Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Loose yourself in a good story

I've questioned it, doubted it, and been flabbergasted by it. But, my allergies don't lie.

Spring. Has. Sprung. 

So, we brought out the deck furniture we wasted our time putting away, and we've been enjoying spring "summer-like" evenings outside together.

Ava surprised me and brought out the Eeboo Tell Me A Story cards. If you haven't seen them yet, they are beautifully illustrated story cards. Pictures only, no text. Each person picks a card and tells a piece, the next piece, of the story that is inspired by the card. It's different every time, and is SUCH an opportunity to really hear your children, and get a peek into those amazing little minds. 


Ours went something like this…
(yes, I picked the first card. It was a small witch in a bottle.)

once upon a time there was a witch, and she was HUGE. I mean, like, really, really big. Waaay bigger than everyone in her village. while this little witch did have a big kind heart, she also had a very bad temper. when she was mad, she stomped her feet, she plugged her big ears when she didn't want to listen, and shouted louder than anyone. and, when she stomped, the village rumbled, and when she shouted the homes shook. the villagers were upset, so they told the queen. and the queen said, "sweet little witch, you are a kind and good witch. but, your temper is destroying our village. if you do not stop, i will have no choice but to shrink you no bigger than my thumb" the little witch new she should not stomp and shout, but once again she became angry, and she did. the village streets cracked, the villager's homes shook and some fell, and again and three more times! and the queen told her,"sweet little witch, you are a kind and good witch. but when you loose your temper it destroys our village, and because you cannot stop, i must shrink you no bigger than my thumb," and with that, the queen cast a magic spell and poof! There sat a now tiny little witch. Into a bottle she went for safe keeping, and time to think...


…that little witch did not like being in a bottle, so she wrote a long letter and threw it out into the ocean for someone to read and come find her. it floated along until a tiny leprechaun found it. he was small like her, and had never been big. he thought she sounded sad, decided to come find her and be her friend…



…along the way, the leprechaun came across a great big castle. he did not see anyone in the windows our outside. but, he was tired from his long trip and needed a nap and some food. so, he decided to visit the castle to see if anyone was home and would give him some food and a bed to nap…


…when he was almost to the castle, he met a magic fairy, but she was really a princess and didn't know it. They made friends, and decided to go to the castle together. It turned out that the castle was HERS and she was the long, lost princess fairy of the kingdom! Everyone was so happy to have her home. They decided to throw her a big party. The princess and the leprechaun wanted to go find the witch and invite her to the party too…


…they found the sweet little witch, and she had been thinking about it and decided she was happier when she used all her bigness: heart and body, and she was very excited for the party. So, the princess fairy cast a magic spell and the witch was big again. She was big enough to carry everyone in the village to the party in her hands.
Everyone danced and had a lot of fun. 

Then End.

When is the last time you totally made up a story?
What is your favorite childhood story?
What's the best story your child has shared with you?


Friday, February 24, 2012

It looked like summer, but it was not

I have recently made every sincere commitment to blog regularly, but wrapping up business, overcoming a case of strep, and packing for a family of 4 overcame me this week.

We are actually on a little family vacation, complete with beach, sun, sand and 80 degrees. This is our first time on a big travel trip with two children, and with me working. The work doesn't stop, like it would in a traditional job. Neither does being a mom and wife. It's been interesting juggling it all, and I'm planning my Part Two of this post to fill you in a bit on how that all went from the mom/entrepreneur perspective. It wasn't without it's ups and downs. But, I will say for now, lessons learned and so far... pretty awesome.

Yesterday afternoon, while Jonah took a much (muuuuch, much, much, did I say much?) needed nap, Ava worked on a nature journal for her own little quiet time. She collected little bits and pieces from around our bungalow, and drew them into her book, then wrote a little story. The artist heart in me was just singing with delight watching her.

Me: Ava, I think a part of you is an artist like mommy!
Ava (very serious): Mom. My WHOLE BODY is!


PROLOGUE: The artist's method
Me peeking out at Ava while she's talking, singing and sounding out her words

more working, singing, sounding, imagining

CHAPTER 1: The Journey Begins
Our airplane. The houses in the back, left to right, are: home, Nantucket, Florida and China

Page 1: "Winter,…"
A dramatic beginning, makes you want more, right? :)
The root vegetable looking objects under the grass are hearts, bc "I love winter"

PAGE 2: "I went to the Florida House, and I..."
Smart girl already understands how to hook the reader with a cliff hanger

Page 3: "…loved it. It was winter, but it looked…"
The main character starts to question what she sees as real


Page 4: "…like summer, but it was not summer, but it looked like summer…"
The plot thickens, as we reach the height of conflict and understanding

 Page 5: "…every day it was hot."
All issues were resolved, and characters resolved to enjoy every day that it was hot,
even though it was winter but looked like summer. 
The end.

Epilogue: Behind the scenes
Missing in picture: VINB (very important napping boy). This is what was going on behind the scenes while I tried to complete this blog. NO small feat. I totally get guest blogging now.