I AM LATE TO THE INSTAGRAM PARTY. Actually, I have followed Instagram for the last year, but never shared a photo on the site. I simply lurked on my friends and saw the fun things in their everyday life. Recently I purchased a new iphone and I now use Instagram on a regular basis. So this is my week in snapshot moments. Above you see Grace’s feet with leftover polish and summer sandals after a ballet class…and if you’ve ever had a daughter in those classes then you know about those funky tights you have to purchase. Below is my lunch one day. I was actually semi-healthy:

On Saturday I attended the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo which my friend @stressfreebaby held at the Fabulous Fox Theatre’s Ballroom.

But I mostly hung out at the admission table helping collect tickets and money. I had a blast with these ladies (@stacieinatlanta and @mami2mommy) and wish I had taken more photos.

Please note that I made French Onion Soup one night and it was very popular…

And William has won and lost tournament games this week. Tomorrow night we go for Game #3 of the playoffs.  

And this girl had a fever virus this week. She goes back to school tomorrow and has her field day on Friday. I just hope she saves some energy for this weekend’s ballet recital. She was well enough to make her usual requests today. That’s a good sign.

Hope you’ve had a good Wednesday. Talk to you tomorrow after I send everyone to school!

SUMMER IS UPON US AND I AM IN THE MIDST OF TRIP PLANNING FOR OUR FAMILY. We have two different trips on the schedule. First up? The cycling dream my husband and friends are pursuing to cycle the entire Natchez Trace Parkway this summer. On Monday I’ll share more about how planning happens around here and what tools I use to map out the fun with a family.

What are your favorite planning resources and websites when making arrangements? Does your family love to travel or is it a chore?

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SEEING THE WEINERMOBILE WOULD SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF ECLECTIC MEMORIES FOR MY GANG. A couple of Saturdays ago we were driving along and saw the Oscar Mayer ambassador in a drug store parking lot. My husband complied to my begging and pulled over to the odd sight.

Then one day my son, William, used a Dr. Who reference to do his homework. He officially outed our family as a set of nerds! (To be honest, that wasn’t a secret anyway.) I took a picture of his TARDIS with all the coordinates. I love that it says “Police Box” like the real Doctor’s vehicle.

Last Saturday the baseball play occurred which — according to my husband — has become the single best sports play in our family history. William was in the outfield. He does a great job, but when you are in the outfield position you need your coach to sometimes encourage you by saying, “Are you baseball ready William?”

This time he was ready with no one saying a word. The ball came his way, he looked up into the sun, reached up, and then caught the ball which ended the inning as the third out. It was final and decisive and a glorious moment for our boy. He pulled the glove down and just stared at the mitt with marvel.

And then his teammates started chanting, “William, William, William…” See the number 6 to the left in this photo? They were cheering him into the dugout. It was a great moment for him. One of those you’ll remember forever.

And the chanting went on as William ran to get his batters helment for the next inning. Love this team. Love the coaches. It has been a great season.

And he won one of the game balls given out that day. It was a banner day for the whole team with lots of plays. How do you like that expression?

Jordan, my beloved daughter, turned 15 this week. So hard to believe. We made a little family fanfare at the Japanese restaurant. With a gong. She may or may not have been embarrassed.  


Later William’s silly ten-year-old brother grin showed up in this photo of Grace, her Pop Pop, and Ms. Mary. Total photo bomb!

Finally, I took the opportunity to practice different settings on the camera during the “Super Moon” last weekend. None of mine turned out as masterpieces, but I learned a great deal by experimenting. I did love how this shot looked all mysterious with the swirled clouds and the tree silhouettes.

So what did the full moon bring to your family?

EACH GENERATION HEARS THE COMPARISON OF “IN MY DAY…”, BUT THIS CHART TAKES A FACTUAL LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF 1982 VERSUS 2012.  I found this info-graphic rather interesting since it applies to my generation. I’m encouraged by some stats, discouraged by others. What do you think about the differences?

Your thoughts about this new generation we are raising?

