Help ChiIL Mama win best local blog-Chicago--on GoCityKids

Vote For ChiIL Mama as often as once a day, from now through July 15th. We're one of 4 blogs chosen to compete. Like what you read on ChiIL Mama? Then vote early and often--this is Chicago we're talkin' about, after all.

Click on the round button to make your voice heard. This link will appear on the right side of ChiIL Mama, under the slide show, for easy access, for the duration of the contest.

For Local Blog
in ChicagoThanks!!

Summer Camp Season Again

The countdown has begun and in 4 days we'll be off to camp.....Summer Camp at 3 Sister's Park in Chillicothe, IL, that is. This annual music festival is heavy on the jam bands, but encompasses an eclectic range. With 60 bands on 5 stages spanning 3 days, there's sure to be something to appeal to every member of the family.Last year, Sagezilla and Du-Jay thoroughly enjoyed the kids' area, where they launched water balloons in giant sling shots at unsuspecting adults. Zilla got her first hair wrap, and both kids made hemp and bead bracelets.All the fest kids loved having pro looking face paint done for the "golf cart kids parade", where they threw candy and played music while riding through the grounds in style.








A talented balloon man made the kids outrageous hats and even mugs of beer for those of age.













And both kids learned juggling tricks from the pros. They especially bonded with a school teacher who moonlights as a knife and fire juggler. It was like joining the circus for a long weekend. Kids Camp runs daily 11-6pm and all activities are free with paid festival admission.

Of course, the main attraction is the music. With camping on site, it's family friendly, even for the young ones, who need to be tucked in to their sleeping bags before the last notes dye away.




We were still able to camp close enough to one of the main stages, to hear
everything from our site while the littles snoozed.

The kids got a front row look at The Flaming Lips, whom they had seen from afar at Lollapalooza the year before. What's not to love about giant robots and aliens, confetti cannons, humans in hamsterballs rolling over the audience, and enormous balloons released to bounce around the crowd. George Clinton and P Funk were also a huge hit, as were nightly sets by headliners, Moe. The kids were entranced by all the glow sticks and audience members who twirl fire. Dad was happy to hear Clutch and hang at the heavier punk and metal Jagermeister stage.

This year we're looking forward to seeing Les Claypool, Keller Williams, Willie Nelson, Darkstar Orchestra, Gomez, Cornmeal, and Bucket Head, among many others. They've even added a new, hot air balloon ride attraction. Of course, in years past, the kids were excited enough about the tractor pulled wagon ride that circles the grounds all weekend.



If you ever followed The Grateful Dead or Phish before becoming a parent, and you're not afraid of a bit of mud, pack the tent, bug spray, sunscreen and earplugs for the kidlets and introduce the family to "The Family". Tickets are still available and it's worth the 3 hour drive down from Chicago.

The Modern Wing Sneak Peek-Art Institute

Tuesday, I dropped the kids at school and ducked out with another artist Mom, for a sneak peek at The Modern Wing. Renzo Piano really got it right. The place is light, airy, spacious and amazing. I loved all the light wood, high ceilings and the soft window coverings that allow for viewing of Millennium Park. The park is connected to the museum via bridge and is prominently visible through all the north facing gallery windows. Many of our favorite paintings migrated over to the new 2nd and 3rd floors.

Our tour led us first through the education wing, where I was jolted awake by the bright orange floor. Even the classrooms are funky and fun, featuring a giant measuring stick up one wall and comfy, modern furniture. It's such a marked contrast to the small, windowless basement that served as the prior education center.

Visiting school groups will have an invaluable new resource for the arts. And the children's wing will be a refuge for daily family art projects and an expanded education program. This area of the museum will remain free, and not require tickets for access or programming. Many classes will still require advanced registration, but free, open drop in programs will be available for last minute creative types.

We've been fervent fans of The Art Institute for years. They have wonderful, free art classes for children. When my two were smaller, we were regulars at The Mini Masters classes for 3-5 year olds. Then when Du turned 6, we moved on up to Drawing In The Galleries. They let Sagezilla draw and learn with the big kids even though she was only 4.

Last year, the kids were both quoted and photographed with their self portraits, by a Tribune writer, during one of their drawing classes. I told them most adults have never had their art and words printed in The Trib, but they both made that milestone before they hit kindergarten and 2nd grade.

I can't wait to introduce the kids to the new space at the grand opening party tomorrow.

For more information on The Art Institute's world class family programming and particulars about tomorrow's festivities, click on this link.

Sagezilla's Six

It's so hard
to believe
my baby girl
is
six years old
already!




















