Gravity of Motion: April 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Works-for-Me Wednesday: Lego Party

Two of my boys have birthdays 2 days apart. We have a tradition in our family to decorate for birthdays. This year, both boys wanted a Lego theme. I thought I had it made. Two birthdays, one theme = awesome. And then I discovered that there is not much available for Lego party decorations. I decided to go with the theme and come up with my own decorations.

It was super fun creating Lego birthdays for my boys.

First, I created a Lego sign.

This was done using a free Lego font from TypeNow.net. (It's #270 on that page.) I printed the letters, glued them on yellow poster board, cut them out and then glued them on red poster board. Naturally, I changed the sign for each child on their special day. Here's how the second one looked:

For the first birthday, I made Lego block cakes.

The Lego cakes were made of a sheet cake, cut it into Lego sizes, with frosted marshmallows on top. (The marshmallows were cut in half prior to frosting.)
It was a hit with the kids (and adults). Here's the link to the Betty Crocker site where I got the idea: Building Block Cake

I decorated the cups, wrapping paper, and table using my own "Lego stamp." I took a larger lego block (megablock) and then stamped one side for the square and then the opposite side for the holes. I used paint for some (see the decorations next to the Lego block cakes in the picture above) and stamp pads for some (which turned out lighter, as seen in this wrapping paper picture).

For the second birthday, I made a Lego Candy Cake. This was really simple and well-loved by the kids.

I ordered the candy from Amazon. I have since heard that WinCo Foods carries the candy.

I added Lego blocks as a table decoration.

For these, I wrapped boxes in paper. I painted the paper the color I wanted. Then, I hot glued bottle lids to the top of the box and painted the lids.

I also bought myself something festive to help celebrate: Lego Earrings!

I wish I could have captured the surprise and delight of the boys when I put on my Lego earrings. These are just two of several fun creations at The Fingerpost Shop. Every mom of boys (and girls) should go check out this etsy shop. It's all so fun! My oldest son had a soccer game on his birthday. Several people stopped me to check out the Lego earrings. I love them and so do my kids. (My daughter actually started to cry because she couldn't wear them... her ears aren't pierced yet.)

And yes, much to the delight and humor of my kids, the earrings can hold Lego guys.

We had 2 fantastic Lego birthday celebrations.

Stop by We are that Family to check out more Works-For-Me Wednesday Posts.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday Photos: Sweet Reunion

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Blur of Today

Today was a blur of activity. It seems my to do list is a mile long. It feels ironic to admit that after yesterday's Pause post.

In a rambling sort of way, here's a bit about my day:

Today, I picked up a donation for the school basket raffle at Starbucks. What coffee lover wouldn't love that? As if I could go in the place and not get a latte.

Today, I tried to explain to my three year old that I was going the right way, despite the sign that seemed to be saying to her that I was not.

Today, I got frustrated with an extension cord. I know, if I put it up right, it would not get tangled. But, come on. I hate extension cords.

Today, due to writing on a car windshield about Obama not paying troops, I explained the what-could-have-been government shut down to my almost 10 year old. Let me just say, I think the only thing my son took away from the whole conversation is that when you are in charge, you get blamed when things go wrong.

Today, I freaked for a minute when I was searching my through my son's hair because there was a note about a kid (he sits next to in class) that has lice. Lice are not black. My son had little pieces of dirt in his hair. Oh, he loved his brother's soccer practice... and he had a nice shower tonight.

Today, I did a lot of laundry and realized that I as much as I don't like doing laundry, it stinks to be behind on the clothes. (No, really, sometimes it really stinks.)

Today, I tried to get an appointment with a doctor and was told the family doctor is only taking OB patients. I felt fantastic saying that would not work for me. (Though, I think the doctor should change her field classification or something.)

Today, I decided it is definitely not cool to have painted nails on one hand and non-painted nails on another hand. Oh.yes.it's.true. I guess Sunday's paint job was a complete failure. Time to remove the chipping paint of my left hand. (It's a light color. Could be worse, right?)

I better stop there before I admit that I lost my sanity today.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Pause Game!

I passed by, then slowed, turned into a gas station parking lot and turned around.
I had somewhere to go but I had time to stop.
It wasn't planned.
I made a u-turn and found a moment that I desperately needed.

I stopped for the flowers.

I could have kept going. I drive by weekly. Today, I stopped.

I thought I stopped for the flowers. It was really for an unhurried moment. I walked away with flowers but held a moment in my memory I won't soon forget.

We got out of the car and walked through the U-pick flower beds, enjoying the sunshine and breeze. My daughter picked a flower and laughed. She said it smelled like popcorn...because popcorn is yellow, too.

We held hands. I picked her up and spun her around. The sun was bright. We soaked up each other's love.

It was a moment. I need more moments like that.

I do not want throw my energy away in haste, with little to show for my efforts. I do not want to let myself sink under the weight of the worries of each day.

I must make time for the moments that matter.

~ I often listen in as my kids are playing and invariably I will hear one of them say, "Pause game! Pause game!" It is usually when the person calling for a pause wants to make a change in what they are playing (or, sometimes, they simply need to go to the bathroom). I was reminded today that I need "Pause game!" moments. ~

Matthew 6:27-29
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Friday, April 08, 2011

Friday Photos

A favorite moment this week:

They noticed me but I made them pose for this second picture so I could capture the words on the Magna-Doodle:

They were still, getting along, and all in one place -Beautiful!

Monday, April 04, 2011

Perspective: The Rude Driver or the Oblivious Pedestrian?

I almost hit someone today.

It was terrible. It really wasn't that close but it freaked me out. I let out a little scream and my daughter said, "What Momma?!"

The lady that I almost hit, raised her arms in frustration and gave me the evil eye.

Here's the thing...
I was driving down a 2 lane road and she was walking out from a cross walk- no pedestrian light involved- from beside a parked bus. To me, she came out of nowhere. I was driving by the bus and then suddenly she was there on the other side of the bus.

To her, I was a rude driver that was not respecting pedestrians.

It made me think.

Perspective is a powerful thing.

I wonder, did the lady vent to a friend that drivers have no respect for pedestrians? From her reaction, I doubt she realized that the bus hid her from view until I was right next to her.

Perspective. No two people have the same perspective. Yet, our perspective tempers everything we do.

I am so glad that I didn't hit that lady.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Call Me Crazy

This is the first game of the Spring season. When I gathered up the clothes for my 3 boys last night, I thought. 'I need grey, orange and green.' Those colors were right. But, the green I chose for my 5 year old was last year's green. Oops.

My son wore the wrong uniform to his soccer game today.

It didn't bother him one bit.

I overheard a conversation between him and another kid.

Kid: "Why are you wearing that shirt?"
My son: "Because my mom is crazy."

When we got in the car, I thanked him for having such a good attitude.
He said, "It was funny."

My son can call me crazy anytime he has a good attitude like that. Course, he's not going to say that again because I gave him the wrong jersey. I'm not going to be that mom again.