Priceless Ones

Photo Project 2012 - Days 52 to 60

Day 52

Our Shrove Tuesday tradition is to go to the pancake supper at church. These are/were very tasty gluten- and dairy-free pancakes.

Annalee and Ada-Lin tried to see who could wear the most Mardi Gras beads.

Day 53

Zelda sat near the living room window one morning. I ran for the camera to capture the light on her face.

Day 54
Shame, shame...another day without a picture...

Day 55

Annalee's school had turnaround day when the kids could dress as their favorite teachers and the teachers could dress as students. Annalee dressed like her kindergarten teacher, who now teaches third grade. The make-up made her look so much older and glamorous.

SNOW! Woo hoo! It was only the third time this winter! I took this photo near my parents' house with my phone not realizing that the capture was set to black and white. I think it came out just perfectly.

Day 56

We've decided it's time to have a family pet. Or two. So, we went to a cat show. These Tonkinese kittens stole our hearts. We hope to have a pair as beautiful as these home before the end of the summer.

Day 57

My neck hurts just looking at the way Annalee is curled into the end of the couch playing on Zelda's tablet.

Day 58

Zelda and our friend Bo got to play in the mud at Brookfield Zoo.

Day 59

Zelda, Tubby and I enjoy a tea party one morning.

Day 60

Zelda looked pretty in the natural light of the family room. When I asked her to smile for me, Tubby and the hobby horse had to be included in the photo.

Photo Project 2012 - Days 37 to 51

Day 37

As usual, I overpacked.. And, all that got me was some large piles of dirty laundry when we returned from vacation.

Day 38

While on vacation, I fell in love with our fruit plate breakfasts. I was able to pick up all the ingredients at our local market so we could start our day in Chicago just as wonderfully.

Day 39

Oops. I totally forgot to take a picture!

Day 40

The early morning winter sun comes through the French doors in the family room as Annalee looks out.

How awesome to watch Zelda practice her letters - all on her own!

Day 41

Another day went by without the camera grasped in my hands...shame on me!

Day 42

The Chinese new year decoration on the patio door hangs in silhouette against the clear blue sky.

Day 43

Ron and Zelda pose for my daily picture.

Day 44

I took some time over the weekend to create Valentine's Day cards for the girls. Zelda's is on the left; Annalee's is on the right.

And, here's the card I made for Ron.

Day 45

Before leaving for preschool, Zelda set up Tubby at the back door to wait for her.

Little Z had some busy day. So much so, she fell asleep with her Winnie the Pooh book in hand.

Day 46

These pictures aren't the clearest, but I thought Annalee looked so beautiful that morning.

Then, she did her Caucasian eyes look that just cracks me up. Holding her eyes open top and bottom makes her look SO different.

Day 47

Zelda posed for me over her morning snack so I'd get my picture of the day taken early.

Day 48

I'm always amazed at how running water can occupy children for so long. I should remember it more often.

Day 49

I was struck by the girls intertwined feet as they played with Zelda's computer game.

Day 50

Ron and I have instilled in Annalee and Zelda a strong love of reading.

Day 51

The Fleeners and Crowleys came over on President's Day for a lunch buffet and lots of play (ooh, I rhymed!). Check out Annalee in her glasses, which she now needs to wear all the time. She's so cute!

Photo Project 2012 - Days 27 to 36

Days 27 through 36 were taken during our family vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We had an incredibly fun time, just the four of us.

Day 27

Is it ever possible to take a picture that contains a complete dinosaur skeleton AND allows you to see the people you're photographing in front of it? I don't think so. In any case, here are the girls at O'Hare International Airport in front of a brachiosaurus.

Day 28

This was the beauty that we awoke to on our first full day in Mexico. I could stare at this image for hours on end.

The day only got better. After a day on the beach and swimming in the pool and visiting with friends made in years past, I kicked up my feet and took in the fresh air and sounds of the waves, laughter and music.

Day 29

Zelda and Tubby after a busy day on the beach.

Day 30

The girls and I always take a picture of our feet on the beach. This year, we forgot to do it the first two days. Then, Annalee came down with the stomach flu and wasn't going to the beach our third day. So, we got her to hang her foot over the bed to take the picture. I was worried their polish would be worn off if we waited much longer.

Does this picture really require a caption?

Day 31

My beautiful Annalee.

The girls, with sand toys and and towel clips in hand, get ready for play time on the beach.

Day 32

For two days, it seemed like every pelican within a hundred miles had decided to hang out at our beach. I even got pooped on while laying on my lounge chair. Turns out there was a run of sardines that the pelicans were after. Once they finished those, they cleared out.

Day 33

One afternoon, Ron and his little sidekick challenged Annalee to a Pokemon game. Annalee always picks the best cards and never quite tells you all the rules, so you can guess who won.

Just before we went out to dinner, I turned back into the room. I just loved the way the light and the breeze were caught in the sheers.

Day 34

Zelda got the stomach flu while she was sleeping. Tubby took the brunt of the effect. So, the next morning we hung him out to dry. At least he had a great view of the beach.

The girls pose as we get ready to leave for dinner.

Later that evening, we visited with Miguel, the hotel's resident finger-painter. Annalee bought a hand-painted tile she designed herself and Zelda designed a finger-painted rock.

Day 35

The sun peaks over the mountain and shines on the palm trees around 8 a.m.; it finally hits the beach by about 10 a.m. That doesn't keep people from setting up their chairs early to get the best spot on the beach.

For our last full day in Puerto Vallarta, the girls put on quite a show for the shutter. Above, Zelda just pretends to be sleeping. God forbid she might miss one minute of excitement!