finale • fourth of july 2011

events, holidays, little ones, personal, we are family

Every year, we invite family & friends to potluck & enjoy front row seats to see the local fireworks from the balcony of my parents’ house. It’s a late-night gathering, because the fireworks display begins after it’s completely dark–usually around 9:30 PM. As the kids get older, they are more likely to stay awake long enough to see what all the excitement’s about, but every year, there’s at least one littl’un that succumbs to sleep before (or sometimes during) the show. This was my favorite pic from our party this year: Sweet Neave asleep on her Daddy’s shoulder, her parents trying to beat the traffic & heading out before the show was over. In the background, you can see the finale; the foreground, Chris & Shannon catching one last glimpse before heading home at the end of a three-day weekend…

stars & dots • independence day weekend 2011

events, outdoors, personal, we are family

This Fourth of July weekend was truly the epitome of summer holidays. We kicked off the good times by celebrating our friends’ daughter’s second birthday; they hosted the most mellow, late-afternoon gathering at their beautiful home. The backyard was full of that yellow sunshine that backlights everything with the most glorious glow, & as the afternoon wore on, I settled into this deep bliss in the company of good friends, surrounded by the laughter of all our children playing together happily. Suh-weet…

they said it would go by fast • zoë’s preschool graduation • redondo beach, ca

little ones, personal, preschool

In the weeks approaching Zoë’s preschool graduation, I think I was in denial. I just refused to think about it in any personal way, except to remember that I must bring my camera, because I was to shoot the event. I’m not sure how long I’ll use this head-in-the-sand approach to the fleet-footed milestones of childhood; I am barely able to keep up just bearing witness to it all. The upside of my being a pathologically sentimental person is that it makes me a great photographer–because I want to remember all the details. So, clicking away prevented me from melting down–it helped me stay in the present, instead of giving in to the flickering slideshow in my mind of images of Zoë as an infant (first bath, first solid meal, first steps, first pig tails); or alternately jumping ahead in time & imagining her going to prom & walking down the aisle. Just be here, one frame, one/five-hundredths of a second at a time. Just be here, in this moment, truly seeing my child’s funny smile while accepting her diploma.

In the pure spirit of Riviera PlaySchool, the kids were all their impromptu selves: still grubby from playing, perhaps spattered with paint, gathered together for an organic ceremony. Zoë wore three types of camouflage & sported tattoos on legs, arms, & cheek. The director & founder of PlaySchool, Linda, presided over the event, reminding the families how much she & the teachers love these children. Each child received a special book made especially for them by their teachers; it was full of photos of them & the kinds of caring messages that only teachers can write. In addition, each student got a sunflower seed–to plant & to symbolize the future.

I just have to express our deepest gratitude to Linda, Susan, Dawn, Madi, & Katie, these gifted teachers of heroic patience, humor, & kindness. Everyday, they make PlaySchool a safe, loving, stimulating, fun environment for my children to learn & grow, & give them the attention & guidance that I hardly think I’m even capable of at home. You are all amazing human beings to choose this vocation–& all of us benefit from your calling.

Congratulations to all the graduates & their misty-eyed mommies & daddies…

kyle • class of 2011 • calle mayor middle school promotion

events, outdoors, personal, we are family

I was never one of those women who cooed over babies & wanted to nuzzle their heads & smell them & hold them & bounce them…until Kyle. His parents are my cousins, & they live just a few minutes from us, while most of our relatives are much further away. Many years ago, when I arrived at Kyle’s first birthday party, he was curled up in his mom Beth’s arms. She explained that he wasn’t feeling so great, & he surprised us both when he willingly let me hold him. He fell asleep on my shoulder & remained there for the whole party. For the first time, I understood how holding a sleeping baby was one of the best feelings in the world.

I could hardly believe it when this month, I watched him lined up among a river of red robes waiting to receive his middle school diploma. A stylish lad & a long, lean player of volleyball, he’s now taller than both his parents. He’s also the object of much worship by both of my daughters, who always greet him with a high-pitched, two-syllabled squealing of his name. His was their first graduation ceremony, & fittingly enough, two weeks later, he would also attend Zoë’s PlaySchool graduation. How is it that a five-year-old & a fourteen-year-old are both on the cusp of something so new? Can we as parents ever keep up with all these threshold moments?

I know everyone says, “It goes by fast,” but you just don’t realize it until you hug your “little” cousin congratulations, & you leave the parking lot first, because he’ll be going off to a party all on his own…