So, since I am felling less than inspiring….here are a few things that help me.

Hanging out with the family and a zillion books!

Jeremy & Kathleen — I love this blog and its use of my favorite symbol the ampersand!!!

This video…..found at Me and My Shortloffs…..

Watching a good storm come in

Now it is time to be centered.  Clearly I have not spent enough time with this word this year!!!

Blessings to you all!!!!

I made this self-realization in college when I began to absolutely love studying history.  I had always enjoyed history, but it was not until I began to get the real scoop on everything from war and religion to politics and education that I learned about all of the amazing women who led the way for me to be sitting in the classroom learning about…..how the men screwed things up for the rest of us.

I do not really believe that last part, but being a stay-at-home mom feminist in Middle America….I might as well.  I took this love for history through the perspective of women and ended up right smack in the middle of seminary.  How did I get there?  It was the church that first gave women a voice.

It was not until I had my second child and decided to “stay home” to care for the boys “for a while” that I ever stopped long enough to think about if I was or was not a feminist.  I decided…..well, I think you know by now, I am.

I recognize that I am here (physically and metaphorically) because of the women who came before me.  To me, it is that simple.  So, when I received an invitation to attend a meeting for the Oklahoma Chapter of The Feminist Art Project, I was thrilled.

The Feminist Art Project is an international collaborative initiative celebrating the Feminist Art Movement and the aesthetic, intellectual and political impact of women on the visual arts, art history and art practice, past and present.

The Feminist Art Project is a strategic intervention against the ongoing erasure of women from the cultural record.

The Feminist Art Project re-focuses public attention on the signal achievements of the Feminist Art Movement and shines a spotlight on current feminist art influences, trends and accomplishments.

So, don’t be surprised if you see me wearing an apron, cooking for the entire block, knitting and reading at the same time, hanging out at the gym watching my kids practice gymnastics, attending football games and cheering on the Thunder……I am and I always will be a feminist.  I will always work for the right for women to choose their own path, advocate for women make their own living, and insist that women are provided a quality education and be able to provide for themselves and their children.  I will forever disagree with laws that prohibit women from making their own choices.  I will be a feminist until women are no longer sexually and physically abused, women make the same money for the same work, are recognized as the artists, writes, lawyers, doctors, mothers they are, I will be a feminist until…………..this is my gift to my mother and grandmothers and to all the women who came before me.  Most of all, this is my gift to myself.

Art studio

Artist Jane Frank in her studio, 1960s or 1970s. The studio of a contemporary mixed media artist can be quite a messy affair.

The studio of a successful artist, especially from the 15th to the 19th centuries, characterized all the assistants, thus the designation of paintings as “from the workshop of…” or “studio of…” An art studio is sometimes called an atelier, especially in earlier eras. In contemporary, English language use, “atelier” can also refer to the Atelier Method, a training method for artists that usually takes place in a professional artist’s studio.

The above mentioned “method” calls upon that zeal for study to play a significant role in the production which occurs in a studio space. A studio is more or less artful to the degree that the artist who occupies it is committed to the continuing education in his or her formal discipline. Academic curriculi categorize studio classes in order to prepare students for the rigors of building sets of skills which require a continuity of practice in order to achieve growth and mastery of their artistic expression. A versatile and creative mind will embrace the opportunity of such practice to innovate and experiment, which develops uniquely individual qualities of each artist’s expression. Thus the method raises and maintains an Art studio space above the level of a mere production facility or workshop.

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My dream is two fold……1.)  to have my own studio 2.) to spend several hours a day embracing “the opportunity of such practice to innovate and experiment, which develops uniquely individual qualities of each artist’s expression”.  Well, I have one but not two…yet.  However, I am well on my way.

For this fall, I plan to post something from the studio each Thursday.  I am not sure how this will progress….but, I have a lot going on.  Today’s project…….Hats for the men in my life.  I love to knit for the boys so I picked out this yarn and combined a couple of patterns for a more unique, but still manly look.  Then, Law Man decided he needed a coordinating one.

Hence…..the set of Hats

It does not seem to matter how many hours it takes knitting…..I never want to “finish” the project.  It will probably take the first cold day or a need for the needles before I actually have three completed hats, but I am less than 5 minutes away from a coordinating set of hats for my men.  Yea me!  I feel so domestic.

See Law Man, I told you that all my summer knitting would pay off when your head was warm this winter.  You hunt and gather…..I will knit!  ***Please note the sarcasm. ***

I have become more acutely aware that my guys are not going to want to do all of these fun things they drive me NUTS about doing now.  Solution:  on Wednesdays, we are going to go do something they want to do….best of all….we are together.

The boys’ Aunt and Uncle gave them a year pass to for Christmas last year.  (I *heart* these type of gifts!!!)  We have been several times and it has been a great place for Law Man to take them on some hot Saturdays.

Having said that, going on a weekday afternoon, during the school year, was totally different.  It was *quiet*, there were only a dozen or so other people in the entire museum, there were NO LINES.  We had a great time.  They boys were able to explore at their own pace and their mom was not doing the neurotic thing she does when the boys wander off in a crowd.  Overall, it was amazing…..I think we are going to enjoy this time together once a week.