Five was

losing her first two baby teeth
Kindergarten
learning to read and write
riding a two wheeler with training wheels
finally outgrowing the 3T outfits
shimmying up traffic sign poles with ease






Six is

mystery and mastery
that huge leap up to the
Montessori 1st-3rd grade combined classroom
skinned knees
and skateboard ramps
competitive gymnastic training
her big front tooth comin' down fast
childlike wisdom
and magical backyard potions
????

When her older brother, Du-Jay, turned 6, his physical and mental leaps were astounding. There are so many kids activities and events that say 6 and up. And there's a reason.

First grade was the year he grew from 5T to size 8 over the school year and cranked through 4 shoe sizes! First grade was the year he finished on nearly 6th grade reading level.

Six is that definitive line between big kid and little kid. "I can do it by myself!", screamed and followed by a big flurkin' snark out, will hopefully morph into a calm and confident, "I can handle it."

This year, instead of one giant birthday party for the whole preschool and every kid we've ever known, like Sage's Stupendous Seuss Soiree for her 5th birthday, she wanted to take a few families camping in Wisconsin.

We're still working out the logistics, but love the simplistic, rustic charm of the idea. So often, less really is more. In the meantime, she has had a number of smaller family celebrations with two sets of grandparents, cousins, her school class and our immediate family.

My cousin and her twin daughters from China, gave her a surprise party at their home in the burbs. It began as a fancy tea party fit for a princess, complete with pink crown and tiered pastry plates.









Then my darling daughter, with the wild streak and artist's soul, showed her true colors.......................

On her actual birthday,
she had candles in a chocolate croissant,
family prezzys
and classroom cupcakes.

In Montessori pre-K/ Kindergarten classrooms, they have a lovely ritual where the birthday child takes the earth and circles around a candle, signify the sun. The child then stops at his/her birthdate.

The class sometimes sings "The Earth Goes Around The Sun" song.
And each circuit the child
is symbolically one year older
and gets to stop and talk
about themselves at that age.






In Zilla's class this year,
families were asked to make a timeline
with photos and brief descriptions
of the birthday kid's life from birth on up.









So, happy happy sixth birthday, my May Night Sage. May your 6th year be full of many wonderful adventures.

Fun Is A Foot (or 212) At Agora

Sometimes it's the simplest, free things that turn out to be the most fun.

Du-Jay and Sagezilla had a blast running through Chicago's forest of feet, between The Museum Campus and the El, when we spent a recent day at The Shedd Aquarium.

This fun, public sculpture, at Michigan and Roosevelt, is comprised of 106 cast iron figures that are 9 feet tall. It's entitled "Agora", which is Greek for meeting place. The sculptor is Polish artist, Magdalena Abakanowicz.

Never underestimate the value of adventurous wanderings.

We're so fortunate in Chicago, to have so many public works of art that are interactive and kid friendly.

Mine have spent hours in The Crown Fountain, splashing and playing beneath the ever changing, water spewing faces.

They've made endless kaleidoscope patterns and taken photos with their own cameras in The Cloud Gate, affectionately known as "The Bean".
If you take the train, walk the streets with your kids, and sometimes take unexplored routes, you can discover magical and unexpected things.

Here's a link to Wikitravel's Loop Art Tour Travel Guide to get you started.

For a more in depth look, here is an entire blog devoted to public sculptures in Chicago

I ♥ Faces--Hats

Now THAT's a HAT!! Lady Ettie at The Bristol Renaissance Faire, Summer 2008

I ♥ Faces--Hats

Hat Mouth

I ♥ Faces--Hats

Sagezilla has discovered a hidden talent. The kid can form her mouth into the shape of a bowler hat! She likes to pull her hat trick when anyone gets cranky. It's impossible to stay mad and look at that face. Nobody we've met yet has been able to replicate HAT MOUTH.

I was just finishing the Shady Brady/Shadybug post below, that was going to be my hats entry, when she dug up 8 hats from various nooks and crannies in our living room, piled herself up in them and pulled a hat mouth. How could I resist.............

Shadybug, girl of many hats

I ♥ Faces--Hats

This is Sagezilla in The Denver airport. She's sporting a style all her own with her Shady Brady cowboy hat over the free, red brimmed hat she got at a Vail street festival and wore to her first real western rodeo.

All she wanted for her fifth birthday was a good skateboard. Her Dad wanted to get her a cheap one and see if she'd stick with it first. But when she sauntered in to the skatepark in Denver with her Shady Brady on and her ladybug suitcase trailing behind, and saw the Shadybug Board, it was love at first sight.