tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320741572024-03-12T16:42:18.462-06:00In My ShoesCreating something everyday.pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-90585796772700576032013-05-16T21:16:00.000-06:002013-05-16T21:16:10.291-06:00The Painting That HappenedI have it ladies, the secret to being an artist and a mother: You get a babysitter/nanny/ask-your-husband-to-take-time-off-work. There is no other way. Children need attention, and the under 5 crowd needs it, apparently, every four minutes.<br />
<br />
So, an enormous thank you to two people who made this happen. My husband, number one. He works crazy hard so I can have the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom. Having him take off a few days of freelance work so I could do this painting felt borderline criminal, but he cheerled me all the way. And to my sister, a mother herself, who took a few hours away from her children to pose for me. I feel like my husband and sister deserve tons of praise for helping me do this.<br />
<br />
My sister was so courageous to share her story and struggles with me for this painting. She is going through a bit of a rewrite in her life, and shared some thoughts with me that I wrote into the work.<br />
<br />
This painting is exhibiting right now at the Rio Gallery in Salt Lake. The show opening is tomorrow, May 17th from 6 to 9. There are so many other fabulous artists that I have the privilege of exhibiting with, that you should see the show if you can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lFmJDQ9XHE/UZWe_CyxuTI/AAAAAAAADJs/LfWQp76QgBE/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lFmJDQ9XHE/UZWe_CyxuTI/AAAAAAAADJs/LfWQp76QgBE/s640/painting.jpg" width="514" /></a></div>
<br />pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-33547109910159298492013-05-10T09:48:00.001-06:002013-05-10T11:15:15.380-06:00Birthday InstallationWith birthdays for fabulous husbands, presents would be great, but something memorable is even better. I really needed to let him know how awesome he his, how much he is loved, and how much we appreciate him. Here is the result - thanks to help from a whole bunch of family and friends! Thanks for helping me pull this off last minute everyone, he loved it!!<br />
<br />
He caught first sight of it as he headed out for his morning run.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--d8YTjsEAFE/UY0WVbNmFtI/AAAAAAAADHo/g0ybhJdYsCI/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--d8YTjsEAFE/UY0WVbNmFtI/AAAAAAAADHo/g0ybhJdYsCI/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otAUjkC7uwc/UY0WWXvJWKI/AAAAAAAADHw/HHeGwF9FzMM/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otAUjkC7uwc/UY0WWXvJWKI/AAAAAAAADHw/HHeGwF9FzMM/s400/DSC_0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgERD8h7BwM/UY0WWpW4jAI/AAAAAAAADH0/F_8hky0G-E4/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgERD8h7BwM/UY0WWpW4jAI/AAAAAAAADH0/F_8hky0G-E4/s640/DSC_0013.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMNkjgQnBZA/UY0WXu4_vII/AAAAAAAADIA/BKfxBgs76v8/s1600/DSC_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMNkjgQnBZA/UY0WXu4_vII/AAAAAAAADIA/BKfxBgs76v8/s400/DSC_0014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13D1t8Z98Lo/UY0WYiIhdvI/AAAAAAAADII/Q66HAVswMtE/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13D1t8Z98Lo/UY0WYiIhdvI/AAAAAAAADII/Q66HAVswMtE/s400/DSC_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwHU-h-ycx4/UY0WZUv5gcI/AAAAAAAADIQ/F6HG3JcBKnA/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwHU-h-ycx4/UY0WZUv5gcI/AAAAAAAADIQ/F6HG3JcBKnA/s400/DSC_0019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYns8bSJF_4/UY0WZ3ppR8I/AAAAAAAADIU/GeGlDYBOHso/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYns8bSJF_4/UY0WZ3ppR8I/AAAAAAAADIU/GeGlDYBOHso/s640/DSC_0021.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcwfG-dM4LQ/UY0Wau0UDLI/AAAAAAAADIg/MhraOH3kcn8/s1600/DSC_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcwfG-dM4LQ/UY0Wau0UDLI/AAAAAAAADIg/MhraOH3kcn8/s400/DSC_0022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSPWsgsfLSU/UY0WbdiXZmI/AAAAAAAADIo/_zCNdGu11lo/s1600/UkoGorterPoster_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSPWsgsfLSU/UY0WbdiXZmI/AAAAAAAADIo/_zCNdGu11lo/s400/UkoGorterPoster_lg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ti9N0r46b2U/UY0WcMbQX2I/AAAAAAAADIw/4_pl4B50kgM/s1600/house1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ti9N0r46b2U/UY0WcMbQX2I/AAAAAAAADIw/4_pl4B50kgM/s400/house1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-58282242831741938822013-03-05T20:54:00.002-07:002013-03-05T20:54:19.372-07:00The Painting that I will do tomorrow.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am grateful for my life. I am circled on all sides by so many wonderful people who need me. It is such a blessing to be needed. I have opportunities every minute to uplift, speak kindly, and comfort. I may actually have <i>too</i> many. Right now, there may always be more people to help than I will be able to get to. But I love how these opportunities give me a chance to become better. Perhaps one day I will actually be as kind, charitable, and plain wonderful as my own mother. