Yoga for Toddlers

Life is Good: these kids are pure joy

 

At this moment, our just-days-away-from-being-a-two-year old is supposed to be napping. Supposed to be.

Instead, from what I can see on the video monitor, it appears that he is doing some sort of downward dog yoga pose and then standing up, clapping for himself, and yelling, "Ta da!"and "Yay!" at the top of his lungs.

Is tumbling class in his future? Yes. Self-esteem on track? Check.

Photography with kids

Life is Good: photographers are great artists, too!

 

It's "Great Artists Week" at Casa de How to be Pleasant! A while back, a friend of mine suggested that we give our big kids a couple of disposable cameras and see what...wait for it...develops! I love that idea, but we have yet to do it. However, I got a new camera before our trip to Mount Rushmore in June (more about that later!) and so I let the big kid have my camera (love love love the Cybershot. I have owned four of them!) for parts of our trip and he had so much fun taking pics. (And the photos are pretty cute!)

 Stuff like this...

And this...

 Self portraits...

And food shots. If food was on a plate, he took a picture of it...

    I have to admit, I love the angle of the cracker shot!

So this week, while we are discussing great artists, I've made sure to point out that photographers are artists, too. Artists don't just paint and draw. I love photos (besides what is in our brain, they are all that we have left of a moment in time) and love taking pictures. However I have absolutely no training as far as lighting or using my camera settings properly goes. If I could go back in time, I would take a photography class pre-kids.

We've been looking at photographs and talking about what we like about them. The subject, the color (or lack of it), whether it is a close-up or wide shot, etc. This has all led to some very interesting conversations. And at the end of the day, we've learned about great artists, but more importantly, we've laughed and wondered, we've bonded, we've climbed inside each other's brains, we've simply spent good, quality time together.

After viewing photographs by Ansel Adams, Jay Maisel and Michael Kahn (I had the joy of seeing an exhibit of his originals in a small gallery in Nantucket several years ago. They are breathtaking up close!), we set out on a "photography adventure".

I handed the camera over to the big kid and asked him to take a picture for each letter of the alphabet while we took a walk in the city. Some letters were more difficult than others. It was fun to see how his creativity took hold in some instances. And I loved seeing the results, too. He was very specific about angles, closeness to the subject, and more.

A for antenna...

B for boy...

C is for Conifers (Thank you, They Might be Giants). Sadly, this tree got hit in a recent storm...

 D is for dragon (in a store window). He didn't believe me when I told him it was a gargoyle...

  Two for one! E is for elephant in the store window, too. I didn't even broach the subject that this is Ganesha...

F is for flower...

H is for house...

I is for "image of a totem pole"...

 

J is for...well, you can read the sign...

 K is for kid...

L is for "lots of trees"...

 M is for man...

 N is for...

 And O...(love that angle!)

 P is for plants...

 Q is for a "quiet sculpture"...(I couldn't make this stuff up!)

 R is for a red fire hydrant...

 S is for a "city stop sign" and "I know city starts with a "C")...

 T is for teepee...(no amount of discussion about arbors would convince him otherwise.)

 U is for ugly trash...

 V is for vein (I knew that kid would work the human body in there somehow!)...

 W is for windshield...

 X is "for the X on that car"...

 Y is for a yellow sign...

 Z is "on the word magazines on that stinky bin!"

Oh, the joy of a photography adventure with a five-year old! Or just the luxury of a conversation with one. I love how that little (big) brain works!

Encouraging creativity in children and adults

Life is Good: it's all about encouragement and exploration

Sunday night, Grant asked me what "big plans" I had in store for the little boys this week. My eyes twinkled as I said, "It's 'Great Artists Week' at Casa de How to be Pleasant!"

