Photography by Lara

Christopher Senior Pictures

2013-07-02T15:36:00.000-06:00

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2012-11-28T20:18:00.003-07:00

July 2, 2012
Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.
~Shana Alexander

I took all three girls for much needed haircuts today. Sophia is always thrilled to get her hair cut--I think it makes her feel special. And she wanted bangs! And curls! Chloe doesn't usually care one way or the other, and I apparently RUINED Bria's life by making her get a small trim. She wants her hair to be all the way down her back (I don't, but I'm so nice I will let her as long as she takes care of it and lets me take her in for regular trims).

Regardless of how they feel about their haircuts, they're all pretty darn adorable, don't you think?

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2012-11-28T20:13:00.003-07:00

July 1, 2012
As in an explosion, I would erupt with all the wonderful things I saw and understood in this world.
~Boris Pasternak

Today is the halfway mark! I am halfway finished with this project! I wanted to do this project to feel more connected to my life--to notice things, and to be grateful for them. And I appreciate that that is happening.

And to celebrate, we exploded some Pyrex! Joel took dinner (pork chops) out of the oven and set it on the stove and it exploded and shattered to bits! Crazy stuff. But, nobody got hurt and we didn't even have to pick glass shards out of our meal. Just down a casserole dish is all.

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2012-11-28T20:08:00.001-07:00

June 30, 2012
After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the colors of the sky during the setting sun, or the smell of a warm summer's breeze on their face, they should reserve as much praise for themselves as they do for the writer - perhaps more.
~Jasper Fforde

One of my favorite things about summertime is all the trips we get to take to the library.

One of my favorite things about our library is the way it is situated right on the water, and if you sit at the window, you can almost imagine yourself on a boat.

I think Sophia feels the same way.

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2012-11-28T20:04:00.003-07:00

June 29, 2012
I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted -- stay up all night or eat ice-cream straight out of the container.
~Bill Bryson

Today I found myself alone in the car with Puccini after dropping the girls off at various locations. So, I decided to treat myself to some Dairy Queen (they have a gluten-free menu, which is nice).

I took this photo while waiting in line at the drive-thru. And just when I finished snapping the picture, MaryFran called me from her spot in line at the Taco Bell drive-thru across the way.

Caught red-handed in my sneaky ice-cream buying!

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2012-11-27T19:27:00.002-07:00

June 28, 2012
Other than a dimple in a cute little chin,
What's more adorable than a toothless grin?
~Azu "Betty" Espezia

Today my friend Jane came over to work on bookmarks for our book club. We didn't finish before I had to go off to rehearsal, so she stayed at my house until she finished up. Sometime before she left, she texted me this picture of Sophia proudly showing off her latest lost tooth.

I hope it's okay to use a picture I didn't take (well, I've used plenty of Joel's), but it's so much better than the stupid picture I took today. I do hate how she's growing up, though. My baby is getting all these adult teeth and I don't like it much!

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2012-11-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

June 27, 2012
Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.
~Wayne Dyer

Life may not be a rehearsal, but this summer it sure feels like it is! I hadn't planned on being in two shows, yet here I am doing a second show. It has been a huge time commitment and sacrifice, but I'm earning enough to help get us on our much anticipated vacation next month, so it's all good.

I do love being on stage (or waiting in the wings to go on stage, as I was when I took this photo). I am a lucky woman.

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2012-11-27T19:17:00.003-07:00

June 26, 2012
I sustain myself with the love of family.
~Maya Angelou

Today marks thirteen years since the Maestro and I were married. Thirteen years!

And to celebrate, we drove down to Marquette to take the girls to the orthodontist. We did spend the day there with the girls, enjoying the beautiful day.

We took this photo while walking out to the lighthouse on Presque Isle. Joel and I did get a lovely dinner out later that night, but it was very nice to spend the day with our offspring. They are, after all, the greatest thing we have done together these thirteen years.

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2012-11-27T19:06:00.002-07:00

June 25, 2012
They're magically delicious!

When I was little, my mother NEVER let us indulge in "sugar" cereals. But when we went to my grandmother's house to visit, she would buy us whatever cereal we wanted and I always chose Lucky Charms.

Now that I am a mother, I don't often allow sugar cereals either, but whenever there is a good sale on General Mills, I always have to go get my Lucky Charms! And guess what? They are gluten-free.

So, this morning I ate some, and I didn't even feel bad about it.

But they weren't really as good as I remembered.

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2012-11-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

June 24, 2012
The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.
~J.M. Barrie
"The Little White Bird

The girls found this bird's nest full of baby birds outside of the building today at church. The nest was built on the electrical box! I don't know what kind of birds they are, but it is sure amazing to be able to see them so closely.

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2012-11-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

June 23, 2012
Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.
~M.F.K. Fisher

Sharing food with another person may be intimate, but what about your puppy? Especially if she is newly groomed and looking awfully cute as she eyes your cereal from her perch on your shoulder with such hope?

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2012-11-26T19:02:00.003-07:00

June 22, 2012
Life is like a blanket too short. You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night.
~Marion Howard

Pucci doesn't look remotely comfortable like that, yet this is how she loves to sleep. She has also gotten rather shaggy since her last haircut! Off to the groomers tomorrow!

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2012-11-26T18:51:00.003-07:00

June 21, 2012
Come live, and be merry, and join with me,
To sing the sweet chorus of 'Ha ha he!'
~William Blake

Closing night. We sure had a lot of fun together, the Cosi Fan Tutte chorus. Much merry-making to be had. I'll miss it!