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last summer, or maybe spring, I was invited to be part of an art exhibit with many of my old friends from college. I haven't done a show in 6 years, so, this is pretty exciting stuff. But here they are, the reasons, 8 or 9 months later, why I have yet to start this painting. The reasons that actually make my life as wonderful as it is.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In August I got to visit my brother in Oregon, for 5 days. 5 days of eating the best of Portland, hiking beachside trails, soaking up time with my parents and brother. I missed my littles, but being pregnant and might I add horridly uncomfortably pregnant, this trip was a pretty welcome shot of rejuvination.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nmTP8zY78c/UTa3A00uRUI/AAAAAAAADGc/up_gQEtRRpc/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nmTP8zY78c/UTa3A00uRUI/AAAAAAAADGc/up_gQEtRRpc/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" width="400" /> </a><br />
<br />
And then, well, in summertime, all anyone around here wants to do is be outside, and since they are still pretty little, that means most of my summer was spent outside - talking with other moms while our kids biked, played in ponds, ate way too many popsicles, and really, hopefully, helped the kids have a great summer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRT61maKcEE/UTa3CxADHlI/AAAAAAAADHE/9ik7w38i_Ww/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRT61maKcEE/UTa3CxADHlI/AAAAAAAADHE/9ik7w38i_Ww/s400/DSC_0077.JPG" width="400" /> </a><br />
And then that painting I was going to do turned into everyone's dream Halloween Costumes. No painting would have made it worth missing seeing my son finally getting me to solve the dolphin costume, or my two year old dragon roaring. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6reqRKvwqoI/UTa3BLzwy3I/AAAAAAAADGk/m3oWGGlaBDo/s1600/DSC_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6reqRKvwqoI/UTa3BLzwy3I/AAAAAAAADGk/m3oWGGlaBDo/s400/DSC_0048.jpg" width="265" /> </a><br />
<br />
And then my super <i>super</i> fabulous husband designed a new set of Christmas Stockings, including designs for our two year old and the new baby. And the excitement of trying to get these beauties done with all their hand embroidery postponed that painting again. But, no painting can replace how happy my kids were to see their new stockings, hours of careful detail and embellishment making them totally beautiful. And my husband seeing his designs executed? Pretty priceless as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xRDLRxWysU/UTa2-iNPesI/AAAAAAAADGU/jJiLVPD7u9s/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xRDLRxWysU/UTa2-iNPesI/AAAAAAAADGU/jJiLVPD7u9s/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And perhaps the best reason of all, the reason that 'that painting' may forever be done 'tomorrow' - adjusting to life with 5 (!) children who very, very much need me to be putting my 150% into attempting creating a good childhood. (Scary how being as lost in this role as I am, it's arguable as to if I am doing a good job!)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbB9qPo-Lns/UTa3M-t4fnI/AAAAAAAADHM/DYQVE3Qb9Es/s1600/IMG_6806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbB9qPo-Lns/UTa3M-t4fnI/AAAAAAAADHM/DYQVE3Qb9Es/s400/IMG_6806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But that painting must actually be done. I am committed. Painting may take place between midnight and three in the morning, but it will get done. And I will probably love doing it. But even more importantly, there will be art lessons to teach in my sons classroom, costumes to make for my daughters musical production, and a four-year-old and two-year-old to keep from smothering their new baby sister with <i>too</i> much love.<br />
<br />
Seriously, any ideas at all my friends who are mothers and amazing artists? You seem to manage! Secrets ladies, share you secrets!! pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-35114165147945383742013-02-04T09:41:00.002-07:002013-02-04T09:43:13.327-07:00Who knew?It turns out this blog has fans. Namely, my children's grandparents. And being that we have been divided by illness and will continue to be so for a few more weeks, blogs must be the new preferred means of seeing each other, until we can resume our twice weekly hang outs at my moms.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, and I've had another baby since I last posted. We blessed her
yesterday in a small (remember all that illness?) gathering consisting
of pretty much the only healthy members of our families. (We missed you
so so much dad!!). <br />
<br />