It is no secret that while I am a writer by trade, art is my true love. As a kid, I was always drawing. I can't remember a time when I wasn't. Early on, adults would ask what I "wanted to be" when I grew up and my answer was always "an artist". Until the first grade, that is... when a crotchety, old teacher (she seemed like a thousand years old...she was probably fifty) told me that "an artist" wasn't a real job, but I could be an art teacher. You've heard of people having the "wind taken out of their sails"? Well, I remember feeling like all of the color had been erased from the world. I didn't want to be an art teacher. I wanted to be an artist. But it wasn't a real thing. So I accepted it, with big gulps of disappointment. For a few years after that, when someone would ask that age old question, I would answer "art teacher" and do my best to disguise my grimace.

Growing up, my friends and others would often call me "the creative" or "the artistic one" of my group of friends. I remember shrugging that off. I felt offended by it. I now equated "creative" and "artistic" with something flimsy, silly, unreal. I wanted to be considered smart. I wanted to be taken seriously. I wanted to be real. I had been told that being an artist meant otherwise. I was so impressionable. So sensitive. And the words soaked in to my depth. And this teacher who influenced me so wasn't even my primary teacher. I barely knew her. She barely knew me. And yet, I carried that notion--that an artist wasn't a real job-- with me throughout my formative years.

I went to college with the intention to study advertising. Maybe I could write print ads and doodle some visual ideas. Gratefully, some students on one of my projects told a professor that I was "really creative" and he took me into his office one day after class to talk about the "creative side" of the field. He told me about a graduate program that emphasized advertising's creative arts--copywriting, art direction, graphic design, illustration, photography. His words spoke to my heart like a song that had been written just for me. I would study copywriting and eventually, conceptualize, write, and help produce TV spots for some of America's biggest brands. My job is a blend of the two sides of the brain--pairing creativity with strategy. Being "creative" and "artistic". It is a real job.

When I was 22 or 23, I heard about a book from one of my instructors called The Artist's Way. It was said to be beloved by artists and creative people as a way to "unlock" creativity, "unblock" your creative obstructions, and give you new ideas. It was full of tasks to do just such. I quickly bought the book and chose an exercise. I don't remember the exact words, but it centered around remembering the first creative roadblock or your first censor. I went right back to the first grade and that black-haired teacher. I wrote and wrote. And then I started sketching. To say I had a "burst of creativity" would be wrong. It was more like a fireball. I ran to the art store, I stayed up all night. And three days later, I had 27 pieces of artwork lining my apartment walls. The first piece? A folk art slash cubism-inspired piece with a black-haired teacher in front of a chalkboard.

Surprisingly, I didn't just have all of this artwork, but I had a need to share it, too. I made a couple of calls to galleries that I liked in Atlanta and asked to show my work. Their was no question in my mind of whether it was good or good enough. It was as if the art had taken control. My heart had taken control. The first gallery that I went to took all of my pieces. Within the first three days, they had sold three paintings. I say this in the most humble of ways. This is not a story about the accomplishment. This is not a story intended to impress anyone for praise or applause. I tell this story because to me, this is an exquisite example of confidence-building. We all have the ability to build up confidence (in ourselves and in others) and we have the capability of defeating confidence (in ourselves and in others). This is a story about both. Fortunately, the right side won. Figuratively and literally.

Now I don't think that teacher way back when intended to break my creative spirit or diminish my confidence as an artist. I know she didn't. Because I don't think she thought enough about the statement she made to me to be that intentional. It was an off-the-cuff remark. She probably didn't remember it five minutes later. She had no idea how impressionable and sensitive I was. I harbor no ill feelings towards her. I also think that teachers are far more intentional about their words now. And I think that creativity is more cherished and art is more honored. At least by some.

We take our own experiences and we make of them what we will. We let them tear us down or we rise above them. It felt really good when that teacher in front of the chalkboard painting sold. For me, art education and giving both children and adults great art experiences has become a quest. Pumping them up with confidence about their own individual creativity (we all have it, we just use it in different ways!) and encouraging everyone to explore and experiment with art materials and creative ideas has become very important to me. I don't want anyone else to be stifled because of a stupid dumb careless remark. I don't want anyone else to experience creative roadblocks or ignore what's in their own hearts because of fear or lack of confidence or others' opinions. I am sure that there are adults out in the world who were told art wasn't real or worse---that because their work wasn't an exact copy of something else, that they are not artistic or creative.

