Many people don’t know that one of our sweet monkeys has some extra challenges … and this summer has been incredibly difficult for him and for our family.  The details of our particular situation are quite different from Tara’s but the uncertainty, guilt, tears and strain on all of us are similar.  Thankfully, after some truly excruciating weeks we were able to meet a wonderful special educator who immediately assembled an entire team of people to help.  The last few weeks have been a flurry of phone calls, paperwork, appointments and … relief.  I feel so relieved and so blessed to have met just the right people at just the right time.  We are no longer trying to figure this out alone.  Instead of crying tears of frustration, I cry tears of gratitude.  We have “people”.  I can’t find the words to express how wonderful that feels.

So why – you may be wondering – do I feel the need to post about this?  Because I think sometimes it’s good to admit that we struggle and that parenting is really, really hard sometimes.  Or maybe it’s even really really hard all the time.  Sometimes I feel like we are the only family who is struggling to help a child thrive and feeling lonely and isolated is never a good thing.  Perhaps by my talking about our challenges, you can take comfort and know that you are not alone in yours.

Hugs to all,

Reb

p.s. The weather cooled down a bit this weekend (it’s been the hottest summer on record in NC) and we were able to spend most of it outside – finally.  This image was taken on Saturday afternoon at a nearby creek.  If dirt is any indicator of how much fun a child is having, then Owen was having a really good time.  Love his soaking wet clothes, smudged up face and muddy fingers …

Last June – a few days before we headed west and the Ro-Ro’s moved north – we all gathered for dinner and bubbles.  Aside from the mosquitoes, it was an absolutely lovely evening and so fun to finally use the bubble kit we bought years ago.  Dr. Dan had just as much fun (maybe more) then the kiddos.  He’s such a cute nerd.

xoxo,

Rebecca

p.s.  for those wanting to do this at home, we learned a few things our first time around:  1) the bubble juice really does get better over time.  Next time we’ll make it a few hours in advance.  2) toddlers and bubbles …  not such a great idea.  They drove the older monkeys BANANAS by popping bubbles prematurely.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to start at the beginning of a highway, and drive it all the way to the very end?

xoxo,

R.

Gosh, I’ve had these images picked out ready to post for ages, I just haven’t been settled or sane enough to aptly describe how much both the experience and images mean to me.  Hmmmm … where to start?  How about this:

I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jefra develop from a fairly conventional portrait photographer into an amazing artist with an incredibly unique creative vision.  I love that her style is so different then my own – that it is abstract, vintage, hazy, crazy and real when my photographs tend to be crisp, neat and ordered.  I love that she was brave enough to take on my crazy monkeys as clients (’cause if I had called me wanting to book a photo session, I would have politely declined, haha).  I love that she showed up very very early on a Monday morning with a presence so calming and warm that my I-don’t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-a-photo-session-tantrum-throwing child calmed right down and realized there was nothing to worry about.  I was prepared for a photo session that was crazy, hectic and stressful and she gave us calm, quiet, soothing and fun.  The experience was such a pleasure and the resulting images are everything I had hoped for.  I’m so relieved to be pictured with my children.  What a novel idea.  We definitely need to do this more often …

Love to all,

Reb

We safely rolled into East Grand Rapids, Michigan around dinner time tonight and had a most happy reunion with the Ro-Ro’s, who we have missed so much since they moved in June.  It’s been fun seeing their gorgeous new home, and walking around their lovely new city.  After only a few hours, my monkeys are ready to relocate.  I wonder how long we can stay before we’ve over stayed our welcome?  Hmmmm …

xoxo,

Reb

Blogged here.

xoxo,

Rebecca

Did I mention we had a photo session with the amazing Jefra Star Linn while we were in Utah?  Well, we did and it was wonderful.  This is just a teaser until I can narrow down my favorites to share …

xoxo,

Rebecca

Yay!!!

So, how many days do you think it’s gonna take AT&T to come out and fix my internet connection?  How many evenings will I spend sitting in cafe’s with free wi-fi so I can get some work done?  I guess we’ll find out.  Now I’m off to make a furious attempt at fixing the Darling Art blog before this place closes … Wish me luck!

xoxo,

Reb

(thud)

That was me throwing my shoe at the computer.

I am going to attempt one last time to upload to this blog … it’s a silly iPhone image taken this weekend while traveling with Dr. Dan.  Here goes nothing:

Nope.  It stalled out at 82% uploaded, just like all the other times.  So you’ll just have to use your imagition.

(insert pretty picture here)

Isn’t this fun?

And now, I am giving up and going to bed.  Here’s to hoping tomorrow is my lucky day.

Over and Out,

Reb

I have been terribly homesick the past few days.  I stepped out of the Raleigh airport early Sunday morning and the air was warm, thick and wet and I have been mourning the loss of the dry desert heat and cool desert nights.  I miss the sunrise over the mountains, the sunset over the lake and how unobstructed the views are without a bajillion tall trees in the way.  And I miss my Mom and my sisters.  A lot.

I didn’t photograph much on this trip.  There’s something about constantly chasing after an 18-month-old while trying to keep my eye on three other monkeys that inhibits any attempt at good photography.  That said, we did get a friend to snap a quick picture for us near the cabin my parents rented up Big Cotton Wood canyon.  Noah is such a nut.

Love to all,

Rebecca

p.s. Isn’t my niece the cutest thing ever?

p.p.s.  Have you been watching Boston Med?  We rarely watch tv and found out about the show today when my friend sent me a Facebook message about the most recent episode (Episode 4) which features a trauma surgeon who goes home to his wife and kids and is living … IN OUR OLD HOUSE!!!  What are the odds?  It was so fun and nostalgic seeing our scruffy old street and scruffy old “Gray House” on the show.  It was also fun watching the episode with Dr. Dan who knew a bunch of people from The Brigham and would also check his own pager every time one went off on the show.  Talk about Pavlov’s dog …