My oldest (and beautiful) sister and her husband.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV0M8a0roqk/UQ_jv_Rlu0I/AAAAAAAADFU/eaVm7lUsVrw/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV0M8a0roqk/UQ_jv_Rlu0I/AAAAAAAADFU/eaVm7lUsVrw/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Yep, this is as good as a photo gets with 5 kids under 9.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqb9vwLmueA/UQ_jwKW6u4I/AAAAAAAADFY/4Na2TKh6qI8/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uqb9vwLmueA/UQ_jwKW6u4I/AAAAAAAADFY/4Na2TKh6qI8/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Those who blessed her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9dYj1rHrEI/UQ_jwREk0sI/AAAAAAAADFg/rO5YalRCqao/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9dYj1rHrEI/UQ_jwREk0sI/AAAAAAAADFg/rO5YalRCqao/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
And a family photo in front of what I am sure is the only cluttered part of my house. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Tr91qBsFgs/UQ_jw-ZiMQI/AAAAAAAADFo/DcYJtzcyySQ/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Tr91qBsFgs/UQ_jw-ZiMQI/AAAAAAAADFo/DcYJtzcyySQ/s400/DSC_0066.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mom! (thank you for the blessing dress) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyzy-u0fTuo/UQ_j4EW-wFI/AAAAAAAADF0/M5IwyDy6Tik/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyzy-u0fTuo/UQ_j4EW-wFI/AAAAAAAADF0/M5IwyDy6Tik/s400/DSC_0031.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-009pBnfnBts/UQ_kAg6cf-I/AAAAAAAADGE/HZ-LqN-Dtq8/s1600/mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-009pBnfnBts/UQ_kAg6cf-I/AAAAAAAADGE/HZ-LqN-Dtq8/s400/mom.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-73924675673364048402011-11-06T21:34:00.000-07:002011-11-06T21:34:57.354-07:00I have been trying to come up with a way to improve my sons reading comprehension - he is a fine reader, but can't always remember details. We have also wanted him to have read the scriptures before he is baptized, so we came up with a plan to tackle both issues: Read one page of scripture each day together, have my son write 2 or 3 things he learned from what we read, and draw an accompanying picture. (It actually tackles so many things at once that I am ecstatic: drawing, writing practice, reading comprehension, learning the scripture stories, family time....the best in so many ways).<br />
<br />
My daughter has joined in as well and I can honestly say this is my favorite part of each day. Their interpretations are awesome and even pretty funny.<br />
<br />
By the way, of the various family scripture study plans out there....we have not felt too successful. What are your genius ideas? Please tell me what you do that works.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QkPD_nT98mI/TrddLzjLAuI/AAAAAAAADC8/U5hL_sCG4Wk/s1600/scrip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QkPD_nT98mI/TrddLzjLAuI/AAAAAAAADC8/U5hL_sCG4Wk/s400/scrip1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzYvmBn1SWg/TrddM1pw3_I/AAAAAAAADDE/2hkXcNso0x8/s1600/scrip2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzYvmBn1SWg/TrddM1pw3_I/AAAAAAAADDE/2hkXcNso0x8/s400/scrip2.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEOi0swaH4I/TrddNmuqmVI/AAAAAAAADDM/m9XI4PcPNDg/s1600/scrip3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEOi0swaH4I/TrddNmuqmVI/AAAAAAAADDM/m9XI4PcPNDg/s400/scrip3.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-58468836782909574122011-10-06T11:11:00.000-06:002011-10-06T11:11:51.060-06:00The kids got to this one. My little boy finished off the collar and buttons for me, and also drew his own version down in the corner. This is my mom when she was in second grade. I don't typically draw from photos, but I needed a break from my super wiggly models.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Reh6-zGocks/To3hAKc4gsI/AAAAAAAADCs/W2CU18m32d8/s1600/mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Reh6-zGocks/To3hAKc4gsI/AAAAAAAADCs/W2CU18m32d8/s640/mom.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-83595306593914582542011-10-05T11:31:00.001-06:002011-10-05T11:52:44.798-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3ePc70wqJg/ToyURp1OKQI/AAAAAAAADCo/Bah40XUReY4/s1600/carriedaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3ePc70wqJg/ToyURp1OKQI/AAAAAAAADCo/Bah40XUReY4/s640/carriedaway.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-63958434025496235472011-10-03T11:48:00.002-06:002011-10-03T11:48:36.989-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtGqHlFpvgA/Ton1ZlQBa1I/AAAAAAAADCk/GXZzn1nKVJc/s1600/girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtGqHlFpvgA/Ton1ZlQBa1I/AAAAAAAADCk/GXZzn1nKVJc/s640/girl.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-91932607096043405962011-09-30T16:01:00.000-06:002011-09-30T16:01:49.405-06:00You have to know when to quit. And today I knew when to, but I kept drawing anyway.<br />
