so when i was 12 or so, i loved the movie, war games. loved it.
and it was so absolutely absurd and unbelievable that you could play games with strangers on a computer somewhere else in the world.

totally science fiction.

that was only 21 years before gemma was born.

last night, like most nights, gemma played math games online. she played against kids in other places in the world. it is normal.
no big deal.

totally mainstream.

yet, it is mind blowing when i stop to think about it. what is the world going to look like in another (mere) 21 years?

gemma went as Matilda for her school book week character day.  and that slight smile is hiding her first ever wobbly tooth.

come on tooth fairy, we are ready.

clover finally has enough hair for a ponytail.  a wispy, straggly, wish of a ponytail.   i wonder how old she will be when she gets her first haircut.

kieran has found that he has pockets and like the littlest of tiny men, stands around with his fat baby hands shoved into them..

but at the end of the day, they are still all my babies.

we are just gearing up to enter the tooth fairy phase…bring it on!

i realized she has really grown up lately.  holy cow.

she is wearing tops made for 7 year old girls.

my little beautiful young lady.

sidenote:  if you are going to see me speak with the awesome mishelle and lotus at blogher, this is one of  the “after” shot that you may see.

had to shoot something for the book last night at sunset and gemma was our model.  while we were setting up the shot, she waited…and looked like such a grown girl.

D3 – 50mm f/1.4G lens

that she could rewind this day.

i wished right back that her life would be full of days that were so wonderful she was left wanting a rewind button.

tech details:
both:  nikon d3 – 50mm f/1.4g lens – ISO 320
left:   f/2.2 – 1/400s
right:  f/2.2 – 1/320s

i had a request for a particular shot, so i have been going back in time on my external hard drives and i found this one.

gemma was the same age as the twins and clover has now started wearing that dress.

time. flies.

there were so many images that i never touched the first time around…years of images.  i wish i had time to go through all those folders and find some new favorites.
it is so much fun to remember.

now i want to get a wide prime for the d3.  what are your favorites?

gemma did great at school. i read her all of the comments and wishes of good luck. it made her day even better! thank you all.

for those who asked, i survived as well. talk to me when the twins begin.

about the photos: there is a little pocket of light around the side of the house that appears for a few brief moments right before bedtime…warm, soft and fleeting.

this year they mean business at school. she has to wear the hat, has spelling tests and she goes to the front office for a pass if she is late.

welcome to the real world kid…the fairy princess will always be waiting for you at home.

2 more from the morning:

that was yesterday.

now that i think about it…that is most days around here.

how? how did alec and i make two so very different little girls? i know, genetics…my dad had blue eyes. but wow. clover has taught me something from the very moment she came around that c-section modesty screen (the one put up so that you do not watch yourself being the star of Aliens). she came around all skinny and strawberry blonde, screaming in the doctor’s arms to tell me…don’t you expect me to be a mini gemma!

she reminds me everyday that i must parent each child differently.

on another note, the blog has been redesigned. my vision has been beautifully translated to this new format by the awesome, peta mazey. i love the way it looks now! i feel like i have just cleaned my room and i can fully relax! everything is all tidy and i can find what i need! thank you everyone for your “likes” over at the babble blogger list…you can “like” again every day, so if you have a moment, go on and like again!
CLICK HERE and vote for Sesame Ellis.