I went to Simon’s school today to read with his classmates and then stayed through recess to eat lunch with him too. Simon and his friends played a game, and as far as I could tell the rules go something like this: you’re either a gorilla or a lava princess, or sometimes there’s a lava king. If the lava princess touches you, you lay down on the ground until someone else touches you. If you get touched ten times, you get some of the lava princess’s powers, which include turning the ground into lava and/or cutting off one of your arms so you have to be a gorilla with just one arm.
I asked Simon what was the deal with gorillas — why gorillas and not rhinoceroses, for example? “I don’t make the rules,” he told me, “you’ll have to ask Trey.”
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
I bought a package of one hundred basket coffee filters, and it might be the best 87 cents I’ve spent in a while. Suddenly my world is full of snowflakes — snowflakes during Clara’s naptime, snowflakes after school, snowflakes taped to the windows, snowflake crumbs to sweep off the ground. I’m loving how excited the boys get to unfold a creation and guess what it will look like. They’ve been working together peacefully, and I think their scissorswork is getting better by the flake.
DPP pics from past years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Today’s picture was snapped by Ian. He picked up my camera and spent a long time peering through the lens, lining up just the shots he wanted. It was a joy to watch him. After he took this one, he reviewed it on the screen and whispered, “Oooh, that’s good.” I don’t think I could ever possibly get enough of seeing the world through my kids’ eyes.
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
My friend’s sweet daughter remembering to thank God for this egg prepared by her mama. Her prayer was completely unprompted and, as far as she knew, unseen. We couldn’t hear the words she whispered, but she was so sincere — a quiet moment, a holy moment.
This time of year, even more than usual, my heart says, “I want! I want! I want!” Today I will take the time to follow Posie’s example and give thanks for the gifts we already have.
DPP pics from past years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Whatever else happens today, this is a moment I want to remember. Early morning (well, not super early but first thing) in the dark and quiet kitchen, Clara wanted to me to read to her. I had to put together a quiche for a brunch, so she settled for sitting on the counter and reading to her baby, also known as Mr. Bear.
I often wait until the last hour to post my DPP picture. These December days are full of events and photo opportunities, and most of the time I think surely there will be a “better” picture just around the corner. Granted, sometimes there is. But just as often (or almost as often maybe), the money shot is a moment that is perfectly ordinary.
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
I was so happy when my friend Kacy invited us to join her family to make peppernuts this year and even more happy when we actually found a time to make it work. By the numbers: 3 families, 12 kids, 12 1/2 cups of flour (that’s a half batch), thousands of peppernuts. Okay, not that many, but it really does make a lot.
The kids’ interest ebbed and flowed, but their knock-you-out adorableness remained steady throughout the evening.
DPP photos from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
This post is a day late (taken yesterday, though) because I was enjoying myself immensely at Jason’s company Christmas party and didn’t get around to it last night. Also, I am releasing myself from the challenge I set for myself to write something every day. DPP? Totally fun. Writing whether or not I have time or want to? Not fun. There. I feel all free. Easy peasy.
That said, this little peanut has my heart. Yesterday was the second time this week that I got to start my morning with coffee and adult friends and little friends both in the Creamery building. I like that frequency.
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 , 2013
The boys will be making their film debut as part of Redeemer’s Christmas program this year. I can tell just from the bit that I saw that the production value will be high and the cute factor will be heart-melting, knee-buckling, and definitely shard-producing. I so love being part of a community that values creativity, and don’t even get me started on how much I love my friend Chelsey’s fun, creative spirit. Mary wearing fringy boots and Joseph wearing Chuck Taylors? Sure, why not. Joseph and Mary giggling after the first (and maybe every) take? Let’s go with it!
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
This Baby Betty
Bright-eyed, fuzzy-haired, sunlit
Still fresh to the world.
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
“This is how I do it?”
It’s seems like a simple enough question most of the time. Except when it isn’t.
I’ve given some thought lately to the ways this question — Am I doing this right? — often expresses deeper doubts and concerns. I see in some (my oldest child for one) an almost crippling disappointment when things aren’t working out the way they were planned. Confusion reigns: I thought I was doing it right! Why is it going wrong?
Other times it leads to frustration and impatience: Gah! Why don’t you do it the way I would do it? Just let me do it for you. Move out of my way! (I have been on both sides of that one.)
The worst and most common for me is when “Am I doing this right?” really means “Do you approve of how I’m doing this?” Do you approve of *me*? Do you like me? Heavy stuff to add to an unsuspecting listener. Woe to the one who takes the simple question at face value when it’s loaded like that. (Sorry, honey.)
In some contexts I’ve learned to relax — I delight in giving my kids freedom to create (even to create a mess), to go at their own pace, to ask questions. But I’ve still got a long way to go in so many areas. So many.
Today, though, no need to overthink it. I’m pretty sure our little friend Lumae just wanted to know how to make the camera work. I didn’t have the heart to correct her, and — bonus! — it was a sweet little photo op for me.
DPP pics from past years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
