The Battle of Flowers Parade and the Fiesta became a tradition and through the years, the celebration has transformed into a city-wide celebration of San Antonio’s diverse cultures. Walk down the street and colorful flags and banners adorn buildings and homes as San Antonio residents wear their own brightly colored hats and headdresses.

From festive floral decorations to thrilling water shows, here’s a glimpse into the album of our family trip to San Antonio during Fiesta.

As part of Fiesta, the San Antonio Botanical Garden holds the Viva Botanica celebration, with a children’s parade, crafts, music and games. Through the rest of the year, families can explore the lush garden and learn about the unique natural environment in this area of Texas.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden has areas devoted to the different kinds of terrain in Texas. Each one is like it’s own lush world.

Just walking through town families revel in the bright colors, decorations and happy people enjoying the Fiesta environment.

The bright flowers of Fiesta are everywhere.

Stroll the booths and listen to music during Fiesta festivities.

The Fiesta tradition started with a parade and the celebration continues with a series of parades, including The Texas Cavaliers River Parade. Unlike any parade on Denver city streets, the river parade floats literally float up and down the San Antonio River, along the famous River Walk. Decorated barges carry people in costumes, waving, singing, playing music and throwing candy and beads into the crowd. As darkness falls, the lights on the floats come on and the parade takes on a completely new look.

At the Texas Cavaliers Parade, groups decorate barges and float their floats up and down the River Walk. When night falls, the lights of the floats shine.

Away from the Fiesta activities, no trip to San Antonio would be complete without at least a day spent at SeaWorld San Antonio, one of only three SeaWorld parks in the U.S. Be sure to check the website for ticket promotions and discounts before you head to the park.

SeaWorld San Antonio offers amusement park rides and shows. Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Antonio.

The Witte Museum campus is home to three San Antonio museums:  The Witte natural history museum, the H.E.B Science Treehouse  and the South Texas Heritage Center at the Witte.

The H.E.B. Science Treehouse includes four floors of science exhibits and exploration for kids of all ages, plus a real two-level treehouse connected to the main building by elevated walkways.

The H.E.B. is devoted to kids having fun and learning about their health.

The South Texas Heritage Center gives families a chance to explore life as it was in south Texas in the 1850s. Interactive exhibits, art, artifacts and even performances tell the stories of the settlers, cowboys, ranchers, Comanches, merchants, soldiers and oil men who shaped this area.

The view of the beautiful grounds from the South Texas Heritage Center at the Witte.

Step in the life-sized footprint of a dinosaur and marvel at the animatronic dinosaurs at the Witte natural history museum. The whole family can learn more about the flora, fauna, animals and geography unique to this area of Texas.

The dinosaur exhibit at The Witte Museum.

Though San Antonio’s Fiesta is a great excuse to head to this colorful Texas town, there is always something to celebrate, even if it’s just family together time.

Read our full article on our visit to San Antonio: http://coloradoparent.com/article/reason-to-celebrate-in-san-antonio.html

To learn more about San Antonio and all of the events they have all year, visit www.VisitSanAntonio.com.

Courtney Drake-McDonough, a Denver native and mother of four, is a Colorado-based writer and editor. Although she would never live anywhere else, she loves to travel and discover new places and people. 

Our guest blogger today is Lydia Rueger, a Colorado-based writer and mom of two. This blog is a follow-up to her recent article in Colorado Parent magazine called “Am I Good Enough?” which explores dealing with the pressures of parenting.

When my first child was less than two weeks old, I remember pumping breast milk just so I could go to my book club alone. It seems silly now that I would think that this tiny, sleeping baby would be a huge distraction for a less-than-two-hour time period (not to mention the extra work it was for me), but you couldn’t have convinced me at the time. My husband was available; we’d just bought all this new pumping paraphernalia and most of all I just wanted to focus on adult conversation.

I was proud of myself for getting it done and walking out the door on time. That is until another woman in the group, who also had a newborn, asked, “How did you make the decision to pump so early?” In my emotionally-and-physically-drained-new-parent-mind, she said, “WRONG, STUPID! I AM BETTER BECAUSE MY BABY IS WITH ME!” I immediately became defensive and judgmental of her choice. Why can’t your husband take your kid so we can have this time as women? I thought to myself. Can he not handle it? If your baby starts to cry, why should MY time be infringed upon because of YOUR choice?

