AE | The Labor Day Weekend Lens
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The kids and I spent the weekend with my parents on the Oregon coast.
We never get tired of visiting - the area or my parents.
I love that my parents are always using their camera too.
This trip Simon and I took a little "me & him" adventure down to the beach below my parents place. When I looked back through the photos I loved this series of three together above: rocks, sand, and surf.
I like the perspective of him in those shots - his size vs. the landscape.
I also managed to get in one good self-portrait while we were down there. Shot using a self-timer on a rock.
These two can not get enough of Grandma Pati. When we visit they only want her for every little thing. I heard "No, not you! Grandma!" quite a few times.
This one, she definitely has opinions. About everything. Sometimes it's hard to remember that she's really still just two.
Lily continues to be the very best dog. Her miraculous recovery still blows me away. She sure seems healthier now than she's been in quite awhile. She loves the beach.
Probably my favorite piece of the weekend was Simon deciding that he wanted to write out Old Bear Stories.
I've written a bit in the past about his affinity (and his complete memorization) of a couple of the stories but this time, instead of saying all of them out loud, he decided to write them out by hand.
It was so totally cool.
He's never written out any stories like this. The sheet of paper above is how he started and then he decided to re-write it all over again in a journal in pencil so he could erase any mistakes he made along the way. In his journal he wrote pages and pages. He'd ask us how to spell words here and there but other than that he just wrote and wrote.
Can't wait to see what he decides to write next.
GO SIMON GO
Today I'll be taking both kids to open houses at their schools. Anna's starting preschool and Simon's starting fourth grade. Lots of excitement around here this week.
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49 comments
Beautiful post, Ali! How wonderful to see you enjoying your time with your family.
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Beautiful photos!
Love Simon's writing, Anna just being two and so happy to hear Lily's doing great :)
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Hahahah! I get lots of "not you! Grandma!" too. Makes me happy. :) Gorgeous photos. Love that you regularly use a self-timer to include yourself in photos. I definitely need to do that. And yes, Go Simon Go! I'm so impressed with his writing skills and his great penmanship. It will be so fun to pull this story out, in a year, 10 years, 20 years.
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My boys are not big writers. So, I would be shocked if they did something like this. Yet, of course, I would not tell them and just let them keep going. Way to go Simon!! Sounds like you had a great time with your parents.
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We love Old Bear here! My two loved the videos and audio tape stories.
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We spent this past week on the Oregon coast too (probably north of you? Nehalem Bay, Hug Point, Cannon Beach). Wasn't it gorgeous? I love the ocean shore all the time but in August especially. Love the self-portrait with the two of you. Dang, I have the hardest time remembering to set that self-timer!! :P
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Great captures! Love Simon's paperwork! So fabulous!! :)
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I want to pick up my camera everytime i read your blog. Once again an A plus. Thanks for letting me see lily, she looks wonderful. Note to self.....must learn how to use self timer.
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wow, such penmanship. I think the apple and tree thing applies here.
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Ah, the Oregon Coast... :)
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Yeah, I time and again have to remind myself my 5 year olds are still really just little girls. But they sometimes sound 10 times older than they are.
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LOVE these photos! Especially the one of the kids on top of you while you read. :)
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Simon has BEAUTIFUL penminship. My litle guy memorizes everything too.. But can't write very well. We use an alpha smart alot... What a great thing to save.... Thanks for sharing the stories....
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So precious! Thank you!
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Great pictures Ali! And great writing by Simon! Dave likes those story books without words because the kids make up their own stories -- but getting them right word for word isn't too bad either! :)
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Beautiful photos, beatiful stories, I so admire you, Ali. As if the beginning wasn't enough, I was blown away by Simon's writing. I'm sitting here near tears reading his story. That he is writing this down now is incredibly awesome! I'm also impressed about his journal in pencil & his willingness to correct mistakes. That's a huge issue with some of our kids. You rock, Simon!
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Love these photos so. You are making me miss the pnw soooooo much. Hoping we head back that way (to live) soon! Xxo
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Love the pile of rocks :) I'm a huge fan of the Inukshuk stories (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuksuk). I have since starting collecting these beautiful rock figures hoping they will help me reflect and make purposeful choices in life. I also enjoy making them where ever I go, hoping to inspire and "guide" the next person.
thank you for sharing your journey!
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Simon has the most amazing handwriting. I love how he even noted conversations with quotes. Great job, Simon!!
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Wow...those pics are just breathtaking. Never been to Oregon. That coast just looks beautiful. First day of school in these parts too. My baby is a senior!!! Enjoy enjoy enjoy...it really goes by fast!!! Loving Simons "story" and that penmanship is quite nice:)
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