crazedparent

Love Thursday

Nothin' like a nice latte with a little heart in the foam to start your day. The barista made my day with this one...

Happy Love Thursday!

Music lessons...

A child's love for music is almost universal. Even if you lack any musical skills, you can pick up an instrument, sit in front of your infant or toddler, sing a tune, and he or she will think you are a complete rock star.

My husband always laughs when I say that music is in my core. I love my music. I began playing the piano when I was three. I have always had the desire to play the guitar. My 2006 New Year's resolutions included an item about doing just that and over the summer I was on a quest to find a cheap acoustic guitar. Instead, I bought a broken electric guitar. To define broken, I mean it was split in three pieces with its electrical guts hanging precariously out its back. The neck was still attached, but a chunk of wood was missing from the body. Ahhh, but it was broken by Rick Springfield during a concert. 

When I purchased it, I happened to be with my boys (Nol & Q.), and Rick took some photos with us and autographed the guitar. It's actually quite nice, a black Fernandes, and he had "accessorized" it with stickers and a cute photo of his dog. It still had his finger marks all over it and some dried up rose petals from the "rose explosions" during his concerts.

What to do with this guitar split in three pieces? I decided that I would have it restored and it would be the one I'd learn how to play.  The guy who fixed it was a master. It strums beautifully, missing piece of wood and all. I can't make time for official lessons, so I'm teaching myself. I've learned four chords, just enough to play some children's songs.

The guitar's resting place is in my bedroom closet. The only place where it's safe from tiny toddler fingers that can rip its strings off. But every morning when I'm getting dressed, Q. waddles into the closet, points to the guitar and asks,"Mommy, E-I-E-I-O?" So I grab the guitar and a pick, sit on my bed and wait for Q. He slowly climbs up and finds his favorite spot on my lap. And we sing..."Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O..." It's amazing what you can do with four chords.

I have an awful singing voice.  But what they say about kid's loving music is true. For a few minutes each morning, I really do feel like a rock star.

Love Thursday.

(And don't forget to check out the Love Thursday Flickr Group).

(and yes, yes, I know my form is all wrong in this photo. it's so I can have the bambino with me.)

 

Gone fishin'...

We recently went on a family vacation at Lake Almanor. Gramps took the grandsons out for their first fishing trip. The house we rented was within walking distance to the lake I could sit on the deck and watch, but I couldn't put my camera down with the many memorable moments. I had to force myself to stop snapping photos so I could actually enjoy seeing Nol practice his casting versus playing paparazzi. This particular photo is of Gramps and Nol on the rocks, with Nol learning a thing or two about the art -- and peacefulness -- of fishing.

Love Thursday.

 

Candy love...

All this "booing" business has caused an early start to counting candy. Nol is quick to point out, "Mom, I love Halloween. But I really loooooove candy." So much that he keeps his little bag in a  hidden spot in his closet (hidden to his brother, that is. Mom and Dad know where it's at.) We're going to a neighborhood trick-or-treat event tonight at the local high school. And then the stash will multiple by several digits. Love Thursday.

Sweet child of mine...

Lots of kissy photos as part of the Love Thursday Flickr pool, I know. But how can you resist when you've got a picture of such sweetness? One of the features I love with my new MacBook is the built-in camera. Nol and I snap photos almost every day in our "photo booth." Silly faces, high drama, crazy laughs. And at some random moment, he'll say "Mommy, look at me. I'm going to kiss you." Look at his eyes, staring at his mama. Can I just bottle that up and use it whenever I need a little jolt of extra happiness? Love Thursday.

 

Puppy love...

This little rat was my old dog, Capullo (Spanish for "rosebud" and pronounced ka-pu-yo.) My tio sent him to me for my 14th birthday. The dog, only 10 weeks old, arrived on Taca Airlines straight from El Salvador. He was a little bundle of white fluff, his fur had not yet turned its Pomeranian mixed shades  of rust and light brown. He wouldn't eat dog food - we'd have to cook him tortillas and eggs. Or pasta. He loved spaghetti and meatballs. No joke.

Whenever I'd give Capullo his much-hated bath, he'd come out of the tub looking like this photo...a mangy mutt with 'tude. And full of cuddles.

Love Thursday.

   

Love thursday: the "realness" of a children's book...

Ever find a children's book where the illustrations are so gorgeous and vivid they take your breathe away? Ever find a children's storybook character that reminds you so much of your own child that your heart melts into a million puddles of love every time you read it?

For me, it's the "Sam" series written by Amy Hest and illustrated by the wonderful Anita Jeram. The bear son, Sam, is terribly cute and cuddly. And he captures every bit of sweetness and innocence that I adore about my son, Nol. My favorite book is You Can Do It, Sam. Here's the image from the book that makes me pull Nol into a tight hug:

It's of Sam and his mom sharing a treat, all cozy and snug on a winter's morning. Sam is telling his mom a story about a brave boy, also named "Sam." I swear, I'm getting misty just writing about it.

Love Thursday.

Love thursday: sweet feet...

I love baby feet. The way tiny toes slowly wiggle as a baby sleeps. The smoothness of the skin. And the inevitable baby smell.

I snap ample photos of Nol and Q'.s amazingly sweet feet. When Q. was a few days old, I propped him up on my bed against a pillow, Nol beside him. I wanted to capture their size relative to each other. I was worried that Nol, in his new-found jealous big brother moments, would tip Q. over or just pinch him. And then I found Nol rubbing his big preschoolder feet over those of his baby brother. They were playing footsies.

I love baby feet.

It's Love Thursday. Show your stuff.

Crazy in love...

It's Love Thursday. Are you playing? crazedparent is.

A simple moment in Siena, Italy during a winter vacation five years ago. It is one of my all-time favorite photos of me and el amor de mi vida...the kind that you want your grandkids and great-grandkids to have framed in their homes when you're long gone. The hubs may be a wee bit cranky that I posted this photo of him but he looks different now. Back then, he actually had hair. But we're still crazy in love.

Check out the other images of Love Thursday in the Flickr photo pool.

Viva el amor...

Have you read about Love Thursday? Here's my photo...

Pre-crazedparent days, we were in Zihuatanejo, Mexico staying at a gorgeous, cliffside villa. Every afternoon the staff would create beautiful, artistic scenes with flower petals on our bed. This  simple design was what we saw the first day we arrived. Viva el amor!

(Karen and Irene - great idea!)