Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Draw, Paint, Fancy Garbage Cans

 The kids and I had great fun making projects this weekend.  I took the newspaper roll out of the closet and we created a bunch of fun drawings.  Also, whipped out some boxes and made houses for our collection of Smurfs. 
 This is a painting.
 This is another painting.
 And here is yet another painting.  (I am quite in the painting mood at the moment.  Many ideas are bouncing around in my noggin).  I am so excited about wonderful opportunties arising.
So, this is my current project.  In fact it is what I am working on right at this moment, except I took a break and thought hey, baby is sleeping , I dont feel like doing laudnry or dishes , I think I will update the blog.  This weekend is an Art int he Park Event.  It is a combo deal with the park district and the art museum.  I am working on the community project (focused for the kids) in which I am painting the outlines of drawings (of aspects of the park) on these here garbage cans (but we are referring to them as barrels so they sound more elegant and fancy), and anyone who comes through the event can pick up a paint brush and fill in/add to the project.  What I have done so far has been fun, but I do find it a bit challenging to create masterpieces on this particuliar type of item.  The paint fumes are making me a bit mental and the roundness and bumps are a bit of a task, but I am excited for this project to come to fruitation.  I won't be able to be at the actual event, but I can't wait to see how it will all turn out).    So anyway, just wanted to say hello since I haven't much lately. good day.  p.s.  almost feels like fall out there today.  It is wonderful.  ps.ps.  Picked green beans from the garden and got attacked by evil mosquitos.  Remind me not to do that again. 

Friday, August 26, 2011

school and blessed

A new beginning.  A new school year has emerged this week.  Isabelle entered 3rd grade and Benjamin has started Kindergarten.  This time of year is always so exciting...and so emotional...mostly for me.  I am so looking forward to this school year.  The children are blessed with wonderful teachers.  I know that I owe updates...but this has been an exhausting whirlwind of a week.  I was single parenting it (Noah was work traveling) as we were coming off vacation and jumping into the new school year.  I am thankful for some somewhat peaceful time during the day to get things done.  I still have to share pics from vacation etc.  Hopefully next post (I am way too tired at the moment).  I am feeling extremily blessed with several "art" opportunities coming my way.  I even had the chance to paint a little the last two days and I am so excited with what I am creating.  I thank the Lord for my gift/talent of painting.  When I paint, I feel so alive.  My soul is dancing and well.  I create and happiness and emotion  are abundant.  I must go now.  Good night dear family and friends.  May your slumber be sweet and let the sun greet you kindly in the morn. 

Monday, August 22, 2011

Happy 5th Birthday Ben

Last week we celebrated my precious little Benjamin Boo turning:  5 years old.  He spent his birthday surrounded by lots of family, vacationing at a lake house in Wisconsin.  He had a wonderful day.  Wow.  I can't believe how fast this little guy is growing up.   There are so many things that I love about my Ben.  Here are just 5 for fun:  1.)  I love how Ben still needs the security of his "blankie cow" and how he rubs the satin edges for comfort.  2.)  I love how when Ben is asked his favorite color, he answers:  "All the colors in the world!"  3.)  I love how Ben describes his thoughts with his hand gestures, serious expressions and funny explanations.  4.)  I love how Ben is always so excited about what he is doing that he runs from one place to the next.  5.)  I love to see how Ben's imagination comes to life through his play, dress up & art.  Thank you Lord, for gifting me with this amazing boy who brings such joy to my heart.  Happy Birthday Ben!    ***More updates and photos coming soon in regards to:  the end of the summer, Wisconsin Lake House vacation, School starting,  art projects, etc.***