I watched an entire puppet show put on by the “Big Guy”

They both spent a lot more time working on activities and puzzles.  They were asking me a ton of questions…..trying to figure out how to change water flow and arrange various shapes to make a perfect square!!!!  It was so fun to watch their brains work.

They both were able to ride the Segway…..I will never wait in that crazy line on a busy day.

When it was time to close, we headed out to the grass and enjoyed a picnic of grapes and string cheese.  We talked about what they learned at school that day and who they played with.  The boys loved having a special afternoon just for them and I felt like a really good mom.  Sometimes this is all I need to push through the more “tedious times.”

So, Where R We????  Science Museum Oklahoma

I was also beginning to think the boys were out growing the Science Museum.  Not at all….they are now at a whole new level of wanting to engage the exhibits.  We will be back!!!

]]> http://readandtellme.com/2010/09/01/where-r-we/feed/ 1 http://readandtellme.com/2010/08/31/lego-party/ http://readandtellme.com/2010/08/31/lego-party/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:25:12 +0000 admin http://readandtellme.com/?p=588 One of my favorite things to do each year with the boys is work with them to plan and throw their own unique birthday party. I work with the boys to figure out what "they are in to" and we make the whole event to reflect this theme. ]]>
One of my favorite things to do each year with the boys is work with them to plan and throw their own unique birthday party.  This started when I went a little over the top with the Big Guy’s 1st party and has continued for 5 years now.

Since they could talk or really communicate at all, I work with the boys to figure out what “they are in to” and we make the whole event to reflect this theme.  My only rule….nothing violent.  I guess this is a boy thing, but we have had to have friendly pirates and smiley robots in the past.  This year’s theme:

LEGO’s

In the past we have done all kinds of crazy things to develop an invitation.  This year…I found a template that I loved, so I purchased it for the invitation, bookmark, thank you, etc.

The templates were downloadable .pdf format documents that were easily customized in Photoshop.  I think you could use any of them without Photoshop, but this is what I used.

(A neighbor and fellow Lego Fanatic brought over some of his models to show the kids and display!)

Next, to keep the Birthday Boy engaged in the planning of the party, found an idea from one of my favorite Podcast/Blogger and we made a Lego Bingo Game.  He built 20+ Lego “Model’s” and I photographed them, and photoshoped (yes, that is a word….if not, it should be) them into a grid.  I used the Living Locurto template for a door sign for a background. And voila….after some tedious mixing of the grid to have different bingo cards…..we had a custom game for our party.

I suggested to the Birthday Boy that for favors, we give each party-goer a bag of Lego pieces that they could use to make a car.  He helped me pick out all of the pieces from the Giant Lego Wall and then suggested they all have drivers….I did not have a strong argument against the idea and decided that including pieces to make a driver for the car would be less expensive than renting a princess for a day….so, there you have it….favor bags with Lego pieces that were used first as bingo chips, then to build cars and drivers….and, of course they had to race.

Birthday Boy designed a track, I painted it, Law Man Built it…..in that order, and the party was a huge success.

I will say it was one of the hottest (as in temperature) morning birthday parties I have ever been to.  In fact, I was a little disappointed in the pictures…or lack there of….I was so hot and concerned that the kids might get sick…..apparently I missed a lot of great shots.

(See the plain kitchen napkins in the picture?….I forgot to grab some coordinating napkins at the store, so the morning of the party I told the Birthday Boy that I needed to run out and get some.  He said, “Oh, Mom, just use plain ones…it’s no big deal.”  It doesn’t get much better than that.)

On a side note…..in the past, I have invited everyone in school, church, neighbors and family with kids…..along with Grandparents.  This has led to some VERY chaotic parties.  (The chaos doesn’t bother me as much as it seems to bother some of the past guests.)  This year, I decided to take a different approach and limit the number to a few of the Birthday Boy’s classmates, family with kids, and a couple of neighbor kids…..and Grandparents….I would not ever hear the end of that.  I think I offended people who normally are invited.  Completely unintentional, but I felt terrible just the same.

***How do you handle invitation lists to your kids parties???***

Every time I look at them…..right after I figure out who is who, I think about the scare they gave us before and during their birth.  They are and will always be our little miracle babies.  Yes, J & C…..even when you are as tall as your dad.

My guys are so lucky to have you for cousins.  I assure you they love you very much even though the often refer to you as both as Jesse-Charlie, or twin, our cousin, or hey you.  No holiday, or vacation, or dinner, or trip to the zoo is the same without “the cousins”.

THEN

NOW

We love you Jesse and Charlie!!!!

**This post has come out a bit more “back to school blues” than intended.  If you are not a mother, you may not understand.  I assure you the usual snarky tone of the blog will return soon.  I was just thinking that I am probably not the only mom who feels this way this week.  So, no judgment please. 