Sometimes its just too tempting to try and make beautiful lines.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEz-Y1Wsqys/ToY8ChxpbyI/AAAAAAAADCg/lukFN_t9VwE/s1600/Scan+4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEz-Y1Wsqys/ToY8ChxpbyI/AAAAAAAADCg/lukFN_t9VwE/s640/Scan+4.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-44849895948960127762011-09-29T23:23:00.000-06:002011-09-29T23:23:51.475-06:00Sometimes you wonder how it is you started posting late night sketches on your blog. Oh ya, your <a href="http://www.iamphantomfox.com/">brother</a> got you to agree to it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFWCx56nsDY/ToVR_hTxRzI/AAAAAAAADCc/IqcCK0Pwd8M/s1600/Scan+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFWCx56nsDY/ToVR_hTxRzI/AAAAAAAADCc/IqcCK0Pwd8M/s640/Scan+3.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-40839460915561314672011-09-28T22:36:00.000-06:002011-09-28T22:36:14.581-06:00And other times you draw your husband late at night while he plays the guitar. But his hands are moving fast and that makes it a little challenging. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOrJh6x9NdA/ToP1eAq7kYI/AAAAAAAADCY/aXhSf9Q6OCo/s1600/guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOrJh6x9NdA/ToP1eAq7kYI/AAAAAAAADCY/aXhSf9Q6OCo/s640/guitar.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-66708757856364707702011-09-27T11:33:00.001-06:002011-09-27T13:00:42.788-06:00Because sometimes, in order to find time to draw, you have to make your baby draw, and then you have to draw her drawing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTizwnjeywo/ToIIu5AGjcI/AAAAAAAADCU/qSLBhnJQ6OI/s1600/phoebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTizwnjeywo/ToIIu5AGjcI/AAAAAAAADCU/qSLBhnJQ6OI/s640/phoebe.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-89394984127218067412011-09-15T20:46:00.000-06:002011-09-15T20:46:23.271-06:00Look What I Found...Remember my living room, all painted mauve and sponge painted white on top? I suspected wood paneling underneath one of the walls.<br />
<br />
And I was right.<br />
<br />
Naturally, it needed to be uncovered...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ec7RIiN_tYk/TnK3_EZ8dYI/AAAAAAAADCM/d0SLXEmp108/s1600/wall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ec7RIiN_tYk/TnK3_EZ8dYI/AAAAAAAADCM/d0SLXEmp108/s640/wall1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTfBmRr12p8/TnK4CQ-cY-I/AAAAAAAADCQ/waZqCaCYNOY/s1600/wall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTfBmRr12p8/TnK4CQ-cY-I/AAAAAAAADCQ/waZqCaCYNOY/s640/wall2.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-29527972628095419902011-09-04T11:50:00.001-06:002011-09-04T11:52:00.920-06:00Review<div style="text-align: center;">This summer we had will be hard to top.</div><br />
My kids loved the Oregon Coast so much that they didn't notice that the water was ice cold, or the winds a bit uncomfortable. Since I noticed, I focused on loving the local food. (If you are in or around Newport Oregon, go to <a href="http://www.lamaisoncafe.com/">La Maison</a> for breakfast, <a href="http://www.lunaseafishhouse.com/">Luna's</a> for lunch, and <a href="http://localocean.net/">Local Ocean</a> for dinner.) <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDBWqxM0VqU/TmO2my2XdDI/AAAAAAAADBg/F_GwdjNu3Vw/s1600/summer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDBWqxM0VqU/TmO2my2XdDI/AAAAAAAADBg/F_GwdjNu3Vw/s640/summer1.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played kick the can every night, games only ending when someone got injured...and there were several injuries, with some people STILL recovering...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGfQ4zHkf18/TmO2nRlnYmI/AAAAAAAADBk/DTWhLOLit94/s1600/summer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGfQ4zHkf18/TmO2nRlnYmI/AAAAAAAADBk/DTWhLOLit94/s640/summer2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8D0nuNTZ5WE/TmO6JbLVt6I/AAAAAAAADCE/wUV8GgrwFSY/s1600/summer10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8D0nuNTZ5WE/TmO6JbLVt6I/AAAAAAAADCE/wUV8GgrwFSY/s640/summer10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We spent time with our favorite people, our family...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCUTlUoAMhY/TmO2nrD0QlI/AAAAAAAADBo/gs7T2a-NxsM/s1600/summer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCUTlUoAMhY/TmO2nrD0QlI/AAAAAAAADBo/gs7T2a-NxsM/s640/summer3.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have worked our way through as many hikes as we can...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0yS6i6cDE/TmO2n1H7U9I/AAAAAAAADBs/GxwOkdHUQCk/s1600/summer4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0yS6i6cDE/TmO2n1H7U9I/AAAAAAAADBs/GxwOkdHUQCk/s640/summer4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...taking little one with us in her carrier...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgBF1DxMmK8/TmO2oXi8ALI/AAAAAAAADBw/Bzl2W975HnA/s1600/summer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgBF1DxMmK8/TmO2oXi8ALI/AAAAAAAADBw/Bzl2W975HnA/s640/summer5.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...we painted the streets many times over...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvsfqLh1cZQ/TmO2o_tFW2I/AAAAAAAADB0/BpobnV-PIHI/s1600/summer6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvsfqLh1cZQ/TmO2o_tFW2I/AAAAAAAADB0/BpobnV-PIHI/s640/summer6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...I ran Ragnar and had a blast...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuxZrjinmis/TmO2pDyAoFI/AAAAAAAADB4/nT09Ze8rgE4/s1600/summer7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuxZrjinmis/TmO2pDyAoFI/AAAAAAAADB4/nT09Ze8rgE4/s640/summer7.