December 15: A Day in the Life of Darlene Seltzer

December 15: A Day in the Life of Darlene Seltzer of Studio Seltzer on Etsy. All photos taken with iPhone.

December 15th was a Monday and would normally have been a full workday for me, but my office at Oregon State University was closed to allow the mental health counseling staff to participate in training in Portland. The rest of the staff were offered the day off, but some, including myself, elected to work for half a day to complete a couple projects that are challenging to do during normal operating hours.

Preparing to make the nectar of the Goddesses.

I'm so proud of my son who loves Kindergarten and is always very excited to start his day there.

My family usually drops me off at work, but today I've driven myself, and as a non-parking permit holder, I've parked a few blocks away and am about to head out into the cold rainy morning.

 Lots of trees are still dropping their leaves well into December.

One of our goals for the day was to decorate our otherwise drab looking office for the winter holidays. This is the best we could do on our Dollar Store budget, but we like it.

Candy canes for our clients. Our office provides mental health services to over 700 students each term. Next to photography, psychology is my second love and was my field of study in college.

From the back office, we have a lovely view of Waldo Hall, built in 1907.

Walking back to my car through one of my favorite spots on campus.

Back at home with my favorite little girl. That adorable face works in her favor more often than it should.

Costume change! She hated the ballet class we signed her up for last summer, but she loves to dress up in her tights and leotard.

We went to Christmas Storybook Land for the first time. It's a free event that runs in the neighboring town for a couple weeks each December. As we stood in this spot, my son said, "This is the prettiest place I've ever seen in my whole life! I wish we could live here." I can't argue with that.

Back at home and the kids are performing their nightly clean-up ritual. Thanks to loving and generous family and friends, it often appears that a tornado dropped the contents of a toy store in our house.

One of the local middle schools sells and delivers trees as a school fundraiser each year. Even after trimming off the top of the tree, it's still too tall for the star. We love our festive living room nonetheless. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

A Day in the Life of Claire Carpenter

October 15: A Day in the Life of Claire Carpenter; all taken with iPhone

Up at 5:45 to workout. Love T25 and the fact that it only takes 25 minutes!

Sleepy girl :) 

Sleepy boy. At least he made it off the bed and onto my lap.

Daddy has been sucked into the sleeping too :)

Breakfast before preschool and then Madeleine's urologist appointment up in Portland.

How I love a freshly made bed.

Kids at preschool on this cloudy misty morning. I forgot to take any photos until I was back out in the car.

Two delightfully quiet hours at Starbucks while the kiddos are in preschool. Reading and knitting!

I couldn't bear to make this one black and white. So close to being done with this shawl--the Ashburn Shawl! I love it so very much.

Gorgeously cloudy up in Portland

The view of the Portland Aerial Tram from the 7th-floor waiting room in Doernbecher's Children Hospital.

We got good news at the urologist about Madeleine's hydronephrosis. Her right kidney is doing significantly better so now we can push out the next appointment 6 months! Hooray!

But I was exhausted and distracted the rest of the day until just before bedtime.

Playing with whatever she pleases while brother is at AWANA. Little sister win!

A Day in the Life of Claire Carpenter

September 15: A Day in the Life of Claire Carpenter of Studio Claire; all taken with iPhone

I spent almost all of the month of September traveling to Texas then NYC then Boston then Texas again where I spent a week and a half with my family. On this day, we went to the Houston Children's Museum with my sister's regional homeschool group. The museum is closed for the day to everyone except homeschoolers, so it was much less crowded than usual!

 My parents' coffee table covered in kid clutter :)

 On the way to the museum, singing and reading and playing.

In "Kidtropolis", working in the police car and ambulance. 

Fun road-building activity table in the City Planning area.

Eating lots and lots of fake food in the restaurant. (Note: plastic salad looks exactly as gross as you think it would.) 

Veterinarian Madeleine to the rescue!  

Benjamin charges steep steep rates for his veterinary services. 

Fun on the Kid Pulley (taken by my sister) 

The highest air pressure we ever built up under the rocket was 25psi and then let it fly! (You can see the speedy whoosh of the rocket in the middle tube.)

Tired kiddos reading with their Mia :)

And then I forgot to take photos the rest of the day. But just imagine naps, dinner, playing, and bath time...all with perfect attitudes....

A Day in the Life of Claire Carpenter

August 15th:

Friday was a fun day at home. Our friends--the family of five--were still living with us, which made for lots of fun during drawing/craft time, snack time, and tv time. This time I managed to remember to take photos throughout the day, all with my 50mm.

Scissor time! As you can see, her technique is flawless.

Writing on his scroll to join the other kiddos in playing Zelda.

Evidence of littles everywhere! Snack time outside in the cool morning sun and some My Little Pony time.

I may or may not still be addressing our "We've Moved!" cards.... (designed by the fabulous Ann over at acbc design)

Library book time with Daddy :)

Reading my address book to discover all sorts of mysteries!

Flying with Daddy

In the bath.... How I love this boy.

Squeezing in a quick game of MarioKart before bed

But I don't want to go upstairs!

Toothbrushing time

Bedtime reading with Daddy

So yeah, I could watch him read to our children all day long....

Reading feet :)

After bedtime, chocolate ice cream with a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt for Mommy and Daddy :)

Find more of Claire at her Etsy shop!