In retrospect, the real question should have been, Why couldn’t the two of us support each other’s choices to do things differently? After all, aside from this insignificant difference, we had similar values, hoped to follow a similar baby schedule we had read about and even went to the same pediatrician.

For me, it came down to my own insecurities as a new mom. I wasn’t sure of my choice to leave a two-week-old, so I was going to justify it by insulting her decision. (Though I only thought it, make no mistake, I was judging her for real.) I was reminded of this recently when writing the article, “Am I Good Enough?” for Colorado Parent magazine, about the pressures of parenting. One therapist I interviewed made the point that when you feel vulnerable yourself, the comments of others, whether judgmental or not, will sound a lot louder and harsher in your head than they really might be.

Should this woman have said nothing to me? Yes. But she also may have just been curious to know if my baby took a bottle well. And even if she meant to be harsh, she was a new mom, too, probably with her own set of insecurities that caused her to react that way.

Today, with eight parenting years on my résumé, I would shrug off a similar comment and say, “It works for us.” The longer I am a parent, the more comfortable I have become about the choices I’ve made. Though insecurities surface (again and again!) at all stages of life, I want to try to identify why I am vulnerable and how I can start to change it—and not make others feel horrible about their choices. (It ain’t easy. I said “try.”)

I don’t think about breastfeeding much anymore. My mind is more occupied with encouraging appropriate behavior in my kids, teaching responsibility and making sure they have strong emotional, educational and spiritual foundations. (Sheesh. No pressure at all, self.) And I realize that all these other moms who voice their opinions about what they think is right or wrong are just trying to do the same thing. I believe it’s time we all stop commenting and start supporting the idea that we are all Mom enough to handle it, in the way that works for us.

Lydia Rueger is an Arvada, Colorado-based writer and mother of two. She is a frequent contributor to Colorado Parent, other magazines and parenting blogs.

Dom Testa

Not long ago I took some friends to Sea World, which is required by law for tourists on their first visit to San Diego or San Antonio. (In Orlando you’re allowed an exemption only if you can prove you spent $1000 at Disney World.)

During the dolphin show, we gasped at the remarkable skills displayed by these gorgeous animals, marveled at the incredible training which must go into every production, and fought off dehydration with oversized sodas.

There’s so much to absorb during these shows, with multiple acts taking place at various spots, all at the same time. At one point, three colorful wild birds were released over the crowd, skimming just a foot or so over our heads as they flew a synchronized pattern inside the arena.

I noticed something interesting, however: almost half of the crowd around us never saw the birds. These people held up their phones, hoping to capture the essence of the show and to record it for posterity. And while that happened, they missed at least fifty percent of everything. Their faces were locked onto six square inches of a smartphone screen while the world zoomed past them.

They didn’t see the tandem jump over here, or the seals splashing the crowd over there. And they wouldn’t have noticed the aerial circus even if the birds had deposited a big Texas ‘Thank Y’all For Coming’ on their heads.

It made me realize how much of life is missed for the sake of recording one small thing . . . which, when lumped into the hundreds of hours of other ‘memories,’ will likely never be seen again.

The ease and affordability of video recording devices has, in a way, become a curse. We’ve taught our kids that every single thing that happens must be recorded! In the process, we’ve trained them to view life through six square inches.

It’s contrary to the skills we developed to survive as a species. A good field of vision was critical; if our ancestors had walked through life with tunnel-vision, they’d have been dinner.

But today we’re caught up in the need to capture every moment, to store everything digitally. In doing so, our kids don’t notice things on the periphery; they’ve grown up watching life through a tiny screen. In fifty years all children will exit the womb cross-eyed.

I challenge you to schedule some family outings where no video-capturing is allowed. No pictures, no videos. Everything that’s stored for posterity is done so using the greatest recording device on Earth: the human brain. It captures sights, sounds, and smells, and – most importantly – imprints them with an actual emotional connection.

Today, when I see a colorful wild bird, I do two things: (1) cover my popcorn, and (2) immediately recall the warmth of the day at Sea World, the smell of the flowers ringing the amphitheater, and the sounds of the cash registers emptying my wallet: all non-visual (video) memories.

And I remember the laughter of my friends. I remember how the day felt. That’s something a smartphone can’t possibly record.

