tradition

Easter, IPhone-style

April 11, 2012 By Becky 2 Comments

You can’t imagine my dismay when we were about 20 minutes from my parents’ home in Massachusetts and I realized ~~JDubbs~~ we left my DSLR camera at home. I had planned on having a photo shoot of the kids in their Easter finery, had even brought props, and all I was left with was my IPhone. Now I know there are people who are shooting masterpieces with their phones, but I am not one of them. My images come out blurry and as much as I love Instagram, the whole process is time consuming. But the alternative–not having any photos of our weekend together at all–was out of the question, so I put my photography skills to the test and attempted to capture the fun and festivities of a weekend with my family plus lots of sugar. We’ll see what you think of the results.

Saturday we went to my sister’s new house to have an epic Easter egg hunt–we hid 89 eggs for 4 kids!–and celebrate my Dad’s birthday. My niece and nephew are 10 and almost 12, so although there is a big age difference, these four are so in love with each other. It was sweet to watch.

It definitely wasn’t as warm as the older kids’ clothing would leave you to believe, but it was so nice to play outside.

Then we headed in to dye eggs and have cake for Grampy. The kids were as patient as under four-year-olds get; needless to say, there was a bit of frosting-stealing, but all in the name of avoiding meltdowns.

This is my favorite photo of the weekend. Cousin love.

Then we parted ways with the older kids to head home and get the kids down so that the Easter Bunny could come and spread his chocolatey joy. We run a very meager Easter ship–a couple of small toys and some carrots made of Reese’s pieces. Although going to church wasn’t on our agenda this year, it will be once the kids are a bit older, so I am hoping to keep this holiday more religious than commercial. I hope I can keep that spirit in mind every year.

On Easter morning we had to literally wrangle the kids to take a photo together that I could send to JDubbs’s family. In the end, JDubbs himself just grabbed them, put them on his lap and held them there until I got a shot that wasn’t totally blurry. It still is a little crazy, but my dreams of an Easter photo shoot were long gone at this point.

Don’t worry–Em will wear that dress again for her birthday photo shoot later this month. It’s too beautiful to wear only once!

Then we headed to the hall we rented in the community where my uncles’ live, and celebrated with my extended family. My younger sister organized a craft for the kids, we listened to the Red Sox game and kept tabs on the Masters while JDubbs and my mom cooked a gorgeous ham dinner. Everyone had a lot of fun, and the food was so good!

It was lovely to spend time with my little family as well as my great big family, too! Even if we didn’t get a chance to focus more on the religious side of this holiday, I was grateful to be able to spend time with family and celebrate the season. We made some wonderful memories and shared a lot of laughs.

Happy holidays everyone! I hope you had as much fun as we did!

Our Valentine’s Day

February 28, 2012 By Becky 9 Comments

I’ve decided that Valentine’s Day is rivaling Christmas as my new favorite holiday. I went a little craft crazy this February and I’m not sorry about it. In fact, I really enjoyed it! Mostly because of a fabulous idea I stole from Disney Family Fun inspired by someone else’s cool mom, so I decided that I would become that cool mom and go the extra mile for my kids to show them that I love them.

Is there anything better than a day designed to tell people that you love them? Especially your kids? Nope, not to me!

So the day started with a curtain of hearts that we hung across the hallway by the kids’ rooms. I plan to do this every year, and when they’re older JDubbs and I will make one for each of them across their bedroom doors. For now, they are pretty much of the same mind and mischief, so we did one for them combined. It was as fabulous to make as it was to watch them open their doors and see for the first time.

I took a package of foam hearts and taped them to a string of ribbon. On each heart I wrote things that we love about them individually and in general.

Sitting the evening before with JDubbs, brainstorming things to write was something I will look forward to year after year. Maybe Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday after all.

Yup, it is. I did get in engaged on Valentine’s Day, after all. And this heart curtain thing made me just as happy as them! I plan on keeping them all every year and giving them to the kids when they’re older. I think it’d be great to get a decade’s worth of love notes from my parents, don’t you?

So after the heart curtain we opened Valentine’s cards and exchanged gifts. The kids and I made JDubbs something that looked like this–

–and I’d show you the photo except he ate all the gummi worms too quickly for me to catch one. So imagine for yourself. I got some beautiful flowers earlier in the week when Miss Em caused a very dramatic stir in a store that just plain exhausted me.

