Meet the Artists

Hi, everyone. I thought I would write a quick post in reference to Colors of Us. I just wanted to answer your questions and thank you for your kind comments.

1. Yes, I am thinking about publishing the book. I'd really like for the parents to be able to have a quality copy to keep. I've already downloaded the Blurb software and made a plan for a more sophisticated version of the conversation pages. Scholastic has a program called Kids Are Authors. It is a competition, and the winners have the book printed by Scholastic and sold at school book fairs around the country. I'm checking into that, too.

2. What do you think? Would people be interested in purchasing the book from Blurb? It would cost $20.00 a copy plus shipping. That seems pretty steep for a paperback children's book. It also seems like a wonderful way to share this with my students' parents and grandparents, or whoever else might be interested. Does anyone have any alternative publishing suggestions?

3. Yes, I did teach them how to mix the paints for their hair and their skin. Most of the kids turned out darker than they really are. I wish I had pictures of the class holding their arms up to the paper plate that served as their palette.

4. As I was planning the book, I knew that I would have 18 different artists in one book. To make it look uniform, I limited the background and shirt colors to four options. Each student could choose from yellow, blue, red, or orange for the background. They could choose one of the three remaining colors for the shirt. If they wanted to add shirt details, the same color choices applied. I think it really worked.

5. We had a lesson on fractions, too. Thirds specifically. I taught the class to divide their oval into thirds before sketching the face. We drew the facial features on to the painted faces with light pencil lines. When they were right, we went over them in Sharpie. The whites of the eyes and the teeth are white paint. The paper is a little bigger than an 8 x10. Parents could use a standard mat and frame for it. I am hoping they will want to hang them at home in a place of honor.

6. Yes, all of the artists are seven or eight years old. Amazing, isn't it? I wish you could see how good the originals look hanging in the hall. I've never seen so many students stop and read a hall display. It makes me giddy.


The photo is a picture of my class. Can you guess which child matches each self-portrait?

Colors of Us

I thought you might enjoy a peek at a book my second grade class wrote and illustrated after studying the Civil Rights Movement. Our book was inspired by The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. Even more, I am pleased with the lessons the class learned through this project.


The Colors of Us by Mrs. Lawson's Class

When we learned about Martin Luther King, Jr., we learned that people used to be separated by the color of their skin. We were called "blacks and whites" back then. We know that's silly. Just look at us. We have peachy skin, light yellowish skin, spotty skin, pink skin, chocolate brown skin, barely tanned skin, and very tanned skin. We are all sorts of colors.

Back then, people with brown skin couldn't go to school with people with peach skin. If you had skin the color of marshmallows, you couldn't be friends with people who had skin the color of chocolate. How silly! Just think how good chocolate and marshmallows taste together.

Things are better now. Just look at us. We are one delicious class.

I'm the color of Jello brand vanilla pudding.

I'm the color of cream cheese on a Ritz cracker.

I'm the color of white gravy that tastes so good on biscuits.

I'm the color of a pina colada smoothie.

I'm the color of McDonald's fries with no ketchup.

I'm the color of melting strawberry ice cream.

I'm the color of chocolate chip cookie dough.

I'm the color of a fresh, fuzzy peach.

I'm a little lighter than a Hershey Bar.

I'm the color of warm, buttery potato skins.

I'm the color of hard butterscotch candies.

I'm the color of a big bowl of mashed potatoes.

I'm the color of my Mom's French toast.

I'm the color of hot coco with marshmallows melted in it.

I'm the color of my favorite fried rice.

I'm the color of the whipped cream on top of a sundae.

I'm the color of pancakes with syrup and peanut butter.

What color are you?

All art and words are original works created in the regular classroom by the citizens of Lawsonland, January 2009. This book was written as a response to our studies about Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Further reading:
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
The Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson
Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges

Constant Companions

Tonight Robin asked this, "What do you do as a couple or family or even on your own that is without distraction or outside influences? "

What a great question. This is my answer. Plus a story, of course.

