Last Day...

Motherhood is a series of beautiful little heartbreaks.

Last Day of 5th grade

Flying

Remember when all you needed to fly was someone bigger than you with strong legs and flat feet?

I do.

For me it was my sisters. For my niece and G, and Little guy it was me. For  Little L, it is G. I remember that my sisters used to fly me all the way up until my head touched the floor and then back down again. It was so much fun... an exercise in trust.

Dance, Magic and a Prince

When my cousin's girls were staying with us a few weekends ago, all the kids were gathered in G and Little Guy's room, being very quiet and content. I went to see what they were up to, and lo and behold they were putting on a recital. Big L was the director, Little L was the audience and the other 3 took turns performing. G did a fairy Godmother dance and cast a spell on each of us in turn. Little Guy danced to the Thomas the Train Roundhouse soundtrack. His costume didn't quite match his score, but it was the only dark blue on we had.

All 3 of my kids pouted when it wasn't their turn to perform. The older girls were MUCH better sports.

Golden Child (ren)

I just love how sunset at the shore makes everything look as if Midas himself is wrapping his arms around the world.



And some others from the beach... before the sun started to set

Blue Cats and Beach Babes

First of all, until recently (which specifically means the American Idol Motown episode) I had forgotten just how much I love the oldies. When I was in 5th grade I saw "Good Morning Vietnam!" and it opened a whole new world of music, to me anyway. The Four Tops quickly became one of my favorite bands and "Love Child" by The Supremes was easily my favorite song of the day. I listened to the records, yes, the vinyls, over and over, the scratchiness of the old needle just adding to the texture of the experience. These old songs are so much FUN to sing, and listen to.. they are easy and simple on the ears, any deeper political or social statements sliding seamlessly into the tunes, so that although they may be saying something, it steel feels like a happy diversion from the doldrums of the regular day. And the best part.... the lyrics are simple to remember. They are still some of the only songs I know all of the words to.

So, whilst waiting in line to get G's face painted at Alive after 5, the band playing in the courtyard struck those familiar six notes, right away I began to sing along. G was stunned that I actually knew a song, and Little L just gurgled with excitement that I was singing something other than Twinkle Twinkle.

Here is G's face... she is a blue cat if you couldn't tell....


The next morning, I went insearch of "My Girl" to add to this playlist, and when I finally found it, I decided I just must post the beach shots I did of Kel's girls, my kids and Stef's girls while we were in FL. This particular evening was GORGEOUS, and although all of my balloons blew away (who needs 'em anyway) the shots I got were spectacular. I will treasure this session, as I will all of the sessions from Florida. I couldn't have asked for a better 2 weeks of shooting.

Trying so hard not to forget

http://coverlaydown.com/2009/07/who-knows-where-the-time-goes-on-growing-up-growing-old-and-trying-to-remember-it-all/

As our September babies get closer to sixhood every minute of every day, I am constantly wondering, how did that happen? I am sad that I barely remember G as she once was, a tiny little thing who stunned everyone with her enourmous vocabulary and ability to walk when she was just the same size as the baby is now. Luckily, I have Little L and, being the carbon copy that she is, I can imagine G as a baby simply by changing Little L's eye and hair color in my mind. But it's just not the same....

Sisters

I took this when Little L was only 5 days old. When I found a cute frame in a local kid's shop, I knew exactly which picture belonged in it. The words read:

Sister will you...

make believe

play dress up

let me be the princess

tell me stories in the dark

always be my friend

I hope they always love each other as much as they do right now.

Naples at Twilight