ONE mistake... FOUR weeks of fun!

Becoming a mother and early childhood educator has allowed me to reconnect to the childlike persistence and resilience that we so often have to fight for as adults.  The night I spilled cornmeal became a defining moment in my personal and professional journey as I learned to see more.  And although it has been almost two years since that lesson, I continue to see more (from the creation of a "Who Spilled the Cornmeal?" child development workshop, to an article proposal for an online child care publication that has been accepted,) my message to you is...

"Don't allow one mistake to keep you floored

Get up and use THAT to make something beautiful"

Please read the entire original post here

to discover how one mistake led to four weeks of fun!

The activities for the first three days included using our sensory table for...

Cornmeal and funnels

Beans and Cornmeal

Cornmeal racetrack

On days four and five the children enjoyed...

Cornmeal and colored sand art

Cornmeal tracing 

During week 2 we introduced...

Cornmeal and rainbow rice

Cornmeal maracas

Blindfold sensory game

Cornmeal sand castles

Cornmeal textured painting

Click here to read the interesting thing that happened

during week 3 when we made cornmeal play dough

and finally click here for week 4 activities and a video... 

Cornmeal letter search

Cornmeal goop

Play dough sensory pie

Cornmeal and shaving cream

We had such a great time making the most of one mistake, but we

know that there are even more activities that we could have done!

How would you have used the spilled cornmeal?

Sharing this over at No Time For Flash Cards and also at
Living Well Spending Less for the 1-year anniversary of Thrifty Thursday! 

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- The Art of Love

My children were excited when I told them we were hosting a special
Valentine's Crafts and Kid's Movie Night

We moved the couches, brought in the tables and chairs from the

Children's Art Studio, and provided everyone with materials

to create cards and crafts to share with the people they love... 

Heart Art 

We watched a movie about believing in the impossible
and just as the movie was ending

my mother called to inform me that my younger cousin was visiting from Texas,
and my aunt was on her way to my house so that she could say "hello"

As I waited for them, I began to think about...

my cousins
my family
my children

and all of the moments we have shared in this house

I remembered that
she was actually one of my first "child care students"

 

when I babysat her and her older sisters the summer of 1990

and NOW she travels with a company performing stage plays for children 
because she says it combines two of her greatest loves... art and children

It was the perfect full circle moment!

The next day another one of my former students

and her mom came by for...

Marble Painting

The perfect culminating moment to this weekend experience came when

the mom asked her 4 yr. old daughter if she was ready to leave my house 

and

without looking up

without blinking 

without hesitation

she calmly answered...

"NEVER!"

and I smiled
realizing that my life's

work
passion
purpose

is still

and will always be

right here

UP NEXT...

Seuss inspired experiences

A Lesson in Love... Don't Miss the Bus

He ran with a limp

It looked

quite painful to be honest

quite odd

until I actually saw the object of his affection...

the city bus

And he would have to cross two lanes of traffic to get there

with no guarantee that the bus driver would even wait for him

but he was

willing to risk it

willing to run

with arms waving and a noticeable limp, not caring who saw his desperation because...

his purpose was greater than his pride

And amazingly enough the world around him stopped moving

as drivers and street pedestrians alike paused

silently cheering

watching

praying

"C'mon, you can make it.  You can make it"

and when he finally did

there was a collective sigh of relief because

he had conquered what so many of us often

avoid

fear

and that is allowing others to see

our limp

our vulnerability

our weakness

We would much rather just wait for the next bus

than to put ourselves out there like that

But in life we must be willing to... 

say it

show it

give it

live it

BECAUSE... 

we cannot truly live, unless we are willing to love, and

we cannot truly love, unless we are willing to run

across lanes of traffic during the middle of the day

arms waving

limping awkwardly toward our goal

eyes filled with desperation...

and hope

as others stop to

watch

cheer

(or maybe even laugh and point)

We cannot truly celebrate love

unless we are willing to put ourselves out there like that, but

today I was reminded by a total stranger that...

It is okay to run with a limp

as long as you also run with a purpose!

Click to read...

A Child's Lesson in Graffiti

Remembering the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

February is

"The Month of Love"

and in addition to Valentine's Day

in our home we also celebrate...

my hubby's birthday

my mother's birthday

our wedding anniversary

all within a matter of two weeks!

