What We're Making: The Daily News

We don't get a paper-paper around here these days, so I'm not sure what Clio's inspiration was.

She created a daily newspaper using her silly sentences board, then had me make copies.

She tied them up and put them in a "newsbag" and delivered them to me, Dave, and my parents when we met them for lunch.  She insisted they each get their own.

One way or another, this kid is shaping up to be a writer.

What We're Making: Pirate Ship

These girls see no end to the possibilities in a cardboard box, and can often be heard begging for them at my parents' house.

I love that this is a ship with a proper mast and a sail made from upholstery batting (scavengers!), and that the ropes are made from gingham ribbon, but I ESPECIALLY love Clio's take on a skull and cross bones flag.

The valentine that wasn't

If you know us well, it should be no surprise that instead of a Christmas card we do a Valentine's card.  Yes, we like that valentines are sweet, and different, and that a card in February stands out from the December pack.

But let's be honest: we also just kinda can't get it together to do one more thing at the end of the year.  I do an entire BOOK, after all.

This year, we didn't even get it together to do a card in February.  While I am a little sad that we did not reach out to friends and family with a little token, and while I am sad that we will have a hole in the chronicles of annual family cards, it is also the kind of thing that once the time is past, you kind of just let go.

Dave and the girls did have this cute idea for a card.  the execution lacked a little and the timing?  Well, I believe they took these pictures on February 14th.

Too little, too late.

But cute, no?  (In case it is not totally clear, they are making a heart with their negative space.  Obvs.)

Some of our past cards are posted on the blog, like 2011 and, well.  Just 2011!

What we're making

So, some time back, I had this idea of what to do with this here blog.  Obviously, I haven't been posting.  It's partly a time thing, and an energy thing, and an I-post-almost-daily-on-another-blog thing.  But it is also a question of what this blog is for, something I have struggled with since moving closer to family.  For the past two years, it has functioned much less as a report on our whereabouts and doings, because, well, the people most interested in those things probably already knew where we were and what we did.  I think there is also an aspect of age/life stage to it.  Dave's mom kept notes as he grew: many the first month, lots the first year, and slowly diminishing until he was about six, and then the baby book is done.  Perhaps this has to do with reaching school age?  They are with us less/ need us differently?  Or perhaps there is less that we feel comfortable taking public as they grow?

At the same time, the piles of paper in this house are majorly out of control.  And these kids make some majorly awesome projects.  Many of them totally independent of any grown up.  And so the idea was born to photograph them and record them here, with the dual purpose of getting them out of the house and creating a permanent record.

I rounded up a bunch of recent work and took pictures.  Clio even modeled some of the projects.  (I know.)  And then....life got busy.  And almost every day I think to myself, I should put that popsicle stick house/ wax sculpture/ nailed sign/ watercolor-paper 3D tent on the blog.

Yesterday Clio made a drawing out of a face using pencil shavings for the eyes.  This kind of ingenious re-use is just so her, and so I finally finally snapped a picture, and am posting it here.

The battery on my phone is so low the camera couldn't use flash.  But this is good: let me manage expectations.  These are not going to be perfectly lit glamour shots that belong on pinterest.  Just a record of what we're making, the great ideas these girls have, more than the execution (though that has its spectacular moments, too).  So now you know the deal.  Some of the stuff I share here might be worth trying at home, but most of it you might just marvel at and move on.

Good?  Good.

Clio turns 6, in pictures

Eleri Turns 4, in pictures

A letter to my future birthday-planning self

The girls have started planning their birthday parties. Tonight, in great detail, Clio described the "face cake" she would like to have, and Eleri has been putting items on her birthday wish list since, well, the day after her birthday.

 Enough time has passed that I am not so emotional about it, but this year, like last, the girls' birthday parties were a disaster. Not for them; and not, perhaps, in the end. Just for me. In the planning and the doing. And because enough time has passed, I both understand how trivial the "disasters" really were, and have forgotten just enough of it now to know I will forget completely by next year if I do not write this note to myself.

So here goes.

A letter to myself on the future occasion of my children's birthdays: 

Your children do not need a big event. They do not need a special venue or fancy invitations or to invite every child in their class. Your children very much want an event on (or as near as possible to) their actual birthday with a few of their favorite people. They want an event that celebrates them but does not pressure them. You can accomplish this by simply being thoughtful.

Your children know what they like to eat, and they sure like treats. They know what the party food should be, and how the cake should look, including the geometric angles at which the color-block frosting should meet. Listen to them.

Your children are not greedy, but when all of the presents are opened, they might look for more. Don't make them feel bad about it--it's no big deal. And if they don't love a present and don't hide it very well, just remember that you don't really want to teach them to lie anyway, and that your lessons in manners will sink in someday. It's okay if today is not that day.

Your children do not need a "big" present, from you or anyone else. When they are small, they do not know the relative (money) value of presents. But your children do like big gigantic things, and they very like teensy-tiny things. By all means give them presents at either/both ends of a physical or emotional scale, but leave the monetary one out of it.

Your children do not need fancy favors or decorations or matching anything. But someday soon, ask them if they would like a theme. Whatever it is (and it will probably be weird) ask them how they would like to decorate. Follow orders. Don't worry about all those beautiful parties you see on blogs, and give pinterest a rest--fun isn't often as pretty as all that.

Your children will want to spend time with all their friends, but they want you to celebrate, too. Go easy on yourself. The food doesn't have to be perfect. Nothing has to be perfect. Just make sure you are perfectly present. The only (other) perfection you should go for is in the way your child feels on this day, but do know that you can't control that. Don't be disappointed in them if they have disappointments this day, like any other.

Also. Maybe your photo-loathing children won't appreciate it now, but try to get a picture of your family on this day. Yes, all of you. More than anything else, they may thank you for that one day.

Sincerely, Yourself

p.s. If you want one practical bit of advice? With holiday-time birthdays and an unreliable school directory, next year, for goodness sake, send printed invites and follow up with phone calls a week before the event. If you thank me for nothing else, thank me for that one.