I am setting a new blogging goal, and that is, to get on here and blog. At least once a week. Let’s just say that it’s been busy here. Annabelle finished preschool a month ago, I’m now volunteering for two support groups, and today, I officially go on an interview to teach yoga. Also, whenever I sit down, I’m trying to read as much as I can about yoga, photography, parenting, and postpartum disorders. It’s a lot. And, honestly, I’m wondering why I’m taking on a lot, but that is for a different post.

Today, I wanted to share little bit about what Annabelle, Levi and I have been up to on a day to day basis. In many ways I feel like I’m back doing some homeschooling with them, though I keep a folder and call it “learning at home.” I print out, mostly Waldorf, activities for us to try. Last week, we learned about birds, attending a bird song class and observation, reading about birds, and going on nature walks to listen and look for birds. This week, we’re reading stories about caterpillars and butterflies, going on nature walks to look for them (still none to see so far as I can tell), doing dot art to create our own butterflies and then simply coloring in butterfly and caterpillar sheets. Yesterday at the pool, Annabelle even made up a butterfly dance where she, the butterfly, collected nectar from flowers. I’m thinking that we’ll see where all this takes us and just continue learning about whatever animal, bug, letter, number, language, that Annabelle wants to learn about. Isn’t this what unschoolers do?

And we play. We play outside a lot, though the heat and humidity do encourage inside playdates too. In the mornings, we get outside a bit and now and then, when I bring the camera, Annabelle and I take turns taking photos. I’d actually combed my hair and put on a bit of makeup, even brushing Levi’s hair into a faux hawk. Annabelle helped tame the hawk, and I had a ball just following Levi around with my camera while he crawled up the neighbors steps, invaded their entryway and posed next to their UPS delivery. Fun times.

How are you and your babes holding up in this heat?

A few weeks ago, I came home to find Redbook magazine’s Mom’s Survival Guide on my doorstep.   I’d been having “one of those days” as a mom and the Mom’s Survival Guide seemed like it could be the answer to my prayers.  Below are a few of my favorite segments from the book:

• on bullying
• “Maybe you have a pet theory as to how this woman [mom of a bully] has managed to raise that big bully of hers.  Forget all that.   “If you go into the conversation with a negative opinion of her–and the attitude that you’re a better parent than she is–she’ll smell it a and won’t want to help you,” cautions Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads: Dealing with Difficult Parents in Your Child’s Life . . . Try, “I’ve got a problem that I hope you can help me with . . . I’m a little uncomfortable talking to you like this, but I feel it’s important.”  When you describe the situation, leave out words like “bullying and “mean.” Thank her for her time and add, “I hope you’ll tell me if my child ever does something you think I’d want to know about.”  This conveys a feeling of goodwill and makes her kid less of a villain by acknowledging that all children need adult guidance at times.

• on healthy eating for kids
• It’s no secret that a healthy diet helps kids grow strong and improves their mood and brain function.  But how do you actually get kids to eat well?  Think small.  ”You can make little changes to how, what, and when your child eats for big nutritional payoffs, ” says pediatric dietician Marilyn Tanner-Balsiar, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
• and “Real Advice from Real Moms”:
• “Everyone at our table gets at least 5 minutes to talk about their day.  The kids know they will have this chance, and they wait for it anxiously without getting up, in our family, once conversation gets started, it’s hard to stop it!”

• on learning to let go
• We all want to keep our children safe from harm–it’s arguably our number one job as parents.  But it’s easy to go overboard because those precoius bundles are so vulnerable.  After 9/11, Sue Donas was convinced that someone was going to pipe bomb her daughter’s day care near Hillsdale, NJ, because it was housed in a Jewish Community Center.  She used to circle the building looking for suspicious characters.  Once she even had an abandoned car towed away  . . . “You can raise your child in a bubble but you can get reassurance that she’s in responsible, protective hands.”  For example, instead of patrolling the day care grounds, Donas could inquire about the school’s security policy–and it might just set her mind at ease.

• on helping your child deal with fears
• Don’t brush off your child’s emotions.  ”I often hear parents say, ‘Why is my child acting so afraid? It doesn’t make sense,’ says Fred Penzel, PhD . . . “They try to minimize the situation by telling the child that his fear is nothing to worry about. That strategy usually backfires,”  he says.  But do use a matter-of-fact tone.  ”Acknowledging fear is important, but ‘you don’t want to go in the opposite direction and excessively reassure your child . . . That sends the message that there is something to be afraid of.”

*******

Redbook magazine’s Mom’s Survival Guide is jam pack full of information that could benefit all kinds of moms on topics ranging from behavior and emotional health to education and getting involved in enrichment and community programs.  Written in a style quite similar to Redbook magazine with many experts in fields of child development, diet and nutrition, psychology, and more, including quotes and advice from real parents, the book is a quick read and great for reading from topic to topic as opposed to cover to cover.  As with any parenting book, I found that some advice resonated with my intuitive parenting style while other tidbits did not.  That said, over all, I found it to be a pretty helpful book especially since everyday I am facing parenting challenges where I know that I do not have the answers.

