My grandmother taught me to crochet with my fingers when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I used basic twine to make bracelet after bracelet when I was at her house. This is a fun easy craft to teach younger kids and to make easy layering bracelets for yourself. I like using baker’s twine, leather lacing and colorful string:
Random words I used in conversation today (and then had to look up later to make sure I used them correctly):
Obelisk
Necropolis
Pumice
Movies I watched recently and recommend…both revolved around a key:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – I loved this movie. I can’t believe it got bad reviews. I thought it was so well written. I totally related to this kid too….his thoughts would go off in complete tangents and I loved that he handed out cards that listed him as: inventor, jewelry designer, jewelry fabricator, amateur entomologist, Francophile, vegan, origamist, pacifist, percussionist, amateur astronomer, computer consultant, amateur archeologist, collector.
Sarah’s Key – I read the book first. I have a hard time learning about history unless it’s through photos or movies. This was my lesson of the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in 1942.
Boo watched this movie with us. We had to read most of the subtitles. While most people wouldn’t let their 5 year old watch a PG-13 movie about the Holocaust, I would rather Boo watch realistic historical movies than scary Disney movies. Why sugarcoat things? A teacher the other day commented that she overheard Boo saying: Did you know some people are really poor? They have no money. And some kids have no parents. They are called orphans. It’s really sad. It made me swell up hearing that. Above all, I want her to grow up having empathy and humility.
There’s a scene in Sarah’s Key where children in one of the concentration camps are being fed by women across a barbed wire fence….and one of the guards lets Sarah and her friend secretly escape:
Boo: He let her escape. (very emotional) He could get in big trouble, right?
Me: Yes, he could.
Boo: But hopefully no one was looking. He hurt his hand too. What is that called?
Me: Barbed wire.
Boo: To keep them in, right?
Me: Yes. I would have let those kids go too…..even if it meant getting into trouble.
Boo: Me too.
Boo: What does Jewish mean?
Me: Well, for starters, Jesus was a Jew….
Boo: ….then we are Jewish.
Me: Actually we are Christian. But they are very close…..
Boo: No….we are Jewish.
Every time I tried to explain this….I lost.
So until further notice, Boo is Jewish…..because Jesus was.
Tonight Mr. LBB and I took Boo to a movie……for the first time. No, our kid isn’t deprived….she’s been to the movies a gazillion times….just with her grandparents. I would just rather watch movies at home. 1. it’s inexpensive and 2. there’s a pause button (I missed the Twilight engagement scene in the movie theater because I had to go to the bathroom!)
We saw Brave. Halfway through:
Boo: I can’t fall asleep Mommy.
Me: Maybe because we’re in a movie theater?
It was a little scary in parts for a young kid I think. We covered Boo’s eyes a few times. But I loved the message…..and was totally entertained.
Now I can’t stop talking in an Scottish accent: I shall tell you of William Wallace…
….and just found a piece of popcorn in my bra.