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...we even got dad out on a hike! Yay!...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUfM4KlxkMw/TmO2pSIyizI/AAAAAAAADB8/eSEyNSGITss/s1600/summer8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUfM4KlxkMw/TmO2pSIyizI/AAAAAAAADB8/eSEyNSGITss/s640/summer8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and ate many meals with my favorite people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3JFQN8OEJc/TmO2pvftDqI/AAAAAAAADCA/HKDR9zgt8xw/s1600/summer9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3JFQN8OEJc/TmO2pvftDqI/AAAAAAAADCA/HKDR9zgt8xw/s640/summer9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-31642600176600681442011-08-28T09:14:00.000-06:002011-08-28T09:14:10.073-06:00Dear 3-year-old,<br />
You may not remember the summer your Papa hauled you around on his shoulders on hike after hike, but he will, and so will I.<br />
<br />
We will also remember you laying down and the trail and saying, "Hold you, HOLD YOU!!!", or, "Did you see all the flowers papa? The yellow ones?". You <i>always</i> pretend for the first 5 minutes of seeing Papa (or anyone, for that matter), that you are too shy to talk. But then you warm up and cuddle, ask to be held, and tell them, "I love you soooo much!" You are a pretty fantastic three-year-old.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-CsL2sP3Zw/TlpY8Q6Zz6I/AAAAAAAADBc/1Dsl26rgw38/s1600/albiondad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-CsL2sP3Zw/TlpY8Q6Zz6I/AAAAAAAADBc/1Dsl26rgw38/s640/albiondad.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-1696342134652683152011-08-10T23:14:00.002-06:002011-08-26T21:35:23.686-06:00Summer HikingMy very kind <a href="http://www.iamphantomfox.com/p/friends-of-fox.html">brother</a> sent me a book titled "Best Easy Day Hikes in Salt Lake City".<br />
<br />
And I had a moment when I wondered why on EARTH haven't been taking my children hiking this summer. Well, ok, there are obvious reasons, like a 3 year old and 1 year old, but I mean, my parents took my sister and I hiking all the time. I spent most high school weekends with my friends on some small local hike or another.<br />
<br />
So we immediately set out to do 1 or 2 hikes each week. They've all been totally kid friendly, less than a mile, and my kids think it's the best thing we've ever done. I'm feeling really really silly it's taken me this long to think of this. (Ok in my defense, I generally don't like to leave my home with little ones under 3, and for sure hiking can be dangerous with kids that age, but still...)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Ensign Peak. Short, easy, amazing views. We always bring my dad because hiking is so much more fun with him. And also, he can manage the 3 year old. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1Zzsnxogqw/TkNi7pT8s0I/AAAAAAAADBM/tEskBsLfSgw/s1600/hike1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1Zzsnxogqw/TkNi7pT8s0I/AAAAAAAADBM/tEskBsLfSgw/s400/hike1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Temple Quarry Trail. Paved! Paved!, so baby could just chill in the stroller the whole time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-eeVVnRnYw/TkNi77mVLbI/AAAAAAAADBQ/W7lIpnuIMdk/s1600/hike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-eeVVnRnYw/TkNi77mVLbI/AAAAAAAADBQ/W7lIpnuIMdk/s400/hike2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Silver Lake. Pretty much a classic for the area. Moose sightings are frequent. My little boy sidled up to me and said "Mom, I'm scared of that Moose." I half kidding said, "Don't worry, when we have Papa with us, we don't ever need to be scared. He knows all about wild animals." Then I realized that I would actually probably be scared without my dad around too. Phew, thank heavens he keeps agreeing to go on these with us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R660OvZDvlE/TkNi8Yit73I/AAAAAAAADBU/w24KuvdKWek/s1600/hike3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R660OvZDvlE/TkNi8Yit73I/AAAAAAAADBU/w24KuvdKWek/s400/hike3.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lisa Falls. Another classic. Really short, great for amateur rock climbing, and a fantastic waterfall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9onLGzOss4/TkNi9YRk3WI/AAAAAAAADBY/CQ9cZL_CS-Y/s1600/hike4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9onLGzOss4/TkNi9YRk3WI/AAAAAAAADBY/CQ9cZL_CS-Y/s400/hike4.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-4335634911426207142011-08-03T22:38:00.001-06:002011-08-03T22:38:57.975-06:00Ocean SchoolJust to make sure we go completely over the top with my child's marine life obsession, at the beginning of summer I decided we were going to make our own ocean. I taped blue butcher paper over the largest free wall in the house. (In the kitchen.) Then each week we checked out every book the library had on one marine animal at a time - dolphins, whales, sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions, sea horses, squid....etc. We immersed ourselves in that mammal/reptile/fish, and then added it to our ocean. Most of these, the kids drew. I tried to get the animals to be in proportion to one another. I also find it humorous that our now 3-year old can correctly identify several of these sea creatures correctly. I mean, she doesn't respond to "how old are you?", but ask her which one of these is the Mako Shark, and she'll be spot on. