Family books

Earlier this week, we were surprised to learn that five eagerly awaited boxes from France arrived and were waiting for pick up at the post office. My husband dashed out the door to pick up the boxes and was back home surprisingly fast.

Knowing the boxes were filled with old family books, we carefully opened them, one by one, 

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5642

making sure each book was removed gently.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5653

We took time to admire the textures, patterns,

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5664vibrant colors,

jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5673to read the inscriptions,

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5747and to explore their pages.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5645All of the books were written in French, and the girls were curious to know more about the contents of each book. Thankfully, my husband reads and speaks French, so he was able to elaborate.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5660

After the books were all unpacked and the girls went off to play, I remained close by with my camera. In the quiet, I watched my husband explore the books,

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5754

often smiling as he read more of the inscriptions. I imagined him establishing a deeper connection to some of his relatives from generations past.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5758We are so fortunate to have such rich family history to pass down through our family.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Family_Books_5726

A Favorite Poem

After a day full of riding bikes, zooming on scooters, and running around in the yard, our daughter decided to take a break. She reached up high on the book shelf and pulled down an old favorite: Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Jean_H_de_Buren_Where_the_Sidewalk_Ends_6512When I heard her reading Shel Silverstein’s “Tree House,” one of her favorite poems, I captured this moment.

Tree House

A tree house, a free house,

A secret you and me house,

A high up in the leafy branches

Cozy as can be house.

A street house, a neat house,

Be sure and wipe your feet house

Is not my kind of house at all–

Let’s go live in a tree house.

Favorite Photo Friday: Picture Books

This photo awakens memories of adventures shared, cuddled under a warm blanket at bedtime. Delightful memories of being together, reading stories with our girls before going to sleep.

Jean_H_de_Buren_books-5389

On this day last year

This morning, I decided to look back through my photos to find out what I was up to on this date last year. My search brought me to a wonderful memory: our daughter bringing home her first reader from kindergarten.

This photo brings back the smile on her face as she presented me with the book, the excitement in her voice as she asked me to sit down and listen to her read, and the joy I felt in my heart while watching her confidence soar with each turned page.

She brought a gift home that day.