I am giving away a copy of Redbook magazine’s Mom’s Survival Guide.  Simply leave a comment on this post sharing why you think this book could help you and your family.  I’ll put the book in the mail, though I will ask that the winner cover postage costs.

So, what kinds of parenting issues have you been dealing with lately?

So far this weekend

my husband, the “All American Dad” drew this awesome flag to celebrate Memorial Day.  I swear, there are moments when he really does remind me of Stan from American Dad, which I think makes me Francine, though if I really had to decide I’m something of a Haley/Francine without all the smoking.  Anyway I had to grab my camera . . .

and I’m glad I did because then my adorable munchkins agreed to pose for pics

Levi had no problem getting covered in red, white, and blue,

meanwhile, Annabelle tried to coax her brother to pose for a pic with her,

and the artist rested,

but the art admirers?  Busy still getting covered in chalk,

until at last, it was time for new adventures.

We’re planning to eat ice cream, go swimming and biking, and maybe head to a Memorial Day parade.  What are you up to this weekend?

Thanks to my awesome nephew Charlie, Annabelle, Levi and I were asked to be involved in the Flat Stanley Project this year. (N)ever heard of Flat Stanley? I hadn’t, but I have to say that is looks like an amazing project, a great way for kids here and there to connect with each other and share their lives and adventures with each other, no matter where they live.

From Wikipedia:

“Flat Stanley a 1964 children’s book by Jeff Brown (1926 – December 3, 2003) and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. It was the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop, a completely flat boy.

Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their Dad for putting pictures and posters on. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley’s bed, but during the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. Stanley even helps catch some art museum sneak thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Eventually Arthur, who tires of all the attention Stanley has been getting, reverts Stanley to his proper shape through an air pump used for footballs.”

As a recipient of Flat Stanley, our family needed to show Stanley what our town and day to day life is like. Below are a few photos I took of Stanley before, during, and after Annabelle’s weekly art class.

First, Stanley climbed our Lake Anne Plaza’s kids’ pyramid, where Annabelle has enjoyed hour after hour of hide and seek, climbing, and meeting friends.

Next, we headed inside of the Lake Anne Coffee House, a locally owned business (Lake Anne Plaza welcomes only locally owned businesses).  Annabelle always orders a chocolate milk and I worship the cinnamon tea the owners make there.

Once we sat down, Stanley needed to get a bird’s eye view of the cafe.  I thought the light fixture looked like a good spot for that.

While Stanley couldn’t taste our chocolate milk and tea, he did enjoy all the photo ops.

Can you tell that someone (me) is a little obsessed with yoga?  I thought I’d show Stanley a few yoga poses so that he could stay in tip-top-shape while in town.  Salt and pepper shakers served as great yoga props.

Stanley was a natural.  He easily moved from side plank pose into a head stand.  Wow Stanley! I can only do a shoulder stand, and I have to lean up against a wall.  Phew!

Stanley felt powerful in Mountain Pose.

But I heard him sigh with relief when I showed him corpse pose.  All that yoga tired him out.

Next we headed outside to look at the lake.  Sorry no photos of the lake . . . just proof that we did visit Lake Anne.  I asked Annabelle to pose with Stanley next to a Lake Anne building sign.

Then, it was time for Annabelle to attend art class.  Levi, Stanley and I decided to look at some art.

Stanley and the still life.

Stanley and more art.

Stanley stops with two other flatties for a visit to Venice.

Stanley goes to the beach.

And Stanley isn’t afraid of walking on the wild side either.  Here he is having a Woodstock moment.

more art . . .

hitching a ride on Levi’s back . . . Mr. Levi is crawling EVERYWHERE these days.  And uh, he’s starting to cruise too.  Uh-oh.  I don’t think Stanley can help us with that.

but, when the time comes, I’m sure that Stanley can show us all how to climb trees.  He seems pretty good at that.

And the time has come for us to send Stanley home.  Into the envelope he goes.  Thank you Charlie for sharing Stanley with us!  I hope he had as much fun as your Aunt Jess did, :-)

Yesterday, I bought this purple dinosaur costume at a consignment sale. I figured Levi could wear it this coming Halloween. Of course, when I came home, Annabelle insisted on wearing it. She loooooooves dinosaurs. In fact, she was a green dinosaur for this past Halloween and the wheels were already turning: I thought she and her brother might be the most adorable little dinosaurs together this Halloween.

Anyway, she asked to put the costume on. Here she is:

Then she asked me, “Mama, do dinosaurs fart?”

Annabelle and I want to say a big thank you to both Garden Mama and Stephanie McCane, fabric and fiber artist and founder of Stitching in Striped Socks. To see more of Stephanie’s awesome creations, head on over to her etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/stitchingsocks

P.S. After we took this photograph, Annabelle and her friend Ella insisted on taking turns wearing the crayon apron while laying in the grass and coloring. Needless to say (but I will anyway), the crayon apron is a huge hit in our neighborhood!