I suggest that, as a parent, you flip the priorities with your family. Put more emphasis on actually living your moments together fully, without sacrificing a large chunk of the experience for the sake of a digital recording. Listen, waiting in theme park lines without a phone builds character.

Your kids will become better observers, which will help them as they make their way through school and, ultimately, the working world. They’ll gain an advantage in not only gathering information, but in sorting it all out. Talk to them afterwards about the experience, incorporating all five senses. Ask them how it felt. Reassure them that it’s okay to eat tuna; they weren’t part of the show.

When I think of trips I’ve taken where very few photos were snapped, my memories somehow seem more lush, more personal. I’ve realized that electronic devices are great – but only to a point. When they begin to replace our actual memories, they take part of our humanity with them.

We were built to process an entire field of vision, with a computer in our heads that gathers and analyzes everything in a split second. Help the young people in your life to exercise that ability early and often.

Life is much too beautiful and interesting. Besides, it’s unnatural to cram Shamu into six square inches.

Dom Testa is an author, speaker, morning radio show host, and has kept a ficus tree alive for twenty two years. He’s also the founder and president of The Big Brain Club, a non-profit foundation that helps young people embrace the idea that Smart Is Cool. More info at www.DomTesta.com.

Today’s guest post is from Aaron Anderson a Westminster, Colorado therapist who blogs about family and relationships at The Relationship Rx.

With the recent tragedies such as the ones in Boston, Newtown and elsewhere, many parents feel confused about how to talk to their children about such tragic events. Children have a natural curiosity, so when they see things on TV they’re going to ask about them. This can create awkward moments for parents who have to come up with answers quick.

What’s even worse for Coloradoans is that we don’t just see these tragedies on national TV. Recently, we have seen tragedies in our own schools and communities. We have had friends and loved ones affected by the awful events that occurred with Jessica Ridgeway and at the Century 16 multiplex theater in Aurora.  We haven’t just seen these events on TV, we’ve heard about them from people who were there – and so have our kids.

These awful events often leave parents at a loss of how to talk to your children about them.  Below are five ways to talk to your children about tragedies in ways that not only help them to understand what happened, but also help them learn from them and help them feel safe.

Keep a Normal Routine. Children thrive on predictability and reliability. When tragic events occur, however, they question how predictable things are and they feel less safe. You can help your children by keeping them in their normal, predictable routine so they feel a sense of normalcy and safety despite what events are going on elsewhere.

Talk explicitly About Safety. As mentioned above, when tragic events occur children worry about their own safety. Don’t just tell them that they will be safe. Tell them how they’ll be safe. Tell them about how police officers are being more vigilant, and how you as a parent are talking to people (such as principals and teachers) to make sure they are safe at school and other important places.

Talk About It As Often As They’d Like: Parents think they need to have ‘the talk’ with their kids about tragedies. More accurately, however, parents need to think of it more like having ‘the talks’.  The more you talk with your child about it, the more questions they’ll have answered and the safer they’ll feel. This also relieves some pressure off of you as a parent because you don’t have to cram all the information you can into one long awkward conversation.

Grieve With Them. Too often, parents try to hide their emotions from their children. They think that if their children believe they aren’t worried then their children won’t worry, either. However, children worry about sad things no matter how strong of a face their parents have. Instead of trying to hide it, talk with your children openly about your feelings. Tell them that you’re sad for those who got hurt and their relatives and friends. This gives your children strong examples of how to emotionally cope with difficulties and how to move forward even though things are emotionally tough.

Help Them Learn From it. Part of your job as a parent is to teach your child morals and values that will help them succeed and contribute to society.  When these events happen it’s important to teach your children important life lessons that will keep them safe and will help them in the future. This will also help your child be safe because they’ll know important things they can do to keep themselves out of harm’s way.

No parent wants their child to think about the tragedies that happened in Boston, Newtown, or here in Colorado. Most parents don’t like talking about it themselves, let alone like talking to their children about it. But following these recommendations can help your child cope through them and even come out stronger for it.

Aaron Anderson is a therapist and owner of The Marriage and Family Clinic in Westminster, Colorado. In addition to his private practice, he is a speaker, presenter, adjunct faculty for CU, and is a regular contributor to exceptional marriage and family blogs, websites and magazines like the one you’re reading now. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Check out his blog The Relationship Rx and his twitter profile @MarriageDr for more great information about marriage and families.