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m993hyI0bsA/TjogN616FVI/AAAAAAAADBI/9MKZgwrcu-M/s1600/oceanwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m993hyI0bsA/TjogN616FVI/AAAAAAAADBI/9MKZgwrcu-M/s400/oceanwall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfGsUiF1SQc/TjofmL0hoDI/AAAAAAAADBE/WQVoczVBv60/s1600/seacreatures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-36418637619012628002011-08-01T15:12:00.001-06:002011-08-01T15:13:24.667-06:00Oregon Coast Trip JournalWe just returned from a week long trip to the Oregon coast. 30 people spread between two beach houses, 17 of them children.<br />
<br />
I always take a million pictures on trips. In fact, since having a digital camera, I probably have 10,000 + pictures on my computer. Not ONE of those pictures is printed. So for this trip, I took along my FUJI Instax camera, and plenty of Instax film.<br />
<br />
Each child was made a journal for the trip. I used Oregon coast maps to cover it, and filled it with blank paper. I brought along plenty of colored pencils, glue (for gluing in tickets, maps, etc.) and photo tabs for mounting Instax pictures.<br />
<br />
Each day, I took one photo of each child at one of the outings (the beach, sea lion caves, lighthouses, etc.) And each night we gathered to journal the day. Here are a few outtakes from my daughters:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpOmB1pV57c/TjcU2WGXN-I/AAAAAAAADA4/QSS9e3_gwts/s1600/book1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpOmB1pV57c/TjcU2WGXN-I/AAAAAAAADA4/QSS9e3_gwts/s400/book1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0cCjlJTN6iY/TjcU2-nr4fI/AAAAAAAADA8/sdkzAcIbBv8/s1600/book2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0cCjlJTN6iY/TjcU2-nr4fI/AAAAAAAADA8/sdkzAcIbBv8/s400/book2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nAnkkW3un0/TjcU3PaYXmI/AAAAAAAADBA/BrMia1chL10/s1600/book3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nAnkkW3un0/TjcU3PaYXmI/AAAAAAAADBA/BrMia1chL10/s400/book3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-48984352991263951582011-06-25T23:48:00.000-06:002011-06-25T23:48:06.306-06:00Just how big is a whale? / Summer Painting<div style="text-align: center;">I have a child who has been obsessing over marine life for about a year. And what I have learned about these obsessions is that you dive in, and obsess right along with the child. They are going to whether or not you are along for the ride, so you may as well join them in going over the top and make it fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We live around lovely older people who are fairly quiet. They don't drive in and out much. We view this as a perfect opportunity to take over the street whenever we want. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Marine life obsession <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">("Just how big is a whale mom? A bottlenose dolphin?!! A common dolphin?!!"</span>)</span> combined with our quiet neighbors has resulted in some serious street painting this summer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_n_Rr62bTA/TgbFP2j4dUI/AAAAAAAADAc/KKS3Nrf8Zwg/s1600/paint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_n_Rr62bTA/TgbFP2j4dUI/AAAAAAAADAc/KKS3Nrf8Zwg/s640/paint1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the curious, a bottlenose is around 10 to 12 feet long. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5My3cOd7I/TgbFQYB1GlI/AAAAAAAADAg/pAN-NLtN5ww/s1600/paintblottlenose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5My3cOd7I/TgbFQYB1GlI/AAAAAAAADAg/pAN-NLtN5ww/s640/paintblottlenose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DaimM14fVY/TgbFR05vadI/AAAAAAAADAs/OfnnytBrnhk/s1600/paintbottlenose2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DaimM14fVY/TgbFR05vadI/AAAAAAAADAs/OfnnytBrnhk/s640/paintbottlenose2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And a blue whale is over 100 feet. So our blue whale is over 100 feet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaZYf3kEDwY/TgbFRMZ3tYI/AAAAAAAADAk/-GvOPcfUAz8/s1600/paintblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaZYf3kEDwY/TgbFRMZ3tYI/AAAAAAAADAk/-GvOPcfUAz8/s640/paintblue.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blue Whale took us 4 hours to paint. And it's a darn shame that I couldn't get up in a helicopter to photograph him because the pictures will never do him justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vitFoMEUMcM/TgbFRk0_W5I/AAAAAAAADAo/egT6eSQE1JE/s1600/paintblue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vitFoMEUMcM/TgbFRk0_W5I/AAAAAAAADAo/egT6eSQE1JE/s640/paintblue2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And the common dolphin is around 7 - 9 feet long. