Project 365 - On hold

We are moving this week which means I absolutely refuse to participate in my project 365 this week. You understand right? I'm also far to sad about moving and happy about other things to concentrate on anything else right now. But you understand that too, right?

Project 365 - Week 5

I surprised myself this week. Originally I thought I hadn't taken any photos this week, but as I was looking through my pictures, I realized that I had in fact taken 73. Mind you, only a few are even remotly passable as photos. I'm just rather surprised that in the busyness of this week I managed to take any! Mom comes home tonight and Dad should be back in a few days as well. I think this is the end of my single mother days, but who knows? Maybe they have some other travelling planned!

 

{one} : Show and Tell

You can see from the picture they are very happy, what you cannot tell from the photo is why. So I shall tell you. Firstly they were colouring pages from Tangled, and secondly when they were done they were allowed to watch the movie. What better reason for such big smiles?

{two} : On the stairs

The colouring is not supposed to be there. It is in fact supposed to be at the kitchen table. However, the kids don't always do what they are supposed to do, sometimes they even do what they aren't supposed to do. A very good lesson I've been learning over the past few weeks of being 'mommy' is that its not worth getting in a huff about all the time. Sometimes, its ok to laugh at the oddity of children. Maybe your children are normal,but these ones like to keep me on my toes.

{three} : Little Sliver

I needed a photo to fill a spot. Thus, you get a small view of Rachel taking Doug for a walk in the beautiful sunshine. Its been wonderful. A few more days of this weather and hopefully all the snow will be gone. 

{four} : Four on a Chair

Obviously I did not take the picture. Last time I checked my arms were not that long. This scene has been more often repeated in the last few weeks than previously, its a good thing! The older they get, the less they like cuddling. So I'm not going to complain when three babies decide they all need some hugs at the same time.

{five} : Ellie, again

Yes, I realize that I've had a photo of her every week and she doesn't even live here. But thats what happen when cute people come to visit me and I'm trying to take a photo everyday for some silly project I'm doing. I take thier picture because this cute person is very easy to take pictures of.

{six} : Pinwheels

Its been 4 weeks since I posted anything that I've created. I've rather surprised myself in this regard. In the scrapbooking circles they call this a sneak peak. If you want to see the rest of the card you have to look at the Polkadot Door on May 7th for the full view.

{seven} : Imitation

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. If so, I'm honoured. The biggest reward I can give these guys is permission to come and craft with me. I find it kindof funny that they enjoy it so much, but I'm glad they do. The company is nice. 

Project 365 - Week 4

I'm enjoying doing the project, but part of me dislikes it for the very reason that its very easy to look back and say "its already been 4 weeks!" Which is what I'm doing today, looking back over the past entries. Could someone please tell me where the month of March disappeared to?

I started out really, really well this week. So well in fact that three of this weeks photos are from the same day. ahem. I'm working on getting the picture a day thing back on track 'cause I kindof fizzled out this week.

{one} : Between the Pages
So we went to the library ... again. Hurrah for me I brought camera card! I've been there more than once a week since I started my visits and as long as I'm here, I think its a habit I'll keep up. I've read quite a bit in the last few weeks and its wonderful to be reading again. I almost forgot just how much I like curling up in a corner with a good book. Its rather like riding a bike .... you never really forget though.

{two} : Shark!
Oma and Opa brought Isaac a shark home from holland that was a little less bright than it maybe should have been. But he fixed that, and the kitchen table, floor, and chair too. They are all a little more colourful after his painting experience :-)

{three} : Under the .... lily pad?
I'm really not sure what the plant is supposed to be, but I'm quite certain that Miriam's little lady is adorable. I have no idea what to do with all the little clay figurines I'm collecting from my sisters, but they are so cute! Its fun to watch as the little ones imitate the older siblings. Rachel is very engrossed in her clay making, and the little girls are always copying her designs, and usually adding a splash of something, quite their own.

{four} : Crazy lady
That would be Anna, but you might not be able to to tell because the picture is more than a little bit squashed. I didn't want to crop it anymore because then you wouldn't see her awesome hair, which is the whole reason for the photo. But left as it was, it didn't fit, so I squished it. You might have to squint to see the photo properly :-P. We spent a little bit of time on (an absolutely gorgeous spring afternoon) the trampoline. Really, it does wonders for hair.

{five} : Ellie and the Penguins
This would be the last of the photos I took on the day I was at the flemings house. Sarah was gone and I took possession of her camera. Whether she liked it or not, she now has more than enough photos of Ellie, but as she's the baby of the family, I don't think Sarah minds .... This little penguin game is adorable and the kids have so much fun with it. Underneath each penguin is hidden a little coloured 'egg'. I don't know what the point of the game is, but I love watching them play it just the same.

{six} : Upside down
Benjamin was very happy to instruct me in the taking of a photo the other day. I asked the kids what they thought I should take a photo of, and he yelled the loudest, so I took his picture.

{seven} : Might Machine
It doesn't show up so well at this size, but he has the most adorable little grin on his face in this picture. Mom tested (most of) of the sounds on the new machines that he got for his birthday, but didn't try the last button. It plays some rather interesting, annoying, loud, and upbeat music, and each one of the kids is fascinated with the shape of that button. Benji likes dancing to the music too, but I don't have a picture of that yet.

this is a(n) ....

...."I can't sleep so I'll post a picture, sort of middle of the night, when I should be in bed sort of post."