Dom’s latest venture is his blog Building a Better Student. We are thrilled to bring you regular monthly installments of Dom’s blog here on the Colorado Parent blog. Be sure to sign up so you don’t miss Dom’s guest posts or any of the other great blog entries to come.

Building A Better Student: An Introduction

By Dom Testa

Dom Testa

Not long ago I spoke at a national convention of school librarians. Afterwards, as I signed books for them, several of the educators probed to find out more about my work with students, and they offered their own perspective. Not surprisingly, the issue of parental involvement came up over and over again.

On the flight back to Denver I thought about their comments. While I understood the frustration felt by these teachers and librarians, I also recognized that they weren’t looking for parents to teach; at least, not in the traditional manner.

No, what’s required is a partnership. After all, both sides are pursuing the same outcome: a better student.

The reality is, parents have many opportunities to impact a young person’s education, and in ways that have nothing to do with classroom lessons. We tend to automatically associate parental involvement with helping out with homework and attending parent/teacher conferences, but those represent only a fraction of a parent’s potential contribution.

There are countless ways that mothers and fathers can better prepare their daughters and sons before they get to the classroom.

This lies at the root of my non-profit foundation, The Big Brain Club. Our mission is to help young people become the best version of themselves. That almost always includes a powerful education; but, for an education to truly be well-rounded, it requires a mixture of classroom lessons and real-life experience. And, running quietly in the background, attitude shapes almost all of it.

The experience and the attitude are where parents can make a difference. School resources are stretched to the max, and teachers are pushed to extremes. Imagine the results if teachers and parents collaborated on a student’s education, a sort of tag-team; parents would prep their children with non-traditional ‘lessons’ at home, while educators focused on their passion: teaching.

Welcome to Building A Better Student. Through this syndicated blog post, you’ll find continuous examples of how you, as a parent, are able to influence your child’s overall education outside the classroom. You’ll also discover new applications for life’s everyday occurrences, often in entertaining ways.

More importantly, you’ll likely develop a better appreciation for how today’s cultural and social environment plays a part in your child’s path to maturity. You can either rail against that influence, or use it to your advantage.

Plus, throughout the journey you’ll find new ways of looking at life as a parent, with fresh approaches to age-old issues. And we’ll share some laughs, too, because – although at its core it’s a serious matter – the truth is that parenting can sometimes be downright funny.

Watch for regular installments of Building A Better Student, and be sure to respond with your own comments. I look forward to communicating with you.

Dom Testa is an author, speaker, morning radio show host, and has kept a ficus tree alive for twenty two years. He’s also the founder and president of The Big Brain Club, a non-profit foundation that helps young people embrace the idea that Smart Is Cool. More info at www.DomTesta.com.

What if you could take one step that would free up more time for your family and ultimately simplify your life? Would you take it?

Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn were on the fast track. Successful jobs, busy, fashionable – living the life, you could say. But, they say, they were also unhealthy, wasteful and, to their own surprise and horror, deeply unhappy.

“We discovered that working 70-80 hours a week and buying even more stuff didn’t fill the void. In fact, it only brought us more debt and fear and anxiety and loneliness and guilt and paranoia and depression,” says Millburn.

So they decided to embrace minimalism. They quit their jobs and threw out or donated the majority of their material possessions. Then they started to write about it at www.theminimalists.com. Now the website is read by over one-hundred thousand visitors each month who are also hoping to release themselves of the drag of a fast-paced, materialistic lifestyle and bring more meaning into their days.

Now, most people would scoff and say, “Well that’s fine for them, but we have a mortgage, kids, and commitments. We can’t just get rid of everything.”

The thing is, families don’t have to walk away from everything to benefit from the principles of minimalism, say Nicodemus and Millburn.

The Minimalists, as they are known on their website, will be hosting a meet-up event at the Bovine Metropolis Theatre in Denver on Wednesday, March 6 to meet Colorado readers and talk about their latest book, Live a Meaningful Life.

Nicodemus and Millburn took some time out to tell us how anyone, even busy families, can incorporate minimalism and live a more meaningful life:

People tend to think of minimalism as an extreme lifestyle mostly practiced by monks and hermits, how do you define a minimalistic lifestyle?

Ryan Nicodemus:  Some people meet me and when we talk about minimalism they think we live a radical lifestyle. They say things like, “I could never be a minimalist.” The truth is, this lifestyle is not radical. We’re not radical people. If you spend time with us, you’d realize that the minimalist lifestyle isn’t much different from yours.

