The theme of the weekend was: “Missed (But Not Really) Photo Opportunities…or: Clearly, I Need Professional Help”

Friday

I told my daughter she should dress up, because we would be heading straight to the boys’ recital and her dad’s concert right after school.

Seeing her stricken expression, I reconsidered my position, “Well, maybe you could change really quickly as soon as you get home from school.”

“Oh, good,” she said with palpable relief, “Because I’m pretty sure I’m going to be playing football today, and that can get really messy.”

My little football player:

The boys’ piano recital:

Colin’s concert:

Sadly, before I could get any photos of Colin, I had to bolt from the concert when I started feeling sick.

Saturday:

I felt much better after an early night and was able to help a little with “Ashton’s Birthday Wish.” This is a drive started by a remarkable boy, who decided that instead of having a birthday party, he would collect and distribute winter coats to people in need. His mom told me he was crushed that he couldn’t be there. He had just gotten out of a wheelchair after surgery, had overdone it, and was in terrible pain. This is when being crazy and always toting a big fat camera in my bulging purse pays off! I took a few pictures so she could share them with her son.

Later that day, a couple of my son’s friends came over for a sleepover. The idea of three thirteen year old boys in the house at once had been terrifying to me, but it was surprisingly sane. It almost killed me not to take photos, but I managed to restrain myself in order to preserve my good relations with my son. (OK, it’s possible that I may have surreptitiously taken a few).

Sunday:

Our new washer and dryer were delivered. My son and I nerded out, watching the first load go through its cycle:

We had a few quiet moments this afternoon…

And then we went to Lessons and Carols, my favorite service of the year. My daughter was singing in the choir for the first time. I tried to resist the urge to take photos, because church policy forbids it. I failed.

It doesn’t really count as a violation of the policy if you take blurry pictures with your phone, right? Still, I was punished anyway, when my daughter rolled her eyes at me when she saw me taking photos.

The candlelight service was beautiful. People all around me were breaking down in tears. I was undone by this verse from In the Bleak Midwinter, a hymn set to a poem by Christina Rossetti:

Angels and archangels may have gathered there.
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air.
But his mother only in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.