Very Mary

4 People, 12 Times: January

 

Ironic that we took our family photo outside this month since most of us really didn't spend a lot of time outside during the chilly days of January. (And when I say "chilly," I mean in the negatives.) There were a lot of those days. But, if I were to "make some lemonade," as we say around here, it meant those few sunny days were very much appreciated. 

Derrick turned 33 this month. We celebrated with a simple dinner at home: Sage Risotto with Fresh Mozzarella and Proscuitto. Followed by the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Masterpiece that I have renamed the Ugly Cake. Sadie made Derrick a birthday card, and I bought him several new books: Life, Bob Marley: The Untold Story, and Fight Club. (He likes to read about musicians, and the last one I just picked up on a whim.) 

For me, this month marked the beginning of several new projects, most of them photography-based. I'm excited about all of them, but I'm still trying to find that happy balance between projects and priorities. My immediate priorities are not necessarily my projects, but I still need that creative energy I get from challenging myself. I'm feeling really good right now about what I've been able to accomplish this month, but there are always things I feel like I need to work on: spending more quality time with Derrick, playing more with the kids, and doing organized activities (crafts,etc.) with Sadie. 

Sadie used to be somewhat quiet about her adventures at preschool, but this month, she's started telling us about her little friends, the snacks they had, what they did during "gym time." I love hearing about the part of her day that she doesn't share with me at home. One of the other mothers told me that her little boy told his Grandma that "Sadie is his girlfriend." I wasn't sure if I should say "Awwww" or freak out, but it's probably a little early for the freak out, right?

She's really started to enjoy ballet, and it was a fun experience to actually see her dance at Viewing Day. She is a true performer, which I knew all ready, but she's also turning out to be quite the dancer. She was intrigued with "costume measurement day," and was excited to learn that she gets to keep whatever costume they come up with for the recital. I hope it's a good one, but if not, we have a set of princess dress-ups to fall back on. Speaking of which, they were well-worn this month. Every day was dress-up day. 

Caleb started crawling shortly before Christmas, but he really figured things out this month, and he can move. He follows Sadie around as much as possible, but he's also started playing by himself for short periods of time. It didn't take him long to learn that he could use both of his parents as "guided walking devices," and now he's all ready pulling himself up to standing position all the time, everywhere. He gets a little frustrated, though, when he can't figure out how to get himself back down. He has two teeth, and two more arriving shortly. 

Until next month...

Foto Friday: White

I was telling Heather and Rhonda that I hadn't planned to make our weekly project into a selfie project, but when I really thought about it, it gives me the focus I need to make this a cohesive project. I was originally trying to work these into my Project 365, but for me, Project 365 is a life documentary project while the weekly challenge is a chance to be creative without losing out on anything I wanted to document for the day.

So, 52 weeks of selfies. It should be interesting. Although, if you see our list of challenges, you'd be looking at me with raised eyebrows. Some of them are going to be difficult to translate into selfies. But then again, I'm always up for a challenge.

For this week, our theme is white:

You can see a larger version of mine here: Lightly Floured.

Originally, I planned to use flour in a very quirky, fun, story-telling way, but I discovered that the layout of my kitchen (and the lack of a wide angle lens) limited things and in the face of our deadline and the fact that I set off the smoke alarm and nearly destroyed nap time and, for that matter, my own sanity, I went a completely different direction. White subject + white space. I was all ready coated in flour anyway. Which, by the way, I don't recommend. It's gross. It makes you unattractive in an alien kind of way. And it's really, really hard to get out of your hair. 

Listography: The Best Snacks

1. Crackers and cheese. Pretty much anything with cheese tastes good. (My Grandma used to call me her little mouse.)

2. Apple slices smeared with peanut butter. (The real stuff, not that hydrogenated PB.)

3. Fresh peaches and cottage cheese sprinkled with cinnamon. Even canned peaches are still tastin' fine.

4. Artichoke dip. On bread, pita, tortilla chips, or even straight off the spoon.

5. Homemade bread slathered in butter. (Best when the bread is still hot from the oven.)

6. Organic carrots. (They have to be organic though. The "other" ones just do not taste as good.)

7. Cucumber slices sprinkled with salt and pepper.

8. Chocolate chip cookies. (Homemade. I'm always disappointed by the store-bought version.)

9. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. Straight up. By the hand full. 