Joshua Fields Millburn:  I don’t count my stuff, but I have hundreds of things, even after I got rid of 90% of my stuff. I own a car. I own pots and pans and kitchen utensils. I own a queen-size bed. I own a smartphone. I own a laptop computer. I own a desk. I own a guitar. I own some furniture. I own some books. I own a clothes dresser. I own a washer and dryer. I own more than a few days worth of clothes. But there are three key distinctions:

• I don’t own excess stuff. I have only the things I use frequently, things that add value to my life; but I don’t have extra stuff, I don’t have “just-in-case” items. If I wanted to change my lifestyle, then my definition of “excess” would change as well. For example, if I wanted to become a peripatetic writer, traveling the world like my friend Colin, then I would need to drastically reduce my possessions. But, at this point in my life, I’m happy with where I live, and I don’t desire to travel extensively. If that changes, then I will change.

• I constantly question my possessions. Do I still need this? When is the last time I used this? What would happen if I got rid of this? Could someone use this more than me? Because I constantly question my possessions, I am in a perpetual state of paring down, which feels good. There is no endgame; I will never arrive. I will continue the journey the rest of my life.

• I don’t give meaning to my possessions. Most importantly, I understand that my possessions can be replaced. Someone recently asked me what I would grab if my apartment caught fire. “Nothing,” I responded. “Everything I own is replaceable.”

What about for families? Kids come with a lot of extras – toys, bouncy seats, sporting equipment, toys, backpacks, toys — is it really possible for a family to live a minimalist lifestyle?

Yes. One of the guys who introduced us to the concepts of minimalism, Leo Babauta, has a wife and six kids. He’s a minimalist – very minimal, in fact.

What benefits do you think families can realize from living with less stuff?

One of the biggest benefits is time. Once we jettisoned the excess stuff in our lives that stuff that took so much time to accumulate, we were able to spend quality time with the people closest to us and less time taking care of our stuff. Think about what you’d do if you had less stuff but more time.

As adults it may be easier to see the benefits of minimalism, any tips for getting kids on board?

Show the benefits, not the actions. Humans, especially children, are motivated by the end result much more than the process. Show them what they can do with their extra time – their extra freedom – and then show them how simplifying will help them realize those benefits.

What advice do you have when one member of the family is holding out against going minimalist?

The answer is easier than you might think: start with yourself. You must first set the example for the people around you. We both embraced simpler lives a few years ago and before we knew it, many of the same people who thought we were crazy at first started asking us how they could de-clutter and donate and live a more meaningful life.

Actually just the thought of becoming a minimalist can seem kind of overwhelming: going through boxes and closets, finding places that will take stuff, setting guidelines for the new lifestyle, etc. Can you recommend one step that any family could take toward minimalism right now, today?

Start small with one thing a day.

What if you removed one material possession – just one – from your life each day for the next month? What would happen? Would you have 30 fewer things a month from now? Probably not. You’d likely jettison far more than 30 items.

You see, once you gain momentum, once you strengthen your simplicity muscle, once you feel the benefits, embracing minimalism becomes easy. The more you do it, the freer and happier and lighter you feel, and thus the more you want to throw overboard. The more action you take, the more you want to take action.

To embrace the simple life, you needn’t rent a dumpster and dispose of all your stuff. You need only to start somewhere. You can start small with one room or one thing each day. You can start with yourself. Once your friends and family notice the benefits you’re experiencing, they’ll hop on board in their own ways.

 Talk Back: Have you taken any steps toward simplifying your family’s life? Do you have any house rules to control clutter?

Try these 7 fun activities to bust winter boredom!

This blog has been on a little hiatus while Colorado Parent is undergoing some exciting changes. Watch for our April issue of Colorado Parent in print and you will see a fresh new design and even more local parenting information. We can’t wait to share it with our loyal readers and our third generation of Colorado moms and dads!

Ah, January, the month of fresh starts. While the newness of the year feels like a breath of fresh air, the thought of being stuck in the house for two to three more months with the cabin-fever kids can be stifling. Here are some ways to help the whole family make the best of winter or enjoy a little taste of spring even with snow on the ground.

