Golden Dragon Acrobats

This past weekend I took e to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats. This was the first time I have taken e to a Performing Arts Theater. The show was at the Touhill Theater on UMSL's campus. We had balcony seats in the first row so that he could freely move about without anyone obstructing his view.

I had talked to his Daddy about taking him prior to ordering the tickets since it would cut a bit into his time. He loved the idea and got him ready for me before to the show. I wish I had a picture to post of how handsome e looked when I picked him up. Daddy had spiked his hair, layered his clothes, put him in a pair of skinny jeans from H&M and (best part according to e) he got to wear Daddy's cologne. As e walked out of the house to meet me he was holding his shirt out, with a large grin on his face, for me to smell.

I had talked up our date and went to YouTube with him to get a small preview of the performance ahead. We were both ooohing and ahhhing over the acts. e: "look Mom, they're juggling!" me: "look e, it's with their feet!"

e was quite taken by the theater. He was ready for the show to begin and he found it more exciting to stand at the balcony and watch. At first he was still and quiet, then he went from exaggerated applause to (by intermission) getting a little too comfortable with the railings on the stairs. I was starting to notice his little gears working out how he could maneuver such moves/stunts. It was then I knew I was going to have to drill in his little (almost) 4 year old head that we don't attempt these "tricks" at home. The Acrobats are trained professionals and if little boys want to learn they have to go to Acrobat School.

We had a nice rest of our evening, after the show we went to dinner and then on home. After putting on our PJ's I told e how I could help him continue to learn some gymnastics. I have been teaching him a few skills sharing how I was a gymnast for many years myself and then moved on to teach little boys and girls his age. With great enthusiasm he wanted to practice and when giving him some direction I could clearly see that all he was interested in was learning to scale the wall or do a "flip". I'm not exactly sure why there weren't more disclaimers to that show, I'm definitely taming a little Acrobatic beast within him now!

I'm thankful for...

At bedtime I encourage e to list some things he's thankful for during prayer. This evening we made a game out of it. He would say one and then when I would go to share mine, he'd giggle and interrupt me with another one of his. Our dialog went a little something like this...

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my elbow (he fell and scraped his elbow).

me: Yeah, that's a good one.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my belly.

me: Oh yeah, how's it been feeling? That's so great e.

e: How does he talk to us?

me: He speaks to our hearts.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my knee. Remember that one day...I can't remember, but he healed it.

me: Yeah, I remember you once having a hurt knee, that's a good one too, He's so faithful. Isn't it cool how he made our bodies heal?

e: Can our bones break?

me: Yes. And do you know our bones can grow back together?

(I then went into a description of how they heal using my hands and fingers to show a break and then how they come together/fuse back together. Then I told him it was my turn.)

me: (rushing while e was interrupting) I'm thankful for a nice dinner.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing your back.

me: (again rushing while e giggled to get his in) I'm thankful for you.

(And then I stepped it up a notch and started naming a bunch of people.)

me: Daddy, Janine, Pop, LaLa, Grandma, Papa Joe, Uncle CJ, Great Gran, Aunt Celine, Our Church Family......(by this time he's really silly and laughing).

e: I'm thankful for my Daddy creating my house.

me: Oh e! That's wonderful! I've gotta tell your Daddy that one, that's so sweet.

e: (very seriously) You know...we have bones and they heal. (Gesturing with his hands) they go like this and then we put soil with them and they grow back together.

me: (I said nothing but rather made mental note of blogging this entry.)

e: Why do you have that in your hair?

me: It's my barrette that keeps my bangs out of my eyes.

(And after a long pause and time of me convincing e it was time to go to bed e says this to me:)

e: I'll hold your hair back Mommy so it's not in your eyes.

e you are such a sweet boy.

love you son, good night.

A Short List Of Great Words

E has been using some great words lately, he uses them properly in a sentence and can give me their definition.

• Delicate
  
• Participate
  
• Similar
  
• Disgusting
  

Just A Few...

This recent photo was taken at his Daddy's. I love it.

Just a few things said and asked today:

• Although I realize this question is inevitable, it still won't ever be an easy one to answer. On the car ride home from school today e asked why Daddy and I don't live together and that he wished we all lived in one home.
• Tonight at dinner I was singing a silly song. When I couldn't remember the words e reminded me; "Daddy is a greater knower". Me: "your Daddy is a great knower, I'll have to ask him". (Hey Daddy do you know the lime in the coconut song? What are the words?) By the end of dinner e had made up the words, "you put the lime in the coconut and I don't know" (repeat). Pretty funny.
• e and I took a walk after dinner. I pushed him in the stroller not the wagon tonight. We were going over bumpy sidewalks when he said, "we need to get Ewan here." I questioned what made him think of Ewan and he said, "remember Mommy how Ewan and I laugh when we go over the bumps in our wagon?" I love his little memory. Ewan and family we miss you.
  