I also think that championing experimentation of anything builds confidence and even though that experiment may end, the confidence carries on. I see this with my own children. Since they were old enough to hold a crayon, we have been enjoying art together. We read books about the great masters like Renoir and Cezanne, we go to art museums, we notice colors and textures everywhere we go.

And we do age appropriate art projects. Not crafts. Crafts are great and step-by-step crafting is great, too, for their own reasons (like fine motor skills development) but it is not art. Both of my children feel very comfortable with art materials and jump at the chance to try out new materials or attempt a new style of art project. It is the same with music--they are eager to sing aloud and "perform" or try out instruments. It's all because it has been a part of their environment and vernacular since they can remember. And their attempts and results are always accompanied by a lot of praise and that translates into positive reinforcement of the practice, of the effort. Yes, I might say their drawing is pretty or neat-looking, but more importantly, I emphasize that I like the experimentation, that they tried something new or I love that they used a lot of red this time or that they mixed two colors together to see what might happen. The praise surrounds the experience more than the result, the process more than the product. And therefore, this confidence built in art or music translates into other things...sports, reading, jungle-gym climbing, wherever they take it.

As for The Artist's Way, I only did that first exercise. It was all I needed and I am grateful for the breakthrough. Maybe some day I will pick up another copy and do the exercises with the little boys. In the meanwhile, stay tuned for pics and projects from "Great Artists Week". We're having a lot of fun with the process!

Shoes for Two Year Olds

Life is good: we all have our own shoes to wear and they fit just right!

My dear child,
I know that over the past several weeks, you have developed a great love for wearing the shoes of everyone in our family. And I enjoy watching you clomp around the house, smiling and giggling. It must feel very strange and silly to have those very big shoes hanging off of your tiny, little feet.

As I was watching you stomp, clomp, and boom around the living room today--in sheer delight, mind you--a thought came to my mind and I felt compelled to share it with you.

It is perfectly okay with me if you want to keep trying on daddy's, mommy's, and big brother's shoes. Trying on is just fine. But it is my ardent goal that as you grow, you will only try to fill the shoes of one person--you.

Daddy loves sports and I love art. Our house is filled with music. I hope you, at least, develop an appreciation for these things and the other things that interest us--books and travel and nature. And I pray that you are influenced by your parents' belief that education and preparation are important, that faith gets you through the tough times and makes the good times even better, that loyalty, honesty, and generosity are building blocks for a happy life.

It appears that you have inherited my enthusiasm and your daddy's persistence. I pray that both of these things will serve you as a strength. We will do our best to help you prevent them from being weaknesses. You are like your brother in many ways. And why wouldn't you be? You have the same DNA. I hope that your similarities will bond you further and make you enjoy time spent with each other. That you two will be good friends, not just siblings. That you will like each other as well as love each other. With all of this said, I don't want you to ever try to "fill our shoes", replicate, or copy us or anyone, for that matter. I want you to be you. I believe that God created you in a very intentional way. I believe he has a great plan and purpose for you--for each of us-- and I often pray that God will grant me what I need as your parent to encourage, emphasize, and empower you to be the person He intended you to be.

This means that while I would love for you to beg for art classes and daddy would be thrilled if you asked to practice shooting hoops and I am sure that your brother would like for you to do all of the things that he loves to do, I want for you to pursue what interests you. And I will do my best to be your head cheerleader, biggest fan, and ardent supporter. Karate, karaoke, juggling or judo. Piano or tuba, knitting or hackysack. (Oh, please not hockey or football or race car driving and other things that make for easy concussions!) Horseback riding, lacrosse, soccer, toothpick model making or cup stacking. French, Spanish, Portugese, or Chinese. World record breaking, basket weaving, geocaching, scuba diving, book making (as in notebooks not betting, please!). If it is your passion or you think it might be your passion, your daddy, brother and I will be there yelling the loudest (or whispering if it is chess club).

