So sorry you haven’t heard from us in a while. Mom has been very busy with life. We have a special announcement. Pink Elephant Style website and CafePress store are coming soon. We are shooting for mid-October as Lillian has drawn some really cool pumpkins we’d like everyone to be able to experience.
We will be offering T shirts, coffee mugs, baseball caps, tote bags and much more with Lillian’s artwork, quotes and photography. So stay tuned – we’ll let you know when all is unveiled!
(©All Rights Reserved – Pink Elephant Books)
Here’s another Lillian Darnell Mindmap to share. She mindmapped this last April and I just came across it again. This one is titled “Lillian’s Stuff”.
Mom and Lillian
I like red
I like draw
I like books.
I like snow.
She really has a blast doing this. I have another 1 or 2 in the Lillian pile (the pile is actually quit large)!! How about anyone else out there? Are you getting buried alive with your precious one’s artwork and creations? Any tips or creative uses you use or have come across? Thanks for sharing!
(©Written & Designed by Lillian Darnell – All Rights Reserved)
I was going through papers tonight and came across the birthday card Lillian made for me last February. I had intended on putting it on the site long before this, but it got lost in the Lillian pile. Lillian wrote the poem and designed the card on her own using my mom’s computer.
Happy birthday
I Love you
I Like your circle
thank you
camilla
Lillian and thomas
by Lillian by thomas
That has got to be the most beautiful birthday poem ever written! What do ya’ll think? Have one of your own you’d like to share? Please do – we would love to read them.
We had an incredible speaker at the last eWomen dinner last Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Her name is Michelle Nichols and she is a Reno, Nevada mom. She founded the “Hug Your Kids Today” Project and I wanted to let all of you know about this if you are not aware of it and to remind you if you are!
Michelle has written a beautiful book entitled Hug Your Kids Today! 5 Key Lessons for Every Working Parent
Chromosome 18 Research & Registry – Overcoming the Obstacles
This is a special thank you to pappaw Robert for his birthday gift to Lillian. I had asked family members if they wanted to contribute towards this gift for Lillian in my last family email newsletter. My very awesome daddy, Robert Downs, volunteered to buy it and all the accessories for her. Thank you so much daddy!
He bought her the pink Asus Eee PC
We both must make a wish every night before she goes to sleep. I cannot understand what she is saying when she tells me her wish (we must also share what we wished). I have her type her wish into the Asus and we take it to bed with her. When it’s time to share wishes I just have to look at what she typed. We were using the Dynavox unit for this; but, it is so heavy and doesn’t have an easy method for saving. By using the Asus I can save her wishes because they are so extra special – it’s kind of like a journal for her.
Here are some pictures of Lillian using it the morning after receiving it and some pictures of the case and mouse. Click on any of the links above to learn more about the PC, carrying case or mouse.
I made a beautiful and heartfelt connection with a “heavenly” woman at the eWomen conference in Dallas last month.
Heidi is the Heidi behind Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies out of Atlanta Georgia. She sat down next to me for lunch on Friday and we began talking about blogs and the connections one can make online. Our conversation turned to Lillian and fairies and we experienced an amazing connection.
Heidi shared our conversation with her sister Cindi and we all ran into each other Friday night at the Nordstrom’s VIP event. We had a blast talking with each other. The next day Cindi went to the bookstore and bought the 2 books in the video for Lillian. The thought was even more emphasized as Cindi is friends with the woman who illustrates the fairies in these great books.
Hope everyone enjoys the “Thank You” as Heidi and Cindi’s sentiment and actions meant so very much to Lillian and I.
Take the Mystery out of a Blog – Go Here
(©Artwork by Lillian – All Rights Reserved)
Thought we’d share another of Lillian’s short stories with everyone.
Stost
The girl named Etozes and she is 3 years old and she likes fairys.
And she don’t like pust-up (I asked Lillian what she meant here – she meant “throwing up”).
And she like to be marry too!
And she is happy that good Stost took good Etozes was marryed the very next day.
And they were ever (she meant never) lost again.
And they live happyily ever after.
The End
(©Pink Elephant Books – All Rights Reserved)
As usual I took this straight from Lillian’s writing and left in typos and grammar mistakes. Hope everyone enjoyed this cute little story about Etozes & Stost. By the way, Lillian makes up these names. I ask her every time where the names come from and she points to here head!
Want to Have Your Own Blog – Go For It
I have connected with a multi-talented and wonderful woman through my StartUp Ladies site. Her name is Barb Hranilovich and she is one awesome lady. Lillian and I made this “Thank You” video just for her.
The fairy house in the video is very special as Barb makes them. She visited our Pink Elephant Books site and saw how much Lillian likes fairies! Hope ya’ll enjoy the “Thank You”; especially you, Barb!
Want to Start Your Own Blog – Whatcha waitin’ for?
(©Artwork by Lillian – All Rights Reserved)
While we were camping this past weekend Lillian wrote a short story. She did this completely on her own and was very proud of herself.
Toest Tost
Once upon a time a girl named Toest and she liked to be marryed and the boy’s name was Tost and Tost did say: yes.
And then a baby was here and the baby’s name was Askee.
And they live Happiy ever after.
The end.
(© 2008 Pink Elephant Books – All Rights Reserved)
This is exactly as Lillian wrote it. I did not correct for grammar or spelling. Lillian had a ball getting dirty while camping so we’ll write an article about that and include some pictures next week.
Want to Have Your Own Blog – Go For It
(©Artwork by Lillian – All Rights Reserved)
One sure fire way to get to know your child’s likes, dislikes, passions and strengths is to take them on a date. I have a once a month regularly scheduled date with Thomas and Lillian. I took Lillian on her date this past weekend. Lillian’s favorite date activities are going to the library, out to eat and shopping.
For our date this weekend we went to the library first. I truly believe if we could stay in the library for days on end, Lillian would sit there and read every book in the children’s book section. We usually check out about 20 or more books and when we get home she will sit and read EVERY single book. I am completely serious. She will NOT stop until she has read them ALL.
Next we went to eat at Lillian’s favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden. Honestly, I think she likes that restaurant so much because of the little chocolate mints you get at the end of the meal. I enjoy this more than I can put into words. For those of you who already do this with your child, you know what I mean. It is a tremendous bonding and connection opportunity for both parent and child. Here are some pictures of our yummy food!
As we were driving home I asked Lillian if we were done with our date or if she wanted to do something else. She said she wanted to go shopping for books! We were about 5 seconds from the turn in for Barnes & Noble so that’s where we headed next. She absolutely loves that place, too. Another that I think if we could stay there for days on end, she would read every book in the child’s section! We stayed for about an hour or so and Lillian proudly left with her 2 books.
We were walking to the car and Lillian said she wanted to go shopping for clothes and shoes. I was so tired that I talked her into saving that for our next date. After I convinced her to save that for next time, we drove home where she promptly took out the library books she had not read in the library and sat down to read them ALL.
If you don’t already have a regular scheduled date day for you and your child, I highly recommend you start this beautiful tradition with your kids. It doesn’t matter their age or what you choose to do. Just as long as you are doing something together – just the two of you! You will most definitely be on the road to discovering your child’s likes, dislikes, passions and strengths!