There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.
-Vicki Baum-

To see more photos of my little ballerina, visit my flickr photostream.

Soon we will understand what it feels like to be Alaskan, :-)  The snow just keeps falling and I think we’re getting good at living with it.  Each time we head outside, we gear up with our snow pants, gloves, hat, scarf, and coat.  Oh, and several pairs of socks under our boots.  Warm feet are key.

Our neighborhood couldn’t be a better place to be “snowed in”; our neighbors gather at a luge at its center where we go sledding from morning til night.  I’ve even managed to take Levi out in my all-terrain stroller; once he falls asleep, I make use of my time and beg Annabelle for a few runs with her sled.

As far as my photographic education goes, this week I am “on break” though I carry my camera with me everywhere.  I did create a flickr account for bluebirdbaby’s Winter Beauty photo challenge.  To see my photostream, go here, and to view the amazing work of other participating photographers, head over here.

So, since we’re talking weather, how’s it looking outside your window?

When we woke up this morning, we looked outside and saw . . .

as Wendy put it, “an Ansel Adams” photo.

The snow had piled high, and with two kids getting over a cold and an ear infection, it looked to be a day for inside play . . .

First, we traced hearts, cut them out, and wrote words of love and friendship on our valentines’ cards. Annabelle said, “Let’s decorate!” So we cut out a few more hearts, taping them to our window, and then, made ornaments, for our February Sharing and Love Plant, who we named Shelley. We admired the beautiful February creations here, too.

Then it was time to play photographer. I grabbed my camera and asked Levi if he’d mind sitting for his portrait. He agreed, but only if he could sprawl out on the floor. Of course, I told him that would be fine.

And even though he’s started mumbling da-da-da-da and maah-ahhhh!-maaah-ahhh!, he hasn’t put the words together yet to ask, “Hey what is that thing you’re holding in front of your face Ma?”

He’s content to be curious and observe. He flashes a smile now and again too, which is a bonus for this photo happy mamma.

But he does get distracted from time to time. “Hey, there,” he seems to say, “What’re you doing up there sis’?”

Uh-oh, shouldn’t have asked. Sister wants you to play dress up too.

“Maaaa-aaahhh! Maaaa-aaahmmmaaa!”

Sorry Levi, but I had to take a picture of that one. We’ll file this photo away though when you bring home your first date, ok? I promise.

And then, Annabelle asks to be the photographer. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap . . .

Mamma decides to go all glam . . .

Then Annabelle decides she needs to add a little something more to her outfit. She wears every single dress-up item she owns. Love it.

She’s a butterfly-bride-princess-angel-ballerina. Oh, and she’s Annabelle. Always Annabelle.

“Mamma, take my picture, ok?”

And I can’t help myself. Snap, snap, snap. I get all picture happy all over again.

Annabelle? Levi? Do you think we could have a snowy inside play day tomorrow? This was fun.

In our house, the kitchen table is one of many art spaces. Just about everyday, especially with outside temps in the 90s, Annabelle and I settle down at our round kitchen table with whatever our materials of inspiration happen to be. This week it was clay; we set out to make nothing in particular . . . in fact, I’d read Cathy Weisman Topal’s Children, Clay and Sculpture and so encouraged Annabelle to focus more on exploring, squeezing, tugging at, poking, and rolling her clay . . . nothing need be produced from our materials . . .

To get started, I used an old hanger as a cutting tool to wedge the clay (removing large hunks of clay from the package and making sure that all air bubbles are pushed and pulled from it); together Annabelle and I slammed our hands into the clay, pushing, forcefully banging the clay, making lots of noise and relishing each and every bit of our clay commotion. I have to say that right about now, wedging seems to be a great way to release tension (yes, though I am still pretty zen about waiting for baby I do have my moments, :-) ).

We worked with our clay in pans, large turkey roasting pans left over from a Thanksgiving of past (yes, sigh, they are disposable).

I showed Annabelle how to flatten the clay with more forceful banging. I challenged her to a contest to see which of us could work our clay out flattest.

We rolled with our clay. We rolled it against our pans, between our hands; Annabelle called this “making worms.”

We made many, many worms (coils).

And from many, many worms, you’d be surprised what you can assemble.

Annabelle wanted to make her dad from the “worms,” piecing the coils together to look like a gumby stick figure . . . I guess he does look something like that . . .

I was feeling inspired too, so I made my own gumby figurine.

Annabelle also enjoyed rolling balls, pinching, and building with the clay; she created large towers, snow men, and lots and lots of food. Any ideas on good clay projects for us to bake and keep?

Last thing, if you’re interested in working with clay and aren’t able to find Topal’s Children, Clay, and Sculpture, KinderPlay has a helpful page introducing clay terminology and processes.