10. Chips and salsa. Ideal with a cold glass of Pepsi. 

Ten on Tuesday

1. It was really, really fun to read about your quirks in response to last Thursday's list. I had no idea you were all so strange. Hahaha. Only joking, of course.

2. Derrick turned 33 over the weekend! And I really flunked out in the party planning department. This is partially because I am disorganized and maybe also because I am slightly neurotic. But whatever. Another time, we'll discuss.

3. I did, however, bake a birthday cake. It is probably the most unattractive cake ever to come out of my kitchen, but it contained copious amounts of chocolate and peanut butter, and so it was decidedly tasty. Damn tasty, in fact.

And therefore, the birthday was rescued!

4. And in other birthday news, we all really like risotto. Except for Sadie, who would rather have spaghetti and pointedly told us this. Several times.

5. Friendship is good. 

We chat quite a bit over email, but seeing them in person is SO much better than typed messages. Technology can make the world a lot smaller, but it doesn't replace a real face-to-face conversation and a lot of laughter.

6. Caleb's top two teeth are coming in. I really can't believe how quickly he is growing.

7. There are no sharp edges on the laundry basket, however, I still managed to cut my elbow open. I had no idea domesticity could be so dangerous. 

8. I have an idea for a domestically engineered type shot for our weekly challenge this week. It could be interesting. Or maybe just messy.

9.The curtains are not very useful for pulling yourself up now are they, Caleb?

Can you tell he is thinking about doing it again?

10. You know what is really annoying? Trying to type something whilst someone stands at your immediate elbow and says, "What are you doing Mommy?" over and over and over. And that reinforces why I usually do this when they are ASLEEP.

Foto Friday: Signs

Foto Friday this week was all about "signs." 

My shot is on the bottom left (you can see a larger version here: I (still) get nervous. And it cost Heather $12, so I hope it was worth it. 

Confession: I get a serious case of the nerves if I get out the camera in a public place. I'm more of an introvert than an extrovert, and I'm terribly paranoid that someone will yell at me or ask me what the hell I'm doing. This has never happened, of course, but the mind is a crazy place. I'm trying to overcome this little fear, and in the last year, I've gotten a lot better about shooting because I want to, regardless of whether it's a "socially acceptable" photography location. Still though, I have some work to do. I think it comes with a) age (the older I get, the less I care what other people think), and b) confidence (if I know what I want to capture with my camera, I'm less apt to fumble around and look/feel like an idiot).

Thanks to Heather who helped immensely with this shot. I was all ready pretty embarrassed holding up my sign in the airport, and I would have gone into spasms if I'd have had to set up the tripod. The pose is casual, but the insides are squirming like crazy. You know what they say though, "Fake it 'til you make it."

Listography: Quirks

1. Whenever I eat an apple, I ALWAYS think about the time my brother told me that if I ate ANY part of the core, I would get cancer and die. I was little, and I believed him. Even now, I nibble my way around the core like it might burn my lips. Thanks, Todd. 

2. I sing in the car. Really, really loudly. I know I sound bad, but it makes me happy anyway.

3. I've organized all the shirts in my closet by color. (I'm laughing now because apparently this isn't as quirky as I originally thought since Heather and Rhonda both do the same!) I'm really tempted to make the hangers all the same too, but I'm trying to resist my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. 

4. I'm paranoid that I might have a hand spasm as I'm preparing to push the stroller across a busy street and accidentally let it go. Not that I have ever had a hand spasm, but I still worry about it. 

5. Speaking of busy streets, I like to yell, "SHAME ON YOU!" when cars cruise through the crosswalk while we are waiting to cross. Not that those wretched drivers care, but it makes me feel infinitely better. Mini-me has taken to yelling the same. I am not entirely sure this is good (to be yelling things at passing cars), but it is fairly humorous, and infinitely better than a swear, right?

