Kindergarten Homework

10/366

Sophie and Michael get a little bit of homework in kindergarten this year.  There's usually a math packet to complete as convenient, a weekly reading handout with daily tasks, and now they have two books to read to us throughout the week.  It's all very manageable and easy to set aside when they're reached their limit.  Above they're drawing pictures of themselves weighing two objects of their choosing in their hands to show which one was heavier.

Our Bunny

9/366

Servers tend to look at us funny when Sophie orders a salad, as if we're playing some kind of trick on them.  This girl just loves her veggies!

Control

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Blocks

9/366

Snowflake Sticker

6/366

Remember when you were a kid and you got a sticker from your ballet teacher every week, from your school librarian every library day, from the doctor, after gymnastics and after every haircut, and from the cashier at the grocery store?  Me neither!  Add it to the list of the ways childhood today is a at least smidgen more charmed childhoods past.  

After School Snack

5/366

Back to the Routine

These photo-a-day challenges help me to enjoy the playfulness of making do.

Without this kind of project I would never pick up my camera on my way to kiss my kids goodbye before work.  I know full well that the results of a hurried shoot a good hour before sunrise are likely to be...well, you have eyes.

4/366

But this part of my morning routine is a treasure that I wanted to capture, and now I'm kind of into the graininess, the contrast between the stark, linear door and the tousled blur of my snoozing love bugs. (They're both in Sophie's bed here as they still alternate rooms in an ongoing twinsie sleepover.)

Cold and steady.  Warm and crumpled.  That's my treasure.

Jedi

As we began taking ornaments down from the tree yesterday, Sophie suggested we listen to some Christmas songs.  I was feeling pretty over Christmas carols at that point, but I agreed that we needed some music and followed her suggestion.

Later on in our work, iTunes teased the Star Wars theme music, and it was exactly what we needed--emotionally stirring, nostalgic, and no jingling bells or holly.  I pulled up that station, and we finished packing away the lights and garland to the "Imperial March."  This could be a new tradition.

3/366

Despite spending most of this last day before returning back to work at home, I didn't remember to get out my camera until after dark.  That's why I need this project; I am out of the habit and need to deliberately fix that.  Lucky for me and my low light, Sophie and Michael were playing with a light saber M&M's dispenser that Michael got over the summer when I remembered my project tonight.

The kids have not seen any of the Star Wars movies yet.  It was a pretty solid part of my own childhood, but I recall not really following the movies' story lines until I was much older than five.  I also want to hold off on sharing that level of violence with them for bit yet.  So far Michael and Sophie's Star Wars curiosity has been satisfied with books and toys like that M&M's light saber.

When we were listening to the music yesterday, the kids were really pumped up, talking about how Luke and Leia are twins like them.  If I play this just right, my intentions for their 2016 Halloween costumes just might happen!

Michael Putyourpantson

While both kids have said they're looking forward to going back to school when this break is over, I believe Michael is going to be pretty bummed about having to wear actual clothes again.  Of course, I'll feel the same.  Who is it that gets to determine whether or not yoga pants and t-shirts are professional attire?  I'd like to have a chat.

2/366

Michael's preferred "outfit" these days, his undies and Planes blanket, goes quite a bit beyond casual.  We find jeans, sweatpants, and PJ's randomly discarded in the bathroom, the hall, the playroom, wherever he's been hanging out, earning him the new nickname of Michael Putyourpantson. 

Man v. Floor

1/366

Mike spent the first day of 2016 installing the last of the hardwood flooring to go on our main floor.   Starting this year by checking a major project off of our home improvement list and seeing a significant transformation complete makes me optimistic about 2016.  While this is just a floor, it represents much more to us--the days at work that paid for this improvement, the years of planning and envisioning, the skill and sweat that Mike put into making this house our home.  This is a good start, a very good start.

You might have noticed that there is another beginning at work here.  I am embarking upon another photo-a-day project. I know I'm going to get backed up in this project, but I want to stay true to taking one photo from each day and publishing it at least within the week.

Like last year, I'll post these photos on this blog, in my Flickr album, and on Instagram.  Since this post is also home improvement related, I'm also publishing it on Living in During.