Any given Tuesday

Accompanying this snapshot:

{just so I won't forget...} 

The sound of Sam composing his own song on the piano.  

The high! notes of the piccolo upstairs playing "We are the Champions" of all things (Lauren's in the Pep Band. We all always join in loudly at the last line..."of the world." )

The smell of after-school toast, slightly overdone.  

Maddy giggling at Louie's antics. 

Clamoring for first-dibs at the computer (practice time=computer time at our house).

Clamoring for not-it on taking the dog for a walk (where are the kids that said pleasepleaseplease we'll take care of him...you won't have to do anything? Gone, I guess.) 

Sunlight through the trees in the backyard, creating an underwater effect of dappled light

Homework splayed out on the table, backpacks and shoes and instrument cases sprawling on the floor of the entry.  (Again!)

My wandering thoughts about what to make for dinner, what to do with my hair (keep growing?), worry about the financial state of the world,  plans for the rest of the week, decorations for the middle school luncheon for visiting Chinese educators, errands I need to run, etc...

Happy hearts beating in three children and one mom.

I love autumn afternoons.

So I got a new camera.

I ~love~ it~ so~ much 

{think happy sobbing, like Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona*}.

I'm still figuring it out, mind you.

Like how do you get all three people in a photo to behave at one time?

My back-to-school self portrait

He eated my cookie. And probably yours.

His cuteness saves him on a daily basis.

So now that I have a serious big girl camera, I have a whole new list of must-haves!  Lenses, software, things-I-haven't-figured-out-what-they-are-yet.  What are your favorite hints or gadgets for making photos with zing?  (Not a rhetorical question.  I really want to know.)

*if you don't know what I'm talking about (or just if you want a good laugh today), you must see this clip from Raising Arizona (around 8:05-8:20 is the specific moment but it's all hilarious).

The Silly News

Maddy and Sam like to video themselves doing newscasts. They write the scripts, dress up, create props, and tape it with our home video camera--the whole business. Then they assemble us all for a screening of The 22 News, which is actually a lot of footage of laughing and had-to-be-there joking on tape. Trust me, you really had to be there.

I came across a yet-to-be-shot outline for their next production, a brainstorm list of stories and assignments. Here it is, as written (with typos and all):

• men's fooseball olympic match (US against Japan, 9 - 9, US get goal, win championship), (Sam)
• "You Dance Good" finale (Sam & Maddy dancing contest)
  
• Ron the Clown (Maddy) interview by Sam
• Pickle famon in Zimbabue: officials begging others for pickles (Maddy)
• Local Ikea has to close down because of lack of meatballs (Sam)
• This Day in History (Maddy)

Although not strictly in the news department (but--hey--local news is constantly airing infotainment segments, right?) I'm especially looking forward to the "You Dance Good" {I'm imagining a neanderthal dance contest where the judges grunt "You. Dance. Good."} and the Ron the Clown segments.

And to get the full funny, you have to understand that Sam really likes the meatballs at Ikea. And pickles.

Now, back to you...

Do-over

Seeing some of the more neglected corners of my home in the photos of my last post inspired me to impose some order over the weekend. Here are my do-overs for my closets. Because I believe in second chances. Don't you?

I'll play along...

Liz of Calibosmom tagged me to do the show-and-tell meme. Now, I had seen this on others' sites and thought it was a great view into their lives. I even secretly hoped I would eventually do it. {Why, oh why, did I not go directly and clean my fridge? Tidy my closet?}

Alas, the rules are no tidying or prop styling. Kind of like having Publisher's Sweepstakes unexpectedly show up at your door but instead of giving the money, they demand to photograph the obscure and embarrassing corners of your life. Just keep it real. So here's the real deal, casa me, and the meme of shame.

1. Kitchen sink

Peonies (pee-OH-nies, PEE-un-hies. PoTAYto, poTAHto) from our garden...love those pretty ladies. Knife in the sink is from my breakfast of peanut butter & honey toast. See that little sliver of white soap? Sam carved it in scouts into a hedgehog. On the far left corner of the ledge is a nest the kids found which will eventually find its way back outside...

2. Fridge

We are one of those families that uses the outside of the fridge as a bulletin board: spelling tests, tickets, IOUs, calendars. They're all there. I try to use cute stylish magnets (see the typewriter key ones?) but other people in the family keep adding all sorts of atrocities. I have nothing to say about the inside. Too full. Not all that clean. Embarrassing.

3. Toilet

This is the toilet in the master bath, basically the view from the bedroom. The corner toilet has the effect of a spotlighted throne, don't you think? Sorry about the plunger on the bathtub rim. Not pretty. (I put it up to dogproof the room.)

4. Laundry

It is what it is. This is one of my next projects. It's basically a closet in the kitchen. Wouldn't it look great with some funky wallpaper in there?

5. What the kids are doing

The kids are at school, so no pictures there. Here's some mental pictures: Lauren had her last seminary morning today so they had a pancake breakfast before school {Louie treated the attendees with three accidents in a row in a one-hour period}. Maddy was running uncharacteristically late today and almost missed the bus so she rushed off with her shoes not all the way on. Sam brushed his teeth AND used mouthwash before leaving for school because, although I've been trying to get him to pay more attention to dental health (he couldn't be bothered sometimes, would pretend to brush), someone at school told him his breath was smelly and that has snapped him into hyper hygiene mode. Thanks, peer pressure!

6. Favorite room

The family room, off of the kitchen. It used to be mauve when we moved in so I painted it white until I could decide on another color. This is where all of our hanging out takes place. No dog accidents here because it's blocked off--humans only.

7. Closet

I like to organize the hanging stuff but I'm lousy at keeping the folded clothes, well, folded. (For some reason we've never purchased dressers for us.) The shelf above is G's shoes, since he graciously took the very tiny closet for his clothes but needed a place for shoes. The laundry basket's not usually in there. Shoot.

8. Favorite shoes

Love black, love wedges. I'm pretty tall (5'9") and I don't usually wear heels but I feel great in these. Great with skirts, pants, jeans. Peep toe very pedicure-forgiving. I wish I could remember where I got these.

9. Self portrait

This is where you'll find me if I've sneaked away for a quick read. {It's a self portrait so, yes, I did set up the camera on a shelf, push the timer, run across the room, settle in the chair, and pretend to be reading. Please pretend someone came around the corner and caught me unawares.} Still in my pajamas and not ready for the day yet {don't judge me!}, since I began this photo safari right after the kids left.

10. Dream vacation

Usually I would say London or Paris or Copenhagen but we've never done anywhere beachy. We're talking about a Christmas trip this year so I'm dreaming of Hawaii or Mexico or an island right now. Then I'll go back to my European journey dreams...

TAG, you're it...Stie (so you can put me to shame!), Jenny (yes, you), Diane, and Dayna.