I'm a Wannabe

I would like to be a photographer.  Like for real yo.

My friend Katie has listened to me talk about it for a long time.  She let me practice on her two month old, Jase.

I still have a lot to learn...but I realized while taking these pictures how much I love it.  

Loving it is step one.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Lessons from the Patch

I've been excited for a year to take Andrey to the pumpkin patch.  Now that I'm a mom, everything seems to be about creating memories and making every day count.  Sunday at the pumpkin patch was no different.  When the trip was over we got in the car and talked about how much we learned in that short hour. 

 It was a beautiful day, and not cold.  Nate is wearing a hat because his hair looked like...he needed to wear a hat.  This is not a lesson, it's just a fact.

But lesson one came in almost immediately and it was this:

1. Even though it's fall, and 4:00pm, the sun is still out and the baby needs a hat.  We were constantly shading her head and face with our hands.  My bad.

Lesson two was quick to follow.

2.  We have to take turns walking though the patch.  Someone needs to stay with the stroller and take pictures.  This was not how I envisioned the day, but it was peaceful and quiet and I soaked in the memory like a sponge.

Andrey loved slapping the pumpkins.  She was rubbing her hands all over them and grunting in delight.

 Uh-oh.  I sense a lesson coming on...

 Lesson three was a slow lesson.  We may still be young, but we aren't always quick.

3.  When you put a baby on the ground, they will find dirt and eat it.

She was drooling brown for a few minutes before she spit out a large chunk of dirt she'd been sucking on.  It was precious.

Finally, we learned one more notable thing.

4.  The view from daddy's shoulders is always better and more fun.  So note to self: when the baby starts getting ticked, let her pull dad's hair and drool down his face and all will be well.

Next year she will be running around this place.

And she will be wearing a hat.

She Swung

We took Andrey to the park.  

She's been many times before.

She had never left her stroller though,

it always seemed a chore.

But this time it was different, yes.

We saw an open swing.

Out she came and in she went,

Such joy did swinging bring.

Then off to see the ducks we went.

We told her what they say.

"Quack, quack - quack quack"

Oh what a joyful day.

Out of the City

Colorado is the most beautiful state.  I take it for granted.  The weather is awesome, everyone is active and Buffalo Bill was buried here.  What?  You don't care about BB?  Did you know the cheeseburger was invented in Denver?  And that Colfax Avenue is the longest street in America?  We also host the worlds largest Rodeo, the Western Stock show.  I advise against it.  Last time I went I made my entire family leave.  I don't like mutton busting. 

Like I was saying, Colorado is beautiful.  I volunteer with high school girls, and decided to get them out to see God's creation.  We went to Mount Falcon Park, where there were no falcons to be found.

When I was younger my parents took us kids into the mountains a lot.  On the drive there my dad always pulled over, made us get out, and marvel at God's beautiful creation.  He'd say, "look at those mountains and the beautiful sky" and we'd roll our eyes and ask to get back on the road.
 

I think admiration for nature and it's beauty comes with age.  We aren't capable of soaking in creation when we are focused on trivial things.  Our city lives can be such a distraction.

But getting away is just what we need to be reminded of the simple things.  Our walk was fun.  We took the girls to an old mansion that burned down after a lightening strike.  They loved exploring.

 I find that stepping away from life, breathing fresh air and being around 15 year old girls can be just what I need.  They are full of life.  Which is exhausting refreshing.

There's an interesting contrast being in a peaceful place with wound up teenagers.  Several times while walking on the path to the ruins, they would get quiet (shocking, right?).  All we could hear were our footsteps.  And I'd see them looking around...just for a moment.

Even 15 year old girls can appreciate a blue sky, and pine needles under their feet.  They can feel the sun on their face and acknowledge this life is a gift.

Then they come to - and start running backwards, jumping off rocks and talking in their best Russian accents.

A peaceful place can still be peaceful with noise and chaos.  All you have to do is look around.

Finished(ish) Kitchen

More progress has been made in our kitchen.  You'll remember from this post it looked like poo to start.  We really didn't like our kitchen.  Really.  I hated it almost as much as I hate the circus.  But I do hate the circus so much more.  Those poor animals.

Okay, so here's a reminder of what it looked like before.

And here she is now.  Yes, I see the blue painters tape.  No, I didn't when I was taking the picture.  Yes, I'm too lazy to take another.

We have a lovely shade of brown on the walls, as a remembrance to the earlier poo.  We can let go of only so much.

My favorite new addition is this table, chairs and rug.  Hello you beautiful rug you.  Call me.  

The table and chairs are from Ikea.  I decided not to buy matchy matchy stuff.  It's not my style.  And because the space is so small, I opted for clear chairs.  Aren't they cool?

This rug is my flair.  I need 37 pieces of flair (name that movie).  Where this rug goes, I will follow.  Kind of like Jesus, only not really.  I like Jesus more than this rug.

I feel like those windows need something... and there's no light hanging over the table.  And that countertop to the right of the fridge is cluttered.  And I need a cushy foot mat thing in front of the sink.  This is why my kitchen isn't finished.  I'm wondering if it ever will be.