Mango Season: January

Thursday, January 20, 2011

January

My whole life, January has been a story of cold, wet feet trudging through slosh on the way from one heated building to another. There are times that I miss the seasons here, the snuggling up and the sun on snow and white mountains, but I don't miss the disappointing endlessness of January that you just have to endure. Lately, the contrast of my new life and my old life surprises me every day, like someone jumping out at me as I walk out the door. (That reminds me of another story I may have to tell someday about a person I currently know--who will remain nameless--who likes sneaking up on me. I'll save that for another post. Seven years from now.) Here are some shots from our day at Castle Beach. Forgive the photography. As soon as I master the zoom in and zoom out feature, I might work on focus.

I know this looks like bragging about the cool place I live, but I just want to say Alleluja and Praise Be to God for being creative about January in different places. What's your January like?

5 comments:

Bethany said...: I hate January, and I hate winter. We were just discussing this very topic tonight--would we miss the seasons living somewhere like Hawaii. I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no. I hate winter!; January 21, 2011 at 6:31 PM
Betty said...: I must confess I feel a lot like Beth. We have some snow now, it's cold and it's going to snow some more by the end of the week. I just love the summer!; January 24, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Erin said...: Yep, I'm jealous! I still remember when we went sledding with Jane and Lydia by your townhouse. Snow has it's fun moments, but I could definitely live without it.; January 24, 2011 at 2:39 PM
Brooke said...: Oh Bethany, you say you wouldn't miss the seasons, I naively said the same thing once. Living in Austin has changed my tune. I do love warm weather but it's hard to feel festive at Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas when you can attend all parties in shorts and flip-flops. Cold months make you appreciate the warm months.

Emily, it's warmish here in Austin, but I'm not ready to don a swimming suit anytime soon!; January 25, 2011 at 8:37 PM
Flori said...: Striking contrast, indeed. I took a hibernation nap on this 40 degree, rainy Janurary afternoon.; January 26, 2011 at 3:03 PM

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Janie Jo

"This is the best birthday of my life!" -- "I correct people. That's what I do." -- "I'm just going upstairs to practice my flag-twirling." -- "I'm not the type that faints." -- Emily: "Are we getting close?" Jane: "Ummm. . . we're closer than we were when we were way back there." -- "Sometimes I'm not weird." -- "Guys!!! Stop being violent. It's annoying." -- "Sam, stop talking about digesting. I'm trying to sleep." -- "Wanna know why I am wearing two socks? It's my new style." -- "My molars are moving." -- "I can put my toe in my armpit and hold on to my knee."

Sam

Mom. What's a amenopee? Like ABCDEFGHIJKL amenopee? -- Please bless all the people who already died, and all the people who are alive, and all the people who are not even alive yet. -- I didn't mean to peek. I was just checking to see if the reindeer ate their food, when the WHOLE COUCH caught my eye. (Christmas morning) -- Mommy, may I sell something? -- "I just sold Daniel all my lego guys for a dollar!" -- (Right after Colin sings at full blast in Sam's ear) "Mom, will you PLEASE by me those one things for my birthday? Yeah, ear plugs." -- "Mom, how many hours has it been since the world began?" -- "Jane hasn't amateured yet, has she?" -- "I'm bored." (at 9:30 p.m. as he's falling asleep)

Colin

"Is I'm done yet?" he shouts three seconds after he sits in time-out. -- "Mom, where are the ears of our car?" -- See you later, Crocodile! -- "Mom, can I have some more of that skin milk?" -- "My tooth itches." -- Hey Mom, did you know that at night, birds turn into bats?" -- "That guy calls me 'Tolin.' He has a slip." -- "You better stop eating, Mom, or you're going to be really, REALLY pregnant." -- "Hey! Does anyone want to see my humongous toe?!" -- "Hey, Sam. Did you know that a burp is a fart in your mouth?"

Charlie

"I need my piracy." -- "We are the warriors doing the Haka!" (shouted like a true warrior) -- "Give me up, horsey, give me up!" -- "Hocus hocus!" -- "Hokey Hokey" -- (Yelling as he bursts through the front door) "Mom, where ya?!!! Where ya, Mom?" -- "Mommy, I feel the feeling." -- "Da. Humbug." (to his nursery teacher who wanted him to put the toy down) -- "Can I watch Nokey Nokey the sheep?" (Hokey Pokey the cow), (as he's giving me a hug) "Nice to meet you." -- "Daddy is in the world." (Daddy is the best in the world.) "Twinkle, twinkle . . . tomato!" (cracks himself up every time). "My leg is broken." (He drops to the floor wherever we happen to be so I can pick him up.) -- "I can't see my face, Mom. I just can't do it." -- "Don't destroy me please, Mommy. And don't kill Colin." -- "Are the wishionaries gone so I can play the mitarr?" -- "Grandma hunged up." -- "Can I have a drink of syrup?" -- "Can you put my helmet on my three-head....oh, sorry, I mean my four-head." -- "Mom, what's for dinner? Pasta? Despairagus?

Books I Love

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Kite Runner
The Help
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe
The Book Thief by Martin Zusak
The Book of Mormon
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter VII
Harry Potter VII
Ella Minnow Pea
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
Beatrice and Vergil by Yann Martel
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens