Game Day

N.O.T.H.I.N.G. makes Enzo happier than when we're all playing a game together. We all love games, but, my Enzo knows how to make it happen. Love him for that.

The game he wanted to play is not a simple one. There are characters to choose, monsters to fight, encounters to maneuver, a castle to map, treasure to find and more monsters to fight.

The good news is that it's a cooperative game and we all help each other along the way. (You are free to read that as: the boys and Jt help Grandma and me figure out what to do on our turns.)

The game has many missions, but the one we chose ("The Howling Hag") is one that's been played twice before and lost. We were never going to play another mission until we beat this one. And so we set out on our adventure.

 I was Wulfgar, human barbarian. So me.

And, guess what? We did it... we beat that Howling Hag right back into the netherworld from whence she came. 

It was a good day.

Linking up with Simple Things Sunday.

Simple Things That Weren't Always So Simple

One of the 'simple-things' signs that your boy is growing up, that only a mom would recognize or acknowledge... painting model figurines.

It wasn't that long ago that I never would have imagined Nico having the patience or interest in choosing to put together precision model figures from his favorite books and then paint them.  I mean... the gluing, the waiting, the painting, the switching of colors, more waiting, the adjusting of glue and paint... just wasn't really something I'd have ever suggested to Nico. He's done lots of crafts, but it's never about the process, it's always just the finished product that he wanted. 

But, as moms we learn... when they're ready, they let us know.

And he was ready. 

He bought the figures with his own money. He waited for them to come in the mail.  He glued what he needed to glue. He waited for it to dry.  He bought the paint with his own money. And he painted with that teeny-tiny brush. He took his time. He made sure each one was inspected under a magnifying lens. He made corrrections and he waited for more drying.

This is a boy who has always loved making the characters from his favorite books come to life, whether it was toilet-paper roll characters, costumes or just drawing them as best he could and cutting them out and gluing them to clothes pins. So, there's no surprise there. Boy loves his books. But, the meticulous detail and patience that was required for these figures went way beyond anything he's done before. 

And, I'm so proud of him. Best part: He's got this to show for it...

It's the simple things that make me realize he's growing up.

Simple Things Sunday

Just one of the fabulous scenes happening around my house on any given day...

Simple Things Sunday - Half a Smile

When my boys are playing out in front of a crowd, nothing makes me happier when one of them searches me out and gives me (even half) a smile. Especially if I have my camera ready!

Linking up with Simple Things Sunday.

Paying Attention - Simple Things Sunday

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, if any other photogs read this, but one of my very favorite things about photography, aside from the documentation of my boys' lives, the thrill of capturing someone's personality, the challenge of always learning more, the gasps of subjects when they see something they didn't expect and..... (hhhuuuunnnn, breathe, Kel) well, there's lots. But, definitely one of my very favorite things about my journey is that it's helped me to see things that I never would have noticed before.

This is one of those things:

When we took a paddle-boat ride last week on our city's rivers, I looked up and saw this repeating pattern of anchor cut outs and the warm light and its reflection.  Maybe I would have noticed it, but I'm not sure I would have appreciated it. It's so simple, but adds so much to the character of the boat.

Simple Things Sunday

Every morning at about 7:30, these days, I see this on the wall.

The light that comes in from my bedroom window points down the stairway, but not before crossing through the wrought iron railing that lines the stairs. Even though the railing is there every day, all day for me to see, it's somehow its shadow that catches my attention.

I love seeing a big heart on the wall as I prepare for the day and welcome my family from their sleepiness. Seems just perfect.

Posted to Simple Things Sunday

Simple Things Sunday

I saw the post for Simple Things Sunday this morning and thought the whole world was out of sync.  Why would she put it up on Saturday?  ha ha  Joke's on me! It is Sunday. What happened to Saturday?  Oh, these weekends go too, too fast.

But, the good thing is that it's time to think about a simple thing that makes me happy. 

Here it is, my silly boy:

Simple Things Sunday - Doggie edition

I've set this image as my cover photo on Facebook and it makes me smile every time I see it.

I was sitting at the foot of the steps trying to capture photos of the boys playing. (Something new, right?) Pritzy wanted my attention so she kept dropping the ball down the steps for me to throw back to her.