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4yi8fB4ZNE/TgbFSU395nI/AAAAAAAADAw/0HnqURV-hEE/s1600/paintcommon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4yi8fB4ZNE/TgbFSU395nI/AAAAAAAADAw/0HnqURV-hEE/s640/paintcommon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The killer whale is about 35 feet long. Yes these are all life size. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2n7iuQzrWp0/TgbFS1EOZnI/AAAAAAAADA0/KaF-7Gaslec/s1600/paintorca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2n7iuQzrWp0/TgbFS1EOZnI/AAAAAAAADA0/KaF-7Gaslec/s640/paintorca.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-45530980048887172582011-04-19T23:09:00.001-06:002011-04-19T23:09:51.851-06:00Jasper Johns: 0-9 for kidsI am finding that children work in abstraction very comfortably. When we try to make things look "real" they immediately start fretting over how theirs doesn't look "real" and anxiety and tears are common. (Especially if you have the wrong art teacher). They love being freed of making it real, and love being told to only think about colors, shapes, and how they feel.<br />
<br />
My goal is to get them very comfortable in abstraction and color because I find that if you start with realism first, you can potentially have artists who think about color, shape, and relationships between those things as secondary, if they think about them at all. <br />
<br />
For my sons kindergarten class we looked at Jasper Johns' 0-9 series. JJ drew the numbers 0-9 right on top of each other, so that the final result was a bunch of shapes, and the numbers became secondary. Then he addressed the resulting shapes with color. This seemed exactly the kind of thing that kindergarteners could tackle, and feel confident. <br />
<br />
I also like that this project addresses many things that kindergarteners are learning about - writing numbers for example. Shapes, colors. It's all very curriculum appropriate.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jasper Johns, 0-9 Series </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW8EeHuEAu4/Ta5omHpHaUI/AAAAAAAADAU/2LgwWukKCkA/s1600/jasper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW8EeHuEAu4/Ta5omHpHaUI/AAAAAAAADAU/2LgwWukKCkA/s400/jasper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My son, drawing the numbers right on top of each other. (Pardon the lightness of the photograph).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWBAuf9Tyf8/Ta5oBepraZI/AAAAAAAADAM/49SL4dDGRlA/s1600/jasper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWBAuf9Tyf8/Ta5oBepraZI/AAAAAAAADAM/49SL4dDGRlA/s400/jasper1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And colored in the resulting shapes with colored pencils. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0COh5xfYm1o/Ta5oC5ngqVI/AAAAAAAADAQ/MjFNaBvwIn4/s1600/jasper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0COh5xfYm1o/Ta5oC5ngqVI/AAAAAAAADAQ/MjFNaBvwIn4/s400/jasper2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-1690734190645038452011-04-19T09:45:00.000-06:002011-04-19T09:45:49.971-06:00Just in case......you got a super weird email from me saying I'm being held at gunpoint in London....it's an email scam.<br />
<br />
I am actually working on a new project involving small wooden tiles with small copies of artworks modgepodged onto them. And eating strawberry crepes.<br />
<br />
Much less frightening. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zHZsBugK3Mw/Ta2tv8r-mKI/AAAAAAAADAI/QLYVSCwCJLk/s1600/art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zHZsBugK3Mw/Ta2tv8r-mKI/AAAAAAAADAI/QLYVSCwCJLk/s640/art.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-56415946649839225182011-04-18T14:21:00.000-06:002011-04-18T14:21:54.007-06:00Ocean CakeYou know whats awesome? Letting kids take over full creative control. Takes a huge load off my shoulders. And makes them happy. For example, this year my son had very specific instructions for his cake:<br />
<br />
Tall<br />
Circular<br />
All blue, except<br />
The top, which needed to be white. Like ice.<br />
Small hole in the top where penguins will be standing around, Swedish fish will be in the hole.<br />
Fondant dolphins and sea gummies on the side, so that the cake looks like an ocean.<br />
<br />
I think I have finally learned to let them be creative, and me be grunt labor. Although honestly they prefer to be grunt labor as well, and really only have me there as standby. I am also learning to take them very literally, and to not insert my own ideas into the process. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B42ijoRE4U8/TayayWSmGeI/AAAAAAAADAA/YYCWy2VxWhU/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B42ijoRE4U8/TayayWSmGeI/AAAAAAAADAA/YYCWy2VxWhU/s640/cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Built by kids, too. And look at my daughter, getting ready to cough on it. Awesome. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(As a side note, look, she is in prison jammies. Zipper in the back. Her efforts to change her own diaper 3 times lately in the morning has cost us over $300 dollars.)