Category Archives: P365

Project 365

Remembering

I’m traveling for work this weekend, but also taking some time to remember on this anniversary of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami. A day that changed – and took – the lives of so many people.

Sending them healing and hope.

Let’s Talk About the Weather

I know, I know – such a booooring topic, but with the curve balls that Portland has been throwing at us lately, it seems to be the conversational topic of choice.

Over the past few days we’ve seen snow, rain, hail, wind and sunshine. I really wish Spring would just decide to arrive early because when I’m looking for excitement, it’s not with the weather forecast.

Add to that the fact that they have had incredible flooding in Australia (my parents sandbagged the house) and devastating tornadoes across much of the US, and it just feels as though someone is playing one big joke to try and keep us on our toes.

Good thing I’m going to Austin on the weekend where the weather will be predictably sunny and warm… oh wait…

I’m suddenly re-thinking the tickets I purchased last night that will take me and the boys to Australia in June, otherwise known as Aussie Winter. I suddenly feel like jumping a plane to Hawaii.

Oh well, at this photos taken during our snow “sprinkling” last week are guaranteed to warm me up. Given you can see the grass through the snow, I don’t think it would be appropriate to call it “snowfall.”

Kei and Thomas managed to gather the little snow they could (along with leaves and dirt) to build a pretty sad snowman – but impressive given what they had to work with.

Samuel passed the time by asking Kei to hit him with snowballs (strange child).

As much as I hate the cold (and complain about it), I admit that it does make for some pretty pictures.

…but then, blue sky makes for pretty pictures as well. Too much to ask?

Today’s Photo of a Little Artist

What a crazy Monday it’s been – one that’s left me very little time to post anything of substance. I’ll just tell you that we are coming off a weekend that included a visit to the Children’s Museum AND the Zoo in the same day, I’m getting ready to travel to Austin for SXSW on Friday for work and I am drowning in the demands of my day job.

With that, I’ll leave you with a couple of totally unrelated, yet totally cute, photos of my little Artist.

And in case you’re wondering if Samuel is now enjoying having his photo taken, here’s another photo taken later that same night. This is more typical of the reaction I get any time I try to point a camera in his direction. “DON’T! TAKE! MY! PICTURE!”

Snow. Meh.

Sharing a few photos from a January drive up Mt Hood in recognition of the “blizzard” I drove through on the way to work this morning. OK, not quite a blizzard. It was more like someone was playing a sick joke on all the schoolkids who have been waiting months for a snow day.

Me: “Hey guys, it’s snowing!”
Thomas: (Grunts) “I already know…”
Samuel: (Runs to the window) “Where?” (Sees snow) “Oh…”

My kids have become incredibly blase about the whole thing.

Today’s Photo of Action Figures Saying “Please”

We skipped swimming lessons on Saturday morning so Thomas could recover from a cold. Instead, we stayed inside all day while the rain bucketed down outside between short bursts of sunshine. Good thing the boys decided to play well together which likely saved my sanity.

At one point, Samuel asked me to help him build a “house”. He put down the floor and I helped a little with the walls before Thomas jumped in with ideas for a roof and other architectural details. (Wooden blocks = best TOY ever)

Then I noticed that they started lining up their assorted action figures.

(Side note on action figures. It seems we started with one or two and now have an army of Wookies, Jedis, Stormtroopers, Ninjas, a full set of Wiggles and, of course, a wide variety of Superheroes. I’m not sure how they multiplied so quickly.)

Of course, I was curious. Was this a line for weapons? Wise words from Yoda? Some secret Star Wars/Superhero clubhouse?

No, this was a line for the Popcorn stand. Fantastic!

And as each action figure asked for, and received, their popcorn (using “please”), they would be moved out of the way and the other figures would move forward one space in the line.

It was a tedious process but no one left empty handed. I had no idea popcorn was so popular with the small and plastic.

Monday’s Photo – Demonstrating How Capes SHOULD be Worn

A little bleary eyed this morning after staying up to watch the Oscars last night. It broadcasts pretty early here on the West Coast but, due to some live video pausing so I could eat dinner and deal with bedtime, I was up a little later than expected.

Note to self: Next time don’t browse Facebook and Twitter while you’re watching a delayed show. It gives away the ending (duh!).

I felt a little more prepared for the Oscars than expected this year thanks to a last-minute double feature viewing of The Help and Moneyball on Saturday night. Sure, Kei and I were useless with the kids in the morning, but at least we managed to sneak in a couple of best picture nominees before the big night. Still haven’t seen the winner but I’m adding it to my Netflix queue.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this year’s academy awards and even watched some of it with Thomas and Samuel who were equally impressed.

Highlights:

  • The fact that Billy Crystal laughs at his own jokes and doesn’t try to be too hip/clever.
  • His opening video and song – funny and clever. I’m sure Thomas had no idea what most of the references were but he was rolling on the floor with laughter anyway.
  • Cirque Du Soleil – a highlight for the boys.
  • That Bret (“Brit”) McKenzie won for the Muppet song. Bonus points for a Miss Piggy and Kermit appearance (kids liked that too)
  • Octavia Spencer’s win. Love her.
  • Will Farrell and Zac Galafanakis – Hilarious.
  • The Bridesmaids cast presenting three awards, particularly the Martin Scorsese drinking game.