6. I detest the sound of other people chewing their food. If I am chewing and cannot hear them chewing, the meal goes much, much smoother. 

7. I cannot sleep if my feet are hot. And I cannot handle having things between my toes. Lotion, toe rings, those weird socks with the separate toes. No, thank you.

8. I sleep with a pillow over my head. But not covering my mouth. That would be weird.

9. My hands are ALWAYS dry. I put on lotion at least 16 times a day, but still, the hands are like sandpaper. And I really detest when sandpaper skin catches on fabric. Ugh.

10. I will not pretend that I am "grammar and punctuation wizard," but it really annoys me when people use "your" instead of "you're." You know, "Hope your having a great day!" ARGHHHH!

11. When I eat, I can't have my food mixing on the plate. Unless it's supposed to be mixed like a casserole or a stew, and then that is ok. I like to eat all of one thing and then move on to the next thing. It's genetic, I'm sure; my brother does this too.

12. I like to take pictures. On its own, this is not quirky, but I usually take at least three of the very same thing. Same settings, same angle, same everything. I think I'm always hoping the third shot will magically be more wonderful, but I could sure save myself a lot of work by practicing a little self-restraint. 

Ten on Tuesday

1. On the schedule this week: pajama day at preschool! I know this because *someone* has reminded me at least a dozen times since yesterday. She is all ready planning to wear her monkey pajamas. AND she gets to bring Teddy, so it is sure to be the best.day.ever. 

2. I'm all ready crossing one item off my list of 52 Things! "#8. Get a massage." Over all, an enjoyable experience. But that part where she massages your butt cheek? Awkward. 

3. Cabin fever is setting in. Is it Day 7 of temperatures in the negatives? I'm losing track all ready...bring on the sunshine please.

4. Meet our three-year-old ballet superstar:

I've given up trying to get her to smile for the camera. I said, "show me your favorite ballet pose." I think this is "moody starlet."

5. Viewing Day came just in time. We were just debating whether she should finish the year of ballet because we were convinced that they just dress up in tights and run around the room in circles. 

There was definitely some running around in circles. But, to be fair, they were also plies and other fancy ballet moves (for which I do not know the name) that look totally adorable and endearing when performed by unselfconscious three-year-olds.The best part was the ballerina march. I think the teacher was hoping for grace, but it was a full-on gallop in a pink tutu. Eleven times.

6. For the record, I DID comb her hair before we left. I even added a clip. I don't know what happened during that five minutes from house to dance studio. 

7. Project 365 is rolling along. Sadie says, "Mommy, would you like this picture?" at least once a day. This morning as we were walking across the parking lot, admiring the sunshine, she said, "I really wish I had my camera." I love my mini-me.

8. Have I mentioned this book? My Quotable Kid. A cute little notebook for writing down all the crazy things your sidekick says. I try to blog them from time to time, but I keep this notebook in the kitchen where I can run to it and jot things down before I forget. Every page has a spot for writing the who/what/where/when, so you can use the book for more than one kid. It won't be long before I get to enter a few quotes from this kid:

He all ready yells a lot. I'm assuming it will be funny and/or quotable at some point in the near future when I can understand what in the heck he's saying. But! He is signing! Milk, "more," and Mommy. All the important stuff. 

9. When I was looking for the link for My Quotable Kid, I discovered Your Birthday Book. I'm trying to find a good and realistic method for memory-keeping, and the idea of having a birthday photo + quiz every year from 0-18 is so appealing to me. Wouldn't something like that be so fun to look at later?? 

10. When I was a little girl tagging along at the grocery store, I used to *beg* my mom to stock the freezer with those Hungry Man chicken pot pies. I still like chicken pot pies, but these are infinitely better than Hungry Man:

Freezer Chicken Pot Pies

and then you can ask the resident princess to make cinnamon pinwheels with the leftover pie dough:

Yum! I wish I hadn't eaten all of them all ready. 

Foto Friday: Self

The second installment of Foto Friday: self-portraits. It's harder than it looks. Unless you have a remote. And then, the hardest part is trying not to make a ridiculous expression. Oh wait, that's just me. 