Back to school is always a bitter sweet event.  I remember this being the case as a child and it has remained as a parent.

The sweet –

• New Beginnings
• New Friends
• Knowledge
• Challenge
• More “me” time….for mom

The bitter –

• One year older…the boys, not me….I am fine with another year (for now, anyway)
• More responsibility
• The unknown
• The unknown
• The anticipation of the unknown

The first full week of school this year has been dramatically different than the ones in the past.  We now have two boys at two different schools with two different schedules.  We have restructured our days and our schedules to accommodate and it has surprised me how easy the physical adjustment has been….the emotional adjustment, not so much.

I look around at the first drop off not sure yet what to expect every morning.  I see so many new faces, a new building, a new teacher.  Then off to the second drop off.  I am reminded of the security of familiar faces, a building that we have had so many memories in, and teachers that feel like family.  I spend most of the day feeling a little lost without two little guys saying, “momma look at this”, “hey mom….I’m…..hungry, tired, bored, excited”, “look at what I built…drew…made”.  In a way, I have looked forward to this day for quite a while, on the other hand I feel a little lost.  I have so many things I want to do, but the challenge of deciding the best way to spend this in between time is proving to be more difficult than expected.

I think about my mom a lot these days.  I wonder what she did during this time.  As a kid, I never really considered what she was doing.  She worked some.  But I often wonder, was she happy, did she spend time alone or with friends, how did she prioritize.  I teared up yesterday when I saw this clip of Elizabeth Gilbert.  She talks about the challenge women of today have by having too many options.  That is where I am.  I feel guilty that I have so many choices of how to spend my time that I am wasting time worrying about it.  This seems like such a “bratty” thing to say, but that is where I am today.  

***Addendum***

I wrote this yesterday and ran off to pick up the kids before I published it…oops.  Anyway, I picked them up and we spent the entire afternoon at the Science Museum and then we sat outside of the museum and had a little snack picnic and talked about everything that had happened that day at school, at the museum and then we talked about the next day….our first day of gymnastics and Wolf Night!!!  This is where I need to be!!!!  It was perfect.

***Addendum 2***

We were so tired both the boys through a huge fit in front of all of the neighbors when it was dinner time.  Priceless!!!

To a new day!!!!

“It’s just Kindergarten.”

“I still have him for thirteen more years…….oh gosh, only thirteen more years.”

“It’s not like it is the first day of high school or college……crap, I still have to make it through the first day of high school AND college.”

He was so proud to be going to such a big school!!!!

After I dropped him off, there might have been a few brief tears when I thought, “I need to call Mom and Nanny (my grandmother) and tell them about our big day.”  Then I realized that Mom and Nanny are not here anymore to call.  So, I just told them in my head. About an hour later, my stepmother called to tell me she and my dad were thinking about us on this special day.  She has never tried to replace Mom and we both know that will not ever happen, but it meant the world to me that she called.  It made my whole day!!!!

I have a lot more to share, but I still have the Little Guy home and it is best not to leave him unattended.  !!!  I will be back in a few days to share all about our “last day of summer,” the Meet and Greet, the Lego Party, and the list goes on and on….

We started the evening with a new restaurant.  Again, it exceeded my expectations.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Law Man gave me amazing tickets….3rd row…  just high enough above the general admission that we had a perfect view.  I had some camera issues, but I managed to snap a couple.

I am not really sure what my favorite part was, but at the top of the list was Gaga playing a new song that is not yet released.  I heard it a week or so ago on the Today Show.  It was amazing!  I love the passion in her voice….just enough crazy for me to relate!!! 

Instead we have a lot of Bride and family, Groom and family, Bride and Groom and brides family, and so on….they are pretty, but not a lot of personality.

There are a few….that make the shortlist of my favorites.This is us taking our vows.  I love the front of the church…..I have been to so many weddings, funerals, baptisms, and just regular Sunday morning church.  This is the image of the pulpit that I will always have in my mind.

Another favorite!  I have enough southern girl in me that I really do not like to make guests wait for the 8 zillion pictures between the wedding and the reception.  So, as a compromise we Law Man and I met in the sanctuary, just the two of us, a couple of hours before the ceremony.  He waited at the alter and I walked down the aisle….I was very nervous, hence the wringing of the hands, but it was a very sweet moment and one I will always remember.  This picture was taken a few minutes later when the photographer joined us for the pre-ceremony pictures.

This is my absolute favorite.  This is of us leaving the church.  I love it because it has our parents, our grandparents in the background smiling at us.  I loved it the first time I saw it, but it is even more special since four of them are no longer with us. **Note the dirty steps.  They were clean the night before, but the day of our wedding it rained…..enough that we should have bought our ring at BC Clark….and it poured…..I wanted to ask someone to clean the steps before the wedding, but I knew this was being a little neurotic and it was the first thing about the entire event that I just “let go”.  Now, I see it in my favorite picture.  I think it makes it that much more memorable.  ***Also note the dried rose petals…..those are from all the roses Law Man had sent me over the 5 years we dated.  There were a lot!