 
From: BestEducationDegrees.com

MY MOST RECENT SAVVY SOURCE ARTICLE IS OUT. Our editor challenged us to find words and letters which might catch a young child’s eye. The city of Atlanta is filled with great examples, but I choose to go suburban on this piece and make it an adventure day. Decatur, Georgia is known for it’s great shops, restaurants, easy commute, and creative spirit. At night there are listening rooms and bar rooms where the next big stars are getting their start. Often musicians such as Shawn Mullins, John Mayer or The Indigo Girls drop by to visit their memories and perform unexpectedly. But by day, the City of Decatur is alive with flowers and sidewalk cafes, bookstores and community gardens to visit. A series of murals have been created in the city and they are alive with color…and letters.

I remember the first reading and recognition of letters happened on car rides. Jordan immediately began to see the meaning of things like Toys’R'Us and McDonalds. (I always cringed when she mentioned the golden arches!) I love the idea of finding these learning tools in our everyday life.

I’d love to know if there are unique sightings in your own town which might excite a preschooler on an afternoon outing. Maybe even send me a link. I plan to finish the walking itineraries mentioned on the city’s website this summer with my “big kids”. 

TODAY IS THE LAUNCH OF THE UNITED NATIONS EFFORT TO PROVIDE DISEASE PREVENTION CARE FOR CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. For all the debate surrounding vaccinations, the truth is that none of us here in America have seen the devastation that outbreaks of illness can cause in third world living conditions. This care is literally the difference between life and death for young children in those conditions.

I am anxious to hear more about the new program and the ideas they are pursuing to make childhoods become normal.

I’m for more CHILDHOOD in our world, aren’t you?

I WATCHED A POWERFUL MOVIE LAST NIGHT ON GMC. It wasn’t a feel good movie. It was a moving story about Brooks Douglass, who is now an Oklahoma State Senator. The tragedy that caused his father and mother to be violently killed has also made him into a victim’s rights advocate. Heaven’s Rain is based on his family story…and it’s quite an incredible story. If you get the chance to watch the movie, please do. If you get the opportunity to support or forward legislation about this topic, please make the difference with your voice.

In conjunction with the kick-off of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, GMC TV, America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, will present the GMC World Premiere Movie Heaven’s Rain, on Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 7 p.m. with encore broadcasts at 9 p.m. and Monday, April 23 at 9 p.m.  Heaven’s Rain is a true story that tells of one man’s mission to gain legal revenge for the unjust and illegal acts his family suffered and who ultimately found forgiveness and who became, and continues to be, a champion for victims’ rights.

FYI -

ENCORE PERFORMANCES

April 23rd
9:00 pm

and
April 26th
9:00 pm 

for more information on Heaven’s Rain: A True Story.

SCOUTING — BOTH BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS — IS A SOLID WAY TO EXPOSE YOUR CHILDREN TO THE “CAN DO” CAPABLE SPIRIT. William has gained some great skills from his scouting experience. He is now a Weblo 1 Scout, which is a fourth grader who has finished Cub Scouting. One of the qualifications needed to complete the Arrow of Light in Weblos is called ‘Readyman’. It is the next step after their initial first aid training. The idea is to prepare them for many situations where they will automatically do the the logical things to assist in an emergency situation. As the boys begin to go on bigger adventures it is important that they are able to handle accidents and get medical help properly.

A few weeks ago our leaders arranged for the school nurse to teach them the necessary steps for this level. I came along to see what they were learning after school. I took some pictures and actually learned some things myself. Nurse Jeannie used the Red Cross training for the major issues and then supplemented with her own hands-on teaching. {And seriously, aren’t school nurses the best? Ours is such a great asset for the school and has literally been a lifesaver.}

To look at the pictures you’d think that the boys were goofing off. And they were…I mean what does a group of 10 year old boys do when faced with something embarrassing or personal…they snicker and goof off. Amazingly they got the importance of the training. Through all the silliness they absorbed the critical message of each skill. My gosh they look silly in these photos though. I just love the acting of the unresponsive victim in each of these photos:

And I learned that there was a certain way to take gloves off which keeps the germs and bodily fluids off of your skin. There were also some interesting questions from the boys about what “bodily fluids” were…oh my those were interesting questions!

