(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

  Joining  Soulemama          

Nine

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

This week's treasures include:

:: man-purse, blueberries, what more does one need?

:: sometimes I lament that I'm always behind the camera... but I'm glad when I've captured a shot like this.

 :: giggles shared among a flower and a bird.

:: stumbling upon this share library while walking to the park. (I love people).

 :: watching him work/play. 

 :: the special bond he has with our beloved neighbor, Sahand.

:: goodies from Sahand's bounty.

:: a hike with friends. They liked the views. 

:: coming to some important realizations. 

(this moment) and Keeping it Real

A Friday ritual. A single Several photos - no a few words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

 Avi doesn't know who Pooh is. Or Christopher Robin. Or Piglet. We haven't yet read those books to him. We have one pooh bear toy that is called "yellow bear" (even though this kind of thing makes our mothers roll their eyes at us).  Honestly we are trying to avoid as many media driven characters as possible in our home. And this day, outside the library - waiting for it to open, was no different. Avi did not meet Pooh, Christopher Robin or Piglet. Instead he met a bear, a boy, and a little pig. He was thrilled to meet them, stroke their backs, look, with curiosity, at whatever they were looking at, and hold hands. He also kissed them all goodbye on our way out.

I love this gentle child. 

Inspired by Soulemama

**********************************************************************************************************

This week, I'm also joining monica with:

Keeping it Real #4

blah:

Avi testing the idea of "pushing"

not understanding the wing ding language my wife speaks

feeling camera envy when seeing a class of 30+ photographers at the farmer's market

 noticing my defense mechanisms (about my own self worth) arise while reading the current issue of Taproot 

our last hurrah with Tim who is off to new adventures in Seattle.

kidney stones -- still

yay:

"Avi (down)stairs do it myself - big boy"

new friendships forming - both grown up and kidlet friends

spontaneous front yard picnics

two quiet hours in the coffee shop in the blogsphere

successfully making lisa's Mexican Slaw - YUM!

going to bootcamp every m/w/f at 6 a.m. even when I desperately want to roll over and go back to bed

the two of us dreaming of winnebagos and the open road

opening to "yes"

As a parent, there are things that I sometimes want to avoid because I don't want to deal with the hassle or the mess. I was laughing with a neighbor recently who was whispering that they don't want to let their son do such and such because he was having a hard time with endings. I admitted there are times I don't brush Avi's teeth at night because he doesn't want to turn off the water... and at that time of night -- when we are all tired -- those otherwise peaceful endings of "bye bye water" or "do you want to kiss your toothbrush and say goodnight" turn into tearful screams of "nooooooooooooooo" and "mooooooooore"... and I have to take a deep breath and remind myself that we are all tired.  (Don't worry, we also brush teeth in the morning, and sometimes before or after nap and often in the bathtub).

Yet, as a parent, I'm also finding that often the hassle or mess is only perceived. This past weekend, Jenn had run out to do some errands when Avi asked to paint. I found that my first thought was, "ugh, let's see what else I could distract him with". But then I put aside my own (perceived) inconvenience and said, "Yes". I got the table cloth turned painting cloth from the laundry room, covered the table, grabbed the paint, paper, and brushes from the drawer and asked Avi to get a bowl from the kitchen. In less then 3 minutes he was at the table with his "orange" paint. We both painted for about 20 minutes before Jenn arrived home from the store. She joined us and we had an impromptu family art session that continued for another 30ish minutes. Clean up took about five minutes and we all had a marvelous go. Avi discovered he could make hand prints by painting his own hands.

So eight minutes of prep and clean-up for almost an hour of art and family time. I'm so thankful that I ignored my first thought and, instead, opened to saying yes!

Here's to more Yeses! 

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Inspired by Soulemama

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Inspired by Soulemama

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Inspired by Soulemama

(this moment)

 A Friday ritual. 

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. 

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Inspired by Soulemama

weekending: around the coop

signs of spring

Avi and I walked through the yard to spy what is coming up. 

This is what we found....

Mint

Irises

Strawberries

Rhubarb

Daffodils



 Then we started a bit of bed clean-up. 

"Compost, Compost", Avi repeated...

...as he filled the wheelbarrow...

with "leaves and sticks".

"Push it"

"Ride"

My great helper!

I am in love with the change of seasons! 

I am loving these signs of spring!!

And I am in love with the fact that 'compost' is a concept that Avi is learning so young.

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by Soulemama

Watch them grow

Our seeds have sprouted. 

Day 1: January 26th, 2012

 A few seeds and a wish & a prayer.

No fancy warming mats - just sunshine and a humidity dome.

 Day 3: January 29th, 2012 

 Poking their heads.

 Checking out the new growth.

Day 6: February 1st, 2012 

Our cotyledons growing taller!

 One drink for the sprouts...

...one drink for Avi.

Day 11: February 6th, 2012