Ever since I even guessed that I might be pregnant with you, I have been wondering and dreaming and guessing about what you would be like. It has been a great joy to watch you grow and your character develop. The past six months have been especially wonderful as you have shown yourself to be so full of personality, spunk, and humor. I will never get tired of hearing you sing songs or giggle what could quite possibly be one of the two greatest sounds in the world (the other being your big brother's laugh). I love that you are the first to say, "Hi!" to any little person within ear shot and most other people, too. Your observation skills baffle me. You are joy-filled even when in need of a nap.

So I continue to salivate at the idea of your personality unfolding more. It is such a pedestrian phrase..."there is no one in this world exactly like you". And yet, it is such a profound statement if you truly ponder it. You are the only you in this entire world and I want for you to embrace that. Let it empower you. Let it guide you. Your family will be alongside to help you navigate. But we'll each wear our own pair of shoes. Just right for each one of us.

I'm Proud to be an American

Life is Good: this weekend, we're having fourth of July fun!

When my mom was pregnant with me, my due date was the fourth of July. And I was a week late. Sometimes I think the reason why I am always multi-tasking and busy busy busy is because I've been trying to make up for that week ever since! Either way, being a July baby, I am very patriotic and love celebrating Independence Day. I love being an American. I am grateful I was born in a country where I can worship my chosen God and religion in any church that I choose or anywhere else, that I can voice my thoughts and opinions without fear of persecution or imprisonment, and that I can go wherever I want, wear whatever I want, get the education I want, have the job that I want*, and so much more. It is also my hope that one day all people in the world will have those same freedoms and opportunities.

We had a very eventful fourth of July! We started out by attending a local Fourth of July parade with some good friends. We made "collage-style" flags the day before and decorated our wagon (and ourselves) for the walk over to the parade line.

The parade was full of fun and funny floats and entrants.

I was especially moved by the cars and jeeps that drove some veterans through the parade.

There were also some vets who walked the parade length.

I was brought to tears as I watched a man who had to be in his late 70s or early 80s in full sailor's whites walk the parade route. I wish I had a picture, but I was too busy clapping the hardest clap I have ever...that's right, clapped.

My respect for veterans is not a reflection of my opinion of past or current US politics or past wars or the concept of war in general. Instead, it is about people. People who heard a call, either from their heart or from a letter, and reported for duty to their country. People like my Grandma's brother, Bob. They left their jobs and families, put dreams on hold, and did what they were told in the name of "freedom". Sometimes it was about protecting US freedoms and sometimes it was in an effort to either keep others' freedoms in tact or to establish freedoms for people who didn't have it. Again, this is not a commentary about politics, but about people who were generous with everything they had---their lives. Which meant their safety and their aspirations and everything in between. From my heart, I give my deepest gratitude to all veterans past and present.

We are fortunate to have good friends who feel like family here in Minneapolis. After the parade, we went over to their house for a barbeque complete with sprinkler, kiddy pool, and...wait for it...yes, a bouncy house. The kiddos were in heaven!

Our friends asked everyone to bring a covered dish, so I made red-white-and-blue fruit skewers that I found here. I just made mine red, white, and blue, though and skipped the flag design. I also made a simple veggie-legume salad since we were going to the parade. It's simple and fresh tasting.

Susie's Simple Summer Salad
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups black beans, soaked and cooked (or you could use one can of black beans)
2 1/2 cups corn cut off of the cob (or you could use one can of corn)
3 medium-sized tomatoes (red and ripe, I used "on the vine" tomatoes)
1 green tomato (or yellow, just to switch up the color and the flavor)
1/2 cup minced fresh basil (you can always add more than that or you could use dried)
2 avocados, cut into chunks (make sure it isn't too ripe because it will get mushy easily in the salad)
1 heaping tablespoon Vinaigrette (I used Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together gently except for the avocados. Add avocados right before serving.  Be aware that the longer this sits, the more juice the tomatoes will lose to the bottom of your serving bowl.

I usually serve this as is, but you can also serve it with tortilla chips. 