 The boys were extremely disappointed that Nurse Jeannie did not cover the amputation portion of the training. {insert a motherly eye roll and sigh here}

FROM THE MOMENT A COUPLE FINDS OUT THEY ARE PREGNANT THE PARENTING RESEARCH BEGINS. Each new stage, milestone, and logistical problem tests us in ways we had never imagined. I’ve been through those early stage three times and still I am amazed at the products and information to be deciphered for the benefit of the family. The one thing which always helped me? Putting my hands on new tools and products. It allowed me to filter the information and make sense of the overwhelming chaos as a new parent.

I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway for VIP tickets to the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo for expecting and new parents. Imagine having parenting and baby products in one location along with professionals who can answer specific questions for your family. This is designed as an elite experience – like a party for the parents – without being overwhelming. It’s a party for YOU, the expectant, the new parent, the grandparent and the supporting cast of family and friends.

When: May 12th, 11am-3pm (VIP ticket holders get early entry, starting at
10:30am)
Where: Fox Theatre Ballrooms, 660 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Tickets: www.atlantababyandchildexpo.com has all the details and tickets

This event features a Maternity Fashion Show, Red Carpet Photos of attendees as they enter, a Stroller Trial Track, Cravings Corner and so
much more!

To enter the giveaway for 2 VIP tickets to the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo, follow the instructions below and enter daily! Take advantage of the multiple options for entry to increase your chances to win the VIP tickets which give you early entry into the event, VIP seating during the event, and an awesome swag bag full of goodies.

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THE SCHOOLWORK PILES UP ON MY COUNTERS EACH WEEK UNTIL I GET THE CHANCE TO SORT THROUGH IT. Today I found one the gems of childhood. Grace has been studying similes in language arts and writing. She loves her dog and it shows in this assignment. I really just wanted to document it and share the smile.

Any other pet lovers agree with Grace’s assessment of what a dog is like?

IT HAD BEEN IN MY NETFLIX INSTANT QUE FOR OVER A MONTH. For a month I had attempted to watch the documentary called “Being Elmo” because it looked interesting. Each time I was met with resistance from my ten year old son. William would declare that anything with Elmo would not be appropriate for his mature age. He would bolster himself up, making me miss the toddler who once ran this house like a speedway. I tried to explain that the movie was about more than just ‘kid stuff’, but he was having none of my mother logic.

About two weeks ago William came down with the strep virus and became my daytime buddy while he recovered. It was just the two of us as his fever fought the battle. By day 3 he was looking for books to read and television to watch. I decided that I would take a morning off and sit with him for a movie. We browsed our selection and I finally convinced William to take a look at the documentary. From the moment  it began, he was hooked on the human story of Kevin Clash. Several times he rewound the film to look at a detail or discuss a development in the story as it unfolded.

When “Being Elmo” finished William immediately began looking for the movies which Kevin Clash had considered pivotal in his learning or career. These were the movies which were visions of the talented Jim Henson, and each represented technical innovations or breakthroughs in special effects and storytelling. William first watched Labyrinth, which was released in 1986. He then moved onto The Storyteller and The Storyteller: Greek Myths. He became more and more engrossed in the beauty of storytelling and the technical skill which make this appear seamless.

Fast forward a week later. William is back to himself. I was still smiling about the connections he made as a result of Kevin Clash’s determination and thirst for learning. We visited the High Museum in Atlanta for a parenting blogger event. My kids got tired of waiting for me so they went around introducing themselves at the various tables and asking a million questions. As I finally made my way to the table hosted by the Center for Puppetry Arts, I heard William excitedly discussing “Being Elmo” and Kevin Clash by name with the staff member.

I was rendered speechless. It was obvious he had been mulling things over in his mind since those sick days and had come up with his own conclusions about the human journey and opportunities made for a young man, not unlike himself. The movie is not at all about Elmo, but about making a dream happen with hard work.

To say I recommend this movie is an understatement. It’s inspiring to see a body of work displayed with the long journey required. It’s important to show this to our children.
{I would only caution those with small children to consider the fact that seeing this might take away some of the magic.}

I FOUND SOMETHING TO SHARE. Yesterday I gave you a glimpse into some of the family treasures I found while doing research at my parent’s home. Lots of the keepsakes were stored in old suitcases which are airtight and mostly moisture resistant. They are the kind of old suitcases being used for side tables these days, but back ‘in the day’ people like my parents received them as high school and college graduation gifts from their grandparents. It was kind of a useable token gift which said, ‘you’ll go far in life’. They have served as good keepsake keepers at the home where I grew up.

