Frame A Day '12--Week 46: 11/11-11/17

Week 46!  It's coming down to the end.  I know that I really enjoyed the photos for this time of year last year, so I am looking forward to seeing what I capture during the holidays this year.

November 11--Proud to be an American--The Scouts in the family participated in a flag ceremony to honor Veterans. The park itself is quite lovely, and Imp found himself contemplating the memorial for residents who perished in the September 11th attacks.

 November 12--Adventuresome Threesome--Every once in awhile, the kids decide that they are going to go on 'an adventure' for the morning or afternoon.  The telltale signs?  The baseball caps and packed bags.

November 13--Following in My Footsteps--Trust took some additional photos tonight for the badge she's working on for Girl Scouts. She was having a grand time trying different angles with her subject and looking at her results to see how she could improve them. Hmm...sounds so familiar...

 November 14--Trust and Imp decided to have their stuffed friends put on a fashion show tonight.  The friends donned their favorite outfits, and there was even a runway for the models of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books.  The best part?  The descriptions of the outfits as described by Imp.

November 15--Thank You, Vets--Although we're a few days late, the sentiment is still important.  At the YMCA, we added Chretien's name to a sticky on this thank you to veterans board...right next (door) to the name of our next door neighbor.

November 16--Feline Friends--Actually, they are more than just friends.  Miney and Moe are brothers, and we've had them for over 11 years.  They were born the same month that Chretien and I met, so in May they'll be 13.

 November 17--Tis the Season?--My boys coincidentally wore matching Christmas PJs tonight.  They're gearing up for the big night, when all three wear matching pajamas.  They were doing hand gestures for "Peanut Butter and Jelly", a song that Earnest learned at school, and evidently, are having a jolly time of it.

Frame A Day '12: Week 45--11/4-11/10

November 4--The Next Generation--Troop XXXX came over to work on the Digital Photography badge today.  They seemed to enjoy taking photos of one another as well as leaves, our pumpkins, the cats, the car, knick knacks around the house, etc., etc., etc.

November 5--Hit the Road, Jack--......or Tom (Turkey).  Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, and the resident turkeys at my parents' condo complex don't seem to have any concern about the calendar.

 November 6--The Next Four Years...and On...Since the summer, Trust and I have been writing letters back and forth to one another a few times a month; we keep all of them in this journal, which, I figure, might be a nice keepsake down the road.  Last night, I intentionally wrote this letter before I went to bed for my all-things-about-all-presidents girl.

November 7--Let It Snow??--First snow of the season hit us this afternoon.  While it didn't amount to much, it did coat everything with that lovely, pure whiteness as only snow can.  While this is early, it's 11 days later than last year's first snow on October 27.

 November 8--Magnatile Man--The Magnatiles are three years old, and the kids still use them all the time.  This was some sort of horizontal castle or vehicle.  No matter.  They really are a lot of fun to play with.

 November 9--Impish Grin--Obviously, this is not Imp's regular bicycle, but you can't fault a kid for trying.  This photo really captures Imp's impish grin, the one he flashes when he knows he's trying to put one over on us.

 November 10--Sticks and Stones--While we were waiting for Trust to finish her skating lesson, Earnest, Imp and I took a walk to the nearby pond.  Why is it that boys are always fascinated with sticks and stones?  I suppose it's been this way for eons, and it's likely hardwired into that Y chromosome.  Imp toted that somewhat large rock around with us for the entire walk, and at the very end, he threw it into the pond and chirped "See you next time."  Of course.

Frame A Day '12: Week 44--10/28-11/3

October 28--Poison Apple--Trust's ballet school had a Halloween party today, complete with their version of a haunted house in their newly acquired second floor space.  Imp was told that it was a good thing he had 'spikes' because that would help him as we journeyed through the haunted house.  I guess they worked, as he did not take the bait offered by the Wicked Queen, also known as the director who in real life is nothing like her Halloween persona.

 October 29--Hunkering Down--The impending arrival of Hurricane Sandy brought everything--school, work, activities--to a screeching halt.  The logical choice?  Have Chretien build a fort under the dining room table and prepare for the worst.

 October 30--Our Salvation--Hurricane Sandy, via a tree downed on wires around the corner from our house, knocked our power out yesterday.  When we learned that the earliest it might be restored is Thursday, we borrowed my sister and brother-in-law's new generator.  We put it to use before they did!

October 31--Trick or Treat--Complete darkness set the scene for Halloween when Lady Liberty, Optimus Prime and a Power Ranger first started out for trick or treating, as our power had yet to be restored.  Thankfully, right at the first house, we noticed that the lights within the homes were suddenly popping on.  There was an almost audible cheer from the neighbors as we realized our wait was over.

