Category Archives: Thomas

Still Here.

It seems that I have been slacking a little on the blog posts lately due to a number of reasons:

  • Life.
  • Pre-school.
  • Work.
  • Lightroom.

The first three are pretty self-explanatory. The last one, although exciting and challenging, has been impacting my ability to edit and post photos. Let’s face it, any new toy software has an adjustment period. I had my workflow all set with PSE and now Lightroom has thrown me for a loop. Just the sheer number of presets available for free download has sent me into a tailspin.

And to add a little additional complication – we have an (almost) new Mac that I have been largely able to avoid until now. Part of the reason for purchasing Lightroom was so that I could start editing photos on the Mac (a prospect that frightens me somewhat because that enormous screen certainly does point out the flaws in your photography). Unfortunately this raises a whole series of issues:

  • Do I import the iphoto catalogue to Lightroom
  • If so, how?
  • And where do I even begin with the tagging of thousands and thousands of photos?

So I have quite the task ahead of me but, thankfully, a gorgeous little 3 month old photo subject presented herself on the weekend so I have about 250 photos to work on. I should be a Lightroom expert by the end of the week (hah!).

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a couple of  photos of the child that DID NOT cling to my legs and beg me not to leave him at pre-school this morning. On no, this child cheerfully said goodbye as I walked out the door. I’m not sure which is more heartbreaking. (Photos edited in Lightroom).

Happy Monday.

Waving, Not Drowning

I know it’s only the first full week of school and I’m only half way into it and I have to allow time to adapt to the new schedule, but this being a parent of a pre-schooler has made our lives a little crazy – well, crazier than usual anyway. I’m not sure if it’s the extra artwork he is bringing home (I think I’ve counted 8 pictures of Darth Vader so far) or the extra hour of commute each day or the fact that I now have PTA meetings and teacher conferences, but this feels like a full-time job.

Good thing Thomas is taking it all in stride. Sure, on Monday morning he whined about being tired and that he didn’t want to stay, but by Tuesday afternoon he declared loudly (and unprompted) that pre-school was fun, fun, FUN. I think some of that has to do with a teacher who’s son is similarly obsessed with all things Star Wars and can effectively hold up her end of a conversation about the power of the Jedi.

I’m sure we’ll get into a rhythm soon, but in the meantime I am comforted by the fact that Thomas seems to be having the time of his life.

First Day

The day started early for my four (!) year old. I asked him if he’d grown overnight but he said “not enough to be four years old”.

We made it out the front door before 8am – a minor miracle.

The backpack and Star Wars lunchbox were early birthday presents.

He had a little trouble looking away from the lunchbox.

Then Kei walked with the boys to… daycare. Mum and I picked Kei and Thomas up about three blocks away for the drive to school.

The drop off was quick and (relatively) painless. Thomas was excited but nervous. After spending some time looking around the classroom the teacher asked the parents to leave, and that’s when Thomas looked at me and said that he didn’t want to be left there by himself with people he didn’t know. I told him he’d have fun and then the teacher came over to distract him while I left. I lost it a little when I walked out the door. It’s hard to leave your baby by himself with people he doesn’t know…

And of course I forgot to take photos in the classroom. I had to make do with some paparazzi-style shots through the barred classroom windows. He seemed to be ok…

We picked him up 3 hours later and asked him numerous questions about his day until he told us he was tired of answering questions.

Then we went home and he napped for three hours. I’d say that was a successful (if exhausting) first (1/2) day at school.

The day ended with a little family birthday celebration and more presents. Thomas took it all in stride, but it may be a little too much for his mother.

The Real Story

OK – so apparently I left something out of my last post. Kei said I should have posted this photo as well.

That’s full brotherly love for you. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt – or just incredibly pi**ed off.

Brothers

What do you do with 30 minutes at an airport waiting for your Nan’s plane to arrive?

You do what brothers do. You run around, wrestle, laugh and have fun. You make strangers laugh (even the ones who may be just a teeny bit annoyed at the two crazy boys running around).

You take advantage of the fact that your little brother is now mobile enough to make chasing him somewhat of a challenge (although he’s not so great at doing the chasing yet).