Every time I opened them up I had a kid over my shoulder thinking that there must be buried treasure inside. About 20 minutes into my sorting they would go away out of boredom. Well, except for William who took the time to tell me that I was looking for the wrong side of the family. He knew my primary goal was to find out information about my paternal grandfather’s adoption and life records. When I picked up something interesting which had nothing to do with my Grandfather Lonnie, William would tell me to put it down and keep looking. Taskmaster.

At one point I had looked through a filled suitcase and began sorting through the last papers inside. I stopped dead in my tracks when I found this special discovery:

Don’t let your imagination run wild with the title. {And knowing my parents makes this even more unlikely to be a wild party book.} It was filled with games that are usually used as torture at wedding and baby showers, but I did get a good laugh from the cover photo. Maybe this is what I need to throw a rocking party like that!

WE JUST RETURNED FROM A WONDERFULLY RELAXED SPRING BREAK AND EASTER HOLIDAY IN MY HOMETOWN. We visited my 97 year old grandmother who was alert and talkative. It was nice to see her recovering from some winter rehabilitation and back to her own home. Amazingly she lives independently in an apartment specially made for mobility issues…I venture to say she is healthier than most 40 year olds. Very little medication passes through her body and she is still able to carry on a conversation with skill. We also saw my Aunt Barbara while there at Mammaw’s apartment. Her family owns a tax firm so I thought it was a special gift to get a photo during the annual tax hibernation.

I sorted through some family history and found a tramp art box made from burnt matchsticks around a cigar box. It was made for my dad during the 50′s by a prisoner he visited as part of a church ministry. Dad now uses it to hold special photos like the one of he and my mother while dating.

I explored one of the family bibles for clues about my grandparents and their heritage. Well, my heritage also.

On Saturday we let the kids hunt Easter eggs all over the hill at my parent’s home. There are lots of statues and fun things to place the eggs in so we enjoyed the hiding part. Next year I think we have to get more complicated because the boys complained that we were too easy.

In the next picture Drake is about to find a hidden egg and make his sisters really mad…big competition there.

And not long after that Grace found a fork…in my parent’s driveway. Don’t ask, they live in the country!

See the baseball egg?

Grace and Alana search the driveway for eggs amid the daylillies.

And someone placed a lovely teenager amid all the chaos. No problem though…she used her tunes to drown out the craziness.

St. Francis cradles an egg…and ironically a caterpillar was crawling up on his head. Tis the season for butterfly magic.

Grace was enamored with the caterpillars. The three little girls made them pets until Uncle Russ explained that they needed to be outside. Thanks Uncle Russ for promising to guard those butterflies-to-be. I have the feeling that three girls will be looking for updates!

Best hidden egg was the one under Chloe the cat. She stayed like that for about 30 minutes.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter and Passover week with the ones you love.

ATLANTA IS FULL OF PARKS TO EXPLORE, BUT I WAS CHALLENGED BY MY SAVVY SOURCE EDITOR TO FIND UNIQUE ONES IN OUR CITY. It surprised me to see that there were some unusual experiences right in our area which would make for a memorable morning out. I skipped some of our great supersars like Piedmont Park and Centennial Olympic Park to explore new ideas. Come take a look:

“Exploring Our Neighborhood Parks in Atlanta”

MY MEMORY WAS JOGGED YESTERDAY BY THIS IMAGE. Yesterday my creative friend Erin shared a photo she took of a young couple near some graffiti. She captured the perfect combination of fun and personality in the shot. That reminded me of a trend which is spreading across Pinterest right now – photography using sidewalk chalk. A few months ago I followed a Pinterest link to the Modern Parents Messy Kids blog and fell in love with her design ideas. You’ll enjoy her initial post explaining the trend:

Balloons always make me happy…especially when they are part of an imaginative photo:

Kindergarten photo? Year by year school photos? Yes, please!

Isn’t this a cute way to send a Save the Date card for a wedding?