November 1--A Pile of Pumpkins--These orange lovelies represent a few different parties we've attended over the past few weeks.  I'm partial to the duck.

 November 2--The Midnight Train...to Georgia?--Another free Friday night at the museum saw us getting ready to board a train.  When I asked Earnest where we were going, he replied "Georgia".  Somehow, he thought we'd wind up seeing the Grand Canyon once we arrived.  Next stop--A geography lesson?

 November 3--Pumpkin Face?--We had one last Halloween party to attend this afternoon, at our church.  Earnest asked for a pumpkin face, but without orange, it was a challenge.  However, his face sort of matches his costume, so all was good.

Frame A Day '12: Week 43--10/21-27

We hit Day 300 (and then some) this week!  As someone who is 3/4 of the way through her second Project 365 (366), it was really Day 666 that day, but who's counting?

October 22--A Party in the Pumpkin Patch--The kids and I went to a pumpkin festival. There were bounce houses and trampolines, face painting, pumpkin painting, free samples of snacks and a very scary haunted house. We had a great time.

As an aside, I am so amazed at how much I have learned this year with respect to post processing.  Look at the original photo:

Sure, I knew how to crop prior to this year, but the difference in my photos with respect to color and the rest is amazing.  I have a lot to learn, still, but just so glad I made post-processing my goal for this year.

Moving along...

October 21--Paging the Doctor--Imp pulled out the stethoscope this morning and decided it was time for a check up of our tickers.  It was interesting trying to comply with his wishes while trying to get breakfast ready, but we managed.

And just ignore the above photo with regard to the processing.  Sometimes, there is not much that can be done when you have a photo shot in a dark room.

This next one is pretty darn awful, but it's more for the memory:

 October 23--Head (Big) Banger--Big Bang Theory comes on every night at 7 and 7:30.  One night in the summer, Imp started nodding his head up and down in time with the music when the theme song started.  We all cracked up.  Since then, his moves have evolved into a full-fledged dance with culminates with his shouting 'Yay Big Bang!' at the end of the song.  He loves it, and we love him.

October 24--Halloween Haunted House--We went to the library tonight for a special Halloween story time, craft and treat of Teddy Grahams.  Although it was slated for 3-7 year olds, the librarian who has known Trust since she was a year old, was fine with letting her participate as well.  Here we see Earnest putting the finishing touches on his house.

 October 25--Telling Stories--Tonight was the annual pot luck dinner at Imp's school.  After dinner, Trust decided she wanted to share some stories with Imp and his friends.  Despite the distracted looks in this shot, she had a captive audience of both kids and even some parents.

 October 26--Superfriends--Tonight was the Halloween party at the kids' school.  Imp befriended a fellow Power Ranger on our way inside, and then bumped into his new friend when it was time to go to the Haunted Courtyard.  It's always nice to hang with your fellow superhero friends.

October 27--Sky Blue Soccer--Last day of fall soccer, and the "Sky Blue" team managed to pose for a group photo.  Trust and the other sister is in the photo since they were often helpers.  And, why yes, Sky Blue is the name they called themselves.  Why do you ask?

Frame A Day '12: Week 42: 10/14-10/20

Wow!  Only 10 more weeks to go.  Wild!

October 14--Junior Girl--Trust had a self-defense Girl Scout activity today, her first as a Junior.

October 15--Earnest and his fellow Cub Scouts were given tips on how to be more observant. They put their skills to the test in the examination of various toasters through the ages, followed by a scavenger hunt.

 October 16--Imp saw a picture he really liked at gross motor therapy today.  He asked the therapist if he could have it and the therapist told him he could if I said yes.  How could I turn him down?  Based on its condition, I don't think the therapist was sad to see it go, but it did make my boy very happy.

 October 17--The kids finished off the evening with Blue Bunny ice cream and taking a look at one of the drawing books we have.

 October 18--Happier Boy--We all went to get flu shots tonight.  Earnest was pretty tired and cranky while we were at the clinic, but on the way home, he cheered up considerably.

 October 19--A Walk Through the Woods--I was determined to get some autumn colors today, so I took a quick drive to some nearby woods and was rewarded with some golden shades of autumn.

 October 20--Lunch on the Go--Our Saturdays are pretty busy, now with Chretien working weekends at Lowe's.  On our way to pick up Trust from Nutcracker rehearsal, Imp decided to finish the lunch that he did not eat a few hours earlier.

I don't know if I've ever relied on cell phone pictures for three days in one week, but life is very insane right now.  I'm in such a rut with photos, so I'm happy to just have them.

Frame A Day '12: Week 41--10/7-10/13

October 7--Puppets--We appreciate Trust's help with occasionally reading stories to the boys.  In place of a story, they sometimes get something else, like today's puppet show with Halloween candy characters.