The Start Of A Collection

My Latest Design Experiment

This is a photograph of my latest design experiment with fabric and paper. For my girlfriend Daniella, I made her a headband for her Birthday. Here is a close-up of the flower details of the second headband I designed. 

I've decided to do more handmade gifts being inspired by so many new design trends and by my pocket book. With less money going into my "gift" budget I've managed to create two designs for two dear friends. The other design, that is still in testing after making a batch that only half survived, is the "Little Abbie". This feather barrette needs a little more attention to detail before going out to the masses (see below). 

I'd like to say that I'll make lots of these and give Etsy a try but I'd rather keep my expectations low and surprise myself. I'm known to have lots of big ideas and not follow through, it's my design handicap.

I hope to follow this entry with many more designs along with a creative direction. I think it will be fun to get a group of girls together of all ages to do a little photo shoot with some of these pieces. While laid up in bed with a horrible cold I've managed to get quite a few flowers created so let's see where this goes...shall we? Instead of "see ya", I'll say "stay tuned".

  

This is me at Abbie's 30th Birthday wearing a "Little Abbie".

My table setting on HGTV

By accident this evening I found this link:

http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/table-setting-inspiration/page3.html

I was doing a Google search to see if you can connect to this blog by searching my name. I'm still learning all the in's and out's to Blogger and was wondering how easy others can connect if they don't have the proper URL. To my surprise was this little blurb on my table design.

On Flickr I have a few of my photographs and designs. I sent this image to a HGTV group I joined but didn't know it would be picked up and written about. I love what they had to say, it made me smile that they highlighted the design.

The Office

Ummm, what? Huh? Is this a post?
...yes, yes it is! And after I share this story I'll post a long list of events I need to cover!

When I picked up e from school today I saw that this evenings teacher was a substitute so she didn't have much to report during her short shift, so I asked e how his day was.

After offering to hold his graham cracker he started sharing a story that quickly got him flustered. It started off with him saying he "didn't do anything wrong", or "bad" or "naughty" which I of course questioned. He then stopped at a little lounge area, sat down on the couch and told me, "me and Ms. Ann had a 'serious' talk today". He didn't want to share the details of this "serious talk". I got down to his level and told him how it takes courage to tell the truth and that I wanted him to speak from his heart. Yes, I seriously say those words to him for those perhaps giggling or taking notes.

The story jumped around a little but I did clearly get that he ran from Ms. Ann and had to go to the office. We passed by the office on our way out and I asked the girls up at the front desk if they knew anything about his bad behavior today. One woman with a soulful voice said, "ummmmm hmmmm, I know he did something but I didn't get the details". The other woman stopped and shared a bit more to help put his pieces together. Apparently children who jump from cot to cot in the classroom during nap time get to go have some "quiet time" in the office so they don't disrupt other children's sleep.

I told e as we walked out to the car that we needed to call and talk to Daddy, tell him honestly what happened, he hesitated at first then agreed. We continued to talk a little bit about what is the "right and wrong" thing to do. He told me he appologized and then decided to compare and contrast the "serious talk" he had with Ms. Ann to some of our "serious talks". Then without skipping a beat shared that at Daddy's he "doesn't have any 'serious talks' with Daddy"... I had to stop myself from laughing!

We had a great rest of the evening. e called his Father and shared the news (well, I did then he did). He's apologized not only to the teacher but to both his Father and I so I've laid it to rest. Nothing like getting called to the office for the first time. Can't wait to see Ms. Ann on Monday and get her version of the day.

Now for the list of blogs I MUST get to writing:
(Not in any special order and I'm certain I'm missing thousands in between)

• Mother's Day
• Our trip to England
• A shift in our schedules
• Your audition
• Your theatrics
• Easter 2009

Roast Beef

I told myself that when I revived this blog my first entry would be titled "Roast Beef".
Entry no. 3 in 2009
Title: Roast Beef
Story:
There are tons of changes happening in our lives right now and in the recent past. I'll get to all of them one of these days but this story MUST be a priority. It's simple really but does need a little explanation up front.

e's father has sold his home and they are moving to a home that used to be his Grandfather's (a home he lived in when he was younger for a short period of time). e's father is looking forward to this new beginning and is ready to try on new things. One of those new things is gardening and perhaps raising a chicken or two. How yummy to have fresh eggs!!

Sharing the news with e, his father asked him what he'd like to name his chicken. Without skippping a beat e said, "Roast Beef"! "Perfect", said his father. I think so too, PERFECT! Now I'm just waiting for the move and for the purchase. I can't wait to go visit their new home and take a picture of Roast Beef. Be sure to look for that entry.

Giggles,
e's Mommy

Mod Sale

Simple~thoughtful~handmade Design.
Recent finds at a Danish Modern Garage Sale.

Putting 2009 on the map!

Easter 2009_We missed you.