e has really taken to classical music. Ever since he was a baby I have been playing it in the car. I've always enjoyed listening to the music even though I don't know much about its history. e has labeled the channel, the violin station.
Lately when we've been listening I've been putting a story behind the music. As I mentioned I don't know the composers well so I use my imagination. To name a few examples...The high pitched, rhythmic sounds are mice or ants. The low, slow horns a fox, wolf, or bear. The stringed instruments can also take on an environment like a storm or sunny day. I will start the story and e will chime in adding in his little details.
One day I heard a piece that sounded very familiar, yet I couldn't figure out from where. I started my make-believe illustrations and then thought I was listening to Peter And The Wolf. I then shifted the illustrations to fit the story and when the piece was finished it was announced as being from Fantasia. Ah! I had recognized it but put the wrong story to it. I then got excited and told e what the music's illustrations really were and that I would rent for him the Disney movie. He thought it was pretty silly to hear about dishes, bubbles and brooms dancing.
The other day after picking e up from school he asked if I would turn on the "mouse" song. I didn't understand his request until he asked again calling it the "mouse and wolf" song. Ah, he wanted the classical station and immediately wanted to imagine the illustrations.
What is also so fantastic is that e will listen to the music and match the characters mood to the compositions. If the music sounds somber, he will ask why the mouse is sad. Or when the music is loud with cymbals and drums he will say that the mouse is scared cause the wolf is coming to get him. He pays close attention to the musical notes and generates an emotion that I believe is wonderfully fitting.
I recommend when driving with e to turn on the classical station. Ask him what he hears, perhaps help him with his choice of characters and watch/listen to his imagination grow. I look forward to our stories. I look forward to him playing an instrument one day.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Juicy e!
This week you can visit: http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/arts.artsmain
e had a great time with Daddy, Janine, Kris, Nikki and Poppi at Eckerts picking peaches. This was one of the shots I posted to his Flickr site and sent to the group KWMU, St. Louis Life. They selected it to be the photo of the week.
This shot of Ewan and e playing at Tower Grove was selected about a year ago.
Do you think he needs a portfolio?
Thanks KWMU!
Singing In The Rain At Grandma's House Part I
e and I had a great weekend. He was super busy with both his Daddy and I. Saturday night we headed over to spend the night with Grandma. I can't quite seem to understand why as soon as I walk in the door I get an overwhelming feeling of LAZY! e and Gran headed off to play and I made my way to the couch to watch loads and loads of cable!
These videos are after e's bath. Gran taught e "Singing In The Rain". This is him being hilariously adorable singing his new song.
Enjoy!
(Just made the decision to make a Part I and II look at both entries!)
Note: These are large files. I don't have QuickTime Pro to downsize them for web. So grab yourself a drink while they upload.
These videos are after e's bath. Gran taught e "Singing In The Rain". This is him being hilariously adorable singing his new song.
Enjoy!
(Just made the decision to make a Part I and II look at both entries!)
Note: These are large files. I don't have QuickTime Pro to downsize them for web. So grab yourself a drink while they upload.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Old Skool On Facebook
It's been a lot of fun catching up with old friends on Facebook. So much fun lately because Brent James has been taking old mix tapes he's found and generating these podcasts. As he would post the notes he would tag friends that would enjoy music from the good-ol-days. It was fun to watch everyone post their thank yous and beg for more (my self included). As I read replies this image came to mind. It's my new profile pic.
It's been fun! Enjoy the music from my childhood.
http://www.brentalanjames.
http://www.brentalanjames.
http://www.brentalanjames.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Thank You Friends
I realize that some posts (like the last entry) are more for me, "the mommy" than fun to read. I know his voice and see his facial expressions and am constantly amazed at everything I forget and wish I would have written down. Before I sat down and wrote that last entry I swore I had twelve more moments but they all slipped my mind. And for that reason is why I blog, I don't want everything lost in my memory.
This weekend was a great one spent with loving friends. It started Friday night with a girls night for me. e enjoyed his Saturday with Daddy in the park (our weather here has been crazy beautiful, highs of 80 and lows of 60) and I enjoyed spending time over at the Mowery's with Daniella too. Later that night Rachel invited us to stay for dinner and spend the night. The Mowery's somewhat recently moved to my old neighborhood the one that e's Daddy still lives in. I miss the neighborhood for the very reason that on Saturday I was able to walk over to pick up e from Rachel's house. I took the wagon and rolled him back for our slumber party.
Our last slumber party over at the Mowery's didn't go so well. At midnight we had to leave because e's molars were hurting him terribly. It was easier and more comfortable for him to go home than for us to run out to Walgreens making the slumber a success. This time we were free of painful molars. e, Ella and Simon played wonderfully together and the night was a great evening spent with great friends.
