night river {life}

Yes, I'm still doing a 365, and yes, I'm still taking pictures of our river every weekend. It's such a small stretch, at this one spot near our house, that we can get to. I'm having a bit of a time finding ways to mix it up. So I look for different angles, different light, different times of day. I may need to move my spot eventually, but for right now, it has changed enough that we're still good. This night, last Friday, was the latest we'd been. Not a great sunset, but a deep blue glow had fallen along the water and the lights were coming on along the docks and the shipyards.

And while we've had company on our river jaunts before, kids and dogs scrambling along the rocks, this was a first. A young man, camped out quite deliberately. He had his beach chair, a cigar, a beer and some quiet music playing. That second photo with the flag may have been my best picture of the night, but it was this shot of a solitary evening's enjoyment that I chose to represent that day's 365. How could I not?

milestone {life}

So we had a big day around here yesterday. After nearly two years, our boy got his braces off yesterday. Judging by what everyone was saying on my Instagram and Facebook feeds, if you had braces, this day is one you never forget! Our journey was shorter than some really. We started two summers ago and the braces themselves came on that first Christmas. We knew we were nearing the end at our last appointment when our orthodontist gave us a letter that said 80% of the time, kids get their braces off at the next appointment. So while we were hopeful that yesterday would be it, we were also a little scared to get our hopes up!

Cal brushed his teeth really well yesterday morning, and he took his phone with him back to the chair. I could hear everyone laughing and talking and then I heard his orthodontist say, "Well, today's the day!" I shot Callum a quick "??" text, and right away he texted me back.

"Yup."

It took forever but there was a great air of celebration about the place. I'd stocked up on super-chewy bubble gum, but why bother? Turns out the office gives out a goodie bag filled with caramel corn, Dots and gum (and a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss, but who's counting!). How wonderful is that? All that forbidden fruit, handed over to you in a celebratory goodie bag! It's hard work to have braces; these guys deserve a reward.

At each visit during school hours, Cal's orthodontist's office will print out a note to excuse him from school, and today when we were checking out, I mentioned that we might swing by Neel's office to show him the new smile. The admin smiled and said, "Well, let me tack on a few extra minutes and say you left at 11 instead of 10:45, how about?"

It was a pretty good day all around. He keeps getting surprised by them. We all do. Look at that gorgeous smile.

You know, while wonderful things were happening for our family yesterday, absolute destruction was being wreaked upon parts of the mid-west of our country, in Oklahoma. It's hard not to keep thinking about it. Two elementary schools, a hospital, countless homes, all destroyed. And yet. Still a little bit of hope. Check out this video. That's the kind of story I want to hang on to. That, and all the teachers and helpers. Holding them all in the light.