Category — Asides

Hello, March. I’m so glad you’re here!

It’s still cold and gloomy outside, but a little bit of green inside has helped remind me of the warmer days ahead.

Some cilantro the boys and I planted in the window. I think seedlings look so sweet when they first emerge from their resting place in the earth.

More seedlings popping up in the window. These are from a Christmas card that Nana sent us that had seeds embedded in the paper…how fun!

A houseplant I’ve had for nearly four years now. I think it’s supposed to bloom in May, but a couple years ago it randomly started blooming every February…like a good friend who knew I needed cheering up.

What’s cheering you up today?

There’s more snow on the ground, but now the sun is out…

Casting beautiful shadows on the snow…

…and lovely images on the walls.

Sometimes a little bit of sunshine is exactly what I need to lift my spirits.

What is lifting your spirits today?

How does a nickname begin?

First it was Lillian

Then Lily

Then Lily-bug

And now she’s just our little Bug

And a cute one, too.

Corban starts Kindergarten in just a couple weeks! For the first time, I’m joining countless other parents who are browsing the school supply aisles with a list in hand, trying to pick up everything he needs without spending too much. I’ve heard parents questioning why the teacher requested they buy not only a specific brand but the most expensive brand. I’m not usually a very assertive person, but the last time I was shopping, couldn’t help myself. I found myself butting into their conversation counseling them to purchase the higher quality.

Why do teachers request the expensive art supplies? Because, in most cases, they’re actually a better value.

I thought, since I already embarrassed myself once by stepping on my soapbox, I’d write a whole post on the topic. I’ve seen firsthand the frustration (and tears) of students who had to deal with cheap art supplies. I’m going to give my take on some of the materials and brands that I’m familiar with, and give my humble opinion on which are the best purchase, based on my experience with these supplies in the art classroom.

Watercolors
Here it is absolutely necessary to buy quality. The brands that the teachers in this area request are Prang and Crayola.

Prang- Yes, they’re the most expensive brand, but I really believe that you get the most bang for your buck here. This is the only student-grade watercolor set that has a true red (not pink), and the other colors are very vibrant, too. The paint pots are deeper (there’s more there) than the cheaper brands, and the individual colors can be popped out and replaced. Teachers will often encourage parents to use the same set in following years, and some even offer to replace any colors that have run out. I used this brand in my classroom, and loved it.

Crayola- They’re second best when it comes to quality. The colors are nice, though the red is not perfect. And I don’t believe that the individual colors are replaceable. But if you can’t find or can’t afford the Prang, it’s still a nice set.

Rose Art (or other cheap brands)- Please, please don’t waste your money on these sets. The colors don’t show up very well on the paper, and they run out much sooner (I’ve actually seen a set run out with one project). Unlike the Prang, which could last for years, these might not make it through the school year.

Crayons
It’s important to get a higher-quality brand of crayons for little ones, especially toddlers who have trouble putting the pressure needed to make a mark with the cheaper ones. I only have experience with a couple brands here: Crayola and Rose Art

Crayola- These are again the higher quality product. The colors show up well, and the crayons stand up to more abuse than other brands. If you’re drawing with little ones who might try to put them in their mouth, I’d suggest getting the non-washable kind, since the washable dissolve when wet.

Rose Art- I have a set of chunky crayons in this brand, and I have to say that I am again disappointed. The tips have cracked and broken off, and the colors don’t show up as well on the paper.

Markers
Again, I have the most experience with Crayola and Rose Art. And again the Crayola simply held up better, while the Rose Art ran out of ink faster.

Colored Pencils
Crayola is again a very nice brand for school use. Cheaper brands are not as bright and the lead inside tends to break easily if they’re dropped (which happens constantly). Whether quality makes a difference depends on how often the pencils are used, and what they are used for. Cheaper colored pencils are not quite as frustrating as cheap watercolors and crayons. For older students, the PrismaColor brand is wonderful for art projects and other school projects. They need to be cared for, since the lead is soft, but they draw deep, beautiful colors with less effort.

Scissors
I used Fiskars in my classroom. I have little experience with other brands, but my teaching colleagues seemed to find this brand to be much better than the others. I bought the brand that was on sale for Corban, but we’ve used the Fiskars at home, and they’re still sharp after a couple years.

Paper
Teachers don’t request art paper, but if you’re looking to buy paper for painting at home, let me encourage you to buy a kind that’s thick enough to hold the paint. We use a lot of copy paper here, but only for markers. For paint we use thick drawing paper or children’s watercolor paper. Paper that is too thin just makes a mess.