If you were curious, that's my fun-loving self trying to escape my Type-A personality. They don't always see eye-to-eye, those two. But still, isn't it grand that you get two portraits for the price of one?

If you haven't all ready, go check out my lovely friends' blogs right here: Rhonda and Heather.

Listography: 52 Things in 2011

I was reaching for creativity, but practicality snuck in too, so this list is a mix of the good, the annoying, and the scary, in no apparent order. All things I'd love to do/get done/try this year. If I actually manage to get any of them done, there's a good chance I'll bore you with the details.

1. Find a snow hat that I actually want to wear and that does not make me look like a man.
2. Take a photography class.
3. Read 12 books (one per month - this one is a gimme, I hope).
4. Plant an herb garden.
5. Go the Science Centre.
6. Print and frame photo of Nanny R.
7. Make a chore schedule.
8. Get a massage. Or two.
9. Create an emergency kit for the truck.
10. Put up Caleb's wall word.
11. Print and hang photos.
12. Order and install door for basement.
13. Photograph sunrise on Lake McDonald.
14. Call my family once a week.
15. Organize the dreaded pantry.
16. Make a Blurb book of Glacier Park photos.
17. Make a Blurb book of Italy photos.
18. Make a Blurb book of Christmas 2010 photos.
19. Make a Blurb book of 2010 photos (I will be keeping Blurb in business, if this works out).
20. Make some art work for my office space.
21. Donate blood.
22. Visit Yellowstone Park and see Old Faithful (have done, but not with camera or kids).
23. Photo-a-day of Caleb in March.
24. Photo-a-day of Sadie in May.
25. Get a MAC makeover.
26. Make kitchen art.
27. Get a real Christmas tree.
28. Do a fun Q/A with Sadie.
29. Focus on encouragement.
30. Find a work desk.
31. Buy a new swimsuit. Ugh.
32. Photograph a stranger (but not one in a swimsuit). Scary.
33. Sew something fabric-y.
34. Photograph a line of wash (something I've always wanted to shoot).
35. Photograph Sadie with a bunch of balloons (something else I've always wanted to shoot).
36. Find a new kitchen table (so we can invite people over and no one has to sit on the floor).
37. Organize the dreaded hall closet.
38. Photograph the family all together at least once a month.
39. Frame Sadie's postcard.
40. Put up real curtains in our bedroom.
41. Make some pickles. 
42. Finish my Dad's Christmas gift.
43. Get the next one ready BEFORE Christmas.
44. Fly a kite.
45. Go to the movies. Just Derrick and me.
46. Go on a hike. With kids.
47. Go snowshoeing. With kids.
48. Send birthday cards to my family.
49. Finish painting the bedroom patches (fun, fun, fun).
50. Put Sadie in swim lessons.
51. Start a collection.
52. Plan a date night every week.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I'm still operating in holiday mode to an extent. Translation: I feel driven to consume sugar or chocolate (preferably both) after every meal. Except breakfast. But still. Somebody help me.

2. A conversation with my preschooler:

Me: Sadie, you are such an optimist.

Sadie: I'm an octopus, all right, Mommy. 

3. I have four notebooks containing various states of scribbling. When I'm not carrying a baby, a diaper bag, a camera, or a camera bag (or all of the above), I'm carrying a notebook. So I can be organized, you know.

4. I don't seem to have that many pens, though. So all that time saved "being organized" seems to be wasted in looking for a pen. Nice.

5. I think Caleb must have read up on "walking."

That is the face of determination, no? (Or maybe he is just mesmerized by the library lights.)

6. Their new favorite book is Dinosaur vs. The Potty:

7. Mine is Alphabeasties. A thoroughly enjoyable read for font-freaks and their offspring.

8. I used to really like grocery shopping. I've decided, however, that the fun factor goes down to about -38 with a screaming baby in the shopping cart. Just one step above searching through yesterday's garbage for the phone charger.

9. This year is going to be really, really busy. 

10. You know what sounds good right now? A chocolate chip cookie. Or maybe two.