why does it seem that inspiration always hits when you can't do a darn thing about it? For me, it seems to always hit when I am in the car or blow drying my hair. Honestly, I think some of my most brillant plans have come to me while blow drying. Of course, if you remember correctly- at one time in my life, I spent PLENTY of time with the blow dryer. Now, I better think fast, because I am done in less than 3 minutes!
Anyway, I came across this article this morning highlighting this new series:
My kids LOVE maps, learning about them, looking at them, and asking questions about the little images connected with each state on the maps we have. You know, how they have some little picture that symbolizes something iconic about each state? Well....this got me thinking about a super fun project for us to do together for the summer. I have been trying to think of a fun learning activity for us to do- I have come up with many, but this would be one that we could all 4 do, we would all probably enjoy it, and there are plenty of activities to do to keep us busy! We are going to do a mini (meaning: age appropriate) USA unit! I found something cool on enchanted learning that shows all of the flags. I thought we could get a bunch of books from the library (maybe 10 at a time and keep refreshing), learn one or two facts, heck- maybe three!- about each state, color a flag, maybe make a local food/recipe. I was thinking we could do a field trip to the AAA to get some brochures from other states, and for sure take some looks at maps. I was even thinking about attempting to get involved in a swap/gather/exchage postcards from each state. We certainly don't know someone in each state, but I figured with scrapbooking, I may be able to reach out to someone from each state through Big Picture or Two Peas. I was thinking I'd get each kid a big 3 ring binder with page protectors and we'd just add to it as we learn. I used to have a binder that had a state project in it that was simple, even though it was geared for older kids. I am dearly hoping it still exists. I am super, super excited about this!
Other "inspirations" that hit me today were doing some scrapbook pages. I actually want to make a list, but so far I was thinking about godparents/godchildren and teachers. Then I was listening to the radio and a G nR song came on and I started thinking about the layout I had done about the "soundtrack" of our wedding.
(by the way- I am on a VISTA computer, and I just opened up "pictures" typed in "soundtrack" in the search box and BAM- up came this picture- love that!)
So, anyway, I was thinking that I may do a layout for the "soundtrack of my highschool" or the "soundtrack of the 90's" for me (when I was big into going dancing) or even the "soundtrack of our home" when I was growing up. Our house with my mom was kind of unique because she always, always had music playing, and she was so young that it included a wide variety of favorites that were classic and contemporary to the time. Probably more contemporary than most families I knew.
I'm also thinking of a series or at least one really good layout highlighting the biggest books in my life, beacuse books have played a really important role.
Anyway- I think this could be really cool. The "high school" list that I came up with on the fly looked something like this:
Tesla: Little Suzi
Great White: Rock Me
Whitesnake: Still of the Night
Motley Crue: Looks That Kill (there are so, so many more...but this one came to mind) this was another huge favorite, and I actually wanted to name my daughter Angela, but Drew wasn't having any of it.
Zeppelin- just about all....so, so many memories
Van Halen- another one with waaaay too many songs to list
Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet- didn't this just change everything?
Poison: Talk Dirty to Me
Journey: Faithfully and Steve Perry: Oh Sherrie
There are SO many more...man, it's fun to think about them. I loved music, and identify it so much with my teenage angst years! I still love music, but it's different now that I am not pining my days away. I think it'd be such a blast to have a cd of most of these songs that the kids could listen to one day and "know" a bit more about me and who I was. Any other KNAC fans out there? Where were you in the 80's?
Tonight, I am grateful for:
1. great memories of afternoons at Kevin Beale's
2. Inspector Gadget and hot dogs after school at my house
3. always having a million people over here, and how comfortable everyone felt...how my mom accepted everyone
4. Andy
5. the woman I am today- who is the result of all of those things and so many more.
And- I can't let today go by without saying the most important thing I am grateful for: Drew, the father of my children- thank you for giving me the greatest gift of my life, and giving them such a wonderful relationship with their daddy that will shape their entire lives.
My Dad: I am so grateful that we have a relationship that is now consistant, and my only regret is that it is long distance, I so wish we were close enough to visit and for you to watch the children grow in 3-D.
My Grandfather: I am so grateful that you were always, always there. Even if it meant flying across the country from anyplace you may have been working, you always made it home in time for anything important in my life. You taught me that being there is worth the effort, no matter what.
Happy Father's day to all of the dad's out there (although I doubt there are any who read this who aren't related to me!)
*peace