perspective

Gabi: I prefer to be behind the camera instead of being in front of it but I do love photos with my kids together. Even though this photo was taken with stretched arm in a poor light, I still love it. It captures our special girls' time and that's what counts the most.

 Harmony: It's okay that I left my clean laundry in the hallway (not folded) and the boys thought it was dirty laundry and piled their dirty clothes on top. It's okay I broke my own rule and didn't take my shoes off downstairs. It's okay because I spent the time playing knights and dragons with a special little boy.

heart

Harmony: On family excursions we always seem to find a heart rock. It is now tradition to look for one before heading home.

 Gabi: there is something special about a cup of coffee in the morning. When I leave the house, my coffee goes with me in a travel mug. I'm always taking a part of my home and my safe place with me.

inside

Harmony: Inside my sketchbooks. I have many, not sure why, but I love them all.

 Gabi: Sunday was such an easy going day. I spent the whole day inside the house and I loved it. I needed to turn off the outside world and just be.

playful

Harmony: Although I prefer them to be outside, it is nice seeing them play together indoors too.That is until they start hurting each other in the virtual world.

Gabi: the weather was so gorgeous on Saturday and I wish I could be on the field and watch him play. But I was on a different mission - getting the cake and  putting up surprise B-day decorations for him at home. He loved it.

imperfection

Harmony: The day of his first basketball game he woke up with a fever. He didn't want to let his team down and went anyway. They didn't win their first game, but as a team, they did a great job. My job is to help him see that life is imperfect and we have to make the best of each moment.

 Gabi: at the end of the day she decided to have a tea party in the living room. We were accompanied by her favorite stuffies, wore special necklaces and had "tea with biscuits" and special "pizza hamburgers". It was imperfectly perfect tea party.

patience

Harmony: It's amazing how much a hot cup of tea and a few moments to myself recharges my patience. I need to remember to do this for myself

Gabi: I'm really not sure whose patience these little elastics test more - mine or theirs. There is frustration and sometimes even tears as the project goes wrong. Then it's mommy to the rescue...

awakening

Harmony: A morning person like me, he wakes up in the best of moods. We end each night by saying, "I'll see you first in the morning." We try to sneak up on one another each morning to win the game.

Gabi: I think I stepped in into the New Year with my left foot first. I didn't feel like myself at all. The weekend changed it for me: my family, a quit chat with a dear friend of mine, good sleep... I feel like myself once again.