I'm still participating in the photo challenge, believe it or not. It has been a struggle. I'm not going to lie. I'm a really bad liar, so I generally don't even try. (Hey! That rhymes!)
Things have been a lot rougher the last few months-- my telephoto lens, which I relied on heavily, died (may it rest in peace) and life seems to have gotten in the way. Not to mention that 365 days is a long time to take a photo a day. Really, it is. I promise. My motivation just hasn't been there.
I have been more unhappy than happy with my pictures as of late. It's a sad state of affairs. It has even been making me rethink wether or not I should print a book of my photos when the challenge is over.
Regardless, I have managed to take a few photos I feel may be worthy enough to share with you. If I weren't too lazy to pull photos off my other hard drive, I could give you more. But, as one of my friends always says to her kids, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Plus, if I leave you in suspense over what you're missing, you might be more likely to want a copy of my book.
If I print it.
Okay, here goes...
Life has been a bit nuts lately, and the loss of my telephoto lens has meant a complete change in how and of what I am able to take photos. My creative mojo has not been reacting well. But, somehow, I have still managed to find opportunities. Even on the go.
Cooking dinner with one hand, taking photos with the other...
Even a funeral can produce something fantastic if you look.
Some people have found this next photo a little creepy. I think that's why I like it. I am quite happy that she sleeps in a room far from mine, however.
She seems to prefer eating grapefruit, anyway.
He sleeps quite close, though... ack.
Now this one... well, she won't be able to find me even if I'm standing right in front of her. I don't know if you can tell, but she has some trouble with her eyesight. Just a wee bit.
This kid lures you in with sweetness and light...
...but don't let that fool you. Eeeeek!
On the go again. Desperate. But I kind of like it. And at least the kids were buckled into their car seats where they couldn't get me.
Even though I've been struggling lately, I'll keep on truckin'. It's hard to believe that I have less than 65 days to go. I can make it. I'll keep taking photos, even when the thought of doing so makes me say "ICK".
I have heard throughout my existence, from various sources, that life is like a roller coaster ride with all of its highs and lows. I have also heard, from Forrest Gump, that life is like a box of chocolates because you never know what you're going to get. I happen to think that these analogies are inaccurate.
I mean, unless you're riding a roller coaster in the dark (like Space Mountain) you can pretty much see what's coming your way. Not only that, but you've been checking out what you're getting yourself into as you await your turn. Once you're buckled into the ride and the car you're in clickety-clacks it's way slowly to the top, the anticipation and fear build because you know what lies ahead. As you reach the crest of that first roller coaster mountain, knowing of the rapid descent that awaits, you begin to clench your abdomen to prevent your stomach from rising into your throat and clench your legs to prevent something else...
All I'm saying, is that you know what's coming. Not only that, but you stood in line for it!
As far as the box of chocolates thing goes-- it's not that tough to figure out what's inside, you know. Just ask a frequent partaker of chocolates from a box. In case you weren't aware, I'll let you in on something-- the shapes and little swirlies on top indicate what each little chocolate morsel contains. So, if you're smart and observant you should be able to figure it out.
But, the good thing about chocolates is that if you still happen to make a wrong choice, the situation you find yourself in can quickly be remedied by just spitting out your chocolate mistake. Whether you do it grandly into a trash can with a loud "PITOOEY!" or discretely into a napkin is up to you.
Either way, the fact remains that you don't have to live with your choice. Not only that, but you can custom order a box of chocolates so it contains only the pieces you like. That means no surprises, no consequences, no harsh reality.... and it's not like chocolates just happen to you. Not so much like life, huh, Forrest? (I mean, I like him and all, and he's really good at ping pong... but he's just wrong on this one)
Bumper Cars.
That's what life is like. It's like riding on the bumper cars. I don't know about you, but as a kid I didn't really ride the bumper cars for the bashing and slamming. I rode the bumper cars because I wanted to DRIVE! I tried to avoid all the other cars, hoping to pick up speed and do a few laps before our time was up. I liked to cruise along, minding my own business, just enjoying the ride.
But, eventually,inevitably, I was bashed and slammed. Usually from behind so I had no idea what was coming, or maybe from the side so my peripheral vision had just barely registered the future jolt before it was upon me. Oh, there were the head on crashes, too. Not all things in bumper cars, or life, are unexpected and surprising.
My least favorite bumper car experiences were those where I was hit from all sides at once, trapping me, making me unable to progress in any direction. I think life feels like that sometimes, too.
And even though I hated the crashing and bashing that came along with riding the bumper cars, I always rode again the next time I had the chance, hoping to get just a few moments of freedom to drive and make some unimpeded forward progress. That's all we have to do in life-- just keep trying to make forward progress despite all the crashes and bashes that come our way.
Feel free to ride a few roller coasters for fun and eat some chocolate for comfort as you go. Just wear your seat belt.
(The experience I am about to relate to you actually happened quite a while back-- a month or more. I have been debating over whether to share it or not, since I have a few younger readers and the story contains the "P" word. But, it's just a body part, right?)
Anyway, as I was getting Big ready for the bath one day, he looked down at himself and said:
"When my little penis gets big, it's going to be HUGE!!"
I love an optimist.
I have a friend (believe it or not!), and she has a fantastic blog. She is super funny, and her humor comes across in her writing in a way that I wish mine would. But, then, she's funny as in humorous, where I'm just funny as in "funny".
Anyhoo, she is having a giveaway on her blog. Just the first of many she'll be having, actually. You can check out her blog and enter the giveaway here. I really want to win because I know my 11 year old will absolutely swoon over the necklace up for grabs.
So, go to her blog and enter to win. You might as well read some entries while you're there, too. You'll laugh, I promise! And if you don't.... well, I'll try not to think there's anything wrong with you.
