Author Archives: mabufive

thought provoking questions

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Have you seen this book? A Question and Answer a Day for Kids- a three year journal Question a Day-1

We started this book back in June and we have been having a blast with it. Every night (or almost every night) we pull out this book and ask Harry the question of the day. There is a question every day for 365 days and then it repeats for 3 years. I can’t wait to see how the answers change through the years. This book has prompted incredible conversations. And leaving it permanently on the dining room table allows us to not forget. Here are some of my favorite questions/responses (so far):

Q: Which three words do you like the sound of:
A: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolconiosis , slick and caramelQuestion a Day-2

Q: ________is so funny.
A: My parents. They make silly mistakes that we can all laugh at together.Question a Day-3

Q: Describe your pet or a pet you’d like to have:
A: brown, furry cat, Mainecoon. Small. Has some flecks of orange. Small and stays small with green eyes. Playful, energetic but always ready to snuggle and be petted.Question a Day-4

Q: What song do you like to sing? Why?
A: Dynamite. It is a nice fitting song and it has been with me quite a while.

Q: Is there something you can’t stop thinking about? What is it?
A: Rainbow Loom – making my Chinese DragonQuestion a Day-5

We are having so much fun with this book, I am also thinking about this one for me, Q&A a Day: 5 Year Journal and this one for Patrick and I, Our Q&A a Day: 3-Year Journal for 2 People.

 

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project life/365 – week 29

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sunset over the city.Week 29-1

Harry tried to convince Patrick of something, but Patrick was not buying it.Week 29-2

The big cupcake decisionWeek 29-3

Cupcakes chosen, wait … what is that? Oh, of course, It’s a baby rainbow loom Cloudjumper trying to eat a cupcake – hmm….Week 29-4

Purging scrapbook supplies.Week 29-5

Moomba is obsessed with Rain Loom animals. He thinks they are his. I keep finding them all over the house. Here he is attacking the little lion. Week 29-6

We started a “Warm and Fuzzy jar” that gets filled as Harry goes out of his way to do nice things – per Harry’s request. After a long few weeks, he finally achieved some “warm and fuzzies”. week 29-20

The clean studio.Week 29-8

“Is anyone going to feed me?”Week 29-9

Minecraft CampWeek 29-10

He is demonstrating his Minecraft Map – we are riding a roller coaster to just below the sun so we can cross the bridge to the boat.Week 29-11

Hope you have an interesting, fun day full of warm and fuzzies.

 

 

the essence of a school year

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How do you capture the essence of a school year? Every year varies. Some years there are lots of projects, sometimes I can take a ton of photos or the teachers take photos, some times there is a plethora of field trips, shows, stuff, etc… Whatever your experience, there is always a story to tell about your child’s school year.

Here are some ideas on what to capture both in photos and/or words to characterize your child’s school year:

  • the obligatory first day of school photo
  • the school’s sign
  • what your child likes in their lunch or what they eat from the cafeteria
  • new clothes or school styles
  • new back pack – why did they choose it?
  • a picture with their teacher
  • what the inside of the classroom looks like, posters, bins, class library, the backpacks lined up, markers, areas (reading area, make believe area, science area, etc.)
  • Questions for your child – How old are you?, How tall are you?, Do you like your teacher? What are you excited about the school year? Goals for the year?
  • the class photo
  • your child’s professional individual photo
  • drawings, art
  • writing samples, stories, answers to questions
  • what is classroom life like? do they sit groups, facing the board, at a big table, rug time?
  • are there specialty classes? language? music? technology? library? science?, P.E.?
  • what is popular at recess? what does your child like to do?
  • photos of your child working on homework
  • carnivals
  • songs they sing, poems to memorize, etc.
  • craft projects
  • holidays, parties
  • projects, making the project, presenting the project
  • special days – like pajama day, spirit days, crazy hair days, etc.
  • field trips
  • sleep away camp
  • science fair
  • after school classes
  • self – portrait
  • rehearsing for a project
  • book reports
  • examples of tests
  • strengths, weaknesses
  • performances – a choir concert or a play ( include getting ready -nerves?excitement?)
  • moments with friends – who are there friends? what do they like to do together?
  • sports at school
  • reward systems
  • special events, – parent parties, picnics, end of the year party
  • homework folder, binder, books, pencils, pens, etc.
  • are they organized? or disorganized?
  • daily schedule
  • books read during the school year – reading logs, etc.
  • awards, certificates
  • report cards, notes from the teacher
  • blog posts from the teacher
  • trends – silly bands, colorful shoes, trendy toys ( Minecraft or Rainbow Loom)

This is a sample of the book I created for Harry’s second grade year. ( I know I am behind, but at least it got finished).

