Week 22 - Just Hanging Around

It took me years - too many really - to figure out that a dad wasn't the man whose genetics you shared, it was the guy who was in the mix every day. The one who took you to ballet lessons. The one who was at school functions and award ceremonies and parades and picked you up from daycare. The one who taught you to drive even when your mom said no. I never really knew my biological "dad", but I had an everyday dad who loved me very much.

I'm so very glad on this father's day that my kids don't have to sort through hurt and confusion when dealing with their dad. Their dad is a great guy who is in up to his elbows every day. He's the cuddler, the diaper changer, the hair comber and the breakfast maker. He's the encourager and the discipliner (yeah, I know that's not really a word). I would say I was a lucky wife to have such a great husband who is such a great father...but it wasn't luck. I knew that he would be all those things and more, and that's why I picked him.

Week 21 - You Are My Sunshine

This spring and summer have been ... windy and smokey. The usual clear sky with still, hot days are non-existent. Smoke from the Arizona fires settle over the city at night. My house is the only thing that blocks the wind as it picks up speed rolling in from Grants. It's been anything but "summer." And then my husband showed up with an armload of sunflowers to brighten my days ... and they worked.

I love this photo. It reminds me of the photos I see on Mockingbird or by Susannah Conway (who left a comment on my Week 18 post, thrilling me to no end! It's like a rock star came to see my garage band play). I might have to make a print and hang in my house, keeping the photo high and the romantic gesture close at hand...and heart.

Week 20 - Keep It Clean

There's a lot of baby crack in my world. And I mean that in the most literal way as well as the "I'm totally addicted to my baby" way. Can't get enough of the latter...the former, well, that's just part of the package. No "package" pun intended.

I'm thinking I might need a creativity jumpstart so I'm thinking of doing a 30-Day Photo Challenge. C'mon...you know you want to do it with me...who's in?

Week ... 19 - Baby baby baby...oh!

I feel like such a slacker. All I do is watch baseball games and play with the kids. And laundry. I do LOTS of laundry. Who would have guessed two little people could make SO MUCH LAUNDRY?! I try to remember that if the blog isn't posted, the facebook isn't updated, the thank you cards aren't sent (I REALLY need to get on that) and the dishes aren't done...it's ok. My babies will only be babies for so long. I'm enjoying this time with the littlest loved ones and trying to remember to pick up the camera between feedings, diaper changes, diaper changes, diaper changes and, oh yeah, feedings.