And you make your mum hope that you will always be friends – just like you are right now.

Beating the Heat

One of the great things about Portland is the little nooks and crannies – the treasures hidden away in back streets, just waiting to be discovered.

Another great thing is the number of fountains that are dotted all over the city. And, when you are a Portlander, there is nothing that is going to stop you from getting into a fountain on a hot (107 degree!) day in the middle of summer. It’s no luxury swimming pool, but when it’s that hot it will do just as well.

After a day holed up inside the house with two restless children, I was dying for a break. So Thomas, Samuel and I drove into the city to pick up Kei and enjoy one of these hidden fountains near his office.

It wasn’t the safest fountain in the world – lots of different levels, rocky ground and sharp corners – but the out-of-the-way location meant that it was not crowded and Thomas could hear me as I yelled “don’t go there” and “don’t touch that” about thirty times.

Samuel also made my heart race a little when he decided that a rocky ledge in the middle of a large body of water was a great location to practice standing.

He was pretty proud of himself.

But I felt comfortable with Kei in there watching them (I was watching the stroller and my camera bag). Although I forgot to bring his swimsuit so he was forced to roll up his work pants. I tried to explain that the fact that I remembered both children was achievement enough.

But, regardless, they all enjoyed the chance to cool down.

Thankfully I missed seeing the moment when Samuel fell completely under the water. Kei caught him and pulled him out. I was only there for the aftermath.

The kid took it in stride.

Lots of questions…very few answers

Scene: Walking back from Peninsula Park Block Party. Sounds of the band playing “Billie Jean” in the background.

Me: It sounds like a Michael Jackson Tribute tonight.
Thomas: Why is it a Michael Jackson tribute?
M: Because they are playing lots of Michael Jackson songs.
T: Why are they Michael Jackson songs?
M: Because Michael Jackson used to sing them.
T: Why does Michael Jackson not sing them anymore?
M: ….because Michael Jackson is not around anymore.
T: Why is Michael Jackson not around anymore?
M:… ummm… (thinking I should just be honest) because he died.
T: Where did he die?
K: (Thanks for jumping in) In California.
M: (sigh!)
T: Why did he die?
M: Because his heart stopped.
T: Why did his heart stop?
M: Because he was sick.
T: Why was he sick?
K: Because he was older.
M: No one really knows.
T: So when you are sick, then you die?
M: Sometimes. Not very often…
T: Only Michael Jackson dies when he’s sick, right Mum? No one else.
M: Look! We’re home!

Of course now I am worried that the next time one of us gets sick, Thomas will assume one of us will die..or not. Apparently only Michael Jackson dies.

Can anyone recommend a good resource that provides answers to tough questions from four year olds? I feel like any day now I’m going to say the wrong thing and mess him up for life.

The Dirt Pile

Thomas has always been attracted to dirt.

If there’s a pile of dirt somewhere he will find it.

And THAT is why I have so much laundry to do every week. I’m sure little girls are not like this.

By the way, he is not in a jungle, it’s our backyard. Sad, but true.

Fireworks in the Backyard, Portland Style

The concept of lighting your own fireworks is something I have had to get used to over the past few years. Before that, my experience of firework was massive displays in crowded public locations. Personal fireworks were…well…sparklers.

But not in the U.S of A.

Here you can buy fireworks, which scares me a little. Sure, in Portland they have some limitations, like you can’t set of fireworks that shoot more than 6 feet..or something. I think it’s supposed to limit the damage. Of course we live about 10 miles from the Washington State border. Vancouver, WA sells a LOT of fireworks around July 4th.

I wonder if Oregonians are exempt from sales tax for partially illegal purchases…

Our fireworks were from Fred Meyer which means they were smaller than the light displays we had been seeing over the neighborhood in the week leading up to the holiday. Still, they were big enough to impress a four year old (and admittedly his mother).

Kei took some video on real film for his latest class. Apparently was able to get some cool footage until the film ran out.

Thomas was instructed to stand next to the fence and NOT MOVE an inch while the fireworks were lit.

Good Boy.

He may not look like it, but he was one happy, fireworks-loving boy.

(Samuel was in bed asleep…in case you were wondering).