While observing the kids playing (e almost 3, Ella just turned 4 and Simon 2 in Dec.) I loved the imagination and imitations. I've been encouraging e to read on his own. We read a lot together and he does a fantastic job reading to me but the alone time is what isn't developing yet. Ella is wonderful at reading; taking several books, curling up in a corner and creating her own stories from memorization and from the illustrations. I was able to watch e do the same thing. At bed time after they were washed up I took e and Ella downstairs for story time. Story time consisted of both of them each with their own pile not only reading to themselves but each other. Finally it was my turn with The Cat In The Hat so I quickly jump over this word and that completing it in a timely manner.
They played monster imagination, they danced to (one of my all time favorite soundtracks) Pretty and Pink, read books and e even let Ella play beauty shop with his luscious hair. All the while Rachel and I had great adult conversation and catch up time. There is nothing like your girlfriends! There is nothing like friendship e! Thank you friends!
(As we left and were giving love to our friends, Ella hugged e and said, "I'm going to miss you"...we'll see you soon my friend!)
This weekend was a great one spent with loving friends. It started Friday night with a girls night for me. e enjoyed his Saturday with Daddy in the park (our weather here has been crazy beautiful, highs of 80 and lows of 60) and I enjoyed spending time over at the Mowery's with Daniella too. Later that night Rachel invited us to stay for dinner and spend the night. The Mowery's somewhat recently moved to my old neighborhood the one that e's Daddy still lives in. I miss the neighborhood for the very reason that on Saturday I was able to walk over to pick up e from Rachel's house. I took the wagon and rolled him back for our slumber party.
Our last slumber party over at the Mowery's didn't go so well. At midnight we had to leave because e's molars were hurting him terribly. It was easier and more comfortable for him to go home than for us to run out to Walgreens making the slumber a success. This time we were free of painful molars. e, Ella and Simon played wonderfully together and the night was a great evening spent with great friends.
While observing the kids playing (e almost 3, Ella just turned 4 and Simon 2 in Dec.) I loved the imagination and imitations. I've been encouraging e to read on his own. We read a lot together and he does a fantastic job reading to me but the alone time is what isn't developing yet. Ella is wonderful at reading; taking several books, curling up in a corner and creating her own stories from memorization and from the illustrations. I was able to watch e do the same thing. At bed time after they were washed up I took e and Ella downstairs for story time. Story time consisted of both of them each with their own pile not only reading to themselves but each other. Finally it was my turn with The Cat In The Hat so I quickly jump over this word and that completing it in a timely manner.
They played monster imagination, they danced to (one of my all time favorite soundtracks) Pretty and Pink, read books and e even let Ella play beauty shop with his luscious hair. All the while Rachel and I had great adult conversation and catch up time. There is nothing like your girlfriends! There is nothing like friendship e! Thank you friends!
(As we left and were giving love to our friends, Ella hugged e and said, "I'm going to miss you"...we'll see you soon my friend!)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Few Of My Favorite Things
I'm overdue, it has been a busy couple of weeks. I have several entries I want to write but haven't managed my time to write them. So tonight before I go to bed I'd like to share some recent "favorite things":
As you can see they don't have to be big things, it's the little things that are repeated daily; new words forming sentences, imagination, adventure, poop and silly water play.
Love you e.
- Lately with great enthusiasm e will say, "I've got a great idea!"
- I'm quite certain I've been over allowing e to watch the Bee Movie cause he's certain we have one in our home. Every morning he speaks of "the bee" he saw.
- I got to go on a field trip with e for the first time to Grant's Farm. It was a fun day! We got to feed the animals and watch a elephant poop and pee...more to come on the outing.
- I recently saw a cute pic of a friends daughter in the tub. The water was shallow enough so that she could lay flat and her hair made for fun/silly Medusa like pics. Why I hadn't thought of this for our bath time routine and rising e's hair...I don't know? He gets such a kick out of it. He'll let the water go, swirling it to help it down the drain. He'll lay back testing the depth and with patience wait for just the right height. Note: It's great for rising the soap out without water in the eyes.
As you can see they don't have to be big things, it's the little things that are repeated daily; new words forming sentences, imagination, adventure, poop and silly water play.
Love you e.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
A Roman Original
I continue to truly enjoy getting to know so many wonderful families at Jubilee. My friendship with Sara and Roman is growing. They have two adorable little girls, one close in age with e so they get to play from time to time. Roman is an Architect. Sara an Educator and amazing Mother.
I invite you to see their blogs here:
http://rowaz.blogspot.com/
http://thereshegrows.blogspot.com
My friend Karl sent me Roman's blog where he keeps his gallery of work. I fell in love with his artistry and I can now proudly say that I'm an owner of a Roman original.
Elevation III
If you couldn't tell, this is a painting of my dream home.
Thank you both! I will cherish it!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
It's Complete!
My other Craigslist find...a brand new Ikea bed (not the one I originally wanted) that I didn't have to drive to Chicago to get. I met a girl who was moving back to Japan and needed to sell her lovely new platform bed. It's perfect and completes e's room.
He was very happy to see it when he came home from Daddy's.
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