Things to Do - Random Links

* The NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM'S Big Build is this SATURDAY. Last year we had a blast, click here to read about it.

* I forgot my phone. So so true.

* These are cool. Just trust me.

* As we know, I can't stop cooking Gwyneth's recipes, her quinoa/brown rice lunch bowls taste fantastic (and they're so easy to make).

* I absolutely love this picture (actually the whole blog is pretty amazing).

* The 25 Most Memorable Moments in TV History. I think I need to watch Roots.

* Broccoli lawns.

* I love when people make bookworms laugh. Especially those of us who love good children's books.

* "Moreing" - an art movement focused on excess.

* Wonderful and inspiring photos of famous artists who are now in their 80s - "What I find the most interesting is that the reason for creating has changed . . . . As a young artist I was, like many artists, ambitious. Now, in my 80s, I feel more relaxed about it. I want to present things that really speak to the authentic me rather than what’s popular in the art world or what the trends are or whether it can sell. All of those things seem to have fallen away."

* Bonnie Bryant. I can't stop looking at these.



P wanted a photo of herself looking "sassy." So she went through months and months of my online files, this was the only picture that met her criteria.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Things to Read and Do - Q & A a Day - 1,095 Conversations With Your Kid

I wanted Besty France's Q & A a Day for Kids: A Three-Year Journal for a few months now, but I was nervous that the kids wouldn't want to participate as we already have the biyearly interviews and I take A LOT of pictures. Fortunately, I bought the book despite my doubts and I couldn't be happier.

The questions run the gamut from silly ("What bugs do you like?") to introspective ("Are you a leader or a follower?") and my kids often answer in hilarious ways. We started about a month ago and so far I really enjoy recording the conversations provoked by these questions (or at least trying to record such conversations). I can't wait to see how everyone's answers change over the next three years.

Anyways, it only takes a few minutes a day and the resulting journal will hopefully capture their changing personalities.

France also sells a similar journal for adults - Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal, which I'm debating purchasing as well.

Things to Do - 12 in 12 (September)

This month the 12th fell on Thursday of an already hectic week. The kids had recently returned to school, which caused me to become (oddly) sentimental about how fast they're growing up (basically I was a hot mess). So to cheer me up, on Tuesday we adopted a super cute little puppy from Alexandria Animal Shelter - Odessa, a boxer/hound mix. (In full disclosure, Coco becomes anxious when alone so we've debated adopting another dog for awhile now).

Odessa is literally the cutest thing ever, but we're still adjusting to her crazy sharp little puppy teeth (luckily, she potty trained herself in a record amount of time).

By Thursday, I was tired and the random 95 degree heat didn't make anything easier. So we planned on a pretty lazy day. I worried that we wouldn't have enough pictures for a decent post, but somehow I ended up with some good shots - which is why I love this project, it truly forces you to see the beauty in seemingly boring days.

For some more 12 on 12 wonderfulness, don't forget to check out Not-So-SAHM and Where the Watermelon Grow. Please consider joining in with us next month, we'd love to see your everydays.



7:00 am - Puppies wake up early, but she sure is cute.





8:30 am - Walk to grade school. We're slowly adjusting to two leashes. (F now owns an "I love nerds" lunchbox, which has become her most prized possession - "I heard nerds are really smart. Who wouldn't want to be really smart?")



1:30 pm - Playdate at T's friends house. This kid has a real treehouse, with a ceiling fan and furniture. It's amazing. (By the way, regarding the huge time gap, while all the kids were in school I went to the gym and completed some errands (like finally upgrading from a first generation iphone)).



2:00 pm - Baby in the baby pool (all of the older kids opted to stay in the treehouse with their "treasure map"). By the way, did I mention that it's over 90 degrees outside? Wowsers.



3:00 pm - Walking home from the playdate.



3:45 pm - The puppy is a huge hit at grade school pick up. HUGE HIT!!



3:50 pm - P lost a tooth during school. This is great news because loose teeth really gross me out.



5:00 pm - We planned on taking F to martial arts, but an afternoon thunderstorm made us lazy. So I let the kids watch Project Runway on the computer while I cooked dinner (ever since watching PR with my mom in Indianapolis, the girls are OBSESSED with this show. T tries to understand it, but he ends up pretty bored most episodes).





6:30 pm - After the rain dog walk before bath time.



11:00 pm - The final crowd from our monthly neighborhood moms' wine night. A lot of women left earlier but we kept going.

Things to Do - The End of Summer (2013)

For some reason, the end of summer seems to always call for a summary post. Unlike the three other seasons, summer needs a conclusion. And I have to say, this year, I am somewhat sad to see the hot, lazy days come to an end (unlike last summer, which completely overwhelmed me). I usually am really frugal when it comes to camps (which really are SO expensive), but this July the girls and T attended three weeks of various camps, most of which they loved. And the structured days really did bring a sense of serenity to our lives, though I feel somewhat guilty about not being able to create such an atmosphere on my own. Then vacationing and lounging in August created the togetherness that I love about the that time of year (though I completely failed my at-home work out attempts and managed to gain 7 pounds).

Unlike previous years, this summer we didn't have a bucket list, except for F's random goals printing above, all but one of which we accomplished (we never did make it to a baseball game, as it's really expensive to bring all the kids, who ignore most of the game as they spend the night eyeing the cotton candy man making his way throughout the bleachers). But even without a list, we managed to see and do quite a bit.

In so many ways parenting really is getting easier - just the fact that I can now take all three kids to a museum and trust (perhaps naively) that they won't purposefully attack the art. But I guess every positive comes with some sense of loss - because seeing little T bounce his way into the last year of preschool last week made me into a big emotional mom mess. After almost 8 years of parenting, it's official, they're not babies anymore. None of them. And despite the fact that I gladly disposed of all the old diaper bags, as with strollers and naps and all the other large and time consuming commitments of the early years, I'm feeling oddly sentimental. Perhaps because all my children are so close in age, it just seemed to happen so fast. A blur of tantrums and toys that make annoyingly loud noises and shoes the size of playing cards. And so much neediness. But now they can all dress themselves and feed themselves and homework themselves and bathe themselves, which makes me so so happy. But, honestly, a little sad too.

So we adopted a puppy. I'll post some pics on Wednesday.

Happy Monday everyone!

Places to Go - Language All Stars - SPONSORED POST

Despite four years of high school french, I've never really learned how to speak another language. When we travel I always wish that I could at least pick up a few words or phrases, but I'm horribly tone deaf and tend to mispronounce even the simplest of words. Ideally speaking a foreign tongue is something best learned as a child, when you're more attune to the variances between sounds and syllables. For those of you hoping to have bilingual (or even trilingual) children, Language All Stars sounds like a great program.

During classes, Language All Stars uses play-driven techniques to teach children your choice of 5 different languages (Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Mandarin). By utilizing a high-energy, FunImmersion® method of instruction, students learn through games, art projects, music and more. There are 7 locations in the DC/NoVA/MD area. It was voted "Best Foreign Language Instruction for Kids" by, Washington Family Magazine readers.

If you're curious, Language Stars is currently in the midst of enrolling for the 2013/2014 Academic Year. In an effort to raise awareness, they are hosting a $100 Language Stars Gift Certificate and a Little Pim Gift Set (click here to enter the giveaway). They also have a One Free Class trial for all interested parents/students.

Click here to check out the website and learn about available classes.

(Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)