Friday, May 21, 2010

4. Jack is also sort of tilted, and that's weird.

Recently I and my coworkers were given an end of the school year gift. It was a lovely gesture on my boss's part. It was really and truly nice and, I believe, meant to be kind of a goodbye gift to many of us that will not be a part of her staff at the beginning of next school year. Each staff member was set up with a family portrait session and a free 8x10 from Lifetouch Photography, the same folks that take the yearbook headshots in the fall. A free family portrait! How sweet. I eagerly signed my name on the sign up sheet that was taped to the mailbox room coke machine. The Hoodenpyles would be photographed at a park in the early morning on a Saturday. I looked forward to it.

The photographs are in. I think my family's photograph is good, but the more I look at it... the more awkward it gets. Here it is. Stare at it for 2 seconds, and you'll like it. Stare at it for 12 seconds. Your left eyebrow will raise, and you'll cock your head to the left. At 34 seconds, you'll have a list of strange things about this photo. Maybe you'll even be laughing as hard as I am right now.

Let's compare lists right now:

1. The scenery. There's nothing like dead grass and a crappy bench for a photoshoot.

2. Emma. She has the Barrymore Firestarter expression. Shudder.

3. The arrangement of the subjects... specifically, Jack. If this photo had a caption, it would read, "Sometimes we let him come in the house on the weekends."

But really, this photo WAS free, and it's only mildly awkward, I guess. Visit http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ and you'll understand that awkward can get WAY more... awkward-er. Here are a few of my favorites that, like our photo, feature 'unique' family poses.





Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Kid Heaven

This is the newest installment in grandma's back yard. It is Heaven on Earth for little children. They can climb and pretend. They can slide and swing. They can run, and jump, and tumble. After the expending of all of this excess energy, we are so thankful that this fancy, fancy thing brings out the angelic tired and spent sides of our children. Having said that, we are aware it sometimes brings out the devils in them too.


I don't know what it is about Emma here. Could it be the impish grin at the pleasure of slamming her feet into her brother's back? Could it be the teeth gritting and the torqued-for-extra-momentum body posture? Could it be the kitty cat ears on her jacket that kind of double as horns? Or could it be the dramatic and pained expression on her brother's face? I'm just not sure... Either way, play on, little 'angels'. Play on.

Monday, May 10, 2010

What "To-Do" About Summer

My summer break is getting nearer and nearer, and this summer, I'm looking at things differently. Most other years, I would spend January-May salivating at the thought of lazy days and nothingness. Then, stunned at summer's actual arrival, I'd stall - overwhelmed by all of the empty spaces on the schedule. I'd spend so much time considering all of the glorious options that I'd actually end up doing nothing. This year, I feel so different. I don't want to wake up in August one morning and realize that school's around the corner, feeling like I have to ask myself, "What exactly did I do with all that time?" Instead, this year, I want to use and appreciate all the minutes. I don't want to waste my days. I don't want to be caught without a plan. THAT'S when time sneaks right by me. This summer is going to be different. I'm claiming this summer. It's mine.

Here is my first step at making THIS summer a different kind of summer... a to-do list. I'm not usually a list maker. But here goes. It's time for new things.

1. Create a system. This is the first on my list because it's the biggest and most important to me. I'm good at a lot of things, but housekeeping has never been one of them. I like for things to be orderly, but I don't specialize at creating the order in the first place. My home time has a tendency to cause me stress, and this is because I don't have a system. Things don't have a "home". Instead, things get shifted around in stacks from place to place. Surfaces are storage spaces despite the availability of drawers or cabinet spaces. We have a shifting clutter problem. All the closets in my house need a system. All the bedrooms need a system. The laundry needs a system. _______ needs a system. You get the point. Organization eludes me, and it's about time to do something about it. I may invest in a label maker if that's what it takes. I may even containerize. Oh dear.

2. Do a little painting and decorating. Parts of my house are cozy and comfy and feel like me. Other parts are bare and without any personality at all. It's time to make certain rooms more comfortable to live in. Things that make me smile and feel happy are going on the wall. It's time for color. It's time for quirkiness. It's time for filling the spaces with us.

3. Go to the pool often. Our neighborhood has a pool. I haven't always maximized use of this wonderful and kid friendly feature. It's time to make this an "almost every day" hang out. Sunshine feels good. Bring on the freckles! A few are poking out across Emma's nose even now. Grin.

4. Be healthier. Every woman I know says this, but really... Summer is the time to eat more fruits and veggies. Eat often, and eat lighter. Nibble on good things. Look up new recipes. Cook more. Eat junk less. Way less.

5. Move more. There was a period of time this school year where I pledged myself to routine exercise. I openly groaned about it, but I did it. And gosh, it made me feel good. Every part of my body felt different, and then it began to look different. It was wonderful, but I will admit that our family time suffered when I tried to add in my exercise around Jim's strenous triathlon training. I'm not quite sure how to realistically manage exercise, family, and work at the same time during the school year. But summer? During the summer, I've decided to take advantage of the free time and return to feeling stronger.

6. Plant something... and then... here's the tricky part... keep it alive. Every to-do list needs a goal that stretches the listmaker. A challenge. This is mine.

I can't WAIT for summer! What are your "to-do's" for this year?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Two Minutes

This candid camera style video is one of my most favorites of the kids in a long time. It could be because in it, they are just so... THEM. Two minutes of typical Emma and Jack as sister and brother on a Thursday.



Sometimes it just kinda sucks to be the big brother on a Thursday.