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Why I hand my camera to my sons

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

We had dragonflies in the garden the other day. At one count we had seven lovely dragonflies landing amongst us as we worked. This only happens a few days of the summer so I handed Jr. our camera to get a few photographs.

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I loved watching him sneak up to try to get close up shots.

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What was interesting when I downloaded the pictures were the pictures I found that aren’t of the intended subject. Like this one of the vulture flying against the sun. Though I should probably talk to him about taking pictures of the sun!?!?!

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And the best part well the best part is when the view of a child captures perfectly that of another.

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Random Photos

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

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The boys’ plots are coming along nicely. With the rains these past few days LilB’s sunflowers are about 12 inches taller than when this photo was taken a week ago.

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Jr. found this caterpillar. We think it may be a full grown inch worm. What do you think?

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Geo Mags are not just for building! Here they’ve been turned into a Jet Pack and a Cape for our resident T-Rex.

Oh for the love of sleep

Friday, June 12th, 2009

We are having sleep problems. Specifically we are having little boy going to bed problems. Lately both of the boys spend a large time pushing bedtime…

“….five more minutes of the story.”
“….just one more round on the game before we get ready for bed.”
“…I’m hungry.”
“…I’m thirsty.”

We’ve been working albeit unsuccessfully as curbing those small before they are in bed problems. But once little bodies are in beds a whole new crop come up…

“…what was that noise?”
“…I think I heard thunder!”
“…I need to tell you this important thing.”
“…I’m scared of (fill in the blank of the latest disturbing thing.)

To say I am frustrated is actually putting it mildly. I know I’ve been fortunate in that I have not had to deal with years of bedtime issues. However I’m dealing with them now and that knowledge is little solace for me. Lil’B in particular is having a very difficult time actually falling asleep. And often is repeatedly out of bed that first hour after we’ve settled him.

We’ve cut back on screens (computer, video games and tv) but perhaps we need to cut back even further. And a small part of me thinks that perhaps we are missing bedtime according to their bodies what with the increased activity. There are days I somewhat want them to have the internal bedtime clock my little sister had as a child. My little sister would realize she’s tired and simply say good night. Off to bed she’d trot. My boys are up until we push them towards bed.

Throwing a routine altering stay-cation into the mix and as you can imagine we’ve had a long week here at our house. A long somewhat sleepless week.