1. Bake or cook something

Winter is the perfect time to be in the warm kitchen. Kids love to peel, chop, measure, concoct and stir, especially when there is a delicious treat to look forward to at the end. Cooking and baking also offer fun opportunities for lessons in math (measuring), science (baking chemistry) and social studies (culture and food). Once the summer rolls around, the kitchen will probably feel like an oven. Cooking warm soups or baking something will fall to the bottom of the “fun” list, so enjoy it while you can.

2. Create whimsical creatures, puppets or dolls

Wait! Don’t jump past this one. You do not have to be an artist to have fun creating simple dolls or creatures. Grab an old sock, some buttons, magic markers, yarn and glue and the kids can paste together a crazy puppet. Check out this article on page 15 of our Winter Fun Guide with ideas for Woodland creatures made from items found around the yard. Adapt this idea to see what you and the kids can create using cereal boxes, egg cartons and other items in the recycle bin. And remember there is no right or wrong. It’s just about having fun.

3. Start a calisthenics competition

Who can do the most jumping jacks? What about sit ups or push ups? Create a chart where the family can track their physical achievements each day or week. No fancy equipment needed for this type of exercise – just your own body weight. Google “calisthenics” for other exercises that can be done at home without special equipment.

4. Have an indoor picnic

Pack a simple picnic-style meal and a little imagination and lay a blanket on the family room floor. Invite the kids to decide your imaginary location – their favorite park, grandma’s backyard, or a recent vacation spot. Then reminisce about your favorite characteristics of that location as you enjoy your picnic. Just remember, you are imagining you are outside, so no television allowed.

5. Hold a game night

Spend an evening playing favorite board games or learning a new game. The internet is full of instructions and videos to help the family figure out a new card game. Or, if the kids are feeling ambitious, they could create their very own board game with things found around the house or devise their own version of a card game.

6. Plant something

There is nothing like watching a little green sprout emerge from the dirt to make you feel like spring is not far away. Pick a couple simple seeds like beans or even grass. Fill a pot with soil, plant the seeds and teach the kids to care for the plant. Watch the plants as they grow. This may even inspire the family to plant a little garden.

7. Take advantage of good weather days

Lucky us! We live in Colorado where 60-degree days can pop up in the middle of January. Take advantage of the good weather days to get the kids outside for a walk, a bike ride, a park visit or just to explore and play. Whether you have an infant or a 14 year old, a stroll in the fresh air and sunshine will appease the cabin fever. And, the lingering glow of that outdoor time will help get everyone through to the next warm snap.

What are your best ideas for Winter Boredom Busters? Tell us in the comments below

Deborah Mock is the editor of Colorado Parent magazine.

Colorado Parent: Do you remember where you were when you got the idea for Skippyjon Jones?

Judy Schachner: I can’t take full credit for the idea because it was inspired by my cat, Skippy. I was in my kitchen, and my Siamese kitten was having breakfast. Then he went downstairs to the litterbox where he was stung by a bumblebee. And he came upstairs with lumps all over his head, and that’s when I started to hear his “voice.” We had just watched Zorro and so in my head he sounded like Antonio Banderas.

CP: On the CDs that come with the books, Skippyjon’s Mama Junebug Jones speaks with a southern accent. Where do you imagine Mama is from?

JS: Mama Junebug Jones is from Oklahoma. She is a cat with a past. She once spent some time with Tom Jones. She is a single mom, raising her kids.

CP: If Skippyjon Jones ran for president, what issues would he care about most?

JS: Definitely clean litter, equality for all, and being free to be who you truly are.

CP: Of the seven books in the Skippyjon series, do you have a favorite?

JS: I am pretty excited about this new one, Cirque de Olé. I really like reading it, and Skippy has evolved—he looks different now than he did in the first book. You know, like Mickey Mouse looks different in the early drawings? At first, I had no idea I would do a series, and I’m really not fond of the first paintings. But Skippy’s at a point now where he looks like he’s supposed to look. I think the picture of Skippyjon on the cover of Cirque de Olé is one of the cutest. I also really like Mummy Trouble, because I am interested in ancient Egypt.

CP: Are you more of a cat person or a dog person?

JS: I am an equal-opportunity animal lover, especially those animals who are covered in fur.
CP: How long does it take you to complete a book, both illustrations and the story?

JS: I write one book a year, usually starting in August and finishing by January. As soon as I finish one book, I start thinking of the next one. Once I come up with a title, I get a journal and fill it with research on the topic that inspires ideas, like pictures from catalogs, and I’ll cut them out and put them in the journal.

