Growing Up, Little Gifts

Some times life gives us little gifts. This week Lil"Bug "polished" her room. She's kept it almost this clean all week. A couple times she's asked for my help (by assigning me "chores" which actually amounts to, "Hey Mama, if I pick up the toys and make the bed, will you put away my dress up clothes?" I am totally cool with that.) She's read books to her sister and kept her fish fed. She's insiting on starting the night in her own bed and asking for lots of alone time. Growing up. Someday these things won't mean so much to her and the months and years will fly by with no discernable difference, I am glad that she's still little enough for me to bask in the glow of her wonderment.

There's more snow in the forcast, by the way.....

After and Before, playing with photo editing.

 

After and before. Aperture does some really cool things.

 

This is the result that looked like this before:

 

I have some favourite changes and adjustments that I go to first and I am still exploring the colour wheel and how to change individual colors. Photography, as I am learning, is not only about the initial capture of the moment. 

A Day This Week, Up and Down

 

 Growing up is hard. Sometimes it hurts in ways that are new, physically and emotionally.

No worries. The sisters decided to create valentines and tape them all over the house. I went upstairs to get a sweater and came down to the creative juices flowing. Lil'Bug had set up her sister with crayons and paper before getting her own project out. It was so sweet. It is hard to believe that the hour before that was full of screaming and sisters hitting each other and jealousies and more screaming with Mama just blown away by the emotions and severity of the kids' feelings.

I want more of the good times please. Or at least some sunshine. Sunshine would be nice. We're getting through the mess though and we'll all be better for it at the end.