There you have it. Now I’ll step back down from my soapbox.

Do you have any favorite art materials or brands you love? I’d love to hear about it.

For more fun back-to-school tips, head over to We Are THAT Family.

Ten years ago I was laying on the beach in Cozumel, Mexico, enjoying a honeymoon with my best friend. I’m amazed that a whole decade has past, though looking back I can see how much we’ve grown together.

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Lately I’ve been itching to paint, and this week I finally got started. It was a slow start, but I soon found myself working for hours, unable to stop. I stayed up way too late the first night, and I should have been exhausted the next day. Instead I’ve found more energy to do the everyday chores. The kitchen has been clean. The laundry is washed, folded and put away. The floor…well, my pregnant body could only do so much.

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image by Jiaming

There’s something special about those “pop-over” friends. You know, the ones who you can invite over without all the fanfare. You’ve seen each other’s homes at their best and their worst, and you feel perfectly comfortable scooting the piles of laundry over to make room for them to sit on the couch. It’s such a blessing to find friends who provide those much-needed breaks to the crazy afternoons.

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I thought I’d share some of the books I’ve been reading lately…

Healthy Child, Whole Child

I had never heard about the concept of integrative medicine until I picked up this book, but the philosophy completely fits how I view the world of medicine. I see the value in both natural and conventional medicine, so I found it so refreshing to read about an approach in which the two work together instead of being at odds. It looks at the patient as a whole, rather than isolated symptoms, and it uses simple methods like nutrition and environmental changes as part of the healing process. Good stuff. I found some very helpful information on the various causes of asthma, as well as some ideas to talk to Jackson’s doctor about.

The Asthma Sourcebook

This book gave me a wonderfully detailed look on what asthma is, causes, and the two main symptoms, inflammation and airway constriction. I was disappointed to find that it completely blew off any natural remedies, but I did learn a great deal about Jackson’s current medications and their purposes.

Parenting With Love And Logic

I can’t recommend the Love and Logic books enough. They’re so full of wisdom and practical tips on how to discipline your child, focusing on guidance and teachable moments rather than what type of punishment to use (or not use). I’ve revisited these books often…especially when I’m the one needing a little guidance.

Strengths Finder 2.0

A friend bought us this book and had us take the online test. It’s been fun to find out my strengths and then read about them. I haven’t gotten very far in the book yet, but I look forward to seeing how I can use my strengths in my work and in my relationships.

What are you reading?

After our two little friends who stay with us during the day leave for home, we’ll sometimes have a moment of quiet. The boys will find a quiet activity to engage them, happy for a little alone time with their own toys, and I will have a brief window before I need to feed them dinner. It is in these moments that I find myself sitting down at the piano.

image by mararie

I haven’t played consistently since college, but even picking out a very slow version of Claire de Lune or a Chopin Nocturne relaxes me. The sound of the music (the good notes, at least) soothes nerves that are very raw at this time of day, and the physical activity of running my fingers up and down the keys helps release some of the tension of the day. I don’t need to think of anything except the next note on the page.

I may soon be interrupted by a sudden cry or, more often, little fingers that want to play along side me, but a moment is enough to help me breathe a little deeper and appreciate again the beauty of simple things like music.

I once had the father of a piano student ask me if his daughter (at six years old) had the talent to keep up the lessons. Though I tried to explain to him the benefits of music lessons (higher test scores, etc), I think that there’s a benefit that is harder to explain–a certain quality of life that comes with the study of and appreciation of the arts, no matter how much talent you have. And it’s never too late to learn it.

My son Corban recently went through a time when he was fascinated with bones. Once he discovered that there were bones inside our bodies I would find him carefully studying his arms and hands, watching them move. And he was always curious about what did and did not have bones. “Mommy, do worms have bones? Do fingers have bones? Do tongues have bones?”

One day I saw him deep in thought and I knew a question was coming. “Mom, does God have bones?”

Oh my…what a question! Of course he didn’t know how many people throughout time have asked the same. One day he will have to choose for himself what he believes, and he will likely face ridicule for this very belief. But I also pray that he will find wisdom and strength in the God who chose to have real bones…breakable bones.

For now, though, I can enjoy the simplicity of his child-like faith. I can look into those sweet eyes and assure him that, yes, God does have bones. And I am so thankful for that.

Does your God have bones?