Care to go for a drive?

G simply adores motoring about the countryside on a sunny February day.

September 11 Six-Year-Old

Americans across the country are remembering the terrible events of ten years ago today. In our family, we are lucky enough to have a happier September 11 event to recall-- the birth of our first child. 

It's challenging to have a child's birthday on a day of tragedy. For the rest of her life, her birthday will be marked by flags at half-mast and the images of the towers falling on the various news channels rehashing the event. The miracle of her life will forever be shadowed by death. I will always feel inexplicably guilty for having a new life to celebrate when many can only mark this day with loss. 

But today, for us, is about our newly six-year-old girl, who doesn't know yet that September 11 means anything but her birthday. We will have a picnic at the park, we will eat cake, we will watch the full moon rise over the lake. 

We will celebrate.

Stepping Into Four

Four years ago today, I looked at this sweet face for the first time.
Life has only gotten better since.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig

From sand and surf and solitude...

To slugs and smiles and "Don't touch that!"

You know what? Solitude is nice and all, but I'll take that smile any day.

Sparks Fly on the Fourth

Happy Independence Day

from Bellingham Daily Photo!

Weekend Reflections: Playground Mirror

she watches her reflection

under the slide

the way it undulates

as someone slides down

and pretends she's a mermaid

under silver water

I hope you had a happy Easter...

...and that you found what you were looking for.

Curls

The sleeping girl has masses of curls.

Aren't you glad you don't have to brush them?

She's only five...

...but she's already dreaming of the day she can wear a dress like this.

(taken at Belle Bridal & Formal Shoppe on Holly Street)

My Little Girl

Years from now she won't phone,

and I won't have met her latest boyfriend--

the one

who might be "the one."

She'll sleep in a bed that I don't tend,

and have a job I don't quite understand--

but I'll be happy

it makes her happy.

Years from now she'll choose her own hats,

and wear a chic red beret from France,

or a yellow cloche

or saucily angled fedora.

I'll embrace her when she's home for the holidays,

elated with this lady, my little girl--

and she'll be happy

she's made me happy.

This was taken at Eclipse Bookstore in Fairhaven.

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Sweet G is 3!

We were so busy celebrating our youngest daughter's third birthday yesterday, doing a post escaped our minds! Oh, dear. Here's a picture of our little birthday girl, finally slowing down after a day at the Seattle Aquarium and dinner at the Spaghetti Factory. Will she still be my "baby" when it's her 30th? Something tells me yes.

Watching Fireworks

I was going to post another picture of fireworks, but I liked the picture of my youngest girl watching the fireworks better. Watching the expressions of the children during the big fireworks show is even more fun than watching the fireworks themselves. It's a little grainy, but I like the color reflecting on her face.

Gotcha!

My littlest one, frolicking in the fields of flowers.