six one way

six one way week one
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

So one series really isn't enough, I've ended up choosing to partake in two.




Stefani and Erin set up six one way as a blog to share "the everyday joy, dirt, hugs, crayon art and sticky kisses that go hand in hand with mothering young men."
The inspiration is found every week here:
http://www.sixoneway.blogspot.com/

and after a bit they set up a flickr group knowing that every mother has her own stories to tell.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sixoneway/

So this series, is a weekly grouping of three shots showing your children's activity, interest, joys, sorrows, explorations and memories. I'm so thrilled to be journaling our days through this outlet.
Thanks Erin http://www.vintagechica.typepad.com/
and Stefani http://www.blueyonder.typepad.com/

by george....

Love this yarn
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I think I've got it!~
Love the fat yarn... and the kittinghelp.com sealed the deal...now it makes sense!

2008 Series

Church Sketch 3
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

one of the cmp prompts for Jan. was to do a series... and it took me a bit to settle on an idea for that. A series seems a bit intimidating for me. I mean to commit to one thing for a length of time? What if I don't like it, what if I'm no good, what if I don't wanna? (read, scared to try, lack of confidence, and a tad of rebellion)
But then the idea seeped into my brain, tumbled around a bit as it has to and it did settle.
I keep an eye on Kayorks series of subway & train sketches, you can find them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayork/sets/72157594579200491/
I find them inspiring and I love that she uses that daily commute time for creativity! I realized I also had time built in like that at church.
So I started out on a church sketch series, and I expect to follow through for the year. I hope it is a year of growth in my drawing.
So far:

a peek in my shopping bag

a peek in my shopping bag
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I can cast on okay ( look okay to you?)

but....

the knit stich is not going very well........it seems I can get one row done, then when I switch needles I get lost... also, I hate this yarn.
It keeps splitting, but that is what the sales person said beginners use.
Not giving up yet though... my 7yod really wants to learn, so I'm there with her. Yesterday we were working on it and she was guiding me... that was cool.

We're always up to something ~ the chewer

~ the oldest found an old, unused classic glass juicer

at my mother's house we couldn't just leave it there

'What love is'

~ aliens in love (and one passing gas)

You can be completely inspired at A
just as Amy of the Creative Mom Podcast was inspired.
Amy talked about choosing one word to encourage you throughout 2008 in
Episode 81: One by One.
(find more info here)
Initially,I just let that prompt slip by me, not really choosing to grasp it.
I have chosen a verse of the year before but ~One Word ?
As more and more folks at the cmpcircle were listing their words and
the discussion grew I was getting curious.
But really, one word?
~ it was driving me a bit nuts.
How can I narrow my thoughts down to one word? And to narrow it down to something that suits me.
Yet, here I am with a word for the year.
It leaped into my mind yesterday...sat there most of the day
and then it stuck.

My word is LEARN.
It works because I can apply it in so many ways:
Learn Trust
Learn Balance
Learn new artistic forms
Learn more details
Learn(ing) ~is the acquisition and development of memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values, and wisdom. It is the product of experience and the goal of education. Learning ranges from simple forms of learning such as habituation and classical conditioning
I like it! It fits in all aspects of my life.
So learn.... now to find some letters and explore!

Thank you Sarah and Holly (and Emily for the phone call!) for the sleeping advice~ Last night and tonight the mp3 players has helped. My ds was able to drift off quickly and my night-owl was wonderfully entertained.
I don't know that this will be a permanent solution, but I'm thankful it is helping her for now.

So I spent today with a friend that I haven't seen in months. We spent our time gazing at art, snacking, watching the kids play, talking and deciding that we shan't let time fly by like that again.
I love the way she interacts with my children. Taking their questions with patience, listening to them and teaching as the moment presents itself.
I'm so thankful for that.
But she always challenges me. Asks the questions I try to ignore..
Once I was talking to her about unschooling and I said that it felt like unschooling was taking the easy way out.

She said, "What's wrong with easy?"
oh. Easy is an option? huh.
That was about a year ago, and it still tumbles about in my brain.
Today she asks about our week, our activities, do I like what we're doing? What would I change?
There she goes again, making me think instead of just doing...
then she goes in for the kill ~ "Where's the fun?"
so I start listing what I think the kids are having fun with and she says with a smile, "No for you. Where's the fun for you?"
oh...hmm.
I'm pretty sure that one is going to run around in my brain for a while too.
Immediate answers~
there's fun in the art I dabble with, like this journal entry:


I like and enjoy the classes I'm teaching, I play guitar in a band at church and that is fun & challenging, and I'm in a couple of small groups ~ that's always fun. But not much of that pertains to the time I spend with the kids. (or my dh for that matter.)

Where's the fun...
I guess that's an option.

Today is Haiku Monday

over at the

creative mom podcast

a time of sharing

within

our yahoo group

in the style of Haiku

5-7-5

Today mine is

about

my seven-year -old

She's very Fun-Loving
So cute Very Talented

now.. let me share my

haiku for today ~

I have a Night Owl
She is driving me insane
I need sleep tonight!!!

Toy Review #1

I'll start with a new toy that St. Nicholas brought this year.

It's the Bilibo . I first saw this in Magic Cabin Dolls and was instantly curious. A big plastic shell? My imagination went wild.

Now I have to add, I am not a huge fan of plastic, truly I'm not.

But this toy... so open-ended, it had me right off the bat. Then the oldest and I saw them in a shop last year and she was smitten.

"Oh Mom, that is so cool! It would be perfect for doll beds, for twirling in, oh and marbles would be so much fun to swirl around the sides! We need those, at least the little ones do." (ah the dilemma of being nearly 12)

Well, they are perfect for all those things, and the nearly-12-year-old has enjoyed them too! In fact, every nearly-12-year-old who's been in the house has sat in them to twirl! (we even had a 15yob in one last week... but oh those long legs....just a bit too long)

As you see, Micheal the bear enjoys them too, a perfect perch for peeking out the windows.

rating on 5 star scale: * * * *

and an update to yesterday's post. LTCs are letterbox trading cards. Here is a working link for the information ~ LTC info

process

process
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I've been busy...
These are for a couple of swaps.. one the cmp monthly ATC swap and the others are LTCs.
LTC are the same size as ATC... essentially the same idea.
Find out more here:
www.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=283814&...

I have other blog posts swimming around my mind. It seems with this new creative space and reorganized spots for computers that my online time has waned. Not altogether a bad thing, but still.
I'm planning a series of toy reviews... three kids, one nearing 12.......
I've got plenty of opinions about toys.