A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

Paper Record Player

You’ve got to watch this video to see how a regular old paper wedding invitation turns into a record player. The invitation contains a tiny needle that plays a song written by the engaged couple. Amazing!

Paper Record Player from kellianderson on Vimeo.

Just think of all the possibilities for an invitation like this. You could play a sweet lullaby for a baby shower, or a dance song for a Sweet 16 party, or the first song you ever danced to for an anniversary party. What event-and song-combination would you choose?

Check out Kelli’s blog here to read how she put together this incredibly cool project. Thanks for the link, Design Mom.

Paper Beads

Hello! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and Mother’s Day. I got some lovely presents―it’s so nice of the kids’ teachers to work with them on gifts. I received the last of my kindergartner-made “All About Mom” books. So bittersweet! As always, the way my children view me cracks me up. The most surprising thing is that Lily thinks my favorite food is salad. I’m not sure where she got that idea. I think the truth is that salad is her favorite food for me to eat because I let her have the croutons, or “crunchies” as she calls them.

We’ve begun the countdown to the last day of school, which means it’s time to start thinking about teacher gifts. I’m going to scout out some ideas to share and figure out what we’ll be making. In the meantime, I came across this paper bead tutorial at a really gorgeous blog called “Mini-eco.” Its creator, Kate, lives in England with her husband and two sons and has lots of fun ideas to keep the kiddos busy. (Is it strange to read her blog with an English accent? Probably, but I can’t help it.) Kate used origami paper to make hers, but said pages torn from magazines would work well, too. A good rainy day project.

Speaking of rainy days, it’s storming here. I have a very unhappy golden retriever huddled at my feet. He does not appreciate thunder. I’m guessing that today’s Track and Field Day will be canceled, which is a good thing since Tim just called to say he accidentally took my car keys this morning. Making a copy of the van key has just been moved to the top of the “to do” list. Is it just us?

For Mothers: “The Lanyard” by Billy Collins

I’ve just read a wonderful poem by former Poet Laureate Billy Collins called “The Lanyard.” Do you know it? If you have a tendency (like I do) to get weepy, please grab a tissue before you read it. And if you can, watch Mr. Collins read it himself. I’ve watched it five times already. (Here’s the definition of lanyard, just in case.) Thank you for sharing this, Marta.

I have nearly thirteen years’ worth of painted pots, hand-traced flowers, colorful sand-covered vases, and macaroni necklaces. I’m sure the poet’s mother would agree that these childhood tributes are more than payment enough, especially when paired with a grubby hug and kiss.

[Read more…] about For Mothers: “The Lanyard” by Billy Collins

Happy Mother’s Day

I don’t normally like to go on too much about all the cute things my kids say because everyone’s kids (or grandkids or nieces and nephews) are equally adorable and say equally adorable things. But since Mother’s Day is this weekend, I’m going to indulge myself. And please feel free to share your cute kid stories, too. I’m all ears!

Andrew
When Andrew was four, he got “goo” from Aunt Karna and Uncle John for Christmas. The next day I was in the shower when Andrew yelled, “Mom! Lexie has a wattle!” He’d stuck the goo in her hair. Tim managed to get it out but Andrew said, “I never knew goo would get me in so much trouble.”

One day I used the expression “it’s not the end of the world.” Andrew (four) nodded and said, “Yes, the end of the world is when a comet hits the earth.”

Andrew (four) said, “God is talking to me in my heart.” I said, “Oh? What’s He saying?” Andrew replied, “He’s snoring.”

Lexie
Andrew (five) and Lexie (three) were putting on a puppet show. Andrew (Miss Piggy) said, “I’m the star of the show.” Not to be outdone, Lexie (Kermit) said, “I’m the moon of the show.”

My parents were visiting and Lexie (four) wanted to watch a movie. “Don’t you think you should ask your mom?” Grandpa said. Lexie left the room, came back, and said, “She’s busy talking, but I think she meant ‘yes’.”

When Lexie was four I asked what her husband would be like. “Oh, like yours,” she said. “What’s he like?” I said. “A helper,” she replied.

Will
When batteries flew out of a pack he was opening, seven-year-old Will said, “What a surprising and unwelcome canoodle.”

Will and Lexie were playing several years ago and I asked Will who Lexie was. “She’s the mommy,” he said. “Who are you?” I asked. “I’m the sweetums.”

One day I came home to find that Will had dropped a jar of mayo, sending the contents flying everywhere. “What happened?” I asked. Will replied, “I said ‘This is too heavy.’ And then I dropped it.”

Lily
The kids made English muffin pizzas one night for dinner and Lily (six) said, “This whole dinner is way gooder than the other dinners.”

I was spraying Pam on a pan near Lily the other day. “Be careful!” she cried. “If you spray me with that, I’ll come off things too easily!”

A few years ago after Tim helped them dye some very fancy Easter eggs Lily said, “Daddy’s the best guy I know.”

Kids really do say the darnedest things. By the way, I’m trying to get better at recording these little moments. (New Mamas: write things down!) I actually own a five-year diary, but I never seem to remember to write in it. My grandma has kept a diary for about 50 years. It’s a treasure trove of memories and I love it when she calls me to say “On this day in [X] you were [getting married, having a baby, in St. Paul’s Cathedral with me and your mother, etc.].” Although I suspect the real reason she keeps it is so she can win arguments with Grandpa. It’s hard to argue when The Diary says that you did in fact have dinner with the Smiths, and not the Andersons, on April 14.

I subbed a lot at school this past week, so I’m looking forward to getting caught up a little around the house this weekend. I get to spend Mother’s Day with my wonderful mother and my grandmother, whom I haven’t seen all winter because she escapes to Phoenix. Can’t wait to see her! Do you have anything fun planned? I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Mother’s Day, whether you’re a mother or just love yours. And if you’re missing your mother this year, I hope your heart is lifted with warm and loving memories.

Most all other beautiful things in life come in twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds—plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins—but only one mother in all the wide world.