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hyOVTJmWRTo/TaycOR_XXLI/AAAAAAAADAE/tTr7YrdF7VU/s1600/cake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hyOVTJmWRTo/TaycOR_XXLI/AAAAAAAADAE/tTr7YrdF7VU/s640/cake2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-54771839477892371552011-04-08T11:22:00.002-06:002011-04-08T12:05:37.215-06:00Towel BackpackWhen you are hauling around any number of children to swimming lessons, you start to want them to carry some of their own things. Towel backpacks are super simple to make. And since towels take up the most room in the beach bag, you've just freed up some space for everything else.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcPlbgd8RDA/TZ9C5GY6qgI/AAAAAAAAC_w/wrfRhumTcd8/s1600/towel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcPlbgd8RDA/TZ9C5GY6qgI/AAAAAAAAC_w/wrfRhumTcd8/s400/towel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Pin two 15" long straps to a 13" x 13" square of terrycloth, centered on one side. Pin remaining ends on bottom corners. Pin and sew the 13" x 13" square of terrycloth onto the top corner of a beach towel. (Straps on the inside!!) Zigzag three sides to towel, leaving side with centered straps open. (This is on the short side of the towel).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtevH9QBzpI/TZ9C5iQWfoI/AAAAAAAAC_0/jwBm98rgCbw/s1600/towel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtevH9QBzpI/TZ9C5iQWfoI/AAAAAAAAC_0/jwBm98rgCbw/s400/towel3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then to pack up, just reach your hand in the pocket, and pull the bottom out. Stuff the rest of the towel in.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M0u5d4uGe3M/TZ9C6ItodpI/AAAAAAAAC_4/ByZnUR6Bh_I/s1600/towel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M0u5d4uGe3M/TZ9C6ItodpI/AAAAAAAAC_4/ByZnUR6Bh_I/s400/towel4.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>These also make great party favors if you are doing a water/swimming themed birthday party - which is what we are using ours for. I bought terrycloth and serged up the sides, assuming that would be the cheapest route.....not so. I think buying a ready-to-go towel would save time and money. Then all you would have to do is sew on the pocket and straps. Super simple. But you know me. Always finding a more expensive, time-consuming way to do things.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXyD2VYn4Jk/TZ9C6itPQqI/AAAAAAAAC_8/PBd__76LhlA/s1600/towel5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXyD2VYn4Jk/TZ9C6itPQqI/AAAAAAAAC_8/PBd__76LhlA/s400/towel5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-37705205932067413972011-03-24T23:38:00.001-06:002011-03-24T23:40:16.160-06:00Spy BagsYou know, because children have a lot of secret missions. Like "sneaking" <span style="font-size: x-small;">(heavily breathing and tripping over things) </span>up on their mom while she folds towels. Watching their two-year-old sister watch Curious George. Those kinds of things.<br />
<br />
The only thing not pictured are black gloves, and we are still on the lookout for a wig. (I actually own two wigs, but cannot find either one. One is a Cleopatra wig, the other is a wig that I wore to my Italian Class for an entire semester. Ha ha, I know, but you'd be surprised how liberating it is to walk by people you know and have them think you are just someone with gross hair).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Joy49Jhm85A/TYwpVE1Br_I/AAAAAAAAC_g/QdQddkhb16Q/s1600/spykit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Joy49Jhm85A/TYwpVE1Br_I/AAAAAAAAC_g/QdQddkhb16Q/s400/spykit1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3iUEJFWChNI/TYwpVSvNFII/AAAAAAAAC_k/I5PivfO-qyM/s1600/spykit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3iUEJFWChNI/TYwpVSvNFII/AAAAAAAAC_k/I5PivfO-qyM/s400/spykit2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vvNz1XHxovY/TYwpWFIehZI/AAAAAAAAC_o/EIz7Y7Ii6Ys/s1600/spykit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vvNz1XHxovY/TYwpWFIehZI/AAAAAAAAC_o/EIz7Y7Ii6Ys/s400/spykit3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4UfWODJm1Jw/TYwpWkO99mI/AAAAAAAAC_s/eHdkJ23y5Lc/s1600/spykit4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4UfWODJm1Jw/TYwpWkO99mI/AAAAAAAAC_s/eHdkJ23y5Lc/s400/spykit4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32074157.post-61320370341202103752011-03-21T10:12:00.001-06:002011-03-21T10:13:04.939-06:00Art Time - Cookie CuttersWe started with jar rings, tracing circles all over a paper, overlapping. Color all the intersecting shapes a different color. We also used their first initials, hearts, and other cookie cutters. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hDLCoUKiKW4/TYd33lU2QUI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/HSO8SpyXn4g/s1600/arttime2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hDLCoUKiKW4/TYd33lU2QUI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/HSO8SpyXn4g/s400/arttime2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ewIflnnkJ0A/TYd3334m6VI/AAAAAAAAC_c/042pOpndUbQ/s1600/arttime3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ewIflnnkJ0A/TYd3334m6VI/AAAAAAAAC_c/042pOpndUbQ/s400/arttime3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114440032663472306noreply@blogger.com2