Last night I had a date with my Mom for a card-making class. We had a great time together and ended the evening having a late dinner with Dad. The times when it's just the three of us are few and far between. A granddaughter requires a lot of time and conversation, you know. It was so wonderful to be with them minus the usual demands on my attention. We just sat around and talked and talked. And talked. Heaven.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey and Sloane were enjoying a night at home. When I got home he told me about their evening. The two of them had piled up on the couch together and read. Until bedtime. Jeffrey said, "Relyn, I know it sounds silly, but I've been waiting for this night since she was born."

I know just what he meant. Our family's best connections are when the three of us pile up in the living room to read. We often lay on top of and over-lapping each other. Heads in laps, ankles intertwined, holding hands... touching somehow. We read separate books and interrupt each other to read aloud the good parts. Or, to insist that someone else read aloud whatever they are laughing at. Sometimes we're all together and we're reading the same book. We take turns at being the narrator. Other times we all listen to the same book on tape. However we do it, we love to read together.

Books. Our constant companions. One of our steady joys.

And you? What are you reading this weekend?


Book stack by Girl Hula. Lawson's weekend book list: Sloane - Capitol Mystery series by Ron Roy. Relyn - For the Love of Old, Tallgrass, and a big pile of magazines. Jeffrey - three teen lit books for his grad school class. Family - Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary.

Difficult Lessons

Today was the first grade spelling bee. Sloane earned the right to participate, and has been studying for nearly 3 weeks. All this studying was her idea. We have offered support and encouragement, but set no expectations. I've been amazed by her commitment and proud of her tenacity. There were 500 words on the combined first and second grade list. By this morning she knew more than 440 of them. Amazing, right?

Before I continue with Sloane's story, let me tell you about my own spelling bee experience. I was in fifth grade, not first. As we were about to begin a boy I liked looked at me, sneered, laughed, and said, "I bet you'll be the first one out." I was. Of course I was. The word I misspelled was vacuum. I spelled it "v-a-c-c-u-u-m." I was never in a spelling bee again.

Like all parents, I want to raise my own child to be a harder-working, kinder, all-around-better-person version of her Dad and me. I want her to learn from my mistakes. But, sometimes I have no idea how to pass along the lessons she needs. Especially those lessons I know she needs to learn because I am still struggling with them myself.

What does this have to do with Sloane's spelling bee, you ask? Here it is.

There were 14 contestants and only one winner. If Sloane was the winner, I wanted her to be gracious and quietly pleased. Let me say right here, she seemed pretty confident in her victorious outcome. She knew over 440 words, remember. If Sloane did not win, I wanted to her suffer the disappointment with her spirit intact. More. I wanted her to never, never, never give up. Not let one loss knock her down and out. I want to raise a tenacious fighter who chooses a goal and works toward it. No matter how long it takes. I want to raise a doer who dreams. Not just a dreamer.
She lost.

The word was "doesn't". She forgot the apostrophe. Sloane was not one of the top three spellers who received medals. She was in fourth place.

When she got out, she stayed composed, joined me in the audience, sat on my lap, and cried soft, quiet, disappointed tears. She also watched the rest of the spelling bee carefully. She clapped encouragement for each student as they got out. She clapped even harder for the winner. Oh, yes, she was gracious.

After school Sloane proudly showed her Daddy the ribbon she earned for participating. This was our exact conversation on the drive home after a stop for ice cream.

Me: "So? What are you thinking about the second grade spelling bee?"

Sloane: "I think I'm gonna be the last one standing. I have a year to get ready. Can we start tomorrow?"

That, my friends, is the gospel truth.

You know what I think? Whether or not Sloane ever wins a spelling bee, in life, she'll always be the last one standing.

And she'll do it with grace.

Ok. I admit it.

I love romantic comedies. I do. I know they are cheesy and prepackaged, slick and unrealistic. I don't care. They are fun. They are funny. They are hopeful. And. They are perfect for these sweet days following Valentine's Day.

Relyn's Top Ten Modern Romantic Comedies
(I figure classics like Roman Holiday deserve a list of their own.)

