Below are a few recent photos from the past week. Ranen had his preschool Christmas program, and Adah had her Christmas mini-recital (that I almost forgot about.). We will blink and the leaves will have blown away.
This was just coincidence of dates, but we spent the past weekend at a family wedding that was held at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, FL. Below are photos taken for my mom and dad (my favorite Veterans, for whom I am very grateful).the weather was great and the time spent looking at "jets" very special.
Tyndall AFB
Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you for my freedom.
.In this metaphorical home on the internet? Yes, we do. And I really don't have an acceptable excuse for not keeping up with the ongoing chronicle that is life. Thank goodness for photos. Now, if I didn't take any photos, I would be setting myself up for great sadness in just a few years. So, listen up, woman-take photos, jot down memories. Do it now, or regret it later when these wee little ones have flown the coop.
This is going to be painful, for you, dear reader. Like getting gorged on something sweet, like baklava. If you get to May or June and feel woozy, stop, and come back later in the week to finish the post.
Ranen went through a phase where he wanted to be robin hood. I made many, many arrows and bows.
Kaniel was hitting his months of triumph.yes, I did grab that cheerio, alright!
The air warmed and the grass turned green. And little kids who love to play in dirt rejoiced. Kaniel continued to grow and smile. And I continued to kiss his little cheeks every moment I could. We discovered the joy that is the original Beatrix Potter stories. Great month, even enjoyed some home-made sushi with friends.
May was driven by the "home stretch" as school winded down. Adah was getting antsy for the summer break, and honestly, I was too. Not many pictures, but Christopher built me a very cool compost sifter, so we harvested a bunch of compost for our summer crops.
June was full of Kaniel tearing through the house and yard on all fours. He had started to crawl around six months, but his appetite for mobility and exploration were unchecked by the many bumps and scrapes he incurred. We picked lots of blackberries at the Mitchells house and started swim lessons. Ah, swim lessons. I should have just worn a bathing suit the first few days (and I think I did a day or two here and there). Ranen wanted no part of being in the water with the instructor. So, guess who had to get in the water with him? While toting around a little babe? Well, no one drowned and by the end of the two weeks, Adah was swimming in the deep end, and Ranen was getting his head wet. Improvement? I think so. And, no there are no photos of swim lessons.for, uh, obvious reasons.
I started the entry for July, but it became long and I didn't feel like editing it, so I'll continue with the general updates in the next day or so. Hope I didn't exhaust you!
Your kids missed you today. And Ranen wanted you to know that he took his first shower today.
I left picture taking in the dust, quite literally, for a few days. Dust on the table I'm staining and painting, dust on the camera from just sitting on my dusty dresser. Dust on the fan blades in the living room that mock me every time I try to get something done. I shake my fist at thee, fan blades!
Uh, anyway, I think my thirty days have come and gone, but I was doing this exercise to make myself take pictures, even when it was inconvenient. I hope that I have come close to a habit, or at least a thought in the back of my mind, "Yes, bring your big ol' camera to the restaurant."
Speaking of inconvenient, 
a few days ago it was rather cold over night, in the teens even. Adah was very excited one morning to see the green space behind our house covered in frost. For us, it is as close to snow as we'll get. She begged to go out and tromp in it and take photos. I relented, despite the fact that I had yet to have a cup of coffee and was still dressed in pajamas. Hmmm--she took a picture of me out there, so I'll had to do some editing when I the photos off of her camera. I should have cropped the picture of Adah, but I wanted to show you both the grass and her crazy outfit.
Also, this photo wasn't in focus, but I love it nonetheless. I love the baby and the man kissing the baby. And the baby's smiles.
.Is not wearing a bike helmet and elbow and knee pads to the local Cuban restaurant. But when you have an almost 3 year old that insists they really do want to wear it into the restaurant and you now have three children. The result is that, quite frankly, it doesn't even faze you. At least he had pants on, and they were dry. Thanks goes out to the obliging people at the Black Bean and their very delicious food.
A band of buddies headed east on Highway 90 today to pick strawberries in the, thankfully, bright January sunshine. It was wonderful and I only wished it could have lasted longer, or I could have remembered my own wallet, or I could have a dozen more uses for these delicious fruits. Or that they would just last longer. Either way, I'll enjoy them as they are. In this moment.
Wait, were we talking about strawberries?