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Happy 8 Isabelle

 This Sunday we celebrated beautiful Isabelle and her arrival of the number 8.  I cannot believe that my daughter is 8.  So bittersweet.  I know I have no choice but to let her grow older, but I wish she would at least slow down a little bit.  I blink and she is on her next step and I am not ready, but I have to be.  We decided not to have any "kid" parties this year, but we still made her birthday very special.  As usual, she was spoiled and loved to pieces by so many treasured people.  We are blessed.
 I love this photo of Isabelle with her favorite present!  Except she looks too grown up here.
 This is the moment that I was the most excited about.  I had arranged a special surprise for Isabelle.  Her best friend, Amy -moved away a few months ago and she hasn't seen her in person since....well guess who knocked at our door to help share in Isabelle's special day?  It was so amazing to see these wonderful friends together again. :)
 Everyone wanted turns playing the guitar.  Here we see Noah & Little Miss O, doing a dance.
This is one of my favorite photos of the weekend.  Ben just adores Olivia.  Once in awhile she will stay still enough for him to snuggle her.    Next week we celebrate Ben turning the big "5"!!!   This morning I woke up to the most beautiful weather.  It almost feels like fall out there.  Love it.  Mosquitos are evil.  The Garden is practically throwing tomatos at us.  (if you need any, stop by!).  The moon has been extra beautiful lately.  I have so many exciting painting projects on the horizon, I almost want to hyperventilate (but in a good way, not an overwhelming rotten sort of kind of way).  Preparing for an end of the summer vacation , also finishing up school shopping.  I can't believe the time is almost here.  I think it is time though.  The kids are done.  I am done.  Summer can be wrapped up in a nice little box with a bow , cuz I am so excited for fall and what this season has to bring to us!  I am looking forward to hopefully a little more peaceful and settled time at home for all of us.  I am looking forward to the kids learning new things and being with school friends again.  I wish we grew pumpkins in our garden this year, but we didn't.  There truly is nothing like going out to your yard and picking a bunch of pumpkins. hehe.  See, my brain is already swimming in fall thoughts.  I love everything that fall has to offer.  It's just breath taking, crisp, comforting, inspiring....awesome.  I should probably put on some music and start dancing before this day slips away.  Happy Wednesday.  May your moments be filled with super swell stuff. 

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

cake and paint


For the kids birthdays, I was so excited to order some very special cakes from my friend Nikki who has started her own bakery business:  Cravings.  I just adore the designs that she comes up with, they are amazing so I knew we would love what she would do with a request of:  fairies for Isabelle and a dolphin with a cowboy hat for Ben.  The kids (well, everyone) just awwed over the cakes when they saw them.  Isabelle kept asking me questions like:  How did she do that and can I make cakes when I grow up?  The thing about these beautiful, creative cakes is...they not only look like magic....they taste awesome!!!!!  Isabelle wanted confetti cake and Ben wanted chocolate...and let's just say, there is no cake left.
 This is a family portrait that I painted for my friend Nikki.  Her and I share an appreciation for Gnomes. :)
The Guitar was Isabelle's main Birthday Gift request.  She told me if she got a guitar all her dreams would come true.   Well, she had a purple one in mind..one she saw at the store.  Of course, though when I went to get it, it was only a display and not available for purchase.  So, disappointed that I could not get exactly what she was dreaming of, I decided to buy the "boring" brown guitar...and I told the employee who was helping me that maybe my daughter could slap some stickers on it.  Thank goodness that guy suggested to me that it would be nice If I could find someone who paints... ((Isabelle just loved what I painted on her guitar with all her heart, so in the end, now I know - it was perfect that the purple one wasn't available)).

Monday, August 01, 2011

pink crickets

 This is our first garden tomato of the year.  It always amazes me how excellent they taste compared to store bought winter produce. hehe
 This is a painting gift I made for my step sister in law: Gumby. 
Pink.  This is a handpainted card for my friend.  Recently I found out that she has breast cancer.  As I painted this card, I cried.  My heart was sore with saddness.  I thought about how she is my age.  I thought about how her daughter is Isabelle's age.  I thought about my grandma (Helen) who died of breast cancer.  I thought of my dad who had throat cancer (and is a survivor!).  I also thought of many others whose lives have been touched, changed and swept away by Cancer.  As I created this card,  I felt very inspired and called to establish and work on a special project in these regards that I will reveal in due time. 
 Here is little Miss Olivia being boss of the siblings.  Noone else could use the pink Barbie computer except for her!  The end.
What is summer without a little baseball?  Some friends recently gathered for a very fun event.  Family fun at Little Cubs Field (a miniture cubs field that is built in our town and can be rented out for private parties).  Ben was in his glory...playing ball among all the other boys.  Hot dogs and peanuts and Cracker Jacks were to be had by all.  Isabelle chatted away with friends and I chased Olivia all about....and I even got to hit a few...and yes, I actually hit them!  (balls not children).

