Rachel's 1st Photograph

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Our little Ray-Ray's 1st photograph. A masterpiece...

Seriously - Her first photo!
Better than most I've taken
in the past six months!

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Rachel's 2nd Photograph

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This is Ray taking her second photo.
(Anyone notice how often my girls run around less than fully dressed??)

Little Ray-Ray was taking photos of her sister taking photos,
who was taking photos of her sister taking photos.


And the subject of Ray's second photo?
Her sister of course.

Who then returned the favor.

And, this is Ray checking out her new creations!

These pics of Ray and I were taken by Alex
with her small point and shoot.

I'm loving sharing my favorite hobby with my girls.
And I'm loving that they're loving it!
Good times at the Hart House!

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Forgotten Lil' Ray

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No Mommy of the year awards here.

We got the whole pre-school valentines day thing wrong for our girls. Alex had a V-day party lunch, which we assumed was for the whole school. So, poor little Ray - when all her little classmates had heart-shaped cookies and sandwiches - showed up on this very special day with nada! A+ parenting there!!

Well - we can only be perfect parent part of the time. The rest? Well, that's what therapy is for!

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Music Lessons

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"Alex, What musical instrument would you like to play?"

"The harmonica."

"No, silly. Like the guitar or the piano or the flute."

"The harmonica."

"Hon. I don't even know where you would take harmonica lessons."

"From the harmonica store."

Ahh - yes. The Harmonica Store.

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A Working Mom's Dilema

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Stress.

Anxiety.

Longing.

Lack of time.

Less attention to parental details.

Less familiarity with childhood preferences.

Lack of time.

Longing.

Anxiety.

Stress.

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And the grand realization that we can only be perfect parents part of the time.

The rest?

Well, that's what therapy is for!

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Birthday Girl

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In the Hart House birthday celebrations last for days! Sometimes an entire week!

This was celebration #2.

And Rachel knows how good that cake is gonna taste! Oh - yes, she remembers. Just look at that expression. She's almost drooling. Can't you almost hear her, "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme some CAKIE!!"


Oh Yes! She remembers. "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme some CAKIE!!"

"Gimme, Gimme, Gimme some CAKIE!! NOW, please."

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An Illusion

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"There's an illusion that you can control who your child will become if you do all the right things, but that's a problematic illusion because parenting is about discovering who your child is and fostering their growth and development as an individual."

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*Vote*

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Though I'm a Hillary-girl, I'd be thoroughly satisfied with Obama. And, apparently he is turning the heads of a few Republicans as well.

http://damomma.com/2008/02/05/vote/

I couldn't have said it better.

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A Moment in Time

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Every once in a while I catch a little glimpse of who my girls might be as young women. Just a little, crooked smile or gleam in their eyes or an oddly knowing glance. Today I caught it on film.

Alex is just five and yet somehow I see the young woman in her as she plays dress-up and dances around the living room. It's in her eyes and how she carries herself. I hope she never loses that confident, fun-loving, take charge aura. She is a pleasure.

As I watch her, I'm simultaneously proud and sad. It's amazing to watch as my babies grow into people, but each moment is so fleeting. Sometimes I study those moments and focus really hard, trying my best to imprint these memories so that I'll never loose sight of who they were as I watch them become who they will one day be.

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February 1, 2007

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"Good morning Sweetie. Happy birthday."

"Am I five? Right now?" she says in an excited, sleepy little voice as she snuggles in next to me for our morning cuddles. Daddy's taking his shower.

"Yep. Right now."

"Hmmm," as she snuggles in against my neck.

Little Rachel joins us minutes later. It's not often that I get to cuddle with them both in the morning. Rachel likes to sleep as long as possible.

"It's Alex's birthday. Can you tell her Happy Birthday?"

"Happ.... something inaudible," as Ray climbs in and immediately falls back into to a deep, breathy sleep.

And Momma smiles.

When Daddy comes back into the room to get dressed - Alex gets up, looks in the mirror and says, to no one in particular, "I don't look five."

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Why do we love Starbucks? Well like most of you, it's usually the coffee, lattes and hot cocoa, not to mention those yummy pastries. But today - I fell in love all over again.

After learning it was Alex's birthday, the barista launched into an impromptu serenade of Happy Birthday and everyone in the place joined him. It was loud, off key and GREAT! She loved it. What a way to start your birthday!

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