On Pinterest you can search for things like “sidewalk chalk, photos” and come up with an interesting amount of theme ideas like this:

That’s where I found this adorable Three Month Photo pinned by Taylor Roberts. Isn’t it sweet? Not sure they would lay so still once you get to the One Year Portrait!

And this sweet girl full of personality that makes a lightning bolt strike mentioned by Stephanie Lynn:

And Getz Creative Photography did this adorable picture of a “strong man” using chalk and some imagination:

And finally, I found this neat idea from ArtrageousAfternoon which details a nature hunt you can do by taking collections the kids have gathered on a pretty day and composing them within sidewalk chalk frames. Once you make the photo then you can preserve the day forever. I want to do this soon with my crew:

The spring weather is perfect for creating fun photos. Spend the sunniest part of the day getting set up for the photo and when the light softens in the afternoon you will be able to capture your own masterpiece!

JUST SUBMITTED AN ARTICLE WITH SOME IDEAS FOR ENJOYING SPRING AROUND ATLANTA. It was an article which could have gone on forever because Spring is one of the best seasons in our city. We cover events like egg hunts and other activities in our events calendar area, so I choose to generate some thoughts about a day out in the glorious sun. It seems like this season began in January because of the mile winter, but if I had to extend one season this is the best case scenario.

I’m not mentioning pollen….

I’m not mentioning pollen…

I’m not AaaaChoo!

Let me know if you have any other ideas for Spring…always looking for more ideas to explore with my family. 

RECENTLY I RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO ATTEND THE “PARENT BLOGGERS EVENT” AT THE HIGH MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA. It’s one of our family’s favorite destinations in Midtown so they didn’t have to twist my arm twice. The idea was to have Atlanta’s varied museums and activities highlighted for writers to gather information and find out about unique opportunities. It was a wonderful venue to ask questions about what exhibits are age appropriate for families, summer camp opportunities, and hidden ideas to explore in writing. Not only did I get to talk with the marketing professionals from the “cool” spots in town, but there were lots of goodies prepared for us to use and give away on our blogs. I’m looking forward to sharing some of that with you in the coming weeks.

The Brian Donnelly / KAWS piece near the skylight was incredible. It was comissioned for that particular wall and lighting. You can’t beat the glory of the High’s architecture either.

We are sending Grace off on remote locations to work with CNN earning her college money. They were most impressed with her ability to have her hair lay still during hurricane conditions.

I was most impressed with the picture of Anderson Cooper. {ahem!}

We met some great people from Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Such a creative group…did you know their Imaginators take each new exhibit and create a 20-30 minute interactive drama piece to enforce the theme and reach out the the various ages who visit the museum? William was in rare form with his sense of 10 year old comic timing…thank goodness this Imaginator was on top of his game! We were cracking up at the conversation.

The Puppetry Arts Center was another fascination of William’s. When he was sick he watched a documentary called Being Elmo and he found a new respect for the creative engineering and innovation necessary to create this magic.

And finally we exited via the courtyard. We did manage to see the Picasso to Warhol exhibit and the kids explored the DeGaw exhibit upstairs in awe without me. {Yikes! Actually, they felt very at home in the High and were frustrated that I wanted to talk to all of my friends down in the exhibit hall. That’s when the teenager decided that they would tour upstairs without me.} Grace spent her time in the Children’s Room. I love this painting you can walk through.

As we were exiting we saw the this graphic hand in the Coat Check / Courtyard Door Entry by KAWS.

This KAWS statue which was brought in by crane in the courtyard. So fun to see it against the downtown buildings. And perhaps it is appropriately placed – at least in Grace’s case!

From the looks of Grace above, we wore ourselves out discovering cool stuff to do in Atlanta. Looking forward to sharing all the goodies and information with you soon. Downtown Atlanta can be a truly fun family outing if you know where to go!

THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE RELEASE INUNDATED THE NEWS LAST WEEK IN POP CULTURE REALMS. My teenager turned me onto the books about a year ago and I finally read them a few months ago. Devoured them actually, because once I started reading the series written by Suzanne Collins, I couldn’t stop. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, tells the horrible story from her point of view and although the absurd “games” are more about killing and survival, the complexity of her personality kept me reading. I found myself rooting for her through the whole situation and found it hard to realize that the character was a mere 15 – the actual age of my daughter in May.

