I know how this goes. He’s shorter than me, he will climb into my lap and loves it when one of us will sleep with him. He needs me nearby when he’s getting ready, he doesn’t want to be home alone for too long and he will play the part of the baby because he knows I love it and will snuggle him harder for it. He is happy to hang out with me, with his siblings, with his family. Right now we are always his number one choice. 
Tagged: 12, birthday, Imagine Dragons, Oliver, twelve
Up at 6:00am, Penny and I quietly celebrated her birthday with a strawberry shortcake and her first wish. 
Tagged: 13, birthday, Penny, Rehoboth, scavenger hunt
Tagged: 15, birthday, fifteen, Lucas, roller skating
Birthday celebrations started with a family day in DC.
He was always thoughtful and curious. Two qualities I observed early on that were echoed throughout his childhood in the questions he asked, the friends he made, the conversations we had. I remember swimming with him in the ocean, off the coast of Belize, chatting away as if I were talking to a friend, he was all of 9. Six years later we spend hours in the car talking about relationships, the creative process, gratitude, challenges (both his and mine), global politics, race issues and what inspires us. He doesn’t like conflict, doesn’t like to be scolded or reprimanded and therefore will use his humor and charm to calm an upset friend or an angry parent. In the past three years he’s grown tremendously in size, strength and ability. I look at this boy that is taller than me and bigger than me and I see the young man he is becoming. But at times I’ll catch an expression, a fleeting glimpse, and suddenly I see my 9 year old staring back at me and am reminded no matter how tall he grows he will never outsize that thoughtful, gentle heart.
Tagged: birthday, dance, fifteen 15, Lucas
Tagged: birthday, family, Oliver, photography
We celebrated 13 on the cusp of lockdown; friends warned and armed with antibacterial wipes everyone still showed up and celebrated. A year later with schools just starting to reopen and not sure how comfortable people felt, an outdoor venue was selected in the hopes a few would show up. All showed up. So either everyone is itching to get out or they just love this kid. 
My baby is ten. My last, my youngest has achieved a new milestone of double digits. He is constantly testing, pulling, stretching against the binds I put on him. Seemingly aimless, boundless energy with no purpose he is very intentional and knows that his desired outcome is always achieved, to have my attention.
Tagged: 10, birthday, Oliver, photography
Today is day 72 of quarantine, today is also Penny’s 11th birthday. In an average year this date could have fallen on a school day for her and a work day for me, a chaotic day of commitments squeezing in celebrations where we can. But instead it’s day 72 of quarantine, of social-distancing, of distance learning, of work from home. Her morning started with our usual birthday breakfast tradition but instead of rushing out the door she was surprised with a “Happy 11th Birthday Penny!!” chalk art message thoughtfully and beautifully decorating our front side walk, with homemade doughnuts dropped off with homemade cards and a lot of love, with texts, messages and videos as they streamed in from friends near and far, and a socially-distanced ice cream break which turned into a water gun fight (OK, the six feet distance may not have been enforced the whole time). So on her 11th birthday, the 72nd day of quarantine, of social-distancing and isolation, she felt streamers full of love, coming from every which way, tumbling down on her.
Tagged: birthday, Penny, photography
Our first born, bearer of our many firsts, now our first teenager. Too cool for school, beyond his years, no. His height might confuse many but he’s still just a silly kid inside.
Tagged: birthday, childhood, Lucas, photography
Our Everyday 