If life was like three-year-old art

If only life could mimic three-year-old art every day...

My wish for my daughter?

• May she always live in a world of rainbows and sunshine
• May she always have a hand to hold
• May she always have a smile
• May she always know how much she is loved
• May she always believe in the extraordinary power of family

I really love that kid.

You can never have enough sparkle

I love observing my child as she develops and nurtures her interests. Early on, she displayed a true love for the arts. At age 3 1/2, she sings, dances, acts, colors, paints, and creates.

Our county offers a monthly weekend art class, and I recently signed her up. She made a gorgeous fall tree in September. Today, she decorated a pumpkin. A table full of glitter, glue, stickers, feathers, buttons, shapes, and paints was at her disposal as she released her creativity.

We had a hunch what was coming the moment she selected her paint:

In true Amelia style, we ended up with this:

It is proudly sparkling in the sun by our front door right now.

I am quite certain, no neighbor will have one like it.

If Picasso made an autumn tree...

Art class! Celebrating the arrival of Fall.

(By the way, did you know you can color on coffee filters with markers, then spray lightly with water and the colors bleed? A very cool project for kids! Will be trying this again at home soon.)

Summer creativity

Since I am a part-time working mama, my child goes to preschool year-round. She is actively engaged and entertained on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 4:00. The other days? She is all mine. Summer has no effect on our weekly schedule, yet I find myself wanting to spend more time with her. Wanting to create memorable summertime moments.

We splash in the pool, we attack the playground with fervor, we stroll through the woods on our nearby mountain. But when (often, in HOTlanta) the extreme heat and melting humidity are too much to bear? We put our thinking caps on and find some indoor fun.



Some favorite activites we've gotten into so far?

Dance party. We blast her favorite kiddy tunes and dance. To a mom who lives life in black & white, late & early, right & wrong? Dance party is awesome. We throw caution to the wind and act like lunatics. I cannot get enough of her hearty laugh. And boy, does she laugh when mom looks completely nuts.


Art projects. Nothing keeps my daughter entertained more than expressing creativity through art. She colors, paints, glues, and tapes most anything she can get her hands on. Art can be made from anything. Empty paper towel roll? Glue colored pieces of paper all over it for a fancy telescope. Popsicle sticks? Glue a photo across them then cut to separate for a custom photo puzzle. Hit the $1 sections at craft stores and Target for ribbons, wooden paintables, and glitter glue. We've decorated signs and masks and even a birdhouse or two.


Indoor swimming pool - for her toys. I simply fill a large tupperware container with some water, toss in a couple plastic toys and a small bowl or two to act as a raft. Amelia splishes and splashes with the water, making waves for her toys and teaching them how to swim. Sure, the kitchen gets a little wet, but it's only water! Want to get your floor washed? Pour a bit of dish soap into the "pool" - when you clean up the splashes, you can call it mopping too.


Summer definitely keeps me on my toes. Coming up with project after project after project is sometimes tough, but I think it's a lot of fun too.

 

What are you up to this summer? Leave a comment and tell me!

Art expressions

In the eyes of a child,

Every project is a masterpiece.

In the eyes of a child,

The fridge is a hallowed gallery.

In the eyes of a child,

Glue is a mystical force.

In the eyes of a child,

Buttons become jewels.

Glitter transforms into fairy dust.

And stickers are badges of honor.

We nourish their bodies with healthy foods and build their strength with exercise. Art and creativity play an important role in growing their minds too.

What creative activities do you enjoy with your kids?

- - - -
This post inspired by Mama Kat's Writers' Workshop. The prompt was to post a photo from this week and write a poem about it.

F2F Friday: Liddy B & Me

When I got the letter that I'd be living with the RA my first year of college, I was bummed. Who wants the rules-enforcer a few feet away during that first college year?

But ya know what? It turned out wonderfully. Cheryl was a blast to live with and continues to be a good friend. She also has more artistic talent than anyone I've ever known! Move over, Martha Stewart! Cheryl is HOT.

Cheryl also has a daughter only 2 months younger than mine. And our other two roommates from that year? Also have kids the SAME age! We are all experiencing this roller coaster called Mommyhood together. Pretty cool.

I am thrilled that Cheryl was willing to be featured this week. Check out her precious little girl and her inspiring projects on 
Liddy B. and Me

Blog Name?
Started out as just Liddy B. back when the blog was just a way to share pictures of the new baby with relatives. It has morphed into a mix of family life and things I am making or doing for or with my family, and some things I am just making or doing or thinking about, so I now title it "Liddy B. and Me"

When was your blog born and why?
My sister suggested it as a way to show off my baby (the first and still only grandchild on both sides of our family) to relative who couldn't see her frequently. I have really enjoyed having a reason to write and share ideas, that it is now equally about her and about me (hence the adjusted title).

List 5 adjectives that describe you.
Creative
Thrifty
Enthusiastic
Over committed (my own fault!)
Sleep deprived
Patient (I deal with high school students at work and a toddler and husband at home!)

Your blog features some fabulous artistic creations. Describe one of your favorite projects.
I LOVE the whole process of planning my daughter's birthday party because it uses so many of my talents. I get to brainstorm about it in the winter months when everything puts me in a bad mood (slightly seasonally affected!). It is a great excuse to make stuff. I don't force myself to have creative "me time" and am often too task oriented, so things that "need" to get done get my attention, leaving my artistic interests in the dust. BUT if I am making things for someone else, especially if it is something that we "need", and even better if it is something that saves us money (thrifty, remember?) then I allow myself all the time to create that I need.

We did an Alice in Wonderland themed "Tea for 2" birthday party last summer and I made a lot of the decorations, the food, and even found time to sculpt a ceramic tea pot and two tea cups. I got to shop thrift stores for decorative items (hats, teacups, etc.). I was in HEAVEN! I have now begun planning a "Lydia is turning 3 under the sea" party for next summer. I have the basic ideas (octopuses, goldfish crackers, mermaids... note NOT the Little Mermaid!) and can't wait to get started making stuff!

If you had 2 hours of pure "me" time, what would you do?
Whatever craft project is my newest obsession/ whatever is at the top of my creative to-do list (probably while running a load of laundry... Ugh!) This weekend, that includes making beauty pageant outfits for my husband to wear in our church's drag queen fundraiser (yes, you heard that right!) I need to get better about doing things for me. What mom doesn't? But I really LOVE making things for all the crazy events my family is involved in. I enjoy both the process of making the items and the memories of the crazy events. (Just search my blog for our Halloween costumes, birthday parties, witches brew parties, renovations, re-decorations, etc., etc., etc.,)

 
Some photos from Liddy B. and Me... really, you must check this one out! Liddy is going to have the coolest room and the most fabulous birthday parties for her entire childhood! Lucky girl.
 
 

Creativity time

We enjoyed some family craft time this weekend. I highly recommend it - no television, no toys, just Mommy, Daddy, and Amelia working on a project together.

We made masquerade masks!

Supplies needed: white masks, popsicle sticks, glue, and decorative items (feathers, sequins, stickers, etc.)


While Daddy acted as glue assistant, Amelia concentrated hard on the task at hand:


Work in progress - lovely!


Finished!


Surprise! Can you guess who is who?