When doing circus research for Cirque de Olé, I saw a picture of a human pyramid that gave me the idea for the tower of dogs in the book. Then I make a dummy of the book on paper (words and illustrations together on pages). I write and illustrate at the same time. Then I hand the dummy in to my editor, and the book moves forward. I polish the words right up to the end.

CP: Where is your favorite place to write and illustrate?                                                                                                                                              

JS: Thanks to Skippy, I have a beautiful studio with a lot of space. I love it because as a child, I had no space. I would close the bathroom door and draw on the walls.

CP: Skippyjon Jones and his Chihuahua friends often speak Spanish in your books. Do you have Hispanic heritage yourself?

JS: Well, Spain invaded the coast of Ireland, and I’m Irish, but that’s as close as it gets. But I studied Spanish in high school, I have a good ear and can mimic any accent. My husband and I (volunteered with) A Better Chance (www.abetterchance.org) and we were around Hispanic girls that would speak to me in rapid fire Spanglish. I loved the sound of it. I’ve been criticized that the books are not politically correct, but I believe it is Spanish the way a 4-year-old would hear it. For Skippyjon, the point is that he wants to feel like a part of a group—he doesn’t look like the rest of his family and he is the only boy with three sisters—he wants to belong to something. And reading it gets kids in the habit of using their best Spanish accents. I think the great thing about America is that we are a melting pot—I am an Irish Catholic who married a Jewish man—and we are all just part of the stew. So many kids are learning Spanish in school now, and I hope (the books) can get kids excited about it.

CP: What is your best pearl of wisdom for those who wish to write children’s books?

JS: Read as many picture books as you can. I dreamed of being an illustrator, but I did not enjoy writing in school and was a terrible speller. But I believe if you can tell a good story you can write a good story. I would check books out of the library with the same tone I wanted for my own books and read them about 50 times. Reading has taught me all I wanted to know about writing. Also, find a unique voice—find what makes you different.
Judy Schachner lives in Philadelphia. Learn more about the author/illustrator and her books at www.skippyjonjones.com andhttp://www.judithbyronschachner.com.

We’re very fortunate to live in a state that has a world-class art museum, which can bring the work of some of the world’s most famous artists to town such as Van Gogh. Not only is that great for us but it’s really great for our children who may not fully appreciate it now, but will see some of these works one day and be proud to say “Oh, I saw that when I was a kid!”

Vincent van Gogh, Girl Carrying a Loaf of Bread, 1882.

“Becoming Van Gogh” runs from October 21, 2012 to January 20, 2013. This may be the only chance for any of us to see this collection of Van Gogh’s works since they were assembled from museums and private collections all over the world. The Denver Art Museum is the only venue in the world for this exhibition. It is not travelling anywhere, and will this particular collection of artworks most likely ever be shown together again.

The exhibit is called “Becoming Van Gogh” because it is about the journey Van Gogh took to become the artist he was when he died, far too young at 37. His declining health (both physical and mental) and tragic death are mentioned minimally in exhibition labels and in the audio tour, only there to set a tone and not to define him.

The exhibit follows Van Gogh from his early days as an artist in the Netherlands where his work was inspired by the old masters and was dark and heavy. Along the way, he was inspired by Japanese art that affected his style and looks very different from earlier works. Then his style changes again as he moves to Paris which had become THE place to be if you were an artist of any sort. There, he was exposed to new ideas and ways of painting incorporating color which had been seen as frivolous. He let go and truly became an artist, free to express himself.

Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of Postman Joseph Roulin, 1888.
Oil on canvas. Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Should you take the kids?

The exhibit is not ideal for very young children who may become bored but school age kids will connect with the portraits of hard-working people and the pretty-ness of the landscapes and beautiful colors. The audio guide is extremely helpful not only in providing additional information but also in giving a more well-rounded experience, with background music and sounds that make the pictures really come to life.

On the first floor of the museum, the Paint Studio encourages budding artists of all ages. Contribute to large

The Paint Studio on the first floor of the Denver Art Museum lets kids explore their creativity, as inspired by “Becoming Van Gogh.”

paintings, experiment with painting using a grid to break down views into sections like Van Gogh did and learn from real artists who come in every weekend to do demonstrations.

