ISR Comes to a Close...bye bye to Katie

Our lives have been consumed with ISR swimming lessons for the past 6 weeks. Between packing bags, short naps, no naps, BUDS sheets (documenting all foods, activity, wet diapers and stinky diapers), no apples, no peaches, laundry, whining, bribing, crying, 25 minute commutes each way...everyday, swim diaper accidents, unpacking bags and more laundry...I assumed I would be thrilled when it was over...but yesterday when we waved goodbye to Katie for the last time I was just plain sad. I think because it fulfilled our day and challenged us in a way that would grow us and it did just that. By graduation week (week 4 for Aston and week 6 for Stellyn) I knew we had arrived when all they could talk about was going to see Mrs. Katie. Mrs. Katie became the bribe and no longer the cause for the bribe. Stell would say "Mei Mei go first and Asty go second, okay?" instead of the opposite.

The results speak for themselves! See how far they've come!

ISR Year 1 from kate Lee on Vimeo.

Some stills from the point-n-shoot...from yesterday

Thank you Katie...we miss you already!

New Lenses 24 1.4 and lensbaby!

I purchased some pretty darn neat new lenses last month and I am now certifiably happy as a clam but broke...n.o j.o.k.e!

I'm not ready to give any real feedback on these since i haven't really seen the results of the last months worth of photos (about 1500...I'm sick about it!) but here are the first few SOOC from each...

The Nikon 24mm f/1.4G : loved that i could sit poolside at 10pm and shoot flash-less



shot this one the next morning...stell's all up in my rollers these days...Mama Anne influenced me to buy some...think i've used them 1x to stell's 10



The Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic (influenced by Mama Dao and now Mama Anne): these 2 are pure luck because as far as I'm concerned this lens is next to impossible to focus on a 2 year old



many more to come from these 2 beasts!

The Spirit of Getting…

At this point, I’ve already learned as a Mom that it is much easier to raise a “getter” than a “giver”.  In fact I may have already created a monster.  I mean Aston’s whole day revolves around how many treats he can get…arrrgh…

Meet Gus…Aston’s “Elf on the Shelf” (thanks Mama Kathryn for pickin’ him up).  Uncle Jay Jay helped us name him.  Basically Gus’s job is to report back to Santa.  Gus sits in a new place every day and keeps a watchful eye Aston and Stellyn.  He lets Santa know when they’ve been good and and when they’ve been bad.  Gus introduced himself on Thanksgiving Day and let the kids know he will be watching until Christmas.  Gus has a new job in the Lee household.  He delivers treats each day in the appropriate window/door/chimney of our Christmas advent houses if Aston was good the day before (notice the lollipop stick poking out the top of the chimney by Gus).  It’s only day 2 and obviously Aston LOVES this new game.  However…I think there needs to be a couple days when Gus catches him hitting his sister and makes good on his word…and leaves an empty door the next morning.

“Operation Raise a Giver”:

Step 1:  Jeff and I have created a present policy.  Only 3 presents from us on Christmas/Birthday…this includes gifts from Santa but does not include stocking stuffers.  It’s best to manage expectations now…

Step 2:   Starting today…Aston will GIVE Gus a gift of his choice each night before bed…Gus will bring this “gift” back to his friends at Santa’s workshop to deliver to other boys and girls in need…(it will be something that he will not get back…again…expectations will be set:))  He’s already offered him some of his favorite cars…yikes!