I’ve read both positive and negative opinions about the books and subsequent movie. Whether you should allow your tween or teen to see it in theaters; why kids are killing in the book; and just plain stupid references to the title by media people who haven’t taken the time to read and understand. For me, the fact that the heroine in this book has a distinct character and strength makes up for any negatives.

• RESOURCEFULNESS AND SELF-RELIANCE – No man or vampire necessary to rescue Katniss in The Hunger Games. Are there indictions of her attraction to Gale and Peeta? Certainly, but not because of her belief that they will ‘complete’ her. One of Kat’s best traits is her ability to assess a situation quickly and determine the best course of action. Years of providing for her family’s food and care have made her mature beyond her years.
• INGENUITY – Katniss is clever. She can evaluate tools and nature (even the Capitol-manufactured environment of the games), along with the intentions of people and their motivations. This allows her to provide the unpredictable answer that often saves lives. 
• A SENSE OF HERITAGE – Katniss’ father died when she was young, but throughout the story we see a heritage of plant and nature knowledge he instilled into her brain. Initially Katniss discounts her mother’s usefulness in the family following a long period of depression and loss. As the story unfolds, the healing hands of her mother begin to show themselves in Kat’s actions. Katniss did indeed learn from her mother and when she returns from the games seems to have a rediscovered appreciation for her contribution to the lives of others. This sense of heritage and taught instinct helped me to understand her personality.
• CARES FOR HER SISTER – Katniss shows empathy and the willingness to volunteer in her young sister’s place. Beyond that scene we see that it’s the thought of her sister’s expectations and connection which carry Kat through difficult moments. It causes her to form an alliance with tiny Rue when the other’s have long overlooked her abilities in the game as a potential winner. Primrose’s last words to Katniss after the candidate selection ring in her ears and cheer her forward.
• ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF THE TEEN BRAIN – Despite her experience with sadness, loss, and desperate need in her District, Katniss is still a young girl. She is allowed the chance to mentally mature through even the simplist implications of hand-holding and what a gift might mean from an acquaintance. Kat holds onto memories and analyzes them for meaning like only a teenager could. Hardened adults don’t spend the time to worry about a moment’s glance, but Katniss does. Her complex and growing human brain is accurately portrayed despite the circumstances of the future world.
• SEXUAL REFERENCE IS RESTRAINED - Let’s be honest, when you are playing in the Hunger Games where your survival chances are 1:24, sex is not your first concern. But the attitude of sexuality does not invade this story. The heroine is beautiful in a simple, classic way. Her priorities before the game are family and community. Her ideals inside the game do not use sexuality as a tool. Even when groomed by the Capitol Districts designers, her vain side does not appear. She is not swayed by the “latest” or the “newest” or the “hottest”. Those terms are not really in her vocabulary. She is not in a rush to become part of a couple and when she does become part of a couple Katniss questions her own motives and intentions. How refreshing. 
• THE SUPERFICIAL SOCIETY IS THE ANTAGONIST – When Katniss arrives in the Capitol she observes the gluttony and glitter of the district. Having only heard of the Capitol’s wastefulness and focus on the superficial is a true contrast from her poor coal-mining District 12. There is a clear reference to the negative effects on a society where wealth and opportunity are available to only a few. Of course those are the citizens who enjoy watching the Hunger Games because no one in their district loses a life. The domineering control of the President trickles down into every negative happening for Districts 1-12. The clear political thought throughout the series is: Do we want our future in the United States to be like the citizens of Panem?

Have you given (or set up) technology for your parents? I’d love to hear about your successes and failures in this area!

BY NOW YOU KNOW THAT WE REALLY ENJOYED THE NEWEST ATTRACTION IN ATLANTA. I’m posting more details this afternoon, but I wanted you to have a peek at what was one of my favorite details in the whole Discovery Center:

Turner Field, Home of the Braves was in the mineature cityscape as a pinball machine…

and it included the Chick-Fil-A cow and Coca-Cola’s famous green bottle design on the upper deck!

The LEGO gurus have certainly taken notice of the details!