First and Last Day of School

I see so many side-by-side photos of children taken on their first and last day of school. They are all happy and smiling in their cool outfits. Well, here's my version. Here's my kid crying on the first day and last day of school. But for completely different reasons. 

First day: crying because he didn't want us to leave him there 

Last day: crying because we have to leave school and say goodbye to his friends

Same face. Different reason.

What a difference a year makes.

Revisit his day of school here.

Fifth Year Anniversary

In the five years of our marriage, we have laughed together, cried together and fought against each other. There has been hundreds of fights and hundreds plus one of make-ups. We have said goodbyes to family, friends, pets, jobs and to each other. We have traveled thousands of miles, visited four countries, lived in four different states and purchased our first home. We have labored and celebrated the birth of a son. And we have wept and mourned the loss of two. We have played together, prayed together and for each other. We have dreamed together, hoped together and trusted each other. We have been each other's source of headaches but most importantly, the source of happiness. It has only been half a decade but I know of nothing else. For it truly is very difficult for me to find me where one of us ends and the other one begins.

Happy anniversary, love.

See anniversary blog posts of the past: 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

Mother's Day

For my fifth Mother's Day (counting Nathaniel in utero), I was treated nothing less than a royalty by the men in my life. I was showered with love, appreciation, gifts and all day was Mommy's-choice.

But I really only asked for one thing: a family photo. To be honest, it was really a gift I can only give to myself. It was a challenge for me to step in front of the camera instead of behind. I don't want Nathaniel to grow up and not have any pictures of his mother because I always have an excuse to hid: I need to lose weight, my hair is a mess, my clothes are old and raggy. Blah blah blah. So this is for you, my beloved son.

We grabbed the tripod, the wireless remote and a blanket. We hopped in the car and pulled over at the first beautiful field we found. No coordinated clothes, no fancy props.

Just us.