Lowlights

Of course I don’t have any photos of the actual Oscars, so you’ll have to make do with a couple of a much more fashionable ways to wear a cape. In my opinion, they should be reserved for magicians and superheroes.

 

 

Weekend Adventures and Random Photos

I’m not sure how we managed to have such an insanely busy weekend. It seems that our kids have an incredibly active social life. Here’s a quick rundown and, because I barely picked up my camera at all over the weekend, I’ll intersperse the text with a few completely random photos just because they make me smile.

Friday

  • Kei went out for a drink with a friend.
  • I put the kids to bed and stayed up a lot later than I should have after getting sucked into watching a 20/20 special about Whitney Houston.

Saturday

  • Swimming lesson for Thomas and family swim for the rest of us in the morning.
  • After lunch saw a quick nap for Samuel before Kei took the boys to the Ice Hockey. While they were there, one of the boys dropped his $4 snow cone. While Kei tried to rescue it he managed to knock over his $9 beer. Tragedy all round.
  • I stayed home and tried to clean up part of the house, managing to lose Thomas’ Lego Blue Ninja in the process. We heard about it for the rest of the weekend (it’s still missing).
  • Immediately after the boys returned from the Hockey, we packed them into the car again so they could hang out at Samuel’s school for a few hours for “Parents’ Night Out.”
  • Kei and I had dinner at Simpatica. Very tasty, although not as good as other times we’ve been there. I’m sure my experience was a little dampened by the 70 year old guy sitting next to us who said he was scared by the set menu and then who refused to eat “the green stuff” (Kale). I’m sure there’s a Portlandia episode in there somewhere.
  • Picked up the kids at around 10:30. Samuel was so tired that he practically begged to go to bed.

Sunday

  • Kids and I got out of bed at 6:30am (why won’t they sleep in?).
  • Kei took them bowling with some neighborhood friends for a couple of hours while I did exciting things like Laundry! and Grocery Shopping!
  • Boys came home for lunch and then Thomas played video games while Samuel took a nap.
  • Kei took Thomas to a play date and hit some golf balls while waiting to pick him up.
  • Samuel woke up and seemed a little under the weather so we sat on the couch and watch Babe together – LOVE that movie, although it did require a lot of explanation for a three year old.
  •  Home, dinner, folding laundry late into the night.

Monday (Presidents’ Day)

  • Thomas’s school was closed and Samuel woke up asking for a sick bucket (which he used), so I had both kids at home. Thankfully Kei was able to take a sick day to look after Samuel so I was able to get some work done.
  • Spent the day inside to recover from the weekend while it poured rain outside. Kids played with Lego and superheroes and watched Babe again.
  • Samuel took a too-long nap which kept him up until 10pm.
  • I went to the gym for a class, where I may have come close to passing out a couple of times.
  • Let my heavy eyelids close just after Samuel went to bed at 10pm.

Summary: Busy (long) weekend. Actually grateful to be back at work today. Bring it!

Finding the Words

My blog has been a little light on words lately. Not that I don’t have a lot to say (I ALWAYS have a lot to say), I’m just finding it difficult to put all of my thoughts into one coherent  sentence (or 10). So, to help remedy, I present you with an unashamedly random list of the things that come to mind on the drive to work, in the shower, in my dreams…

  • I’m back on the exercise bandwagon. I’ve been going to the gym 2-3 times a week and am trying to be more active in my day to day life. It’s taken a couple of months but I have finally started feeling it paying off this week. Not that my clothes are any looser, just that I feel more energized.
  • Question posed to Thomas last night: If you could be any food, what would you be? Answer: “The hottest pepper in the world because then no one would want to eat me.” He’s a smart kid.

  • I’ve starting posting more photos to instagram in an effort to capture the everyday. And then I got all crazy and set up a new Tumblr account to act as my instagram photo gallery. I know…nuts!

  • I’ve also been trying to pick up my big camera more often so I can develop as a photographer (pun intended). The dark winter days have made finding inspiration difficult but I am determined to try and take at least one photo a day. I mean, it would be a shame to miss capturing a moment like this.

 

    • We recently upgraded our cable so I have started watching The Daily Show again. Hands down, one of the best “news” shows on TV. The only problem is that it makes me angry about the number of misinformed, stubborn and crazy people in this country I have chosen to call home. Good thing it makes me laugh at the same time. Best quote from the show that summed up my feelings this week: “You’ve confused a war on religion with not always getting everything you want”.
    • I’ve been looking at flights to Australia for a trip we have planned in a couple of months. It’s nice to have a holiday to look forward to, even if it’s still a few months out.
    • I secretly hate myself for liking this Taylor Swift song (I’m not a big fan). I feel better that it’s on the Hunger Games soundtrack (cannot wait for the movie!).
    • Really enjoying my job right now. I think it’s a combination of finding a little more balance between work, family and me (exercise) and the fact that I find myself laughing at least once a day. Oh, and I’m nearly done with a major project that has consumed me since the beginning of the year . Yeah, that may have something to do with it.
    • I’ve been cooking more and Thomas declared dinner the another night to be one of the best ever (it was gourmet meal of chicken stir fry) and said that I am an awesome cook. Now that’s the sort of positive reinforcement I could get used to.

Finally, if you made it to the end, congratulations! As thanks, please enjoy this little piece of daily life that was spotted on the wall at daycare. You’re welcome.