Activity Advent: Catch up

We've been having so much fun with our Christmas advent activities that I haven't had a second to sit down and record it.  Since I'm covering 5 days in one post, this is a long one.

Day 1

I bought Isabella and Oliver each one of the chocolate advent calendars at Trader Joe's for two reasons: 1) they are only $1 and 2) I always wanted one as a kid, but never, ever got one.  After eating the first piece Isabella declared the chocolate as "bad".  But continues opening each window, each night with delight.  (It is pretty nasty chocolate.)

 We also watched a Christmas video from lds.org.

Day 2

I finally finished the actual advent calendar (with Isabella's help, of course) and hung it up on our door.  I used sticky notes on the inside so I can change and move things around as needed.

Our activity for the day was to go see the store windows on 5th Avenue.  We timed it right so Brian could meet us after work.

 Bergdorf Goodman's windows were so beautiful...as always.

 We were near our favorite chicken and rice cart and needed dinner, so we waited.  

A long line = delicious food.

 On our walk home we passed Grom and had to stop for some sipping chocolate.  Grom's hot chocolate is delicious, but a bit too rich and thick to be my favorite.

Brian gave Simon his first taste of chocolate.  I think he was in heaven.

 As was Oliver.

Day 3

Our actual activity for the day was the church Christmas concert, but we had a day full of fun before the evening event.

We  headed out to find the "secret subway station".  An old beautiful station that isn't used anymore, but the downtown 6 train passes it as it turns around to head uptown after the City Hall stop.

The steps at City Hall

My camera couldn't capture the station outside the train, but here's Isabella peering out.  Here are some online photos, if you are curious.

We found ourselves at Grand Central and showed Isabella the "whispering wall".  You stand in opposite corners and talk into the corner and you can hear each other.  It's pretty fun.

Somehow we walked home via Rockefeller Center.  Whoever thought that was a good idea was nuts!  I was stuck in human gridlock on 48th & 5th Ave.  Everyone trying to go in different directions, completely stopped, body pressed up against body, just looking at each other.  I really don't how the tourbus got through.  It was the worst crowd I've ever been in (and I've been in some crazy crowds :)).

On the way to the concert we saw the firetrucks with their ladders and hoses at the ready.  It's the first time I've ever seen them actually fighting a fire (but I never saw the fire).

  We finally made it to the concert!  It was the first time we got there early enough to sit in the chapel, where it sounded fantastic!  I still feel uplifted, and that was 3 days ago!

The kids were super busy and a huge handful (since the concert started at their bedtime), but they did well considering.  It was also awesome to see so many friends we haven't seen in so long!

This is us at the end of the concert.  (Thank you, Jill!)

Day 4
We took a break from all the busy outings of the previous days and made snowflakes.

Day 5
After school we worked on making some gifts for loved ones.  It seemed to be very therapeutic for Isabella. I've tried after school art projects before, to help her decompress from school, but they haven't worked, until this one.

Attitude of Gratitude

Right now I'm grateful for several things:

• This may sound silly, but I'm so glad today is a Jewish holiday.  (Silly, because I'm a Mormon--yes, we do believe in Christ.)  Here, Jewish holidays are recognized and so Isabella gets today (and tomorrow) off of school.  (That never happened in CA when I was growing up.)  
• It's a raining today.  So we are just chillin', calm and easy, inside.  No pressure to run around on adventures.  If it wasn't raining we'd probably be at the Bronx Zoo.
• Isabella is still in her pajamas.  This morning I never said, "You need to ... now!"
• All morning she has been playing with her toys.  Something she hasn't had time to do much of since school started.  
• Right now she's spontaneously gluing, painting, stamping, drawing, etc.  Imagination and creativity are thriving today.  It feels good.
• Oliver has joined in creating more than ever before.  He's mostly cutting and gluing galore.
• I finally painted Isabella's nails.  Something I've been promising, and putting off, for well over a week.
• I'm so glad I have today and tomorrow (and the weekend) to have my little girl around.  I've missed her so much!!!

It is a beautiful day!

Plie´

My good friend and talented dance teacher, Maria, asked me to take some photos of her ballet class today.  It was so much fun!  Thanks for asking me, Maria!

A Magical Childhood

If you hadn't noticed this little blog here has become our official family journal.  It was an intentional decision in January when I wanted to document more of our lives; mostly because I was forgetting so much of it (in my constant state of exhaustion).  I love photographing the kids and then organizing them a bit here to tell our life story.  (Before I was attempting to keep 3-5 different journals!)  But I haven't written as much as I would like about my journey into motherhood.  I often have several ideas floating around my unfocused mind.  And I'd like to focus on some of those that linger for a long time.  (Like what to do about chores.)

One idea is: what should childhood be like and how can I create that for my sweet little ones.  This has been at the forefront of my mind lately.  Especially with Isabella beginning school (in a month!) and going into that whole new world, full of rules and conformity.  While she is in my care, what do I want home life to be like and how can I create that?  It's been a struggle to figure it out and I'm still in the process (which I realize may never end) of understanding what childhood should be like.

A little while ago I heard someone describe their childhood as magical.  It was a complete "A-HA!" moment.  And since then I can't get it out of my head.  I want my children to have a magical childhood!