Another typical church day today. I say typical, but I guess there's really nothing typical about church when Big is involved. Rophone was feeling a little under the weather, so I braved it alone.
As we sat on our pew to await the start of the meeting, I gave Big a few crackers to help get him settled in. He looked up at me as I handed them to him and said, "I'm going to need a lot more snack, this is going to be boring!" Good thing I came prepared.
Then, about halfway through the meeting, someone in our vicinity passed gas and Big yelled, "Someone stinks!" It was hilarious how quickly his brother, Bud, denied it with an "It's not me!", also very loudly. Bud's denial was followed almost immediately by denials (not as loud) from adults both in front of us and behind.
Big may find church to be boring, but I can assure you that no one who sits near him does!
Some of you may have noticed a dearth of photos of the girls as of late. They have been avoiding me and my camera like the plague. So much so, that I'm sure many people following my photo challenge on that other website may think I really only have 2 little boy children.
Not so, I say!
Needless to say, I was more than a little excited yesterday when Ginger said she would sit by the window and let me take a few shots.
I think I was able to get a few good pictures, and we had a fun few minutes together-- a bonus!
I am so glad Ginger decided to pose for me. At least one of these pictures will end up on my wall, I should think. I keep telling my kids that although I may be annoying as all get out with my camera right now, there will be some point in their lives when they are glad their mom was so photo happy. They don't seem to believe me. Imagine that.
A little while later, Rophone shared some thick braided pretzels with Bud for an afternoon snack. Bud took a bite of his first pretzel, looked down at it perplexedly and said, "Is this made of fake wood?"
I laughed so hard! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that questions whether pretzels are really good or not. Or even edible.
I'm really enjoying this Christmas-break-hanging-with-the-family thing. We've really been having a great time. What can I say? I love my family!
(And please don't remind me that the grind starts again on Monday! I'm living in denial, okay?!)
A lot of people wouldn't be able to handle the way we celebrate Christmas around here. Not because the kids get up too early or because of the complete greedy mayhem. Nope. Around here, Christmas is all about the anticipation.
The kind of anticipation that can kill you if you're not brave enough or strong enough. For me, the anticipation is the best part. But, I'm strong. Or crazy. Or both.
There's no waking up at the crack of dawn (or earlier!) around here. No rushing in to rip the wrappings to shreds, everyone opening at once, desperate to see what was given. Nope. At this place we take things at a more leisurely pace. Less like a 100 yard dash and more like a stroll through the neighborhood, with plenty of pauses to enjoy the scenery, look at crawling bugs and smell the flowers.
There are rules, you know.
The first rule is that everyone must sleep in. Until at least 8 o'clock. Big is still working on this one, but this year he made it until 7:40. The key is, you see, to never let them know that waking up at 4 am is an option. Because it isn't.
The second rule is that everyone must be dressed, teeth and hair brushed, rooms cleaned before any of the festivities can start. The kids are usually smart and do most of the cleaning in the few days before Christmas arrives, but the morning of is perfect for last minute touch-ups. All of this usually occurs while I am whipping up our traditional breakfast of bran muffins (they rock, I swear) and cheesy scrambled eggs.
Oh, did I forget to mention that breakfast has to be eaten before we can even think of entertaining thoughts of present opening? It's important to give all of that Christmas candy a good solid base, you know. We're looking for staying power here. The fact that we get regularity, too, is just a bonus. At least I'm not super hardcore like my mom is-- she serves a big bowl of frozen peaches to each family member. Try eating those quickly in your rush to get things moving!
It might seem like we're ready to start now, but we're not. There are still the breakfast dishes to be washed, table to be wiped clean, leftovers to be put away... even the floor must be swept. It's amazing how willingly the kids pitch in when there's a goal in sight.
Ahhh. Now we're ready. Line up and get ready to go...
Even the grandparents in Armenia joined us for a bit. It looks like they're excited to see what Santa brought.
Once we get into the living room, the kids are free to open the stockings and gifts brought by Santa with some semblance of wild abandon, but they still take time to show others what they've been given and appreciate what others have received. It's a must, you know.
After all of Santa's gifts have been opened, it's time to open the stuff under the tree. Time for patience to once again be tested. We take turns opening gifts, youngest to oldest, over and over again until the presents are gone. It's nice to see what everyone received, to feel gratified when your gift seems appreciated and they take the time to tell you so, instead of just tossing it quickly aside after a glance so they can rip open the next thing with their name on it. It's nice. Relaxing, even (knowing that I don't have a pile of dishes waiting for me to do when we're done? Relaxing and priceless!).
When the presents were all opened this year, Rophone and I unveiled the final Santa gift. It was kept under wraps until the very end, with thoughts that once the boys saw it we'd have a hard time getting them to do other things.
We were right.
I know that a lot of the time growing up I thought that doing Christmas this way was torture, but I reveled in every minute of it. I'm sure that my kids feel the same way. I have come to learn as a parent, though, that celebrating the way we do isn't just a means to successfully torture the kids (I'm always trying to figure out ways to do that!)-- it's also a way to help them realize that what they get isn't really what Christmas is all about. The traditions, the spending time with family.... heck, even doing the breakfast dishes is more important than the gifts they receive. The only Christmas gift that really matters is the birth of our Savior and the gift of his example and life.
Anyway, this Christmas was just fabulous. The kids were all appropriately appreciative, no tantrums or meltdowns (I tell ya the bran muffins really do rock!) and, for once, every single gift was perfect for its intended recipient. There was none of the usual regret over a present that just didn't go over the way we thought it would. The amount of time we've been able to just hang as a family has been fantastic. Really, really great. We not only survived Christmas, we did it in grand style!
I can't wait to bring on the torture again next year!
