Art

So, in our house it is a priority to exercise your body...and your mind. Of course my kids are drawn to opposite ends of the spectrum - Lolly is drawn to anything with a ball and Ben can pass hours at his art table. Both of the kids have art at school on Thursdays. It is the reason that Ben bounds out of bed. From Charlotte I usually get a "NOT ART! I haaaaaaaaaaaate art!" To which I of course say - "Lolly, you exercise your body. You must learn to exercise your brain." I then get a "Okay Mommy."

I had a fantastic day with the kids several weeks ago where we went to a ceramic painting place. Not surprisingly, Ben chose a dragon and Charlotte chose a horse. Here are some pictures of Lolly painting her horse and her finished product.




Not long after, I enrolled Ben in an acrylic painting class. The class examined Monet's Waterlilies painting and then worked to create their own version. This was Ben's first time painting on a canvas and he loved the class. His art teacher also was incredibly encouraging and I can't say what a fantastic experience it was for him.

Here is his finished product:


I remember taking art class at the YWCA when I was a kid. I remember walking through the dark, painted cement block halls. Smelling the chlorine from the pool. Playing with charcoals and pastels and the joy I felt from those classes. I also still love being creative and hope that it is a tool my kids take into their lives.

T-ball

So, to say my family was into baseball is a gross understatement. We all played Little League, several of us played ball in high school and a few even in college. My father still coaches Cal Ripkin ball, my brother's "other woman" is the Red Sox, and I am just completing my first year as a T-ball coach.

It has been wonderfully fun. I heard reports that it was merely babysitting -- but we have eleven beautiful and vibrant kids who are so eager to learn, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and helping them learn to love baseball.

I wasn't sure how Ben was going to take to baseball. He has shown aptitude but has demonstrated zero interest. I decided to coach tball because I wanted to help introduce him -- and to be honest - I wasn't sure he'd play if I wasn't involved. What I have gained has been so completely fantastic. The chance to help expose him to a sport I grew up loving, the opportunity to watch him experiment and learn the skills in baseball, and an up-close and personal view of him interacting with other kids his age. As usual, I am always mesmerized by who he is and of what he is capable.

Part of the ritual he has adopted includes chewing gum...which I loathe...and of course, he adores. The other night at the game, I looked over to where he was playing first base (position I played). He was standing just off the bag, chewing gum, pounding his fist into his glove, cheering on his teammates "Let's go Bagel Chateau?" and looking like he had been playing for years. After the game I mentioned to him what a natural he looked like in that moment to me and how proud I was of him. He replied, "Mom, I love baseball. I'm never gonna quit." Uh oh...have I converted another baseball zealot?

Here are some photos from the opening day parade.

I love the silly look on his face in this photo:


Goofing around with one of his friends

Clarity

Mommy: Lolly what do you want for your birthday?

Lolly: That thing that is in Narnia that has a horn....

Mommy: A unicorn?

Lolly: No

Mommy: A centaur?

Lolly: No

Mommy: A griffin?

Lolly: No....Oh! A rhinoceros!

Mommy: Oh. Okay.

Lolly: And by the way Mommy, centaurs and griffins do NOT have horns.

I was told my daughter was impertinent. I don't think so...I think she exists with great clarity and hope she never loses it.

Playing in a Patch of Sunshine

On a cold sunny morning, Charlotte found hours of entertainment in building a track around the entire dining room, loading the train with animals and transporting them "around the world". It was wonderful to watch her so swept up in her imagination.

Humorous Exchange over Art

Charlotte: Why are you using my favorite color!

Ben: Sorry to burst your bubble...

Charlotte: I don't have a bubble...I have a purple destiny!

Extra Photos

These are some photos that I wanted to share...that really have no particular story. Just images of the kids being themselves.

My Brave Knights

We have been going for years to the Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York, and it has been an annual end of the summer tradition. When we started going, we were able to spend the entire day there enjoying the entertainment and a beautiful late summer day outside...surrounded by a crowd of people dressed up like Queen Elizabeth, a tavern wench, Highlanders, Pirates, Fairies, Knights...etc. Each year the kids relationship with the Faire has changed. This year Ben decided that he MUST dress up....and of course, Charlotte followed course. It rained pretty heavily on us -- which is funny itself because we were running late, noticed the clouds, Drew said - what do you think should we go back for raincoats? And of course, I said no...there is no rain in the forecast - let's just go. We won't melt. Of course, we didn't melt...but we did get wet and quite muddy. We still had fun though.

Here are some pictures from the Faire and so you can see how "authentic" my little knights were in their garb -- and behavior.




Pulling the sword from the stone.



My fully grown hot-blooded viking.



And his offspring....Does this not look like it is cut from the movie Braveheart?!?!?!?!


Ben got a beautiful dragon painted on his arm. He loves doing this. It doesn't last long, but watching someone paint always inspires his own art -- and he came home and drew a dragon that was obviously influenced by this experience. Amazing.