Many family and friends have asked how they can help with the relief efforts here in Japan. This article titled “Japan earthquake: How you can help” from cnnmoney.com explains what to look out for when choosing an organization to send money to. Hope this will help you in deciding!
We have all been pretty pensive here but are trying to get back into our routines… Unfathomable, even two days later. So many people gone, material things can be replaced lives cannot. If you missed my previous post you can view it here.
It’s Friday and we are now at week nine of our 52 Project! Great to be among such such talented women photographers. Please take the time to view all these women’s blogs, don’t stop until you are back to me. Leave some blog love too! This week’s theme is Texture.
This was a fun prompt as there is texture everywhere! It was hard (once again) to choose just one image. Here is one of our little trees. Enjoy!
Please head on over the talented Hannah Mayo – West Palm Beach Florida Family Lifestyle Photographer’s blog and view her interpretation of this week’s theme. See you next Friday at 9am, EST.
We were hit today by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake. We are also under a tsunami warning. No worries friends and family, we are safe!
This was the first major earthquake we have experienced in all the years we have lived here. The kids were very scared but I kept my cool. I really don’t know what would have put me over the edge. However, I thought it was never going to stop. Feeling the earth sway beneath you is a pretty scary thing! We lost “one” dish that fell in the pantry, no big deal. I’m glad no one was hurt.
There was major damage in Sendai, so so sad. Please pray for those lost and injured. Also, that those who are trapped in homes and rooftops are rescued quickly. It’s colder up north too.
Kiss and hug the ones you love. It’s times like these that the love and compassion we have for one other are all that matters.
I have been wanting to change my blog template for some time. I was using a free one and found it somewhat limiting. Not to mention having to mess with all that code! Not fun, especially when you have little ones and not so little ones at home! Please bear with me as I work out some of the kinks… It looks a little “blah” but I hope to make it into what I’ve envisioned…in time. I wish I had a million hours of free time. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. So I’ll be patient and go to bed. It’s late.
In the meantime, here is a photo of J2 writing on our grocery list. I think she was asking for Pokemon bread. 🙂 My little refrigerator pad says it all!
We are now at week eight of our 52 Project! Where has the time gone? This has been such a great experience for me. I am honored to be among such talented women photographers. This week’s theme is Books.
Super easy right? Well that’s what I thought. We have a ton of books. The challenge was in trying to creatively photograph them.
Our whole family loves to read and I am always looking for the next best must have book. I enjoy checking out the best sellers lists, in paperback, of course. I look to Oprah for a recommendation, oh and friends too. I especially love the classics and Jane Austin but enjoy modern reads as well. Here’s my dilemma, I have a few books that have only a chapter read… I just don’t have the time! Right now, I’m trying to finish “Water for elephants” before the movie.
Don’t we all wish and hope we had time to sit down and read a good book? I do and look forward to the day. This book is “The Count of Monte Cristo”. I hope to be able to finish it one day. If you look closely…you can kind of see the words “all hope” Have a look!
Books
Please click on over to Hannah Mayo – West Palm Beach Florida Family Lifestyle Photographer’s blog and view her interpretation of this week’s theme. See you next Friday at 9am, EST.
Happy Girls’ Day! Today we celebrated Hanimatsuri (or Dolls’ festival) at J2’s school today. She sang a Japanese song and was accompanied by koto players. The koto players entertained us with a few songs. What a lovely sound! She also made onigiri (musubi in Hawaii or rice balls in the states, lol) with her class. I had such a great time.
This is the song she sang…
Akari o tsukrmashou bonbori ni (Lets light the lanterns)
Ohana a agmashou momo no hana (Lets set peach flowers)
Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko (Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums)
Kyo wa tanoshii Hinamatsuri (Today is a joyful Doll’s Festival)
We wish your daughters growth and happiness today!
It’s Friday and we are in week seven of our 52 Project. Please click the link at the bottom of each post to view 17 amazing interpretations! Don’t stop until you are directed back to me. I absolutely loved last week’s interpretations, cant wait to see what everyone comes up with this week!
This week’s theme is New/Beginnings
This came at a perfect time, Z has started walking and this past week she made a full circle around the house. No falls, just pure joy! She went from the office, to the kitchen/dining, to the living room, down the hallway and back to the office. It was magical! I was screaming the whole time! Oh, how I thought this day would never come! I envisioned myself carrying around this 25 lb baby… forever. I especially love this image because of the excitement on her face, her movements, her jeggings, everything! It makes me smile!
New/Beginnings
Please head over to Hannah Mayo – West Palm Beach Florida Family Lifestyle Photographer’s blog and view her interpretation of this week’s theme. See you next week at 9am, EST.
Well the unfathomable happened this past week. I was out running errands and received a call from my son’s school nurse. He was there complaining of a terrible headache. He was playing football during recess and dove head first into the ground! He had this headache since the incident and told no one. He was in his last period and decided to tell a teacher. I took him to the ER and just as we thought. It was a mild concussion. The reason I said it was unfathomable is because he is not that interested in sports. At least I thought he wasn’t. Poor J, living in a house full of girls. I thought he was throwing a ball around here and there but had no idea it was a daily occurrence.
This is a reminder for me to check in with your kids every once in a while. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very involved parent. I ask how their day was, anything special happen, what was the best part of the day, homework…usual conversations when they come home. I never thought to ask about his recess activities and if he was playing sports using safety precautions.
Well the Dr prescribed rest, no concentrating. So no homework, no reading for fun, no VIDEO GAMES. J…”your brain needs rest, lots of it.” J seemed to enjoy not having to do the dishes or homework. We are thankful that he was not seriously injured. Lessons learned for both of us.
This was his very first football, given to him as a Christmas gift from his favorite Aggie cousin. 🙂
It’s Friday and we are in week six of our 52 Project. Please click the link at the bottom of each post to view 17 amazing interpretations! Don’t stop until you are directed back to me. These awesome women never cease to amaze me! This week’s theme is LOVE.
When I think of love the first thought that comes to mind is the ubiquitous ROSE. I was drawn to it plus I had it sitting on my dining room table. Convenient, right? However, as I began to think about this ROSE, I came to realize that it was symbolic of so much more. The ubiquity that I had given this rose was replaced by wonderful memories associated with this beautiful sweet smelling flower. When the CDR and I were first married, I planted red roses in our first’s home backyard garden. They had some trouble growing but as soon as our lawn man trimmed them. They bloomed beautifully! I made sure to plant them again in our next “new” home. With as often as we move, it was important to have a constant or familiarity besides ourselves and our belongings. For me planting my favorite flowers whether they were roses or not symbolized the start of new family memories, our new life in a new state, our new home. Moving often takes great courage, patience as well as a sense of adventure. We always make the best of it.
ROSE=LOVE
Option 2, a heart from J2 which hangs from the ceiling in my office.
Please head on over to Hannah Mayo – West Palm Beach Florida Family Lifestyle Photographer and view her interpretation of this week’s theme. See you next week at 9am, EST.
Well it’s the day after for us. We had a wonderful time though and exchanged goodies. It was a lot of fun! The kids really look forward to showing how much they love and appreciate one another. This just melts my heart and it’s so sweet to see. J2 made some Valentine confetti, recipe courtesy of The Blessed Nest for her siblings. It was so cute though, she made sure to taste test every single ingredient. The CDR and I had a wonderful Valentine dinner, it was an amazing 8 course meal with a caviar reception. Fabulous. AND we had some snow! What a way to end an evening!
Hope you all had an amazing day! And for those of you who don’t celebrate, hope it was a relaxing, drama free day! XOXO
For my awesome kids…