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34 // 52

first day of school collage

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Note: I admit to being somewhat of a failure this year when it comes to the 52 week portrait project. I haven’t done a portrait post since the third week in July, and I’m not going to try and backtrack through the past five weeks to catch up. But, I’m ready to start over fresh, and what better week to do it than with the first week back at school?
Here’s to new beginnings for all of us.

Lillia: This week you started sixth grade! I can’t believe I have an official “middle-schooler” in my home now. You were really, really stressed out before the first day of school. You were worried that you wouldn’t know where anything was, that you wouldn’t have anyone to talk to, and that you would be a total failure at Student Council. Thankfully, none of those things came to pass. You are definitely tired, but seem to be pretty happy with your teachers and your new schedule. You said your favorite thing so far has been Spanish class.

Zane: This week you started Preschool/Pre-K. You were very excited to be in the “big kid class” as you seem to have suddenly become enamored with all things related to growing up. You’ll be going five days a week, mostly because of my working but also because you really seem to enjoy school. You love to socialize, and you love to be busy. I have a feeling that you’re going to have a great year.

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garden 2015 // the middle

I almost titled this post “garden 2015 // the end” but then I realized that it is not, in fact, anywhere near the end. I still have dozens of green tomatoes hanging in heavy clumps, waiting to ripen; two pepper plants that have just experienced an unseasonal growth spurt and might, actually, produce peppers; and one long, fascinating pumpkin vine with one tiny, pale little pumpkin hatch-ling popping out where there was only a flower just last week. So, no, it is not the end. But, I have been a terrible recorder of things this summer. I haven’t really felt the desire to be in this space, in this little virtual home of mine. And, so, there have been no garden posts, and I apologize — not to you — but to myself, because I won’t have those posts to enjoy later on.

garden 2015 // the middle 3

Tonight I had to go outside and I had to dig. I uprooted all of the beets and all of the carrots, and then I pulled up all of the weeds that remained with the garden rake. And, it felt wonderful. Changes have happened around here — big changes. I am working outside of the home for the first time in five years! I am really enjoying this new adventure, but I admit to suffering a little bit from the inertia of the transition. Being with my garden, and experiencing the deep soul satisfaction that comes from holding in my hands a rainbow of delicious, healthy goodness, well, suddenly all of the changes seemed to fit. I seemed to fit. I am still me, just a slightly different me. Just as the carrots grow, so I do, too.

garden 2015 // the middle 2
garden 2015 // the middle 1

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29 // 52

29 // 52 // Lillia
29 // 52 // Zane

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Lillia: This week you and your friend Anya attended Harry Pottery camp at Keene State College! One of our goals for the summer was to help you find activities that would provide the opportunity to meet like-minded folks your own age. Between theatre camp last week, and Harry Potter this week, I think we’ve come to the conclusion that you are, in fact, not alone in the world! You and your fellow Potterheads had a great time making potions, playing Quidditch, and making Harry Potter-related crafts (like the cute owl in this picture). Honestly, the first time I arrived to pick you up I had to chuckle a little because it was like walking into a room full of Lillias. You’ve also developed a wonderful friendship with Anya, which has been such a gift. Now that your camps are over, you’ll have some time to relax and hopefully do a lot of swimming at the town pool in the weeks to come.

Zane: This week you spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Keene for Lillia’s camp. You’re a real trouper and you don’t seem to mind the chaos, but I do wish I had arranged for you to do some of your own activities this summer, especially the camps at the Walpole Village School. They were all booked for the week by the time I got around to realizing it might be a good idea to sign you up! Still, we did get to do some swimming at the town pool, and you took walks at lunch time with me and Daddy. You are such a big boy now, you never want to ride in the stroller (and, of course, I would never force you to). My favorite Zane conversation of the week happened while you were playing soccer with Daddy in the front yard. Daddy said, “Zane, pass me the ball! We’ll be a team!” to which you replied, “My feet are my team!” and you proceeded to run away with the ball. What a silly boy you are, Zane!

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28 // 52

28 52 lillia & zane

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Lillia: We just returned home from the Walpole Players Senior Theatre Camp’s performance of “The Pirate Queen”, which is the culmination of the last two weeks of learning and practice. I have to say that I was very impressed — with you, of course, but also with all of the other performers — it’s not easy to pull off something like this in just ten afternoons. I really appreciated that none of you took yourselves too seriously, and yet the play was genuinely entertaining and many of the performers were very natural and believable in their roles. As “Officer Woodthorpe” you had one of the main speaking roles (17 lines total, in two acts) and you did magnificently. I do hope you continue your theatre adventures as you are, in fact, quite a good actress and I can tell that you really enjoy it. Bravo, Lillia!

(A few more pictures of the play can be viewed HERE.)

Zane: This week you spent two whole days at camp! As I wrote last week, you are a very busy boy, and it takes a lot to keep you entertained. By Monday afternoon of this week I was just plain exhausted, and so I contacted your preschool to see if they had any openings in their summer camp program. We were lucky and they had a Tuesday/Thursday spot still available, so I signed you up right then and there. Of course, it later dawned on me that you might not be ready to be away from home for seven straight hours (or, maybe it was me who was not ready?) but, you did great! You got to play with other kids, which was the biggest selling point, plus you did some fun arts & crafts, played outside, had lunch with your friends, and you even napped on Thursday afternoon (which you haven’t done in ages). I’m so happy we were able to find a way to channel some of that wonderful Zane energy.

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