Picture of the Week [POW] - January

In an effort to take full advantage of having a good camera in my possession, I have registered as a member of the Digital Photography School and am submitting pictures into the weekly assignments.  I can't compete with the pros doing fancy artsy-abstract stuff ... but the assignments are getting me thinking and learning, and that's what they're all about!

In January:

POW: Color - Yellow

POW: Color - Blue

POW: Color - Green

POW: Monochrome - was planning on doing a shot with wood shavings in wood bowl, but time got away on me.  Best of intentions, but in the first month I already missed one assignment!  At least I did manage to think about it!  Onto next ...

RIP Smurf's Classy Babe

When I was growing up ... horses were a huge part of my life.  I spent many weekends each summer away at Horse Shows with my Mom and Grandma.

Babe was my last horse - I think I was in Gr. 10 when I got her.  I shared a lot of good times with her ... and also headed out for a ride to have a good cry for one reason or another more than once.  She was a good listener.

I just found out that she died yesterday.  She certainly wasn't young ... but she wasn't old either.  There's another (equally beloved) horse at home that it wouldn't be a shock if she didn't make it through the winter (in fact I think we thought that last winter too).  This came as a shock though.

Funny how I've only seen her once or twice a year for several years now, and yet I still think of her as mine and feel connected to her.  I always head out to the pasture when I'm home to give her a hug and, strange as this may be, bury my face in her neck and just smell her.  It'll be hard to not see her on the next trip home.  I shed some tears for her tonight.

Thankfully -- the last time I was home, we captured a magical moment with her:

Love you Baby-Girl.  RIP.

I've heard of sympathy pains ...

but this is ridiculous!!

(Justin was carrying Maklin on his shoulders - so these are from his wet boots.  He's not ACTUALLY  sympathy lactating!  lol)

blood all over

Mak managed to slice open his big toe on the cold air return today.  It was pretty superficial, but it bled quite a bit: "blood all over!  there's my blood all over, Mama!"   He calmed down fairly quickly once we started cleaning it, but I managed to make him freak out worse than he did when he cut himself in the process:

Because it wouldn't stop bleeding, I couldn't just put a bandaid on his toe, so I pulled out some sterile gauze to put on it.  I gave Mak the cloth to hold on his toe, and told him I was going to get the scissors.  He lost his mind!  He thought I was going to get the scissors to cut his toe!!

Poor guy ...

Here is is all bandaged up!  I'm sure he'll make a full recovery, but we did not make it to gymnastics this afternoon.  :(

music time!

Maklin has always loved music.  He now has a whole box full of various musical instruments.  Today he was showing them one by one to Maeyer, telling her what each one was called and demonstrating.  He even gave her her own rattle to hold so she could make music too.  Very sweet.

Mae: 3mo

I can't believe it!  My little girl is three months old already!  HOW does that happen?!  I remember the first few months seemed eternity with Maklin ... this time, it went by SO fast.

Not a flattering picture -- but this was at just over 2 months - she's SO Strong!!

rise & shine!

Mae is always happy-happy-happy when she wakes up ... and most mornings we wake her up!  Maklin and I sneak into her room ... he walks up to her crib, pushes his face up to the bars and says, "wakey-wakey Maeyer ... it's time to get up!"

She opens her eyes, looks right at Mak and immediately breaks out in a huge grin!

I took A LOT of pictures ... and just couldn't capture the full grin ... but you get the gist!

haha ... self-portrait!?

livin' the dream ...

the man cave

Our house only has a partial basement, and it's unfinished.  Justin has worked hard to organize the space that we have, so that aside from the mechanical room stuff, the laundry, and our storage, he has a small workshop.

 Maklin got a toolbox and tools (real tools not plastic ones!) for Christmas.  And over the holidays Baba, Justin, and Mak spent an afternoon together to build him his very own work bench.

Lulu's addition - freehand!

Now Mak has his own space when he's hanging out in the basement with Dad.  Dadda works on his woodworking projects, and Maklin does puzzles and cracks peanuts in his very own vise.

party 'til you drop.

Mae has suddenly realized that there is all kinds of interesting things around to look at.  So -- she gets distracted while nursing, and no longer falls asleep the second you put her in the car seat.  She doesn't want to miss out on anything!

This morning we were at a birthday party for some of Mak's friends.  She normally would nap during that time, but today she stayed awake the whole time just watching the other kids play.  Until I sat her in this chair so that I could pack up our stuff and put my jacket on.  She literally crumpled down into this position and fell asleep!

Adorable!  SO unflattering ... but adorable.

I'm sure she wouldn't support the posting of this picture -- but I've given parental consent.

Happy Birthday Yu-Yu [Lulu]

Yu-yu (as Maklin lovingly pronounces Lulu, aka Grandma) and Mak spend the day together every Wednesday - a year plus tradition that seems to be good for both of their souls.

Today, we got to celebrate her birthday.  A special day to honor her for her role in supporting our little family.  Thanks Yu-yu ... we're lucky to have ya!

following Dadda's footsteps

Maki worships his Dadda and wants to be just like him:

Happy New Year!

Justin and I made it past midnight for maybe the second time since we've been together!

It was easiest to be at home with the wee ones, so we had a few other families over for a games night.  Mak stayed up late and played for a bit, but after he went to bed, both kids slept wonderfully.  And the cards came out (it was cozy ... there were 11 of us playing cards in our teeny little dining room)!

Of course, we also had copious amounts of snack food, and popped open very glittery Christmas poppers at midnight ... glitter everywhere!!!  And then of course we all had to wear our pretty crowns.  :)

at the beginning of the night ...

Justin brought in the new year sporting one of his new bow ties:

After some gingerale!