This time it got stuck on that first step and she just sat and looked at me like I was supposed to get it. I looked at her to let her know that the ball was, quite literally, in her court. LOL
After a few seconds I pulled my camera up to capture this.

She's so fun. And cute.

Her idea of a good time requires no more than a ball. Mine apparently is looking at this photo. Doesn't get much simpler than that.

Linking up with Simple Things Sunday.

Simple Things Sunday.. Father's Day Edition

As moms we can feed them, clothe them, comfort them. We can teach them and love them fiercely. But, sometimes we just have to admit that when it comes time to play, we can't hold a candle to Dad.

Happy Father's Day, Jt!  For all you do, we love you!

Simple Things Sunday - Board Game Mash Up

Oh, the complexity of a board game in which the board doesn't matter. Add a deck of playing cards, Star Wars character cards and a deck of cards for magic tricks. Set the lovies to playing and you have quite simply, a lot of fun.

Not sure Simple Things Sunday is in effect this week, since Rebecca, who runs it is in Australia! But, I wanted to add this photo anyway and will link up later if it comes to be.

Making Fun Outta Nothin'

Long story short:
Last night I parked my car a bit further down the driveway than usual. Apparently I'd broken a tacit understanding with the neighborhood birds. They were not happy and they let me know in their not-so-discreet way.
So the car needed to be cleaned.

Enter my two favorite boys. When I told them what I needed them to do, I got a few grumbles, but by the time the bucket was full of sudsy, soapy water, they'd found some fun.

 

 It may take them 4 times as long to do certain chores, but they can always make a game out of it or just plain enjoy the fun.

I was surprised and pleased at the pride they took in the task. They wouldn't call it done until they'd cleaned every nook of the car, not just the bird droppings, which is all I really asked them to do.

These boys definitely know how to turn a simple thing into a special thing.
I'm linking up with Simple Things Sunday.

Simple Things Sunday

New development in the Chiodi household. Life-changing perhaps. A sign of the constant march forward, at least.

The boys got behind the mower for the first time. Only last year, when I heard mention of boys their age performing such tasks, my eyes widened and my head involuntarily shook. 'No way!' I thought. 'They're so little.' But, so much has changed this year. They have grown so very much both in height, strength and in character, that when I was alerted by Nico that Dad was showing them how to use the mower, I didn't blink an eye and only grabbed my camera. Yep, they're ready.

Just one more simple thing to make a Mama proud.
Linking up with Simple Things Sunday:

There's a Light in the Barn

Considering today was anything but a Simple Thing Sunday, it's nice to end it by looking at these photos. They were taken at Succop in the wonderful barn, just like this wagon. The light in there was just perfect and beautiful.  The boys were working on turning dog bane into rope and I must have looked like I really love the stuff because I never stopped clicking the shutter.

While these photos aren't terribly interesting compositionally, I do love the look of them with the rich wood and glowing light.

He was seriously aglow

I'm linking to Simple Things Sunday.

SImple Things Sunday

Only in a universe of Momographers (Capital M) is it perfectly acceptable to post a photo blog entry titled "Simple Things Sunday" on the following Wednesday.  Only in a world where we're all in the same boat can I post a photo of dying Easter eggs, while the rest of the world is already eight Facebook entries past those obligatory images.

But, that's where I am and it's who I am. Thank goodness, because it's been a heck of a week. But that only makes those smiles brought on by something as simple as mixing Easter egg dying colors all the more meaningful and worth noting.

So, I'm sharing this on Simple Things Sunday:

Cloak and Crown

What a kingly young man.

Didn't consider for a minute stamping out the staples and glue lines, so don't ask.

Nico was playing outside with his sword, fighting bad guys who might happen upon our front lawn, when I decided to drop the laundry and head out to play with him. I grabbed his red cloak; crown; a purple bag, which houses his brother's compass and such; and, of course, my camera.

My little king was immediately willing to alter his play, don the cloak and crown and play a new role for my camera. We headed to the woods.

Love this!!

Love the intertwined fingers.

I posed him a few times, but once I had those few must have shots, I let him decide on poses and postures by just playing the role. He seems to know what he's doing.

Hard to choose a favorite. Glad I don't have to.

I'm posting this on Simple Things Sunday.