Titles listed from left to right, top to bottom

Strictly Ballroom Absolutely one of my favorite movies. Ever. In any genre.
Beautiful Girls Natalie Portman at 13 and full of promise.
My Cousin Vinny Funny. Very funny.
Sleepless in Seattle Is there anyone who doesn't love this movie?My Big Fat Greek Wedding Watch it sometime with Nia Vardolos' commentary.Pretty In Pink I don't know about you, but I was rooting for Ducky. Who wants a guy who takes you to a horse barn instead of to meet his parents?
The Mirror Has Two Faces The last scene is just what falling in love should feel like.
Dream for an Insomniac I have never met anyone else who has watched this movie, but I love its quirky charm.
Cutting Edge Have you ever seen this one? I love her sniping attitude. And, that he loves her anyway.

#1 Bride and Prejudice The homage to Grease is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.


So, what did I miss? Which movies are your favorite romantic comedies? What about my list? Do you agree? Disagree? Opinions, please.

A Love Song

Love.

Another one of those words asked to hold far too much. Like hope and home. We love our shoes, our spouses, books, and Thai food. None of it even close to the same emotion. All of it love.

This is my love song for today.

art

music
freckles
garlands
candlelight
holding hands
couples dancing
wedding dresses
construction paper hearts
glitter clinging to tiny hands
presents for no reason, but love
the truth that love always multiplies, never divides
a new journal, waiting for my words
dangling, sparkling earrings
a smile from a stranger
packed suitcases
moving water
daydreams
cupcakes
Jeffrey
books
song
!!!

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends. May you be filled with love today. May you celebrate love in any form it takes. Every way you feel it. Love is in the air.




Thank you, Susan, for the inspiration. And the song. The first photo is by Katia Chausheva, the second by Eliza Beth.

Down In My Heart

If you've blogged for very long I bet you've written a comment that sparked a post of your own. I wrote a comment to a friend late last night that has just stayed with me. I'm not sure why, but I've decided to post here, just as I wrote it.

Oh, Suvarna. What a post! First, I love that photograph of you. Second, I love the topic of this post. What brings joy into my life? My daughter, my husband, time spent praying, blogging, flowers, snail mail, water, music... I could go on, but instead I have to tell you a story. I have had a crap day. Just a really, really bad day preceded by two difficult weeks. When I got home, my wonderful husband (who knew about my day from a phone call) took over. Dinner, playing with Sloane, bedtime, everything. I just got to sit and do a whole lot of nothing. Then, I get here and am smiling back at your beautiful, smiling face. Grinning at your galoshes. Remembering my last trip to the ocean. I clicked on the song and these incredible singers start belting it out at me, "I've got joy!" I tell you the truth, I burst into tears. Just sat there crying. Because I do. Even on crap days. Even when I feel too tired even to go to bed. I do have the joy. Thanks for reminding me.

Wishing you much joy of your own, dear friends. Tonight. And always.


For more amazing camera and computer magic from chOpaK, click here.

Lessons in Loving

I have been keeping my commitment to savor time instead of squandering it. Tonight was valentine night. Instead of brownies, we made cookies, but otherwise, things went according to plan. I find that each time I really slow down and listen, my daughter has something to teach me. Tonight's lessons were on how to show love. Let me tell you about them.
Each year we make valentine's for Sloane's classmates and the other special people in her life. No tiny, store-bought, fold-up cards for us. There is just something special, meaningful, about creating with a particular someone in mind. Fitting a person to a pack containing five similar choices is just not the same.
This year I bought 30 foam hearts from WalMart and a glitzy pack of stick-on hearts and flowers. We got out the Sharpies and went to work. Sloane is enough like me that I sometimes wonder if she isn't a born teacher. She gets busy creating and likes to tell me why she does things in a particular way. She was busy writing her name onto the back of one valentine when she said this, "Have you been wondering why I write my name so tiny and theirs so big? Well, it's because this is not about me. It's about them." She's seven. And, she's not through.
We kept talking and crafting. Then, "Momma, do you know why I am making every valentine different? Because it makes people feel special to know you noticed things about them. Like how I made Evann's about sports and Briana's about coloring. They will know I paid attention to them. That always make people feel good."
God gives us days when we know that everything we are doing is exactly what we should be doing. Days when we feel humbled and elated at the same time. Days when there is nothing else on Earth you would rather do than play with a little girl, glitter, foam, and Sharpies. Life is sweet.

