Little & Big

we tried

We headed to the neighbors pond.

But I was nervous about this...

                                            testing out the ice

But it's been too warm.  And there were big cracks through the deepest layers of ice.  No go. 

So we returned home.  Where really, had we wanted to, we could have skated on the driveway.

post-lunch play break (as promised)

                                        the photographer

play

I'm thinking a lot about what it means to play.  It's our big New Year's Resolution.  "Play.  A lot." 

So what is that exactly?

David wrote about it on the Sparkle blog here and here.  And he's a good one for playing.  He likes to think of life's activities as games.  He's always ready to engage in some silliness.

But me?  I can be pretty silly too.  My favorite current silliness is playing chase with my cat.  We go back and forth through the house, hiding and jumping out and skittering about.  It's so silly that even David will say "boys, your mom is chasing the kitty again."

But here's what I just noticed:  I'm online looking at sites and blogs that might offer opportunities to feature Sparkle.  And I get on a site I just love.  And I'm perusing the entries and admiring the photos and getting to know the bloggers work, and just having a grand time.  And then I freeze up.  "You're supposed to be working!" scolds my brain.  And I click off the site as fast as I can. 

But then I realize "hey!  I WAS working!"   And of all impossible things:  I was having a great time too! 

This may sound a bit ridicuous, but this has been my model for work:  to "work" means I put in all of my effort.  I grit my teeth and raise my shoulders and hunker down.  And there's too much to do to stop for long.  WORK.  Until you're done.  Every t crossed and i dotted.  WORK. Or until your eyes are crossing.  WORK.

And then when it's over I go WHEW.  I can finally take a break.  I'll knit for 15 minutes before I GET BACK TO IT.

I tell you what:  I'm ready to let that model go. 

Next, I'm going to have lunch with my older son and take a sledding break.  And I'm going to post a photo to prove it.

 

play: spontaneous bead game

With found beads and marble rules.

Little brother has pulled these out multiple times just to do this.  But the Daddy took it up a notch.

the tooth fairy forgot

And how could she?  Look at this face?  Look at those two beautiful spaces where teeth once were? 

And there were TWO!  Two teeth for her to reward!  When does that happen? 

But alas, she forgot.

And so this morning we talked about how busy the tooth fairy probabaly is.  And how she sometimes just needs an extra day to make her visit.  And thankfully (thankfully) this little boy was understanding.

Tonight we're going to light a candle and call to her to remember us out here in the cold cold country.  And ask her to take those two (precious) little teeth and leave something extra special under his pillow.

oh the ice this morning

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

(Before school.)

the very very last of all

Holiday cards.  Finally.  As the last strains of "Happy New Year" are fading out, I'm sitting down to write mine.

But that's OK, I figure.  Warm wishes are welcome at any time aren't they?  And everyone knows how insanely busy the actual holidays are.  I hope I'll be forgiven.

Next year we may just do Valentines.

(I had good company while I worked.  See below.)

super cold

The Arctic Explorers went out this morning to the far reaches of the yard.  And every bit of skin covered to keep out the cold. 

Serious brrrrrrr.

just before dinner, I went out to get a load of wood in the falling snow

(and I took my camera along.)

making the most of what we've got

There's almost no snow.  But there's ice, and just enough...