A Lecture On Creativity

  So Sunday afternoon Luna and StarGirl reminded me they had a "big project" due the next morning all about the Greek Gods.  It was a big project, but they had a plan, and their teacher had told them they could work together as a team to make things simpler.  They had talked about making a movie with their friends or videoing a commercial, but in the end they chose to each dress up like six of the gods (that would be 12 total) and make a powerpoint with some picniked up photos.  They wanted to know if I would be their photographer.

I looked at the clock.  It was a little after one and we had dinner at Grandma's at 5:00.  That left four hours.  So I felt that with those time constraints a little lecture was warranted.  It went something like this:  Yes, I will take your pictures.  But, you should know, that creativity is much like a gas. . . it will take up as much space as you give it.  And you guys have a limited time this afternoon.  Since you tend to get really caught up in the creative process on picnik, you'll really have to pace yourself.  So what I'm saying in a nutshell is don't go overboard.

Three hours later I was done taking their pictures.
Ummmmmm. . . sounds like mom could use a lecture.

 

 

 

   

 

 

But aren't the results fantastic?

Greek and Roman (Frenzy) Day: Subtitled: I'm a sucka for a good costume

Sooooooooo. . . .it was Greek and Roman Day over at the school this Thursday and Friday.
You might say I got a little into it.

And you'd be right.

I don't know who had more fun. . .me or my girls. . .
But I think they even appreciated my efforts as StarGirl told me:
"Mom, you've really outdone yourself this time."

This was Luna in a quick snapshot before school.

And these are from the "photo session" we did after school.

(Since Artemis was the Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, we decided to do some shots with a moody, blue feel.
I am laughing at myself that I was able
to get my 12 year old to go along with this photo shoot.
She's a good sport; and a good shot.)

Now I KNOW she did have a GREAT day. . .
but I'm guessing  I did have even more fun.

(StarGirl was Artemis on Friday. So far, no "photo session" for her, just the morning snap shots.
We'll see if I can get her to dress up for me again?)

Some Like it Crazy, Some Not.

3/4ths of my kids really get into "crazy hair day."
They have strong ideas.
They like to execute those ideas with minimal input
or intervention from mom (read: zero).

This kid is crazy hair day adverse.
Like it makes him break out in hives.
He did, however, very much want to have his picture taken with a crazy grin.
Possibly campaigning for "Crazy Grin" Day at school instead?
That's all fine by me.

I like a kid who knows what he likes.

Sick With Sores, Part Two (De Ja Vue)

When Sunshine was one and on Augmentin, she got hives.

As if on cue (one year old and on augmentin),
Mr. Bingley woke up yesterday looking like this.
It gave me Mommy De Ja Vue.



Today was even itchier!



To go with all his blood red splotches, he decided to "Go Vampire" when he found a tray of watercolors near his high chair. See?




Despite my baby's troubles, he's still got a sense of humor about all this.
We appreciate his "Smile, Though Your Skin is Breaking (Out)" attitude.



Get well soon, little man, Get well soon!

Sick with Sores, Scriptures and Chores

My little Bingley is a sufferin'!
He's got a sad range of symptoms: aching ear (and on augmentin), prickly rash all over his arms and legs, and flamming hot rash on his little bum. He scratches until he bleeds! But the worst part is Monday, after visitng the pediatrician, he developed white pus filled sores on his lips and tongue. Tuesday they showed up on the soles of his feet. I semi-self-diagnosed "hand foot and mouth disease" with the help of the mayo clinic's web site. It is nasty, painful and very contagious. We've been giving him Tyelnol with Codene to help him sleep. The little trooper keeps his tongue stuck out and drools while he plays. Making matters worse, this sweet little guy got into my drawer of hair tools; it's the drawer where I keep blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, etc. (Quick aside: my boy has a strong affinity for anything with a cord attached to it. It is his greatest joy to grab something with a cord and drag it behind him like some blower dryer puppy pet on a leash) This time he befriended my old flat iron and took it to his sister's room where he proceeded to plug it in, turning the darn thing on! PLUG IT IN! He can do that? I didn't know he could do that!! And the Hot Tools brand heats up to burning flaming hot in a matter of seconds. (Like think of Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White in the 1985 murder mystery Clue saying "Flames on the sides of my face." It's that kind of hot.) It's a miracle he didn't burn himself worse, like grab the plates by the palm of his little hand, but he did lean over the thing and get two thin lines on his chubby little rash covered thigh. As a mother, this makes me feel so bad, I am wondering why I include this detail for the world to know his pain and my guilt?
Ai, yi, yi! But now you know.

*************
Sunshine's been reading the scriptures with mom during the day when the other kids are at school. I decided after reading Elder Bednar's talk that I'd done much better at teaching my twins the scriptures when they were little than I have of my younger kids. He's promise of "spiritual warnings" gave me the motivation to start back up with Sunshine. We cut out pictures from old Friend magazines and glued them onto the front of a little notebook for her to record where she's at and ask questions as we read out of the Book of Mormon Stories book. She does ask lots of questions, including: "Where is God? Where is heaven? and Where is my Dad?" In fact, any time she brings up God she tends to ask about her dad in the next sentence. I like to think this means she feels very strongly and highly of her father. Yesterday I overheard her playing with her toys saying things like "Let's build a boat Nephi!" That made me laugh!

