The 52 Project: a portrait of my children once a week & every week in 2014.
Lena: My mom is visiting for two weeks and we are so blessed to have her here. (I feel like saying “lucky” or “thrilled” or “relieved” doesn’t quite encapsulate how wonderful it is to have her in our home every day for this long!!!) She has been a quiet, steady presence since the moment she got here, helping me in every way that she can imagine, playing with the kids from sun up to sun down, and being the friend and confidant I love so much. This past week the kids and I took her back to beautiful Taormina, one of my favorite places in Sicily. Lena — who is her Grammie’s shadow — asked for a piggyback ride towards the end of the day, and they looked so happy walking through the picturesque streets!
Gil: I took this picture while we were in Taormina, too, in an attempt to capture some of those curls that we all love. We have recently ordered detangling spray and special shampoo in order to get control of this wildness, since we still can’t bear to cut it. I always wanted a baby with blond ringlets, and I think I got my wish!
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Also, I’m writing this while sipping a hazelnut latte in the library… by myself. Bliss! My military ID expired (whoopsies), so my mom sent me to base to get it renewed and told me to stay awhile and relax. Ahhh… I feel so refreshed!
Did you get any alone time this weekend? I think I need more of it! Preferably with coffee in hand.
Those curls are so sweet and adorable. That’s also a blessing that it’s something you always had hoped, and now have. God answers little dreams and big prayers (though not always in the ways we hoped).
I’m so glad your mom is able to be with you for a bit. Of course she’s a blessing to you; I know her to be nothing else but a blessing to people.
That is so true, Reb! I know you’ve been a great blessing to her, too. Thanks for keeping the home lights on for them!
I didn’t know there was baby shampoo for curly hair! Not having to fight the tangly mess every morning and night would a-mazing. What kind are you getting?
Shelby, it’s more the detangling spray that we use for curly hair, I guess. I’m sorry if that was misleading! We have been using Earth Mama shampoo and it left his hair so coarse and tangled. Now we’re using California Baby shampoo/bodywash and conditioner. It smells amazing and leaves his hair so soft and clean! After that we use TruKid Dancing All Natural Hair Detangler, and we really like it. It also smells great, and it works! All three hair products got great ratings on the EWG website, and all can be ordered from Amazon. Hope this helps!
Love those kids and soooo glad that you’re all having such a special time with your mom visiting! …and yes, I did get an hour to myself this weekend and though spending it at the mall may not have been my ideal “break”, I did end up with two new pairs of jeans which felt like a fairly epic accomplishment!
Two pairs of jeans in an hour?! That’s a major accomplishment! Hope you’re feelin’ all stylin’ these days. ;-)
How sweet he looks with his lovely blond hair. My younger brother had beautiful hair like
Gil so enjoy . I glad you and your mom are enjoying time togther which is always so
precious.. . Hope to see see you all .
Love GrandMother Margaret
Aww, we miss you, Grandma Margaret! Hope you can see Gil’s curls again soon!
Another pair of great photos :) I was able to lock myself in my room this Sunday so I could work. It was heavenly. My husband and I both get away next weekend when we head to a resort with 3 other couples. Can.not wait!!
Your plans for next weekend sound amazing!!! Is it for a retreat or just for fun? Either one sounds like a fabulous break from real life!
It’s just for fun! All of us have been friends since high school and we are all spread out now. So we do a couples weekend. So much fun :) It is more of a ranch but not in the traditional sense. It’s an an old barn that has been turned into housing. It’s on quite a bit of property so it’s popular during warmer months for horse riders. We get a great deal on it being the off season. It’s been a long, harsh winter here so all of us are dying to go. One more week!!
Those curls–my goodness!!!