I needed them more then than on Valentine’s Day three days later, and I’m so lucky my husband knows me well enough to realize that.

The kids went downstairs and received their formal Valentine’s from us. Chocolate, an adorable puppet from The Land of Nod, and a small toy. Just enough.

Just enough to show that we love them. My favorite day of the year!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: family time, life in Vermont, tradition

Ready To Revel

December 10, 2011 By Becky 3 Comments

Next year, we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas in the Hallmark movie, tiny details, scouring Etsy for the perfect decorations kind of way. This year I’ve squandered a bit of my Christmas cheer by using valuable family-moments time editing photos of other people’s family moments, and I think our halls may not be decked in the manner in which they deserve. But I have two weeks left until the big day, and I have new intentions and energy and I’m ready to rock this holiday. Ready to revel.

We have had a few Christmasy moments, but like I said, next year will be a bit more picturesque, meaning maybe next year JDubbs and I will be able to sit back with a cocktail every now and then to watch our kids attempt to decorate the tree, rather than living in fear that Em is going to break something/step on something/eat something that she shouldn’t. She is only 19 months, after all, and although she looks up to her brother and keeps up with him pretty well, sometimes I forget that she’s still little.

I remember quickly, however, when I see her reeeeeeaching for her Christmas stocking, hanging by the chimney with care, and I have visions of our pokey metal stocking holder coming down to impale her right on her little Santa’s-cap-wearing head. So the stockings really never hang by the chimney any more, they just kind of hang out on the floor by the tree. Just as well, because now no one notices that Jax’s doesn’t match the rest of ours, a problem I was going to rectify this year, but like I’ve said, I’ve been a little lame in the details department. Next year, oh next year!

Our tree was bought off the lot this year, since we had visitors and weekends planned, and since those darn tree farms are just far enough away to be a pain, we thought it was more important to actually have a tree than to find time to go cut down a tree. Although now, looking back on our photos of cutting down our tree last year, with Em so little and snug in her reindeer bunting, I could just about cry that she’s gotten so big and now I regret that we missed out on our tradition. Hilarious, since I was so skeptical about it when we first moved to Vermont, but now I miss that moment as a family when the kids scramble under the tree to watch Daddy saw and then back away ready to shout, “Timber!” Next year we’ll do it again, but I’m surprised that JDubbs and I let that tradition fall away so quickly. I’m disappointed in myself and now I am determined to do better this year. And I must say, for a pricey lot tree, our tree is pretty darn beautiful. I mean, it’s still Vermont, people. Even our lot trees are stellar.

Oh, you can’t tell because all you can see are my kids’ grumpy, Grinchy faces? Sheesh! I’m glad I wasn’t counting on this for a Christmas card shot! I think they talked about it that morning over Crispix and Advent calendar chocolate–No matter what Mom does, do NOT, under any circumstances, SMILE! Maybe they are a little bitter about the lot-bought tree.

Way more exciting than the tree was setting up our Fisher Price manger, which is a huge hit with both kids, and is our big opportunity to try to explain the reason behind Christmas to the them. Jax sings made up words and then belts out “the little boy JESUS!” now and then, while Em brings the baby around the house with her.

It gladdens me when Em brings our handful of Christmas board books over to read, and when she gets so excited about the one about Christmas in the manger. I know they’re little, but I do have a good dose of Catholic guilt about not taking them to church this holiday season. I also would feel guilty about bringing them for the wrong reasons (i.e. to show them off in their cute fancy clothes, because Lord knows I wouldn’t be able to listen well enough to get in on the message). So we’ll chalk Christmas in church up to yet another item for next year’s holiday to do list. For now, I’m just happy they know that there is more to the season than just lights and gifts. At least, I hope they do!

And lastly, next year I’ll have more to share than just this one blurry photo of the kids trimming the tree–

–because, theoretically, they’ll be one year older and I may be able to be more of an observer rather than standing vigil over our ornaments, waiting for the inevitable broken bulb or hook in the eye. Next year will be better better in a go-back-and-look-at-the-photos-of-their-childhood kind of way, but this year has been nice in its own Christmas-with-two-young-kids glory. Next year we’ll have already started listening to Christmas music before we decorate the tree so we’ll actually be able to find it when we want it, rather than searching and losing valuable preschooler attention span. Next year we’ll trudge through the snow to find the perfect tree, and I’ll be there to capture their awestruck expressions as they watch their Daddy conquer nature. Next year I’ll be able to put out more of our breakable stuff, may actually be able to hang all of our (matching) stockings over the fire, and will have taught my kids all the correct words to the appropriate religious holiday songs. But for now, we’ll make do with our memories of the first Christmas where Em could walk and participate and hang ornaments, when Jax really thought if he yelled Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse! at the tree, he could get the lights to turn on (thank you, tree lights remote), and the first year that both of them were so excited for Christmas. All that other stuff is nice, but this year’s been pretty great, too. We’re very blessed with what we have, which is most importantly, each other.

