Spidey Sense & Resolutions

I remember playing dress-up as a kid. We had lots of old hand-me-down skirts and dresses, big church lady hats, and even chaps and cowboy hats. I was always more on the imagination side of playing dress-up. My little brother, however, infuriatingly had to have the entire ensemble before we could play anything.

I am not sure yet about my kids. Merrick has just recently started playing imaginary games. Occasionally I've even been forced to speak to his toys, in lieu of actually speaking with him. (How dare I speak directly to his highness, right?) It's funny to watch him play, since he's not embarrassed yet when I catch him, and doesn't care if I see him discussing where to eat lunch with a plastic horse.













The other night he wanted to dress up in his Spiderman costume. All was well and good until Spiderman went rogue. He stopped using his powers (?) for good and started using them to terrify his sister. No injuries were sustained, but I think Spiderman needs to resolve to fight evil instead of sisters. But, as much fun as they were having I think this year I want to resolve (as opposed to resolutions as I am) to spend more time in that imaginary world playing with my kids. I might, however, be embarrassed if Billy came home and caught me talking to a plastic horse. ;)

Check out more shots at The Paper Mama

(The first shot is my pick for this week)

Grow Up

I'm not usually one to be really sappy or sentimental about things. Especially if everyone else is doing it. I feel wierdly awkward when everyone is remembering how it was. I suppose that probably something else besides the snow-phobia that I may need counseling for. ;) (I was secretly looking back through old photos from January last year, though. And good grief my hubby is a hottie. But I'll leave that off this blog post cuz it's probably TMI.)

A lot of people have done blog posts about remembering 2010. I was fighting it tooth and nail, because I figured you guys already heard my rambling then, why would you want to hear it now? ;) You may want some new material. Which there is plenty of, rest assured. (I found this old shot of Tirzah, too from the spring. Goodness girl, stop growing. You'll be making me pay for a wedding before I know it. Didn't I just get married, like, yesterday, myself?)

Don't get me wrong...2010 was a good year. I've learned and grown, as a wife and photographer. I've grown as a mom, too. This little guy has made me a much more loving, but somehow tougher, person. Speaking of tough, I don't even get embarrassed anymore when he yells "I have to poop!" in public places. Pssshhh. Whatevs.

(And speaking of this little guy, I found this shot of him mid-summer. He has grown so much! And by grown, I totally am referring only to his hair and his vocabulary. He still weighs the same, but he certainly can tell me what is "not neccessawy". Which he did not hear from me. I only say sarcastic things while my kids are sleeping.)
















So, I think I did manage to do my own version of a "remember that time..." post in honor of what was a great 365 days with my peeps. Who knows, maybe I'm finally growing up, myself? Nah...;)

New Year, New [Ear] Drums

Merrick got a drum set for Christmas. *I heard the collective gasp of mothers all around the country*. Yes, our house just got even louder. I am trying to be supportive, but ohmuhears.

He is actually pretty "good" at it. He uses the foot pedal, hits the drums, and makes up songs all at the same time. Better than I could do...I don't always multi-task very well.

One of the things I want to do this New Year is get a few lessons for him. I am not expecting him to be a child prodigy or anything (I mean, duh, he already is...;) but would like to see if this is the year that I find a creative outlet for his boundless energy.

Billy is always saying Merrick has the hair for this particular musical instrument. So maybe one day, when he's a rich and famous drummer, people will leave me alone about getting my kid a hair cut. ;)

 Check out more shots at Trendy Treehouse, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 

and Perceptive Perspectives (The last shot is my pick for this week)

Resolution

I've never been one to make new year's resolutions. I always feel like they are just setting myself up for failure. I think that's probably because they have such a stigma that I hate to jinx myself by calling a goal a "resolution". Silly, I know, but I feel like it gives me less of an excuse to quit.

This year, I haven't really set any "resolutions". (Except for potentially trying to drink less soda/more water. But don't hold your breath on that one. ;) I've tried and failed before. Like, yesterday.) But I am glad for this new, fresh year. The chance to love better, live fuller, breath deeper, and learn more. And like this quote says, spread that life around to everyone I come in contact with.

 “Happiness is a perfume 

you cannot pour on others

without getting a few drops 

on yourself."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Check out more shots at Macro Monday

Arts & Crafts PTSD

I remember coloring as a kid. I also remember I wasn't very good at it. Coloring isn't my thing. I am a major perfectionist, who cannot stay in the lines. Bad combination.

My kids haven't spent much time coloring or drawing. Not sure if it's my own art phobia, or just the fact that they don't even color on the page that keeps us away from it. I even tried the bathtub markers with Merrick. He colored on the wall with those.

Recently, my aunt had an extra box of crayons, and asked if I wanted it. At first I thought of that red-scribbled wall back home (I still can't get it off...) and almost said no. But decided to give art another chance. I put both of them at the table with a sheet of paper (plain, no lines. Don't want to give them arts and crafts PTSD just yet).

They both did great. Neither one went for my favorite, the black crayon, but their weapons of choice were the sparkly gold and silver ones. (Which are now sporting bashed-in ends. Another thing that used to drive me crazy as a kid...odd shaped crayons. I told you...perfectionist.) So...maybe I'll just have to start looking the other way while they color.

Check out more shots at The Paper Mama

(The last shot is my pick for this week)