Until next summer...

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2012-11-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2012
I think you have to know who you are. Get to know the monster that lives in your soul, dive deep into your soul and explore it.
~Tori Amos

The girls are WAY into Monster High right now. They seriously use all of their electronics time watching Monster High movies.

One has to admit, they are monstrously adorable toys.

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2012-11-25T18:42:00.002-07:00

June 19, 2012
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
~Henry VanDyke

Had to travel for the opera once more, this time to Marquette. We stayed at a host home, and while I was getting ready in the bedroom, I kept hearing this crazy knocking at the window. I finally figured out this little bird was dive bombing the window! Then it would sit at the sill and peck or just look at me. Once I figured out it wasn't a peeping Tom, I enjoyed watching it for a long time.

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2012-11-25T18:36:00.001-07:00

June 18, 2012
We are always the same age inside.
~Gertrude Stein

I am admitting that this photo a day thing is difficult. Sometimes I barely remember, and I'm always grateful for my iPhone. Unfortunately, my phone is not a very good camera, and a quick shot is often all I get. But I must remember that the point of this project is to remember my life and be grateful for the little things, not to have perfect photography. Maybe I can do that next year.

Anyway! Today was Joel's birthday. We got home from our first opera performance late last night. We had lemon cake which Joel insisted on making himself, and I have no idea why Bria is hiding her face. Happy Birthday, Joel!

PS I got him new golf clubs for his birthday, which also count for Father's Day and our anniversary.

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2012-11-25T18:30:00.003-07:00

June 17, 2012
I have a natural swagger.
~Kevin Bacon

Joel walks with a swagger when he's being silly. I love being silly with him.

Picture taken on our lunch break from rehearsals today.

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2012-11-25T18:25:00.002-07:00

June 16, 2012
A kiss is a secret which takes the lips for the ear.
~Edmond Rostand

As hard as it was to leave all my children behind for a few days, it is always nice to be alone with the Maestro (and the rest of the opera cast). We really do have a lot of fun together.

During the opera every year, we tend to send funny text pictures to one another. This was one I sent to him today.

SWAK!

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2012-11-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

June 15, 2012
We must accept the fact that transport and communications will bring the world in close relations and the youth of the world should have standards and ideals in common.
~Juliette Gordon Low

This morning Bria and Chloe are off on their fun Girl Scout trip to Green Bay! They will be celebrating 100 years since Juliette Gordon Low began the girl scout program at a giant jamboree(?) at the Packer Stadium.

I am super excited for them, but super bummed for myself because I was all set to chaperone this trip, and take Sophia with us, too. But then I found out that the opera would be opening the same weekend, and Sophia had to have a parent with her since she is only a Daisy. Luckily, I was able to sell my two extra tickets to the celebration and find someone to take Sophia for the weekend so Joel and I could go to Iron Mountain for the opera sitzprobe, dress rehearsal, piano tech, and first performance.

Bria and Chloe are ready to go take Green Bay by storm!!

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2012-11-25T18:09:00.003-07:00

June 14, 2012
Badges mean nothing in themselves, but they mark a certain achievement and they are a link between the rich and the poor. For when one girl sees a badge on a sister Scout's arm, if that girl has won the same badge, it at once awakens an interest and sympathy between them.
~Juliette Gordon Low

I am such a procrastinator.

Bria and Chloe are leaving on their big Girl Scout trip tomorrow morning and I started ironing on their badges around 11pm. Then, I had to text MaryFran to find out what on earth this badge meant, because I didn't know.

But at least it is done now.

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2012-11-25T17:34:00.004-07:00

June 13, 2012
I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles.
~Audrey Hepburn

The girls had fun today painting each others' nails. Bria is really good at it, and quite creative--look how fun she made Chloe's nails!

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2012-11-25T17:26:00.001-07:00

June 12, 2012
If your house is really a mess and a stranger comes to the door greet him with, "Who could have done this? we have no enemies!"
~Phyllis Diller

WHY is it so impossible to keep my office clean?

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2012-11-25T17:21:00.003-07:00

June 11, 2012
As you know, the concept of the suction pump is centuries old. Really that's all this is except that instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life. I've just sucked one year of your life away. I might one day go as high as five, but I really don't know what that would do to you. So, let's just start with what we have. What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel?
~Count Rugen
"The Princess Bride"

So my heel has no gotten any better, and I finally had to give in and see the podiatrist. He diagnosed me with Achilles Tendinitis in both heels, though the left heel is infinitely worse than the right. I received a shot a couple weeks ago, and today it was time to begin the physical therapy.

As it turns out, the physical therapy is a torture machine. It was awful and I hated every minute of it! They told me to bring a book, but who can concentrate on reading while being tortured?

Only 11 more sessions to go...

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2012-11-25T17:14:00.004-07:00

June 10, 2012
A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.
~Douglas Pagels

Today we went to the Andersons' home to celebrate Jared's birthday.

Chloe and Eva showed off the matching earrings that Eva bought for them a few days ago. It was so sweet of her to want to buy two pair so she could share with Chloe!

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2012-11-25T17:10:00.003-07:00

June 9, 2012
Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.
~Robert Motherwell

The first order of business once school is out is to attend the Summer Reading kickoff at the library. The girls get to do several arts and crafts projects, sign up for reading rewards, eat ice cream, and spend time with all the friends that come.