And tomorrow, I will go buy a gingerbread house kit. I told you, my game face is on. Let the reveling begin!

Filed Under: family Tagged With: family time, tradition

Thankful

November 27, 2011 By Becky 10 Comments

After this weekend, I am thankful for so many things. I’m thankful for my husband, who spent his entire Thanksgiving weekend with my family without even a grumble. My husband who has embraced my family, with all its quirks and nuances, as his own. My husband who watched our kids on several occasions in the past month so that I could take photos or edit them, and who did not even give me one iota of grief when I dropped my 50mm lens and therefore needed to spend much of my photo shoot profits on a new one. My husband who let me sleep in this morning because I worked hard all weekend, and have been sick, without me even asking.

I’m thankful for all my friends and family who have supported me during this photographic adventure, be it through actually paying me to take photos of your family, to watching my kids while I work, to listening to me complain/fret/overanalyze every step of this process, to supporting me with your praise. All of it means so much to me, and I appreciate it often more than I say.

I’m thankful for the wonderful food we shared this week and everyday, and for the occasion to bring extended family together (all 20 of us for Thanksgiving dinner!). I especially love watching the cousins who get along so well no matter how long it’s been between visits. And I’m grateful for the health of my family gathered together and for those who were not present on this day.

I’m thankful for this blog and my readers, whose support I so appreciate, without which I would never had had the courage to begin taking my photography to the next level. Even when it takes me away from spending my time here, overall I look forward to being back as soon as I can.

I am forever grateful for these two little monsters, and the joy they bring me on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis.

I took a bunch of the two of them together in their fancy clothes, but I may use one for our holiday card, so I can’t share any of the cute ones. But as you can see from this silly shot, they did look very cute!

And lastly, I’m thankful for this last photo, inspired by a similar shot taken by my friend Amy of her daughter Nia, which I cannot get into a frame fast enough.

Ever since my ultrasound technician told us we were having a girl, I have been anticipating moments like this. Even better than I imagined.

For all the many reasons, listed here and in my mind and heart, I am so very thankful. I hope your weekend was just as blessed.

Filed Under: Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: family time, thanks, tradition

Learning the Ropes

September 17, 2011 By Becky 11 Comments

Some things are made for passing on, like traditions and knowledge. They’re not worth anything unless you share them. How to string a lure. How to cast. How to let one go. All things that I could never teach my son, but I marvel at the experience of passing that knowledge on, from one generation to the next. It’s remarkable.

Last year was my first year in Maine with JDubbs’s family, and it quickly became clear to me that there was more to this vacation that just a few days away. JDubbs, his brother Tom, and sister Jen had learned a lot from their parents on their trips here, and it looked like my kids were going to follow right along in their footsteps. Only unlike last year, the kids were going to do more than just watch from Uncle Tom’s boat!

I grew up in a house of all girls and my Dad. Although he did his best to do the same things with us as he would have with boys, I know there was less fishing and playing catch and more cheerleading than he would have liked. He never complained, but it’s only now, watching JDubbs with his boy, that I realize some things are just meant for father-son time. But that doesn’t mean that Em can’t tag along, too!

She was a little young, but she loved being on the rocking dock, sitting happily in Daddy’s lap, watching her big brother and cousin Tommy learn the ropes of how to fish.

She picked up a thing or two herself!

Unlike her mommy, Em was not at all grossed out by the fish, or the act of taking it off the hook –the part I hate the most. She thought the fish were so cool, she even waved hello to it!

Whether I’m a big fan of slimy fish or not–thank God we throw them back!–I love how both of our families can introduce our kids to new experiences and traditions. It’s so great how now when Jax plays with his toy fishing pole he talks about his lure, or how once we went out in the boat, he loved the buoys and learned all about them. From a teaching point of view, it’s so valuable to expose kids to as many new words and experiences as possible, and from a parenting point of view, it does my heart good to watch my kids soak up new information like the little sponges they are.