So...

we take pictures

we document

we talk about

and revisit

the moments that

have made us

laugh

cry

scream

and everything else in-between because

We celebrate by remembering...

that our greatest lessons in love

have come from learning to see the beauty

within these everyday moments

My hubby created this chocolate surprise for our anniversary

a few years ago, and we loved it so much that the following year

I decided to bring out the fountain again for his birthday...

Only problem?

I didn't watch the fountain

and...

the chocolate exploded

and...

splattered all over

the table

the tray

the floor

the curtains

the wall

the door

(no, this isn't Dr. Seuss)

But then...

as we were cleaning "the mess" one of the children

pointed out the design that had been created

so we decided to set the tray out as it was,

and some of the guests actually thought

the chocolate drizzle was intentional...

a "Jackson Pollock" art inspired dessert tray!

and I realized that sometimes...

mistakes can be beautiful

and

that we

honor our love

celebrate our love

share our love

when we remember

the true story...

the full story...

the entire story...

which includes

the good

the bad

and even

everything else

in-between

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio... I Have a Dream 2014!

We had a great January kickoff
in our Children's Art Studio...

that started when our cousins came to visit!

Painting 

Chinese Lanterns

-Paint

-Paper

-Scissors

Canvas Art

-Canvas

-Paint

-Tape

Don't have a blank canvas?

Paint over one!!

"Every Child is an artist..."

 and...

2014 Dream Boards

-Scissors

-Child Friendly Magazines

-Stickers, Letters, and other Embellishments

-Glue

-Poster board

The children began mapping out their visions,

and even the moms got in on the action!

Notice my hubbies name at the center of my board?

It's because I'm grateful that...

God has placed me with a mate 

who's very name says Wins Ton 

proving that together, we can't lose!!

And since...

the weather is so beautiful in SoCal the kids and I went
outside and had a great time "jumping into the new year"!

How have you jumped into the new year?

Up next...

The Art of Love

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Painting)

Saturday mornings in the art studio with friends

has become one of my weekend favorites!

noticing... 

silence fill the room as young artists

concentrate on their work

observing...

intensity as young minds and hands

plan and produce unique creations

witnessing...

the look on parent faces upon viewing 

their child's finished art pieces

It reminds me to stop and cherish

childhood art, and the wonderful

"Flavors of Fall"

------------------------------------------------------

Water Color Art

-Water Color Paint

-Watercolor paint

-Paint Brushes

(optional)

-Crayons

-Colored pencils

Print Painting

-Nylons

-Popcorn Kernels (unpopped)

-Paint

-Paper Leaf Cutouts (or paper)

-Construction Paper

"Art is the color and textures

of your imagination"

-unknown

"Flavors of Fall"

also includes...

Collage Art

Mosaic Art

Join us in the New Year to create...

"Dream Boards"!

A Lesson in Winning... Super Bowl Champs

Yesterday it rained...

hard

and for the life of me I couldn't figure out
why the coach didn't cancel practice

so I called my hubby at work just to be sure

My 11yr-old said

"Mom, it's football.  We still play even when it rains."

So much to my chagrin, my daughter and I bundled up to drive him
to the High School Football field for practice in the pouring rain

I was secretly hoping they would cancel practice once we got there,
but was quickly informed...

"It's the Super Bowl.  We still have to practice because tomorrow
we're playing the team that beat us last year... in the rain"

So they practiced...
hard

as it rained...
hard

for two and a half hours

After practice the coach called all of the parents over and asked us to stand with our kid

He said

"Everybody link up"
"Take a knee"
"Look at me"
"Arrive on time tomorrow"
"Leave it all on the field"
"Play smart"
"Play clean"
"Play like big boys"
"Have fun"
"Let's win"

Then just as I thought he was finally finished he said...

"Let's go watch film"

(which meant another hour and a half of)

watching past games from the opposing team's season

He said that while it is important to

practice
condition
hone our skills

we can't stop there, we must also know our opponent

"Watch their plays"
"Spot their weaknesses"
"Build on our strengths"

to put together a winning game plan

Yesterday it rained...

hard

But today...

the sun shone bright
we played the game
and won!

And I learned that...

Winning is not just the outcome of the game
Winning is also everything else that leads up to it

because in order to be a champion

you must first

practice
work
live

like a Champ!

Carson Colts Blue

Jr. Pee Wee 2013 Super Bowl Champs!