Rachel Dillon

I was reading one of the blogs that I follow, Writers Inspired, and she interviewed an artist who recently came out with a book for children.  Rachel Dillon has written a poetry book, Through Endangered Eyes, about endangered species around the world.  What really intrigued me was the paintings.  She made them by painting lots of little dots of different colors to build the design.  I plan to show these pictures to Gabriel and we can try some of this kind of painting ourselves.  I think he would find the activity fun.  You can see some of her work at her website,  http://www.racheldillon.com/

Three

Happy Third Birthday, Annika!  We went for "a bird watch" today, enjoying the sunshine.  Then we went to a really cool playground.  She helped me make her cake, and enjoyed two pieces of it after dinner.

 She seems so tall to me.  Every day I notice her changing, bit by bit, understanding the world a little more, making connections, building vocabulary and skills.  Yet she is still cuddly and affectionate, partial to Mommy and fearful of many things in the world.  She walks back and forth between growing up and clinging tight. 

 

I love you, Baby. 

Shifting

My son is shifting and I can't quite grasp him.  He continually surprises me and catches me off guard.  He has entered a new land, leaving me behind, and I see him as if through a gauzy curtain that is blowing in a breeze.  Sometimes I see him clearly; other times he is a mystery child, delightful yet puzzling.

Today I took him to get socks at Fred Meyer.  He informed me that he would like a new shirt to go with his sweatshirt.  He said he wanted something with "hip hop" designs on it.  I think I did very well not overreacting (I mean, how in the world could this skinny little white boy know what hip hop is?) and asked him to clarify.  He pointed to shirts and sweatshirts that had wild designs on them - flames, and skulls and skateboards and guitars.  Big boy clothes.  No more sedate, conservative stripes, or dinosaurs and dump trucks.  He wants to show his cool personality and some attitude.  I hesitatingly agreed to a shirt and hoodie that I would have never picked out for him myself.  I still have doubts about the hoodie; it has a skull hidden deftly in the graphic design.  I can't believe this is starting already.  I am in uncharted territory.

Hiking, Anacortes with friends

Last Friday was the last day of spring break.  The weather was shaping up to be good, so we went hiking with our friends.  I've posted a complete report and lots of photos at nwhikers.net.  It was a wonderful hike!  I find myself going back there in my memories, trying to recapture the feelings of contentment from the day.  I guess that's one of the reasons I am so into hiking.  It sticks with me for a long time.  My kids feel similarly; Gabriel asked me today when we were going hiking again.  Unfortunately, our weekends are pretty packed for the next several weeks, and he doesn't have any more days off from school until the first week in May.  Sorry, buddy, it makes me sad, too.  The summer isn't too far off, and we'll be able to get out a lot.