PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/4/11

Summer break is quickly coming to an end...Todd has two days off and we had some ideas of what to do, but when it came down to it, we headed to Dinosaur Ridge and then lunch at Morrison Inn all together. It is a great walk to take and it always amazes me to see real dino prints in our own "backyard." When Nick was little, he would check out all the dino books at the library...in the non-fiction section. He would spend hours pouring over the pictures and he could name ever single one perfectly. The geology and the history of the earth really is amazing and I think I started becoming interested in it when I had Earth Science in 9th grade.

We had a good morning...it was hot due to the black pavement, but it was nice to all be together doing something active. I don't take these times for granted, and each day is a gift to me. Afterwards, we came home and hung out. The boys are liking to watch "Criminal Minds" and I have been watching it with them. They are just amazing kids and so fun to be around and the house is most certainly going to be way too quiet next week when school starts...but I'll be looking forward to our next family outing and especially the every day moments that make life so good.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/14/11

Today's Photo(s) of the day was inspired by the quote I got in my "inbox" this morning...
"I look in the mirror with the eyes of a child who was me." -Judy Collins

Those words really resonated with me as I had just spent last night going to middle school orientation for Zach and Todd went to high school orientation for Zach. It is so strange to think I have kids that are growing up so quickly, although it seems like I was just at their ages. I remember childhood so completely that it's hard to imagine I am a 42 year old suburban mom with ever increasing "smile lines" or as Zach called them this morning ("crows nest"...think he meant crows feet but I will always think of it as "crows nest" now :) ). I feel so young and "cool" still however, the other night, Chris and Zach were talking about how "old" I was and that I did look like I was 42. I guess I was shocked because I don't see that when I look in the mirror. Well, maybe I do when I REALLY look in the mirror, but I try not to do that too often. I love where I am right now...my life, the blessings I've been given, the opportunities I have now and what I have to look forward to in the future in regards to my family and myself. Regardless, I still believe I'm that "little girl" and I'm going to keep feeling that way.

I like this photo because it is a contrast between a real "child" and that "mom" in the mirror. What I like best about this photo is how I have my hand on Zach's shoulder and the content/happy look we both have on our face. He was very nice to do these photos with me and it is definitely a candid and special moment even though we are standing in front of the main floor bathroom mirror.

This photo makes me smile because of Zach's smil on his face...rather quizzical and amused and I have the giant cheesey grin (not as authentic as the other ones). Boy, that photo really does show off my "crows nest" and every other wrinkle that shows up, but I love it because it continues to tell a story and also contains a story of that little girl within me. (I could get very introspective with this, but for now, I'll stop)

I think this is my favorite photo...just natural, comfortable and happy...and while I see my "little boy" who is quickly growing up, I still see him as that little baby and I think I always will, just as I will continue to look in the mirror "through the eyes of a child who was me."