Happy "Valentime's Day", dear ones.

Happy Weekend, Friends

I wanted to take a moment to wish you the happiest of weekends. Jeffrey and I are off for a weekend get away. Two plays in two days! I love theater. This company especially. Wishing you a weekend of following your own passions.

Magic illustrations found here.

February Already??

How can that be?? Wasn't it just New Year's Eve? I am sitting here tonight feeling a little frustrated, a little sad. One twelfth of the year has passed. One month out of only twelve is already gone. Where did it go? What did I do with it? How did I spend my time? Tonight I sit here feeling like I must have been sleepwalking for most of January. I know I wasn't. I know that. But still.

I want to be more intentional. I want to be more focused on family life. To string our days together like a jeweler strings a pearl necklace - with care and attention. Not with to do lists and chores with a little fun thrown in on the side.

How to do that? How to spend my time, instead of watching it disappear. I would never squander my money, but I often find myself squandering my time. Often.

Of course, I want to avow a new existence. Swear an oath that will bind me to the life I want for myself and my family. Ha. I know myself better than that by now. I know what works for me. Small steps. Small steps and lists.

So. I offer these small steps. A promise, a list, and a challenge. For me. For my family. If you like, for you.
A Promise
Though the days do fly by, and life is busy, I will spend my time. I will spend it wisely; by savoring. I will spend my time at least once a week for the next eleven months. I will make a plan at the start of each month, and post it here. A plan for spending time. Spending time savoring, instead of doing. Being, instead of bustling. Laughing, instead of cleaning. Savoring.


A List

Week 1. (2/1) Library and Checkers
When we do our regular Wednesday night family special (gymnastics class, library, and take out Chinese for dinner), I won't rush Sloane. I won't be distracted. I won't do my own thing. I will wander the shelves with her. I will look at every single horse book and help her decide which is best. Then, instead of hurrying to get home, I will play a game of checkers with her using that wonderful over-sized set the library has.

Week 2. (2/8) Brownies and Valentines
Sloane and I will bake a batch of brownies. While they are in the oven, we'll make valentines. By hand. Then, we'll read funny love stories and pig out on brownies and milk.

Week 3. (2/15) Jeffrey, my love
I will spend at least 30 minutes every night this week paying attention only to my love. Not chatting while we cook and clean. Not talking about Sloane and work. More than that. Time just making him feel loved and appreciated. A back rub, a little necking, time poking around his library talking to him about his plans, time listening to opera - because he loves it. Just time.

Week 4. (2/22) Ibu and Bapak
As a family, we'll bring dinner and spend a long evening with my parents. Not rushing back home for bedtime. Not squeezing in two errands since we're in town anyway. Just an evening or a weekend afternoon doing whatever my parents would like to do.


A Challenge
Care to join me?


Both images are by Rosie Hardy.

Enjoying the Snowy Days

Snow days are not very frequent in this part of Missouri. We have freak storms, of course, but usually we can count on maybe one snow day per winter. This winter granted us the blessing of three days last week. I thought I would give you a peek at some of our fun. (Click here for more.)


And some ideas for enjoying your own snowy days.

~ a happy wintry video
~ wonderful winter recipes
~ perfect music for fireside sitting
~ a wonderful book for your quiet hours
~ a perfect book, sure to bring back memories
~ a little chore that might make you smile
~ a game for long winter evenings
~ snowy posts to make you smile
~ wintry crafty goodness

Happy winter, dear friends.


I took all the pictures in the mosaic, except the one of Sloane and I. The other wonderful winter image is by the multi-talented Carambatack.