angelbirdflies

How to build a castle with a fabulous eight year old. First you need to make a floor plan. We checked out a small mountain of library books. Next , Owen devoured these resources and began a series of diagrams, drawings and floor plans. Next, make a model out of clay(well Mom didn't have clay, but I do know how to make a mean play-dough, so that is what we did). Owen began sculpting immediately. Bodhi, was equally inspired (or he just wanted to be like Owen) and began, squeezing, poking, cutting and eating the playdough with a wild abandon. The castle complete, the next step - paint it. A little wash of food coloring can work wonders, particularly with motes and the like... Next , draw some characters and have mom make a back drop. These fabulous creations prompted a fabulous story telling/book session (which is in production now). The final step -CLEAN UP of course and there is no one more excited by this than Bodhi. Stay tuned for a link to the upcoming book.

A trip to the zoo is so much fun with a two, if you have never had the pleasure of doing it than borrow a willing toddler (with parental permission) and head out to your nearest animal park. The key to having fun with a toddler is follow , follow, follow ! All too often I see parents and caregivers rushing children on to the next animal, "Come on honey, it's time to see the zebra. Hurry along", in some frantic pursuit for more. Why? Who needs to see all the animals in one day? Bodhi will occasionally spend two hours visiting three animals. We always begin with the lion. Bodhi becomes stock-still staring at his regal friend and peppering his observation with "OOOOOH, OOOOOOH, look at that Mommy", in response to something unexpected. Next, our beloved elephants, with faces lined by wisdom and a movement that suggests a "no hurry" attitude that appeals to the toddler and busy mother, both. Finally, we wind our way to the penguins. This is genera...

WOW!!!! Shane and I went to see the off beat comedy, Love Song , performed by the Paragon Theater Troupe , and WOW! If you live near the Denver area, I highly recommend going to see this one. The intimate setting coupled with stellar performances and a fabulous script left me laughing and crying, sometimes simultaneously. I won't spoil it for anyone lucky enough to get to see it. Let me just say that the theme of opening was quite timely. We all hoard and closet our feelings to one degree or another in the hopes of avoiding pain, but in the end we avoid life... how much better to embrace the unpredictability of our feelings and step into the sticky beautiful messy existence that is our own unfolding.

Life is in the parenthesis, in the comma, in the spaces and in the pause. I have been thinking a lot lately about life in general which of course leads to a contemplation of life in specific, namely mine. I used to approach myself with Jesuit tenacity and finatical austerity. I was certain that I could mold this thing, this life, this "Angelina" into something valid, something purposeful, perhaps even exemplary. I meditated and cajoled, I coaxed and cursed, I exercised and hiked, I did yoga and ate vegetarian, I went to workshops, I read and read and read and then tried to understand it all. Then I became a mom. Let's face it, who has the time to examine life with a fine tooth comb once you have exchanged sleep for diaper duty/food preparing/story telling/child tending marathons. I went through an identity crisis with my first son. Wondering, "who am I now?", now that the backdrop of my life is no longer punctuated by long vistas of reflection and wide expa...

Of course, following the last post, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you, dear reader, that I haven't grown up all together. I painted a blue butterfly on my throat/thyroid and some wings over my forehead hoping for flight.

Boyhood... so beautiful, so precious, so transient. I read a poem recently by Billy Collins that encapsulates the importance of respecting and protecting the magic of childhood. I will share it with you at the end of this post, but let me first tell you how the day began. I have been a bear, a growling, grumpy pain in the backside mama-bear and there is no way around it. I could blame it on my illnesses but that would be a cop out, I could say that I am overwhelmed by the busy-ness of my life but that would be a whine session, so I will just say I have been moody...PERIOD. This morning I stood folding the six loads of clean laundry on the table (which I ignored yesterday) and asked to be left alone. Owen was a bit hurt and sequestered himself in his room, when he emerged he announced, "I am the pink panther today". Looking at him, my heart melted and swooned, while guilt over my scowling demeanor tried to chase me into a corner, I just stopped and looked at the magic a...

When I am feeling unbearably blue about the cold days of winter I pack up one or both of the boys and head off to the Denver Botanical Gardens. There is a marvelous indoor arboretum that smells of Hawaii and flowers and distant places. I wander amidst the ripening foliage, imagining a forest or a jungle, imagining sunny skies and languid days, until I am full again and then I step out into the cool-dry Colorado day, refreshed. We then begin the game of "beauty where you find it". A game I have played since I was a small girl and one that my boys take equal pleasure. The rules are simple and the world is the playground. Simply wander through your day and find reasons to take your breath away. They are everywhere. Here are a few that Bodhi and I discovered in the Botanical Gardens. The immeasurable beauty of a child is always an easy place to begin looking. Being a mother is a rare combination of poet, artist, teacher, chef and 24 hour maid, but there are ALWAYS moments ...

My Grande goes a walking, Winding down the street Pushing someone’s stroller, Sticky donuts in the seat. My Grande goes a walking Over hill and dale, Holding little hands in hers, Looking for a sale. My Grande goes a walking Miles in a day, With bags of eggs, toast and ham, And please is all we say. My Grande goes a walking, Passed the squealing lanes Glasses thick and eyes grow dim, Walking with a cane. My Grande goes a walking Not as far today, Eyes too cloudy barely see Near the house she stays. My Grande walks no more Down the winding street, She watches Lawrence Welk instead Of being carried by her feet. Oh if I could make her breakfast, oh if I could hold her hand, Oh if I could push her stroller, Whisper softly and understand. I’ll lend to her my good eyes to see with, I’ll lend to her my strong legs to walk, And when her body no longer tarries on the winding trails of Earth I will go a walking f...

Well the first thing occupying our time and energy is Maia, our puppy. She is an absolute sweetheart and a total pain in the arse. We have all spent an inordinate amount of time and energy scooping pet excrement. To which Owen can often be overheard saying, "Lay off the chow Maia", when he is not dry heaving. When not playing and rolicking in the back yard, dry heaving and hollering at the dog, Owen can be found curled up in his favorite spot on pop. Shane enjoys it in equal measure, although trying to squeeze in a few pages of Larry McMurtry's book is never an easy task. Bodhi has been playing with typical abandon:running, sliding and enjoying the forty degree weather we've been having. And me, I've been pursuing health with a vengeance. Here you see a delicious lunch I made: Steamed kale, topped with cucumbers, red peppers and both sundried and fresh tomatoes. It was delicious. Until next time... when I might actually WRITE something of merit. Much love and ...