2nd Grade Book-51 2nd Grade Book-52 2nd Grade Book-53 2nd Grade Book-54 2nd Grade Book-55 2nd Grade Book-56 2nd Grade Book-57 2nd Grade Book-58 2nd Grade Book-59 2nd Grade Book-60 2nd Grade Book-61 2nd Grade Book-62 2nd Grade Book-64 2nd Grade Book-65 2nd Grade Book-66 2nd Grade Book-67 2nd Grade Book-68 2nd Grade Book-69 2nd Grade Book-70 2nd Grade Book-71 2nd Grade Book-72 2nd Grade Book-73 2nd Grade Book-74 2nd Grade Book-75 2nd Grade Book-76 2nd Grade Book-77 2nd Grade Book-78 2nd Grade Book-79 2nd Grade Book-80 2nd Grade Book-81 2nd Grade Book-82 2nd Grade Book-83

For this book I used the following:

comic-con (part 2)

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Comic Con-42

The show floor is just insane.Comic Con-47

This Darth Vader car rocks.Comic Con-27

The day is not complete with fighting Emperor Palpatine.Comic Con-29

Batman turns 75.Comic Con-30

Artists did incredible work with Batman’s cape.Comic Con-31

Costumes everywhere.Comic Con-40Comic Con-32 Comic Con-45Comic Con-33

“No I’m the real Spiderman.”Comic Con-34 Comic Con-35

Marvel Superheroes.Comic Con-39

Harry and I did an Adventure Time scavenger hunt throughout the show floor.Comic Con-49 Comic Con-51

Unique.Comic Con-43

Harry played some Pokemon.Comic Con-44

I can’t even fathom how they are all going to get on that elevator.Comic Con-48

DC Superheroes.Comic Con-46

 

Until next year!

comic-con (part 1)

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Comic-Con is one of those crazy, wild weekends.Comic Con-1

You have to love the advertisement art all around.Comic Con-2

Trying the new Disney Infinity 2.0 characters.Comic Con-4

Got all our stuff, ready to tackle the show floor.Comic Con-6

Silly.Comic Con-7

Checking out the Superhero Ugly Dolls.Comic Con-8

Is it a star on the red carpet? No, it’s just Harry.Comic Con-9

You never know what you might encounter.Comic Con-10 Comic Con-11 Comic Con-12 Comic Con-13 Comic Con-14

A dog car?Comic Con-15

While waiting in line for the Game of Thrones experience.Comic Con-16

Olaf just walking down the street.Comic Con-55

Checking out the incredible Game of Thrones costumes.Comic Con-18

Patrick climbing The Game of Thrones Wall. It was so scary I couldn’t do it.Comic Con-19

The throne is a bit intimidating.Comic Con-21

But not for me.Comic Con-22

They were giving away free Game of Thrones tattoos. Real ones.Comic Con-23

Harry has the most amazing luck with these games.Comic Con-24

Patrick not so much.Comic Con-25

The pure joy of winning his new toy.Comic Con-26

capture life – finale

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“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson

To capture our life in photos is a lot of hard work but absolutely worth it. It pushes me to try new things. Shooting the everyday involves shooting the same thing or similar events,  so I have to find new ways to photograph moments or objects, whether it is in different light or from different angles (otherwise, it would be incredibly boring). You start seeing what works and what doesn’t work. You learn to wait for the perfect moment that captures life for a fleeting instant. The only way to get better is to shoot and shoot a lot. Bad pictures are the norm with a couple of good ones thrown in, but eventually those good pictures start appearing more and more. When I started, my philosophy was if you take 100 photos you might get 5 good ones. The percentages of the good ones keep getting higher and higher each year. To experiment is to get better. Try new things!! I truly believe that if you take photos everyday you eventually have to get better. You have to!!!

Capture Life-50 Capture Life-51 Capture Life-52 Capture Life-53 Capture Life-54 Capture Life-55 Capture Life-56 Capture Life-57 Capture Life-58 Capture Life-59 Capture Life-60 Capture Life-61 Capture Life-62 Capture Life-63 Capture Life-64

project life/365 – week 27

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Raja being really lazy while eating.Week 27-1

Moomba always helps when making the bed. Always.Week 27-2

Sandcastle Contest.Week 27-3 Week 27-4

Can’t believe the detail in the Eiffel Tower.Week 27-5

Don’t ask.Week 27-6

Amazing.Week 27-7 Week 27-8

Harry was inspired to create his own sand art.Week 27-9

Nightime Zoo. The boys attempting totem status.Week 27-10

Koalas.Week 27-11 Week 27-12

Harry struggling with the hula hoop.Week 27-13 Week 27-14

I can’t resist a photobooth.Week 27-15

Nightime swimmingWeek 27-16 Week 27-17

Working it at the Skatepark.Week 27-18 Week 27-19

This dog just made me smile.Week 27-20