was emailing one family on the kids’ computer and the other on my computer. He lined up our play dates, whipped through his school books, and hurried the family along.

I'm bored

David was upset that the game of tag ended abruptly and managed to prove that one can be “bored” and grumpy even on a lovely park outing.

Well, what’s a girl to do? I finalized the plans, curled my hair (still working with the new ‘do), threw some ingredients at Joshua with instructions to “Make Dinner” and zipped out the door for the park.

little park guy

Christian is more reserved in his love for the park.

It’s a burden but someone had to be available to make the children get in the great outdoors.

Kathy
Project 366 – Day 94

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Budget & Money, Events, Kathy, Project 366, Rachel, Works for Me Wednesday

WFMW – Hair Cuts

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wfmwToday is the first day of our new budget!! Weaning off credit, paying down debt, and, gasp, saving money.

April Fools Day obviously suits us perfectly as the start of something so revolutionary and life changing.

And, in keeping with His great mercy, the Lord has already blessed our efforts. I ran into a friend last week whose daughter is studying at the Redken Hair Academy.

rachel's hair

Time to cut Rachel’s hair.

I cut all the boys’ hair in the family so we save money in that department (thankfully none of them, including Tim, are particular about their hair). The girls, however, are a different story. The expectations for us to look beautiful are higher. It’s a burden we’re willing to bear, with grace of course. Rachel and Sarah both have long hair and only need the occasional trim. I tend to splurge on the rare, but expensive, cut and color.

rachel's turn

Have I mentioned recently how lovely it is to have daughters?

What are the beauty academy prices, you ask? Well, let me share with you:

Hair Cuts – $9
Children’s Cuts – $5
Highlights – $29

Those fees are amazing!! I immediately made an appointment for both Rachel and myself. I figured if the haircut turned out well, I could go back for highlights.

keeping the length

Nothing like a fresh cut to improve the day.

Rachel and I were tickled with the ambiance and setting of the hair institute. The academy was professional and tasteful in decor and atmosphere. It felt more like a busy, fashionable salon than a school. Krista did a beautiful job. She was confident and friendly, taking care to listen to our requests and talk through different hair style possibilities. At each step an instructor came by to monitor and approve the work. Rachel and I were thrilled with our extremely affordable and gorgeous new looks. Krista even gave us a tip on the styling brush she used – $7 at Sally Beauty Supplies.

gorgeous girl!

Rachel’s new style is fresh and funky.

Redken Professional Academy definitely works for us! Stop by Rocks in My Dryer for other links, tips and ideas.

Kathy
Project 366 – Day 92

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