So here we are:  August.  This month we will celebrate some very special birthdays (Isabelle and Ben), go on a family vacation (lake house in Wisconsin) and start school among other things.  This month will fly by like the rest of the summer, I am sure of that.  I am thankful in the recent rains that our basement only got a little wet and we lost power/internet for a very short time.  I know that others suffered much worse.  Tonight, although the heat is high...I made chili.  Yes, I am crazy, I do believe..just really have had a taste for it lately.  Some Ben quotes of recent: " It sure is human (humid) outside." /  Do you think wrestlers squeeze them?  Squeeze what?  The peanuts to make peanutbutter?  Do you think they bring them to the wrestlers to squeeze cuz they are so strong? /  Do you think that I am too smart for Kindergarten (as we are working on his brainquest workbook for summer practice and I am telling him how awesome he is doing).  One must accept that plastic Spiderman Cups will not last forever.  I need to unbury my scrapbooking stuff.  I am inspired and longing to create some pages.  I feel we go through way too many papertowels.  I am trying these reusable papertowells to see how that goes.  The dog barks.  He barks often.   He unravels my brain cells.  Watching kids eat noodles of longitude is always uncomfortable...and of course I dread "the clean up".  I sadly think about my gray (or is it grey?) hairs that are sprouting about.  I wonder if aliens really do tend to have 3 eyes?  Do the cows really ever come home?  I think about how that term, til the cows come home....and I don't really get it.  Thank the Lord for air conditioning.  Buying and organizing school supplies is one of my favorite things.  Always has been, always will be.  I will even buy school supplies when there is no need.  I will just pull up a misc. list and pretend I need to complete it.  Sunburn itches.  Art is one of my all time favorite words.  Sometimes I wish it was quiet here. ..but then I realize that someday it will be , and really I have no choice but it to be non quiet.  Embrace it.  Boring bird selection lately.  Not to be negative.  Oh wait, I forgot, Isabelle did spy some giant birds in our trees a couple days ago.  They were:  Turkey Vultures.  We have been enjoying watching the bats flutter about outside each summer evening.  The watermelons have not been that impressive this season.  It's like hit or miss.  Everytime the icecream truck comes down our street, I say:  NO!  I know, I am not going to win the mom of the year award, but - oh well...I have my reasons.   Isabelle has been playing barbies like crazy this summer.  Ben plays with her too.  He asked me to help him get the pink sweater on his Ken doll the other day.  Noah loved that. hehe.  Ben wants boxing gloves for his birthday.  Isabelle wants earrings.  Ben keeps burping at the dinner table and I swear...he is ALL BOY in every single way.  It just comes natural...there really isnt anything else to explain...the jumping, the burping...the dirty....the climbing...the whole entire package...is just bound and determined to make it's way into the world.  BOY.  Oh, but this boy brings me so much joy.  I think about how lucky I am...to look into his big blue eyes and listen to his heart ramble on about monkeys and cowboys and his special blanket.  Then there are these amazing girls, who melt my heart.  I see me in them.  I don't see me in them.  Isabelle is so sensitive.  I wish I could protect her more from her feelings.  But, I know this is her and how she is meant to be in the world.  Sensitive and sweet.  I pray for protection around my children constantly.  I ask to be with them for as long as possible.  There are noodles all over my table and the children are outside doing flips and cartwheels in the front yard.  I hear the crickets and I remember what it feels like.  To play...in the grass...on a summer's eve.   To not know the hardships of the world....just to know what I feel and that it feels good to be alive....smelling the grass...catching fireflies as the sun disappears into the darkness.  Running breathless until I fell to the ground.  Laughing and loving all that was my existance.  Getting cleaned up...pajamas...soft warm bed in my parents home.  safe.  and loved.   Well Ben wants me to go watch his backflip.  Goodnight and Goodbye until we meet again.