Snuggly little sponges.

And when Mommy and Daddy got tired of filling their little brains with knowledge or teaching them something new, there were always aunts, an uncle, and two grandparents handy to turn to with a winning smile and a pretty please on their lips.

And it seemed like one of the men in the family were always heading down to the dock, fishing pole in hand, and Jax wasn’t too far behind them, even if it was to just dip his toes in the lake.

But more often than not, his fishing pole came along, too, and the lessons continued. Learning the ropes.

I’m so grateful to have extended family so close to help shape my kids into such well-rounded people. The things that I know nothing about, they can learn about from someone else who loves them and wants what’s best for them. Isn’t that what bringing up kids is all about? Sharing the responsibilities and sharing the joy of time together, while creating memories and upholding traditions that we cherish. And we couldn’t that without our families. Although I do make a mean friendship bracelet. Just wait until they need to know about that!

Filed Under: family Tagged With: family, Maine, tradition

Helping Others

September 6, 2011 By Becky 4 Comments

My mother-in-law is on the board of a very worthy charitable cause, and so whenever we have the opportunity it is our pleasure to help support it. David’s House is a home-away-from-home for people whose loved ones are undergoing treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, but it is so much more than just a place to rest your head.

Imagine having a baby prematurely, or a child with a disease that needs frequent treatment, and you have to be at the hospital for days or even weeks at a time. Instead of having to remortgage your house to pay for hotel bills, David’s House welcomes you for next to nothing and has all the comforts of home.

When we heard that David’s House was holding its annual family day, we were happy to spend our time and money somewhere where it actually makes a difference. And it was a fabulous time with really yummy food!

Mmmmm….all you can eat ice cream is dangerous.

There was so much to see and do that we didn’t even get to it all! My favorites were the tie-dye t-shirts (I made Jax my very first one, which came out very nicely if I do say so myself), LunaMoon the Party Fairy, who I think may have to make an appearance at Em’s 2nd birthday party, and some inflatable cow that Em could have bounced on all day.

The kids’ favorites were the ambulance, fire engine, and police car that they could climb all over and in.

My nephew wasn’t as big of a fan. He’s more of a playground kind of guy, plus we were pushing naptime.

Needing a nap or not, the kids had a great time, and so did we! There was karaoke, a raffle, face paint, and many more ways to enjoy ourselves while supporting a really significant charity. I really can’t think of a better way to spend a day.

I love helping people help others.

Filed Under: helping others Tagged With: helping others, tradition

Flashback to 4th

July 17, 2011 By Becky 13 Comments

How is it possible that I never mentioned our 4th of July festivities this year? We are so busy, literally every day, that I guess I got distracted. But it is such a great and important holiday, and we had such a fabulous weekend, that it is definitely worth revisiting, even two weeks late.

Like last year, we attended the 3rd of July celebration in Quechee with Jason’s parents and sister as well as my sister Jessie and her family. Due to the lateness of this post and the fact that I’m sure most of you were doing about the same thing for your 4th, I’ll just let the photos do the talking.

Quechee puts on a huge celebration with all-you-can-eat food, music, magicians, games, face paint, balloon animals, inflatable obstacle courses, and of course, unbelievable fireworks! Some of the best I’ve ever seen, to be honest. Hours of family fun, right on the lake!

We rocked out until almost 10 o’clock (can you believe we kept our babies up so late?), so we kept the next day, the actual 4th of July, low key. After a slow morning, we dropped Em off at Nana and Papa’s and took Jax to see his very first movie in the theater, Cars 2. I won’t go into how disappointed we were with the film (the language, the violence, the lack of redeeming underlying theme), and I swear we’re not anti-Disney; everyone in this house enjoys the original Cars movie. JDubbs and I desperately wanted to like it, and I know Jax did, too! I mean, the kid got a lightning bolt on his cheek for his face paint the night before, he was so excited! But sadly, we just couldn’t overlook its many flaws. You can go here to read a really interesting review of the movie that I wholeheartedly agree with, if you’d like. Needless to say, when Jax shockingly asked to leave about 45 minutes into the movie, we weren’t upset to go!

When we returned to Nana and Papa’s, we had more watermelon, some outdoor fun, and showed a little patriotism as well.

We all had a great day and besides remembering why our country is so amazing, we had a chance to revel in what makes our family so special, too. Not much to complain about when your days are spent like this, in a country as great as ours.