I picked my kids up from a benefit for Brown Street Park in Providence. Griffin had had his face painted like a tiger and they had both received balloons. When we got home I ran inside to get my camera to catch the animal he had transformed into and left them with our neighbor. But when I made it back out, camera in hand, I found poor Griffin and sister in a state of pure dismay. His balloon had slipped off of his wrist (Mommy failed at the simple balloon preservation knot)
Is it terrible is it that I still took this picture? He was so heart broken as we watched it, a little speck, traveling up into the clouds.
Luckily he is 2 and his innate Happy isn’t that far from the surface of whatever Tragedy he has just endured.
And it wasn’t too long until his inner tiger came out again.
And he was on the hunt for a new adventure in no time.
I hope that he is able to endure all that life throws at him with the same flexibility he managed to muster with this loss. He still talks about that balloon and asks if we will find it someday.
My little tiger-griffin.
Archive for the ‘parenting’ Category
Crying Tiger Hidden Griffin | Providence wildlife photography
WEEEEEEEEEE | World War 1 Memorial Park North Attleboro.
Perhaps you look at the photograph below and think (like I do on most days), “Wow! what a cute 2 year old!”
Then perhaps you come to a slide that looks like this and think, “What self respecting parent would send their kid down that thing? I get vertigo looking up at it.”
Now. Let me introduce you to my son Griffin. He was up this before I could set my camera to manual… And that is fast.
Speaking of monsters, my daughter has been known to tame a few wild beasts of her own.
But if you really run into trouble, they will both come on the double.
If you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend World War 1 Memorial Park and Zoo in North Attleboro, MA
Parks, slides, GIANT sandbox and a petting zoo. Who could ask for more? My kids can’t.
poodle portraits? | projects for kids
This was one of my favorite projects to do when I worked at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. I can’t even tell you how much I enjoy having kids old enough to do “projects” now. So in between the jumping, running, rolling, imagining, rock banding, shrieking and twirling that makes up much of my time with my little ones I have been trying to squeeze projects in. This one is one that never seems to get old. I have the kids lay down on a long rolled out paper, head to head, and crudely trace their outlines.
I tried doing it with precision, but well… you try tracing squirming 2 and 3 year olds. After hanging the results over the easel and pinning it there, they each went to their respective sides and had at it.
As you can see, Dunedin sees herself as a eyelash model.
Griffin took a slightly different approach to painting his self portrait. I think this is another case of life imitating art.
Then, of course, we had to involve the poodle. Dunes traced it herself. You think it is a better outline than mine? Fine, but my subjects were far more challenging.
*Important note. You could have the kids trace you, but I would stick with colored pencils.
This awesome marker holder was purchased at Kreatelier on Hope St in Providence. It all rolls up and ties neatly together for travel. One of those things you think to yourself- “I’m creative, I could totally sew a couple of those in the time it takes to clean up all the marker mess from the floor and wall.” But then you think to yourself, “hmm, I could squeeze that into the time I have between editting an album and picking kids up from daycare, OR I could just walk the kids over to Kreatelier and let them pick thier own paterns out…”
Dunes actually keeps her markers fairly organized in this thing. Although, the one I got for Griffin hasn’t helped a lick. hmmm.
How do you say no | Vermont portraits
He is 2. All he wants to do is explore. And run. And climb. And poke at things. Usually things covered in dirt and slime. So we took off down the path, he and I. He with his binoculars and I with my camera. All the big kids were done and had headed back. But he knew there was more to climb, run and poke at.
And how do you say no to a face like this?
He came armed with tools of the exploring trade and fingers ready for action.
I hear a bear! No?! Just kidding it was only a chipmunk.
You think that bug was funny, you should see what I just put in my mouth! And the 2nd photo: after he is told that it is, in fact, time to head back.
Hark, who goes there?
Going to Meggies house and Wild Animal Transport
Last month I was off shooting a wedding during the Kentucky Derby. Our cousin Meggie was having her annual Kentucky Derby party that sadly, annually, I keep missing. This year my husband and kids were going to be able to make it. And there was a “Hat Contest” involved. AND Prizes.
Prizes of CHOCOLATE.
Chocolate for hat wearing.
Yup.
So Dunedin picked out favorite hats for herself and Griffin and later helped her dad make his choice.
I wasn’t there, so I will sum up. She won. And Meggie, with her oodles of charm and chocolate, bestowed upon my daughter the prize. 5 pounds of chocolate. My daughter weighs 30 pounds.
1/6th of her body weight was given to Dunedin in chocolate.
Let me give you an idea of what 5 lbs of chocolate does to the brain of a 3 year old. Take a normal drive to the grocery store. 2 kids in the back, one screams “GO LEFT!”
“Why?!” I ask ? ! ? ? ?
“Meggie’s house is that way!!!!”
“Dunedin, we are going to the Grocery Store. We need milk, eggs, toilet paper…”
Undeterred by timing, logic or obvious need for t.p. she responds “Quick, call Daddy, he can tell you the way. I brought my hat…and Griffin’s too!” How she remembered her hats and I forgot my wallet… Okay that is a different story.
Lets skip ahead to yesterday. This is how I have been finding them around the house. In make shift cars, with their hats on, always headed to Meggie’s house. Here you see them driving the flying blanket model car. Equipped with car seats for their wild animals who are, of course, headed to the party as well.
If only my kids had gotten to GM in time. The American car industry would have been injected with innovative car designs from the two seater towels (great for the beach), to the lowrider coffee tables (lots of spots to put your drinks), and my favorite, the model T-Toy box (with tons of trunk space) all with hybrid power (self or mommy powered). I guess it would be a problem if cars would only drive to Meggie’s house. Perhaps the auto industry will need to look elsewhere for innovation. So thanks again, Meggie!