I feel like I've defined what childhood should be like, but now I've hit the hard part:

How?  

How do I create a magical childhood?  

I've been revisiting the memories of my own childhood and what elements made it magical.  Climbing trees, walking through deep flowing grass, playing cops and robbers while pretending locust leaves were money.  The parts of my childhood that were magical were spent outside, exploring, with very little adult supervision.  I'm not sure if these elements are necessary for a magical childhood, but it's what I know.

Unsupervised, free play in nature is not what is available to my kids' urban lifestyle right now.  But I believe they can still have a magical childhood in the city.  So, yes, I'm researching, thinking, and discovering the HOW!

My dear friends: 

Do you have any ideas how to encourage a magical childhood in the city?  

I consider any reader of my blog a good friend and I would really love to hear your thoughts (even if you don't have kids or live in the city)!  

Governor's Island: FIGMENT

Last Friday I took the kids out to Governor's Island for a fun art festival called FIGMENT. Despite the longest line ever (full of school groups) to get onto the ferry we really enjoyed our time on the island. It was relaxed and fun, just as it should be. FIGMENT itself was fun and interesting, but I didn't feel like it was worthy of a special trip to Governor's Island. It was more, "if you are going to go, there will be more things to do once you are there". Some of our favorite activities will be at Governor's Island all summer; like The Children's Museum of the Arts.

Here are several photos of our adventure:

Lunch on the ferry.  The lines were so long we missed the first one.

Painting with water.

Silly Putty transfer art.

Postcards for peace.

Don't mess with the bubble gun!

Jumping

Oliver kept climbing all over this sculpture that had "no climbing" signs posted all over it.  Can't he read?!  I chased after him all the way to the top.  Once.

This was a favorite.  It's made out of bottle caps and makes a fun noise when you pull the rope.

Drumming

Picnic lunch with Lady Liberty.

This was my favorite.

The coolest golf cart ever.  Gave people rides.  Played cool tunes.

When life gives you rain...

make rainbows!

I think yesterday was the first day in the last two weeks that it didn't rain.  We decided we needed some rainbows to celebrate the sunshine.

I can usually commiserate with others over such gloomy weather.  But I've actually enjoyed the rain these last couple of weeks.  Some reasons I'm grateful for the rain:

1. We had relief from our seasonal allergies (Isabella and I).
2. There wasn't a desperate to be outside as much as possible and therefore we were on schedule.  Something my little Oliver needs.
3. It is so amazingly green!!!  I love it!  As we were walking down our street today Isabella asked, "Is this Georgia?" (meaning Savannah) "It is so beautiful, just like Georgia!"

Sidewalk Chalk

I have always imagined that New York City kids create chalk art in front of their brownstone.  So we did it.  With paint brushes and water too.  It will be repeated.

Eggs in the Mail

Isabella loves to make things and she also loves to give her creations away.  (Our sweet neighbors are usually the recipients of her creativity.)  She also loves to send things in the mail, especially to her cousins.  When I saw this idea to mail easter eggs filled with goodies in the mail, I knew she would flip.  She basically did.  As soon as we gathered the supplies she wouldn't let me rest until they were in the big blue mailbox.  We sent one to each of her cousins (except the babies, sorry Kate & Marek) and almost all of them made it.  (We do feel terrible that a couple didn't ever show up or arrived broken.)

Ceci, my oldest niece, was so happy to find the surprise during her grueling week of finals.

Dying Eggs

I love Isabella at 4 years old!  I feel like she really loves these little traditions.  I haven't felt much of a need to form family traditions until lately.  She finally gets it and loves it.  I actually haven't dyed Easter eggs with her until this year...which made it all the more fun for me.  I've missed it.

When I saw this simple idea on the Artful Parent I thought we'd give it a try.  Draw, with crayons, on the eggs while they are still warm and the wax will melt and create cool designs.  Then dye.  We used the dying directions on the back of the food coloring box.

Liesl & Co.

I don't consider myself a seamstress (sewer? sewist?) by any means.  But I have learned to sew a bit these last few years.  My mom taught me the basics when I was a teen and I sewed a few items, but never really liked what I made.  Since a friend gave me an old 1930's Singer I've attempted to make a few items for Isabella and I've loved it.  Other than coaching from my mom (and a bit from my sister) I owe my sewing success to the Oliver + S patterns created by Liesl & Co.  I have loved everything I have made.  I so wish I had more time, money and space to make more of these adorable clothes for my children.

Last Saturday Liesl was part of the Crafternoon at the New York Public Library.  Last minute I decided to head down there with Isabella to make super cute paper dolls.  It was a pleasure to meet Liesl and thank her, in person, for teaching me how to sew.  She was fun to talk with and generously held Simon almost the whole time as she met and talked with a room full of crafters.

Here are the clothes I made from the Oliver + S patterns.  I really want to make more...

The 2+2 blouse and skirt.  I made the mistake of making the top green.
She only wore the top twice because it was green.
The skirt got plenty of use (with a purchased pink top).

The bubble dress.  She'll wear this again this summer.

The lazy days skirt.  Super-duper easy!  I plan to make a few more this year.
Click on the link for the free tutorial.

The tea-party sundress.  Isabella's favorite!  She still asks if she can wear it.
It's too small & has been in storage for 2 years now.