*************************
After another frustrating morning of trying to get my kids to actually finish their morning chores before going to school (we've got a rotation that covers "unload the dishwasher" "unload the utensils" "put away dishes in the drain" and "help clear up breakfast") I finally posted a NOTICE. Any child who fails to get their morning chores done before they go to school will owe mom a dollar for that day.
WELL.
You should have seen how well that worked this morning. I didn't have to even remind them, it just magically happened. And first thing, too, so as I was making the breakfast waffles, I could put the dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher. I was ready to do a little dance and make up a song of thanks giving I was so darn pleased with how well things went with that this morning (as you can see, I am blogging pre 9:00a.m. and that means my kitchen is looking a-okay. It's a mini miracle, I tell ya!)

And that's what's going on folks! It's sick sores, scriptures and chores around here.

These things brought a Spring Time Smile

Some of the pictures in this post actually go with the text.

Ssunshine told me this morning that her favorite singer is "Poke Her Face."
Then she said her next favorite singer is "Lady Gaga."
(apparently she has inherited her mom's
itchin enthusiasm for a strong beat.
Am I in for it or what?)



Yesterday afternoon, while cleaning/cooking in the kitchen this song by the Paperboys came on.
Immediately The Baron started dancing a full on Irish folk dance, arms stiff at his side.
I laugh! LAUGH!
Where did this kid learn the Riverdance?
I grabbed his hands and we skipped side to side around the kitchen like we were lucky little Leprechauns.

It was the absolute highlight of my day.
Absolutely.


Mr. Bingley got a haircut the other night.
I wasn't home, Sunshine did it.
His new nickname is Choppy Chuckie.


The girls have been painting.
It makes me happy to see them make things.


The Professor made us chocolate chip cookies.
100 % by himself, start to finish.
Boy howdy were they good!


My good friend gave us some impossible to import Madagascar vanilla beans.
We made this:



It was vanilla creaminess heaven!



An unknown couple waddled into my backyard recently and stayed there all day.
Though we didn't know them, we welcome these kinds of strangers.

Earth Hour, Scripture Hour

I was standing in my bedroom last night when StarGirl came and turned my lights off, leaving me in the dark. I--ahem--inquired as to what was going on and she told me matter of factly that is was "Earth Hour." Everyone--that is to say, everyone on the whole planet--is turning off "unnecessary lights." That was news to me, as I hadn't heard about this world wide lights out concept, but The Mr. and the kids had. Being the flexible mom I always am (that was a joke, folks!) I was willing to get on board. (I was willing to get on board, I'm just not always a flexible mom, but I am trying, I am trying!)

So I agreed. We'll just read our scriptures by candle light. It will be romantic candle lite scripture reading, like in the olden days. Only we used candles and headlamp flashlights, cuz we're gadgety around here. This was serious fun scripture reading. Of course, I pulled out the camera. Does that add to the spirit? Hmmmmm. . . . don't know 'bout that one, but I really love the way the pictures turned out!

I say, "who needs an Earth Hour to read scriptures by candle light?" Give it a try at your house and tell me how it goes. Just try not to singe anybody's hair or cause injuries .
You may even want to pull out your camera :)

Mornings

Some days, most days, I marvel at our mornings. Like, marvel. Is this really my life? But in an awed sort of way. My children constantly amaze me, the way they think, the things they say. I seem most aware of this in the mornings when I am waking up and trying to get my game on. At our house, mornings are a jumble. People needing this and that, mom cobbling together lunches from whatever the refrigerator has to offer, all while trying to sign school papers, keep peace between 12 year olds and "annoying" little siblings, and most importantly FEED hungry bellies! Here's a morning snap shot:

The kids try to decide if mom's crepes look more like Asia or Ethiopia. Each has an opinion. I thought puffer fish and did not see a particular country or continent. What do you say?

The Baron has lately taken to wearing his bicycle helmet all day. Like, first thing in the morning. This is only odd until you realize he is not just a 7 year old kid, but a 7 year old kid vigilant & ready to save the world from the utter destruction threatened by invisible (okay, imaginary) villains. A kid like that knows it's critical to protect the head at all times.

Then there's Bingley who tries to cut his toast with The Baron's spare sword.

Sunshine does a rendition of Lady Gaga's Poker Face all while poking herself in the face and proclaiming with sincerity "Lady Gaga Is from Outerspace and has 3 eyes." Oh, the things that YouTube has brought into the life of my 3 year old.

Mom does a double take when she notices a severed head in her kitchen garbage can. Has The Baron actually gone too far? (Or did I go too far in posting my kitchen garbage can on the internet? Really, who has gone too far here?)

And then, minutes before the tardy bell rings, the majority of them have all run down the street to get on with life. I sit down to catch my breath and eat a little steel cut oats and count my blessings (a good public school within a stone's throw of my house is certainly on the list).

It is all pretty marvelous, huh?