Mom knows I like christmas tree ornaments, she also knows I love traditional things, which I think must be the reason she brought these home for me from Holland. Its nice to have a Mother who knows me so well, isn't it? If it weren't already only April, and if there wasn't still snow on the ground I just might be tempted to wish that it were the time of year when its right to have these out. I can't help but feel that a bedroom doorway doesn't quite provide the right backdrop ....

Project 365 - Week 3

Why yes, the blog did get a facelift, thanks for noticing. This is actually the design for the new Polkadot Door site, but I liked it so much I figured I better have it here too, especially since the new Polkadot Door blog isn't going to be released until late April, I get to see it in action here much sooner ... For this week, there were only 6 days in between this and the last post but you still get 7 pictures anyways. Just pretend its been a week, ok? :-)

Day 1 : Naughty card
We went into the library on this day and I thought I was being rather ingenious bringing my camera with me. So much of my setting for my daily pictures are right here in the home that an opportunity to have a different backdrop and props was a grand idea I thought. Apparently my camera card thought otherwise because it decided to stay home and since my camera doesn't have an internal memory, I got no pictures of the munchkins pouring over their favourite books. All I have, is a picture of the missing, and now found, card.

Day 2 : Anna
Miss Anna Grace came down with some very strange flu bug on friday. It only lasted the morning, and by mid afternoon she was her bright and cheery little self again. Scared me a little though, I had visions of all of the kids being grouchy and miserable with tummy flus. Thankfully, like most times, my wildest fears never materialized ...

Day 3 : Piano Man
Er, I mean James. The electric Yamaha has prerecorded songs that the little kids have learned to turn on. James especially loves sitting at the keyboard and pretending that it is in fact himself at the keys. He gets frustrated with his piano lessons because he can't play as well as he can when Rachel isn't teaching him! He usually has a very captive audience during these jam sessions as Anna and Benji both take turns dancing to the music.

Day 4 : Us
I think I read somewhere that you aren't supposed to have favourites. I'd like to make it rather clear that I don't agree. I'm rather happy having a favourite person. Having a favourite person means that they take you to home shows, and buy you coffee and supper, and then sit for hours talking about everything. That is precisely what we did on day 4, which is why we're both smiling so big.

Day 5 : Ticket to Ride
I lost, Philip won. End of story.

Day 6 : No Name
I really really like this picture. I realize that I don't have professional photos most of the time (if ever) but one thing I am learning about taking pictures is that its not about having the most technically sounds photos. Its about capturing memories. The two weeks that Mom and Dad were away helped to reestablish some relationships with my siblings which might not have been the best before. I'm reminded in looking at this photo that regardless of how I feel about the kids sometimes, I love them an awful lot. I'm grateful to be here and have the privilege of being big sister to these two (and the 5 others!).

Day 7 : Telus World of Science
I decided this was the best day of the whole week, even though at the beginning I had no idea it would be so. We (Junur and I) took our 7, as well as Emma and Isaac to the Science Centre which was an adventure enough for the day. But .... half way through the experience my favourite person showed up, happy occurrence #1. Then we went home, Junur bought Dutch Blitz cards, Mom and Dad showed up early .... with dropies and chocolate and adorable little delft christmas tree balls, and Rachel gave me Tangled. Best ... day ..... ever!

a last day of the week sort of post.

If I updated my facebook status (which I don't) it would currently read :

Rebecca Denhollander is happy, loved, overwhelmed by so many marvellous feelings, and terribly sunburned, but not necessarily in that order. 

Due to circumstances completely within my control, I happen to be rosy red at the moment. Very, very, rosy red. It hurts and in a few days it will be really icky (sunburns always are), but it was incredibly worth the pain I'm feeling. I had such a marvellous day today doing something that we haven't had the opportunity to do for quite a while, and won't be able to again for even longer. Uninterrupted, enjoyable, and relaxing family time.

On this, my very last Saturday at home with the entire family (Dad heads to some other country middle of this week), we had a variety of ideas on how to spend the day floating around, ranging from hiking to going to the Enchanted Forest, but we finally decided to spend the day on the lake with the immediate family. I think it was one of the first times we have ever all climbed in and just gone. Oh what fun we had! We left the wakeboards and skis at home, but towed to 3-man tube. For most of the day went at cruising speed, just taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Shuswap. We went all the way up past Sicamous, further than I have ever been in the boat before.

He's not falling, he is attempting a handstand.

I realized today again how much I am going to miss these people. I love them all, so very much. All the different dynamics they add to my life, the interesting insights they all have and witty comments that are endless . . . its all a wonderful part of my family. I had a lot of fun just watching them interact with one another and getting great enjoyment out of seeing us enjoying one another. The opportunities to just be us, with each other, is so seldom, but I'm so glad that when we do finally find the time, we can still laugh and have a jolly time. I think Family is a wonderful invention and just wish that growing older, didn't make it so hard to get everyone back together for times like this.

9 days!

My life in random point form

Dani's kitten

• Happy 14th Birthday to Rachel!
• 22 days till I leave for Taiwan
• I am now the owner of a point-and-shoot
• We are going Mini Golfing tonight with the "older" kids
• Dad is gone, again
• Philip asked me out on a date
  
• There is a sever thunderstorm warning
• I have 2 sewing projects
• I babysat all the grandkids last week
• I've been crafting lots
• Philip and I won Hand and Foot last night, handily
• I jinxed the Netherlands in the World Cup
• I've gotten two early birthday presents this week
• I played Mommy for the Fleming children for 3 nights
• I watched Harry Potter (I can't believe I just admitted that)
• Introduced the family to Julian Smith

and thats all folks . . .