A Morning of Photos

Ever finishing breakfast / Dogs finishing Ever's breakfast

I'm teaching Ever ABC's and 1-5

Green tea

My side of the table....

Lola's side of the table.

Mr. Curry brought home a ton of unopened food from a job. The man was moving to Japan and was going to throw away all his food! After picking out the things we'd actually eat, this was left, which we will donate to the food pantry.

Halloween decor

I re-remind myself all the time, with each child as they grow, of one of the things my Mom taught me about caring for small children: they want to do everything you do. FInding a way to include them instead of trying to work separately while keeping them happy with something else is a key to domestic peace.

' Water hot? ' No, sweetie. ' Otay Mommy. '

' More bubbles Mommy? ' 

Those eyelashes.

See her leg? This is a daily battle. ' How did Ever get a marker/pen/pencil?! ' 

Looking out.

We spent an hour outside; I just follow her wherever she wants to go. I think it's important for kids to have time each day where no one is directing them in any way. 

I love this Queen onsie and am bummed she's grown out of it! It's really too small, I just am using it until it pops! Mr. Curry and I both love Queen and he always says the song ' Best Friend ' reminds him of me.

Bodie.

After our walk.

' Mommy I want tootsie-eye! My baby. My Mommy. '

Daddy will be home soon.

You Don't Own Me

"You Don't Own Me" PSA from You Don't Own Me on Vimeo.

thanks for hooking me up with this, Beth!

Ian's 16th Birthday Party

haha! Ever is AWESOME in this picture and Mr. Ian has his eyes closed and Dakota couldn't get out of work and my Halloween sign is crooked, but here were are! Ever looks like a cartoon lol

It was an overcast, grey and cold day, perfect for just hanging out and talking and snacking while the barbecue was cooking. From left, my mom, Aunt Kristi ( love you! ) the boy, Grandpa Ed and the peak of Lola's little face :)

My mom and Lola have a very special relationship and have grown really close over the last three years especially. Lola goes and spends the night and they cook, read, play and watch Rachel together :)

This is mostly Mr. Curry's mom's side of the family representing here, minus Reef to the left.

Grandma and Grandpa Nash. They are so sweet together and always looking out for their family. They lost their beautiful daughter Cindy to diabetes when she was only a young woman, and have very loving hearts. I still remember Mr. Curry telling me about his Aunt's death for the first time when we were about 18, and how deeply saddened he was. He said she was wonderful, joyful and full of life and kind. 

This was the first time Ever really participated in hanging out with the cousins. She had a BLAST. Look at that expression!

They kicked a ball around, drew with chalk and climbed trees. 

Ever, Jacob, Reef and Lola- 22 months, 4, 5 and 10

Sigh. Wolfgang, move your butt!

Jacob's face perfectly captures my sentiments exactly. Really, big dumb dog? Can't you see we're trying to take a picture here? 

Wolfie and Bodie chowin on grass.

The beautiful birthday boy and his father and his father. I love them all.

I really love this picture of Ever Ysbeth. It captures something essential about her right now. 

We had to pretend to blow the candles out like four times after he actually did. Hence the laughter. Good sport. Cookies and cream cake. YUM.

A bunch of us. I love family.
You can't see the adorable Elmo pumpkin we had up because Lola and Ian got into such a raging battle of where the Elmo head should be, and switched it back and forth so many times, that I thought the pumpkin was going to end up smashed on the floor and I removed it until cooler heads could prevail. I love family.

People In Your Neighborhood

take a seat and read!!!

My newest post is up at the Huffington Post, about bipolar and my marriage. 

Comedians in cars getting coffee- this is awesome and funny!! I just want to know where the women are?

Do you  need a photographer? Based in Long Beach, Kayla is wonderful. Check her out here

A historian has made an amazing art history project by overlaying images of soldiers from WW2 onto the current day location of the exact same.

The organization ChildHelp is all about preventing child abuse. Their site is really easy to navigate, nice too look at, and full of really helpful and important information. Bookmarked.

In Forbes, a small piece on 5 easy ways to amp up your creativity.

I loved this post on Mommas Gone City on her struggles with discipline with her young son. I don't necessarily agree with everything she says, but I love the thought, care and heart she is putting into helping her son, and the honesty and clarity of her writing.

Solving Kids Cancer seems to be a great website for raising money to fight against children's cancers.

I came across three personal writings on health care, all fascinating and both important to read. Calvin's Story is the recounting of a mother of a severely disabled son, and Leslie's story Who Are The Uninsured? is about a family unable to afford health care for life threatening disease. A Possibly Fatal Mistake, in NYT, is the story of one man's decision that will most likely cost him his life. 

I had been following Tucker's story. He was 18 and had leukemia, and he died.  Play It Sweet In Heaven, written by a family friend,  is one of the most heart rending, raw and touching writings I've ever been privledged to read online. You can too.

Late Afternoon At Poway Lake

Thanks for this, Mr. Curry.