Fed Up With Lunch

{Photo Challenge} Day 15: Self-portrait

Mrs Q — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:17:00 +0000

Can you find me in this picture?

{Photo Challenge} Day 14: Discarded furniture

Mrs Q — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:12:59 +0000

Updated: 5/17 — Our internet died yesterday so I was unable to post my photo. I’d just finished this post, too. What are the chances? I’ve ditched my smartphone for the time being so I really felt cut off from the world. But, you know, I like how that feels sometimes. I read a magazine and went to bed early. Not bad at all.

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In my neighborhood, this passes as discarded furniture. I mean, it is furniture and it has been left out… I know it’s a stretch, but I really don’t see chairs or dressers out at the curb very often.

I’ve also finally found photos for “wabi sabi” and “tree shadows.” Okay, I’m up to speed once again… It’s no easy feat for a sleep-deprived working mom!

{Photo Challenge} Day 13: Wabi Sabi

Mrs Q — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:20:32 +0000

Updated 5/16: I think this qualifies as “wabi sabi.” Children’s artwork is usually imperfect, but it’s always perfect to me. We did a little art in speech class today. We had a nice discussion of colors and shapes (naming, basic concepts) and then lots of requests for objects and help. One of my students did this without a model. I found his use of color and pattern remarkable.

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Oh help! I don’t know what “wabi sabi” means. Our instructor refers to it meaning imperfect, but didn’t I already take a picture of “ugly/beautiful”? I’m not going to have a picture for this one tonight. I even went out with my camera tonight to try to get “tree shadows” and the sun went away! Failing!!

Also, I’m making a ton of typos. Yep, you guessed it. I’m still not getting great sleep. Speaking of which, I must hit the sack!

{Photo Challenge} Day 12: Heart of a Flower

Mrs Q — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:15:31 +0000

My husband’s orchid.

My husband is really into plants. He’s quite good at growing things from seed. The only problem is that we have plant “debris” all over the kitchen. Pots, seeds, the watering can and more pots all precariously stacked around the dining room with some my delicate creatures under a grow lamp. Clutter drives me nuts and I’ve been forced to make an exception for living clutter.

He had this orchid plant that bloomed and then it was silent. I told him to toss it. Of course he refused. I grit my teeth and wouldn’t you know, it rebloomed and produced what you see above. How can I hate his hobby when it yields something so beautiful?

{Photo Challenge} Day 11: Tree shadows

Mrs Q — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:28:37 +0000

Updated 5/16: I finally got a shot for this post. There’s my son on his bike, too.

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Ack! I don’t have a picture for today. It was sort of cloudy and when there was sunshine, I was inside. So I’m going to leave this post up just in case I do get a picture of tree shadows sometime during the challenge.

{Photo Challenge} Day 10.5: Laughter

Mrs Q — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:38:49 +0000

After bath crazy hair.

The photo challenge is run by photographers, not blogging. Aside from discussing things like “macro lenses,” the big tip off was when the group leader said that they were going to take the weekend off so that people could “catch up.” At first I was disappointed about getting a break. I just wanted to push through the weekend posting. Actually I could use a break during the week — not the weekend!

So, Friday was a choice of “wild card” or laughter. I chose “wild card” for Friday and I decided to share a laughter shot, too.

Can you tell how much I love these boys? Can you tell how much I enjoy being their mom?

{Photo Challenge} Day 10: Wild card

Mrs Q — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:56:39 +0000

Today I can photograph anything I want. Well, here’s my latest obsession. You’re looking at the reason I don’t blog very much. I’ve let him take over my life. He’s almost six months old and, well, he’s spectacular.

You’ll notice Daniel has blue eyes. Charlie did too, at that age. Around nine months of age, Charlie’s eyes changed. My husband is 100% Chinese so you can imagine how the perplexed we all were. Now we’re used to blue-eyed, half-Chinese babies.

Charlie was a difficult baby. Looking back I definitely experienced a state bordering on depression. This time things are different. I’m so happy. Now I get why many new parents feel a sense of lightness. Right now things are great with this baby. I know it’s going to change and that’s partly why when Daniel cries at night, I squeeze him tightly. Those moments pass. I’m grateful for every snuggle. I mean, I have to beg for snuggles from Charlie now.

{Photo Challenge} Day 9: Hands

Mrs Q — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:59:19 +0000

Today’s photo prompt is “hands.” I tried to get a candid shot of my boys’ hands, but that was not going to happen. So here’s our staged shot. My husband’s right hand is on the bottom, Charlie’s is in the middle, and little Daniel’s is on top. I’m so lucky I get to hold each of these boys’ hands whenever I want to.

{Photo Challenge} Day 8: Someone jumping

Mrs Q — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:54:37 +0000

It’s pretty easy to find someone who jumps in my house. I usually can’t get him to stop moving. We had several tries at this, of course. We had to get it just right. I love his face here. He’s working so hard to jump as high as he can. I love him so much.

{Photo Challenge} Day 7: Twilight

Mrs Q — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:38:25 +0000

On a walk tonight

The change in the weather has been welcome. The winter weather felt pretty miserable. But for the first time in several years I feel like we had a real spring. No more of the abrupt scene change from winter to summer. I like spring because it gives me hope that winter is over. I also need help with that transition to summer. It’s just too hard to go from a heavy sweater to shorts in a two days’ time.

I worried that I would not be able to take a picture of “twilight” because that is bedtime for two little boys. I can’t run outside for a picture instead of nursing the baby or cuddling with someone in his big boy bed. Luckily, the weather was so nice we took a walk after dinner. I thought the sun going down through the trees would suffice. Just after I took this picture, I felt a chill on my skin. It was ambitious to wear a tank top to the playground, but it felt really good. Hopeful, even.