BLT's

I like that the tomatoes are so neon and the repetition of circle and square.

100 Markers

Warm and Cool

John is doing the sign for please in this photo. He has come so far in the last two weeks. Saying all sorts of words and phrases. He is so friendly too. He says "hi" to me all day long and waves at everyone he sees. Clara has taken over dressing herself. She chooses and does it all. It is so incredible to say "Please, Go get dressed." and have her come out with maybe a snap to do at the most. She has the hardest time with the night gown. It is consistently inside out and backwards. I just adore seeing it though because it is a sign that she did it all on her own.

Three More Lamp Posts

The first to are in Rancho Cucamonga and the last is in Corvallis.

Corvallis Train

Side French Braid into a side Kirstin loop

The braids are never perfect but it is sure fun to do. I remember loving it when my mom would do my hair every day. Mom would talk to me about how when you move just one body part the whole body moves. Clara likes to look pretty so she sits still for the time (if not I pin her between my knees and keep it simple!) I enjoy talking to her about her body and appearance. I tell her how it is important to look nice but it is more important to act nice. We talk about how our appearance is a outward sign of our inward feelings. Looking nice helps us to act nice. People can tell a lot about you about what you wear and how you wear it. Sometimes we sing or recite poems too.

Wacky Bounce

We went to an inflatable play center in Corvallis this week. There are no photos of Clara because I only saw her run past to go to the next thing. Johnny had a great time.

Rail and Log

I pair these images because they have a similar composition and subject. I find it interesting that in first the leaves echo the angled shape of the hand rail, and in the second the leaves echo the curved round shape of the log.

Oak Leaves

Maybe a little trite because of the grouping of three but the texture is appealing to me.

Oregon Zoo

For four dollar Tuesdays our play group went to the zoo in Portland. It was Clara's and John's first zoo experience and I would say it was a great one! It was so fun to see Clara sign the whole time. In the first photo she is doing the sign for seal and I think it looks just like it. The second photo she is doing Penguin. She has a cute little waddle. She looked forward to seeing the lions but they were a no show. The lion statues however were a more then adequate substitute. John enjoyed the elephant and the fish because I think those were the only things he saw besides the back of peoples legs. Poor John. I love our playgroup!

Maggie and Milly and Molly and May

Maggie and Milly and Molly and May

went down (to the beach to play one day.)

and Maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

Milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and Molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

May came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

for whatever we lose(like you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea

E.E. Cummings

Since our last trip to the coast Clara and I have been reciting this just about every day. We call our find Creature and I think he is a little lobster. When we arrived at the beach the fog had not burned off so we walked to the ocean in a surreal bubble of vision. I was honestly a little scared that if we veered off course we would never return and really would have lost a you or a me. I was a bad parent and didn't put sunscreen my fair skinned children. I thought it would be so cold that they would leave there clothes on but Clara shed down to her swim suit and came home with a white x on her back. Kelly met us for lunch because he has been working in Newport for the last month. Good times. I wish I could have the stamina to go once a week!