This is Dunedin’s painting of puppies escaping with a frog. All of the orange dots, she informed me, are puppies. They are all running to the back yard with the frog. There is obviously a back story.
There is one thing that Dunedin really, really wants for Christmas. A dog. She has been told that because of Mamas allergies there will be no dog. She has subsequently run through all of the animals she can think of throughout the last weeks to see if they would be a better choice.
The conversations go something like this:
“What about a camel? Do they have hair or fur?”
“Um, I don’t know, but a camel wont work because there is a problem with them getting stuck in doorways after they squeeze the first hump through.”
“oh”
“what about a screech owl? They don’t have fur!”
“yes, but they would keep us up at night”
“An alligator doesn’t have fur!!!”
“I think they have been known to eat neighborhood cats.”
“Does an elephant have hair?”
“I think I am not allergic to elephants but they wouldn’t fit in your bedroom, and besides, they would likely eat all of your applesauce.” (as this is her favorite food there is no further discussion)
Some time passes. Then one day from the back of the car I hear:
“I know! How ’bout a Frog?!! They have skin not fur and no feathers. They are small enough to fit in our house. And they only eat flies.”
“uh…”
Archive for December, 2009
Puppies escape with the frog.
Leading the boy up the hill
So wouldn’t you figure. We spend a whole weekend doing an early family Christmas with my sister and her husband, my parents and the rug-mole-rats. I bring my camera a couple of lenses, a slave flash and somehow only managed to take 2 (that’s right 2) photos the whole weekend.
Nothing of the other fun we had.
Nothing of the gifts or tent forts or trips to town with Grandparents, or all of us out for walks in the snow.
Just these two from the safety and warmth of the living room with the fireplace close by.
As you can see here, Dunedin is leading Uncle John up the hill for his first Northeast sledding.
And here she shows him how to navigate the drifts.
PS That’s the last we saw of that snow donut. I wont say more. I won’t even pop any reckless sledding comments into this post.
As easy a holiday craft as you could ask for
This project was super easy. And passed my “Mommy has 15 minutes and your brother is sleeping” Criteria. It would have worked with Griffin as well- there just would have been more clean up.
So the process is this. Let the little person trace thier hand and your hand. Let them (or assist) in the cutting out of the hands. Folding the paper so that you have mutliple copies while cutting saves tons of time. While Dunes, 3yrs, was working on her end I cut out a big letter O from a cardboard pizza box. Any old box would work. Cheap serrated knifes make this part easy. Apply glue. Okay, let the preschooler do this. They love it. Then we alternated hands: my hand in white, hers in red. The color choice was, of course, dictated by what was left over in the spare paper pile.
Then to continue the tracing of hands theme, I traced her hand with a closed fist over a folded brown piece of paper. Then, like magic, when unfolded, it became the bow.
Ta-da! Holiday wreath. It looks like I am actively parenting even though I am frantically running around behind the scenes processing everyone’s holiday card and print orders. As you can see from the above photo she was super proud of herself. She still wont look at my camera and there was no one else that she was directing that smile at- just definitely not in my direction. Wreath now hangs on our front door.
Psst- hey kid- Can I take your picture
Another failed attempt at photographing my own 3 year old. I may have mentioned my troubles before? She is really testing the limit of what this photographer-mama’s heart can take. This time I was trying for our holiday card. I even did the unthinkable…. Bribery with chocolate.
But once I have my camera out…
She will not smile in a house.
She will not smile here or there.
She will not smile anywhere.
Below is where she realizes that the chocolate I was bribing her with, was (Gasp!) Dark chocolate. Think this may affect my chances for a good smile in a photograph next time?
Cards in time for the holidays
For last minute card orders please chose from one of these card designs. For last minute card orders please choose from one of these above card designs.
All you need do is:
1. Chose your card style
2. Select your image from any session within the last year.
3. Indicate number of cards you would like to receive.
4. Any changes to text or adding of names, etc
I will then send you a mock up for your approval and an invoice with a way for you to pay securely online and… presto! Within a week you should have your cards!
Here’s to making the holiday season one bit easier!
Cheers!
