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Soap and water can be mixed.
To make a bubble solution.
Carefully blow. Now, watch it go!
Pop! Goes the bubble! (courtesy http://www.childfun.com)
There is nothing more soothing or relaxing that blowing bubbles with a child who is so enchanted by the process. She so desperately wanted to blow her own as well! She’s actually getting pretty good at it. I love this shot with her mimicking me as I blow bubbles at her. Now that things have calmed down from the Easter Weekend activities, it was fun to sit with her today and play one on one. I have to take her home soon . . . so I’m taking advantage of every moment I can.
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“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” Leo F. Buscaglia
Well – our fun Easter Weekend had to end at some point! Easter Bunny pictures on Friday, Easter Egg decorating on Saturday morning, Easter Egg Hunt in the yard on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, Campfire and marshmallow roast on Saturday evening, and tons of outdoor playtime and yummy Easter Dinner on Sunday with lots of family. Here we are waiting to say goodbye to my son who is headed back to Oregon with my 4 yr old granddaughter. She said to her Mom and Dad “I don’t want to go home to Oregon. I want to live here with Grandma! You can come visit me anytime!” Bless her beautiful little heart! Meanwhile, the kids were playing street hockey in the driveway while we were “stalling” on saying our goodbyes . . .
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“Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath.” Richard Zera
I love Baby Girl’s bathtime. She squeals with delight as we make our way to the bathroom and start running the water in our big soaker tub. I add a few bubbles to the bath and toss in a few toys and a washcloth. Then I just sit back and watch her play! She has no fear of the water – dunking her head, pouring water over herself, sitting under the handheld shower head that sits at the edge of the tub. I could sit for hours and watch her play! The innocence and pure joy she get from something as simple as water. She is so much like her Mommy, who would (and still does given the chance) sit for hours in a bathtub herself, soaking and reading book after book.
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Q: Why did the Easter egg hide?
A: He was a little chicken!
We decorated our boiled easter eggs on Saturday morning as we decided to do an Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard in the afternoon. There were going to be 5 Littles to enjoy the Hunt! It was great, great fun decorating the eggs. My Granddaughters were just so excited and full of energy that morning. I love the colors that came out in my photo today as it kind of represents the richness and color that was in our entire weekend, with family gathered and great fun and food and awesome memories created, and documented by my camera!
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“In the spring, at the end of the day you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood
Not a terribly inspired picture today – but I think it captures the spirit of spring with these two Littles. It was one of the first gorgeous days we’ve had here this spring and the first place they headed was the garden. Dig, Dig, Dig! The ground is still a bit too wet to plant, but that didn’t stop these two from doing what they could to stir things up!
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“Hugs can do great amounts of good, especially for children.” Princess Diana, Princess of Wales
I was busy cleaning today, getting ready for the onslaught of company coming this weekend for Easter. My son, daughter-in-law and 4 year old Granddaughter arrive today from Oregon. Baby girl was following me around entertaining herself, happy as could be just being in same space as I was. At one point I was cleaning in the Master Bath when I felt a tug at my leg and looked down. There she was wanting “up!”. How could I deny that moment? Luckily my camera was right there as well, so I was able to capture the moment for posterity. I can only say again . . .I am one very lucky and blessed “Ya Ya”!
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“A child’s attitude toward everything is an artist’s attitude.”
-Willa Cather
My Great Nephew decided to draw “hands” this afternoon. He put his hand on the paper and traced it. Then he put my hand on the paper and traced it. He then added the fingernails and my ring. He was just so proud of himself! Oh to have that uncensored, fearless feeling when I create! I am such a harsh judge of myself and yet see such beauty in the simplicity of his creativity. At 60 years of age, I am seeking that child-like abandon . . .
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“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” Charles Schaefer
Today I had the pleasure of watching my 3.5 year old Great Nephew as well as my 16 month old Granddaughter. My house was chaos! The living room was a mass of pillows for Batman who was jumping from couch to ottoman to the floor destroying the world! The dining room chairs were covered in blankets for the fortress. The kitchen “tupperware” cupboard was emptied on to the kitchen floor as Batman’s destruction continued! Of course, the baby just followed along loving every moment of it! I decided early on there was no sense in fighting it. I captured this moment on the kitchen floor just before nap time as the three of us surveyed the “mess” (Baby Girls description). I’m trying to remember how often I sat in the midst of the “creativity” of my children, savoring the moment – like I did today with my Granddaughter and Great Nephew. How much more aware I am today of the preciousness of every fleeting moment . . . the memories created. How important just being in the moment is. Treasuring it. Relishing every second of it.
This isn’t the most creative, or technically perfect photo. It’s taken with my little point and shoot. However, I think it is 100% perfect from an emotional standpoint. At least from where I’m sitting!
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“I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I’ve written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part.” Shirley McLaine
We actually had a day without rain! Yay! Baby girl and I took off to the park for a bit. Later that afternoon – I snapped this picture of us having some chill time before her afternoon nap. I masked in the photo of her at the park. I do feel like I’m so lucky to have this opportunity to be with my Granddaughter for this length of time. I know her Mommy and Daddy miss her terribly, but they know she is safe and happy here with us. Every day I am reminded of her mother when she was this age, just a happy, playful, sweet little girl.
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“Bub-bub-bubble gup-gup-guppies! Bubble, bubble, bubble, guppy, guppy, guppies! Bubble! Bubble! Guppies! Guppies! Bubble Guppies!” Bubble Guppies Theme Song
Our morning routine is Baby Girl waking up about 6:30am and snuggling in to bed with Papa and Ya Ya (that’s what Grandma sounds like when she says it). She has her bottle of milk, and demands to watch Bubble Guppies on my iPad. Here she is trying to get me to put them on instead of taking this picture! I’m hoping that she somehow retains the memory of these moments with us. They are priceless moments. I may be operating on sleep deprivation since I’ve been taking care of her . . . but I would not change one second of any minute that I’ve had with her. I love the joy she gets on her face when the Bubble Guppies Theme song plays, and she “dances” back and forth while it’s playing. So cute!! I am one very blessed Ya Ya!!
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Nurture Self 365 