We came home from the parade and party a little bit pooped. Our plan was to let the kids nap a bit and then bike over to the lake we live by and listen to a Caribbean band playing at the bandshell. We figured we could see the fireworks without dealing with the noise. Our kiddos have sensitive ears and aren't big fans of loud cracks and pops. I made a yummy dessert to take along:

This, too, is super simple. Top half of a biscuit (homemade or store-bought) with creme fraiche (I have also used marscapone cheese and it was delish!). Add berries (I used blueberries and strawberries to keep with the Independence Day R-W-B theme) and finish it off with my super simple, yummy, grown-up tasting berry sauce.

Susie's Simple Berry Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup strawberry preserves (any brand, any flavor that matches the berries, I prefer no sugar added)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (my fave brand is Fini--it has hints of dark cherry. my mouth is watering just thinking about it!)
Directions:
Heat both ingredients in a saucepan until blended. Be careful not to scorch. You could substitute the vinegar with red wine if you need to.

When I have time, I make a simple syrup out of berries (or other fruit) instead of using the preserves.

The last time I made this dessert, I used mini tarts that I had made out of (homemade) eggless sugar cookie dough and topped them with mascarpone cheese plus the berries and sauce. It made it a little less casual looking and a little more grown up tasting, but both versions are delightful and EASY!

While the city started celebrating with fireworks, we had some fireworks of our own at our house. The big kid told me that he was "seeing sparks" like a "sprinkler of lights". After some Q & A, Grant started bedtime proceedings with the little one and the big kid and I headed to the Children's Hospital Emergency Room. They were really busy and while we sat in a room waiting to see a doctor, I prayed that the "sparks" were caused by dehydration (?) and not an ocular migraine, detached retina, brain or eye tumor or something equally awful that I hadn't thought of yet. To keep myself as calm on the inside as I tried to appear on the outside, I also prayed for all of the kids and families in the other rooms. It helped.

I cannot say enough about the doctors at Children's here in Minneapolis. They are unbelievably good at their jobs. That is an understatement. They saved our big kid's life when he was two due to their experience and proactive style. And they have nipped his croup in the bud many times because of their knowledge and expertise. This visit was no different. After extensive tests and monitoring, around midnight, the doc on call told us he thought it was safe for us to leave, but we would need to see a pediatric opthamalogist in the morning.

So instead of soaking up the sun on our friends' boat like we had planned (ahhhh), Friday morning, we visited the pediatric opthamologist instead. After a couple of hours of tests, the doctor said he was a bit dumbfounded. His guess is that the big kid had an ocular migraine due to either dehydration, low blood sugar, a bonk on the head in the bouncy house or a combination of all of them and it is his suspicion that this is a one-time only occurrence. Eye looks healthy, retina is attached, most likely a one-time thing...hip hip hooray!

After numerous sighs of reliefs and prayers of gratitude, we've decided to keep the rest of our weekend a bit more low key. Sidewalk chalk, bike rides, lego constructing, dance parties. Oh, and I painted my dining room during nap/quiet time. You know...to make up for that week extra I took in the womb. But no more sparks or fireworks for another year, please. And only the kind that shoot up into the air by qualified professionals, I beg!

*kind of. I am still waiting to be offered my own talk show...

Gummy Vitamins

Life is Good: my kids will never know!

I must confess...I just ate three of the big kid's gummy vitamins purely for the candy value.

It's days like this, when I cannot stop craving sugar, that I wish I had an emergency candy stash. Note to self: start working on a candy first aid kit.

Then again, if I did. There would most likely be an emergency every day. Scratch that off the list. Oh, I love marking things off of lists! Success!

It's alright to be little bitty!

Life is Good: it's Music Monday!

Yesterday, while I was in the middle of Iowa and getting intermittent reception on the radio, this little bitty song by Alan Jackson called "Little Bitty" grabbed my attention. It has a great line in the chorus..."might as well share, might as well smile...life goes on for a little bitty while." Click on the link and tap your toes! It's a great way to start the week, right?
We might as well share, smile, and be pleasant!