 October 8--See Ya Later, Alligator--Went to our local amusement park today, and one of the special shows for Halloween was a Creature Feature, which featured a 12 foot long boa constrictor, an alligator snapping turtle, and an actual alligator.  The kids enjoyed reaching out and touching Fred at the end of the show.

October 9--Just Keep Swimming--Earnest had a swim evaluation tonight since he turned six and is no longer in the lesson sequence for 3-5 year olds.  He is in the level where I figured he'd land.

 October 10--One Giant Step for Imp--Imp is just starting to be interested in coloring and drawing.  What a great surprise we had when he came downstairs with this drawing of an astronaut which he created by following the steps in a book which makes drawing people easy.  This is the first time he's drawn something fairly detailed and (sort of) recognizable, once you are given a hint about its identity.

 October 11--Too Big--The kids were all playing in the boys' room with a set of Legos tonight.  Imp, of course, injected his normal levity by seeing how well he fit in the storage box.

October 12--The Love of My Life--Tomorrow is our tenth anniversary and Chretien and I had lunch at our reception site today.  In an ironic twist, we both ordered the same lunch without consulting one another...guess you really do start to think alike after so many years together.  After we ate, we checked out the grounds and took a spin on the dance floor in the tent where our wedding was held.  Hard to believe it's been an entire decade.

October 13--Our History--I saw this idea months ago on (Click here: Pinterest) and figured this would be a good gift for Chretien at some point.  I selected burgundy to match one of the main colors at our wedding, and the quote is our wedding song.  We plan to hang this in our office, which has white woodwork.  The poster is 11" x14" and the overall frame is 16" x 20".

Frame A Day: Week 40--9/30-10/6

 

September 30--Teddy Roosevelt in the Library!--Look at who showed up at the library today; never mind that he's been dead for 93 years. Trust and I and about one hundred others listened to the former president share stories with us today. It wouldn't surprise me if Trust knew a bit more about President Roosevelt than I did prior to today.

 October 1--He's Prepared--After shopping around for a boy scout pack to join, Earnest finally joined one tonight.  He was very excited to wear part of the uniform which he received at the meeting.

 October 2--Special Bedtime Stories--We brought my parents special peanut butter brownies to celebrate their 46th anniversary tonight.  While we were there, Imp was treated to a few bedtime stories read by Nana.

For October 3 and 4, I have photos, but I'm not going to post them now, because it's a tradition not to share photos of kids in their costumes until Halloween.  On October 3, Earnest received his costume in the mail from the Ebay seller and tried it on.  On October 4, Trust wore part of hers for a photo.  After Halloween, I'll put them here for continuity's sake.

 October 5--Weeping Willows--I pass this park every day on my way to work, but I had never actually visited it until today.  I wanted to get photos of specific trees whose leaves seem to turn sequentially, but this year, they really aren't cooperating (one is fully turned and the other two are at the same stage).  I did, however get this shot, which I just love.

 October 6--Fall Festival--Today the kids and I attended a fall festival at a local park.  There was a hayride, colorful displays of autumn's bounty, tons of crafts and face painting.  While Earnest stuck with the conventional batman, Trust had a split angelic/devilish personality, and Imp decided to be a crocodile.

Week 39: Frame-A-Day '12: 9/23-9/29

September 23--A Stitch in Time--Time to make some puppets in the morning sun, with Trust attempting to thread a needle.

 September 24--The Wall of Fright--Imp has suddenly developed an interest in coloring.  He and Trust started preparations for Halloween tonight by creating pumpkins for our very own "Wall of Fright" on our sliding glass door.  They plan to add to it as we approach Halloween.

September 25--Oriental Traders--The new Oriental Trading Company catalog came today.  As usual, the kids pored over it.  Maybe someday we'll actually buy something from them again!

September 26--My Little Runaway--Every day when I pick Imp up from school, he makes a break for it and runs straight for the car.  Fortunately, he does stop at the end of the sidewalk.

September 27--I'm Gonna Get You--The kids had a rousing game of "What Time is it, Mr. Fox" with their neighbor friend.

September 28--Movie Night!--Our occasional movie viewing on Friday nights has become an expected event in our house.  Tonight we watched "A Dolphin Tale", which was requested by Trust.  The kids really enjoyed the story of Winter and her rehabilitation.

 September 29--Trust's Brownie Troop flew up to Juniors today.  Usually, this happens in the spring, but not for this troop.  It was a nice afternoon, as all families attended and the kids got to play while we had a planning meeting for the year. We all had pizza, salads, and later on, s'mores by the fire pit.


Interesting how I just posted last week how Trust was so far ahead of her brothers and how I was working to put them in more photos, and Trust wound up in all but one of the photos this week.