Some of the museum’s other, regular programs take on Van Gogh as well including Create Playdates and CelebARTE. Van Gogh-inspired activities can continue at home too. The Denver Art Museum has a wonderful website with lesson plans for
for teachers but parents are encouraged to use the plans as well. They can be found at http://creativity.denverartmuseum.org/. Visit www.denverartmuseum.org for details and schedule of museum programming for families.

Vincent van Gogh, Landscape under a stormy sky, 1889.
Oil on canvas. Fondation Socindec, Courtesy Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny (Suisse).

Make a “staycation” out of it

Just because we live here in Colorado doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of some of the great lodging packages area hotels have put together in honor of “Becoming Van Gogh” exhibit. Nine hotels have special “Becoming Van Gogh” packages with lodging deals, “skip the line” museum ticket packages and Van Gogh-inspired treats and amenities. A special website has been set up specifically for all of the deals, www.VanGoghDenver.com. Since the exhibit runs through the holiday season, also check www.MileHighHolidays.com for additional activities and deals that incorporate the exhibit with holiday happenings from a city is very serious about its festivities. So consider planning a staycation to see the exhibit and take in some of the festivities.

Upcoming special event:

Create Playdate: Splatter

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 – 10:00am – 1:00pm

North Building – Level 2

Drop in with your little ones, aged 3 to 5, and meet up with other tots and their grown-ups to be inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings. Make your own masterpiece, listen to stories, and play art games in the galleries.

Create Playdates are included with general admission, and children 5 and under are always free. No reservations are required.  For more information, e-mailfamilyprograms@denverartmuseum.org or call 720-913-0130.

Courtney Drake-McDonough is the enewsletter and calendar editor for Colorado Parent magazine. Although she always has to nudge her children to go to the art museum, she always ends up having to drag them out because they are enjoying it so much. They actually asked to go to the Van Gogh exhibit. Progress!

Lydia Rueger from Lydisms is our guest blogger today. Halloween costumes can be expensive and we don’t all  have the ability or time to whip up something on the sewing machine, so here was Lydia’s solution to her daughter’s request for an $80 costume.

It’s a down economy and a presidential election year—could there possibly be a MORE appropriate 2012 Halloween costume than a homemade Statue of Liberty designed for 5 bucks? I doubt it. (Hello, Humility? I’m sorry, she’s out to lunch.)

Last year my daughter came across a very nice Statue of Liberty costume in a catalog, but with torch, robe and crown, it came to about $80. While I was pleased about her costume choice considering the less-than-original-princess-and-fairy-costumes of years past, I decided I could do better with my own resources.

From around the house, we gathered the following for Lady Liberty:      

Painting a crown for Lady Liberty costume.

Cardboard
Sage green paint leftover from a home-painting project
Black paint
A princess crown (for Liberty’s crown)
An empty ribbon spool (for torch)
Foam sheets used for packing breakable items (torch flame)
Small flashlight (torch “light”)

(Also needed: Ponytail holder, stapler, safety pins, scissors, markers and duct tape)

At the thrift store, we purchased:
Two sage green curtains, $5 (for robes)

Then we went to work. Here’s how it came together:

Instructions
• The Crown: Cut a cardboard piece to cover the entire front of any child’s princess crown; paint green and let dry. Once it’s dry, paint black rectangles across the green piece. Cut long, skinny triangles from cardboard; paint green. Once all paint is dry, attach front piece to crown with duct tape. Attach crown spires with a stapler. Touch up paint once crown is assembled, if necessary.

• The Torch: Paint a large empty spool of ribbon with green paint. Using markers, color foam sheets yellow and orange and cut 3-4 pieces into a tear drop shape for flames. Glue foam flames around the top inside edges of the spool, leaving a hole through the middle. Slide small flashlight into the spool with the light part up. If the flashlight doesn’t fit exactly, add more foam around the edges. When the flashlight is turned on, it makes a great Liberty torch that actually lights—fun for nighttime trick or treating!

A cute costume that was fun to make for just $5.

• The Robe: I do not sew, but pinning curtains to form a robe worked fine, and was less work for me. Only thing is, you have to re-pin if you wear the costume again. Pin one curtain loosely around child so it drapes around the body. Fold second curtain into a long rectangle and drape over one shoulder like a sash; secure under the other arm with a large ponytail holder (easier than pins, and removable).

What favorite cheap-and-original costumes have you created? Post it on Colorado Parent’s facebook page!