Wk 41: Self-Portrait

 

 Technically, this picture is not a self-portrait because I did not press the shutter to take the picture; however, I am in it and therefore it counts. In October we decided to go to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth with a group of our friends. It was a glorious two and half days spent without kids, in the mountains, with some of our favorite people. These days it is a very rare occasion that we go away somewhere with our spouses, without kids, with our friends. It. Was. A. Blast!

 We ate things like smoked turkey legs. We danced. We hit golf balls and went fly fishing. We stayed up too late and a few of us drank too much. We all walked away from the weekend thankful for such great friendship and agreed that this might need to become an annual event.

 I just had to share these pictures because they crack me up. Rianne decided we should take a picture amongst the foliage. This is how it turned out and our husbands faces say it all.

Wk 40: Empty

Popcorn bowls don't stay full for long during movie night!

Wk 39: Everyday

I've tried to post this blog post twice. Both times it failed and my perfectly scribed prose lost forever. Needless to say, I've been feeling a little defeated by week 39 and it's time to get over it. 

These pictures are from September when we headed over the mountains to Winthrop.

 It was a cold and rainy weekend, an unusual occurrence for Mazama. As a result, we spent our three days going for walks in between the rain showers and lots of time playing games and watching movies next to the fire.

 Since the weather didn't permit for outdoor fires we improvised and made s'mores indoors over the crackling logs in the stove. I'm pretty sure Owen died and went to heaven over this nightly treat.

 Our last day at the cabin we drove up to Hart's Pass which is accessed by a narrow dirt road that winds up the side of the mountains behind our cabin to some spectacular views and hiking. After 10 minutes of driving, as we gained altitude, the rain quickly changed to snow. It was partly magical and partly terrifying as the thought of getting stuck on this now abandoned mountain road flashed through our minds so it wasn't long till we got out to trek around in the first snow of the year.

 These last two photos were my "pics of the week."  Jesse changes from baby to little boy more every day and Owen is daily encroaching on becoming a student.This fall, I purchased a Preschool workbook to do with him this school year and he is in love with it. In fact, if I let him, I'm fairly certain that he would have already completed the entire book. He asks every day if we can do his "school book". Every day he takes his book to rest time so that he can do the pages with his finger. I love his enthusiasm and hunger for learning. 

Wk 38: Sunshine

Sunshine is being with family...

...is silly faces... 

...and puckered lips frozen from delicious summer treats.

Sunshine is this sweet smile.

Wk 37: Fear

There was absolutely nothing that prompted fear in my photography this particular week. So I basically threw the prompt out the window and played around with light and angles instead. These particular photos were captured at the wedding of one of the boys from my neighborhood growing up. We lived (and my parents still do) on a culde-sac with a million children. Well, there were actually only 18, 15 boys and 3 girls. As you can imagine, there was never a dull moment. Someone was always knocking on our door asking to play or some passel of boys fighting for dominance in any sort of game they were playing. How rich our days were when our community of friends lived within steps of our front door.

While our paths have now widen from one another we still gather at momentous occasions, such as weddings, to honor the friendships we shared for so many years. This particular wedding was held on Bainbridge Island. A trek to say the least to drag our children to but, in the end, I'm so glad we did for in the middle of this gorgeous field was this old truck. I'm kind of obssessed with it. In fact, if I could, I'd probably buy and old truck just for the mere purpose of taking pictures of anyone I know next to it. 

Melt. My. Heart.

 

 

Wk 36: Time

 We watched Jesse grow up this summer. He went from baby to little boy in the blink of an eye. He's been that way from the beginning, determined, physical beyond what his age should expect or allow. These sweet days of innocence and wonder pass so quickly. The picture that encapsulated this theme for me is the one of Jesse coloring. It was his first time putting color on paper and he was very calculated and serious as he did so.

This same week was when my brother Joseph visited from California. Joseph is something special in our family, all my siblings are really, but Joseph and Owen in particular share a special bond. When Uncle Jo-jo comes home for a visit Owen doesn't let him out of his sights for very long.

 Joseph's days are usually very full and the demand for quality time with him is constant. I feel bad for him really for what is meant to be relaxation is almost more tiring than the daily grind of being at school and work. We were lucky to get more than a few days of Joseph joining in our daily life. He played cars with Owen, watched movies with us and spent the last blistering hot day of summer walking around Greenlake with us basking in the beauty of a sun-soaked Seattle and eating a classic lunch of fish and chips.

 What a gift that time with Joseph was.

 

Wk 35: Fashion

Little boys aren't quite as conducive to a "fashion" photo shoot as little girls. If I had a girl there would be pearls and my high heels involved but with boys it's a whole other ball game. Let's be honest, clothing is optional to most little boys, especially in the summer. I don't really even know why I bother buying them shirts at all in the summer because they rarely stay on. Oh wait, we live in Seattle, where the weather is less than predictable particularly in the months from June-August. Rather than force fashion upon my boys I looked for some natural moments- my apron doubled and wrapped around a tiny waist a moment of golden light before heading to church one glorious sunny Sunday afternoon. Fashion at it's finest.