Art Group Day 12- Matisse Collages

Red Fish/New Fish

Today in art group we discussed Matisse's collages and also looked as some of his earlier work.  We talked about bold colors and lines and using layers to create a collage.  We also looked at David Carter's book 600 Black Dots (the coolest pop-up book ever.)  We discussed ways of adding dimension to our pieces by coiling the paper, folding it, tearing it etc.  I supplied them with glue sticks, bottles of glue, bowls of glue for dipping, foam, construction paper, foam shapes, and pom poms.  Kids always love collage projects.  I'm sad this was our last meeting of the summer but we have had  a great time!

Swimming with Bockum

Yesterday, we went up the canyon to visit my grandparents and my Aunt K and Uncle G.  The girls had a fabulous time swimming with my grandpa and aunt. 

Eight Years

Eight years with the love of my life.  Eight years with my best friend.  Eight years with this handsome, funny, smart, wonderful man.  Eight years since we were married.  Eight years into an eternity together.


Seven Years
Six Years
Five Years

Shakespeare Weekend

Last weekend I took off for a few days with the ladies from my bookclub.  We stayed in a beautiful house for the weekend and saw two plays.  We saw Richard III and Romeo and Juliet.  They were wonderful.  I've never read Richard III but I really enjoyed the play.  Richard's character was fabulous.  He was quirky and evil and still likeable.  Romeo and Juliet wasn't quite as good but I still enjoyed it.

Other than the plays we pretty much spent the whole weekend gabbing.  It was fun to discuss life, spirituality and motherhood with so many intelligent and accomplished women.  It made my brain feel a little less dusty.

CCR

My Dad and Two Fish in their rebreathers and dry suits

Two Fish finished up his closed circuit rebreather course this weekend.  He took the class from my Dad and brother on a Hammerhead CCR from Jurgensen Marine.    If someone had told me eight years ago that Two Fish would have gotten this much into scuba diving, I never would have believed them.   He has gone from hating the water to becoming a complete Dive Addict! 

 Two Fish took the girls camping up to the lake with him Friday night.  I think the girls really loved doing something special just with their Dad.There was a big group at the Lake and Two Fish met up with them.  My Mom watched them while Two Fish was diving.

My Mom and New Fish

Art Group Day 11- Jackson Pollock Day

 Today in art group we discussed Jackson Pollock who is well-known for his abstract expressionist splatter paintings.  We talked about throwing and dripping the paint and using our whole bodies to create movement.  Our product didn't turn out very Pollock -esque but the process was fantastic. It tore a little bit but it held up pretty well to all of the abuse.  I create a huge canvas out of construction paper reinforced with a duct tape web on the back. I had trays and bowls of tempera paint ready for them to use.

 My girls were, as always, right in the middle of everything.  They loved it. 

After the kids had painted themselves, we did a smaller version they could take home with them.  I had bowls of paint covered marbles that they could stick in a tray and roll over their papers.  It was pretty fun and I plan to make more of them with the girls very soon.  I didn't get a great picture of the finished product.  After we finished painting, we hosed the kids off, had a picnic and went swimming. 

I think it's pretty funny that my idea of a "wild" party has seriously changed with motherhood.  (Not that I went to many wild parties) It now includes: 20-30 small children, pb&j, a lot of non-toxic washable paint, someone throwing up in the pool, hosing down a child after a diaper malfunction, having four kids cling to my head as I swim around the pool while holding onto my swimsuit top and prying off little fingers so as not to give any small children an anatomy lesson, confiscating golf clubs, capri suns and a whole lot of screaming. It was pretty much sheer chaos! 

Friends

 Some of the neighborhood crew came over this morning and we spent the morning painting, playing red light/green light, swinging and playing in the wading pool.  Perfect summer morning. 

New Fish/Red Fish

Inked foam rollers and brushes

Summer Is Flying By

 

I've decided that the summer is flying by much too quickly again this year.  I'm trying to spend our days outside, playing with friends, running through sprinklers, painting and riding bikes.  That's the best part of being a little kid right?

During the summer, our projects don't follow a holiday theme or even a seasonal one really. Our projects stay more free and messy.  It's fabulous.  I put up a new batch of artwork all over the house today.  I try and change everything out once a month so they can display a lot of artwork and feel special.  There are dozens of watercolor paintings from the last month.  The windows, front door and fridge are COVERED!

I've had a lot of big projects for work lately so the girls have been spending a lot of time at the kitchen table with me.  They make collages and draw and "work" next to me.  It makes me happy to see them creating artwork along side me.  I feel lucky to be able to share that with them.  Plus it sure makes working a lot easier.  Notice I said easier, not easy!

Mother's Worst Nightmare

After church today I put the girls down for a nap (at about 4:30pm.)  Two Fish was reading a scuba manual upstairs and I was working on a family home evening project downstairs and making dinner.  It was a very relaxed afternoon.  About 6:20pm I went upstairs to wake the girls up and Red Fish wasn't in her room.  That isn't very unusual because it is right next to the toy room and she doesn't actually sleep everyday.  I checked the toy room and she wasn't in there.  I checked her room again and her closet and window seat.  I called to Two Fish and asked him where she was and we started looking all over the house and calling her.  We looked in closets, under furniture and we were yelling her name.

Then I went outside and asked the neighbors.  No Red Fish.  Now I was getting really scared.  I checked the backyard because the back door was unlocked and she wasn't out there.  It would have been hard for her to leave the house unnoticed because we have an alarm that beeps when a door opens but I don't always hear it.  I went down the street both directions calling to her. 

After we searched the garage and basement I was panicked.  I called the police and gave them her description.  They sent three patrol cars.  I called my parents and my brothers to get in their cars and start looking.  Maybe she was trying to walk to one of their houses?  My neighbor started calling Red Fish's friends.  Neighbor kids were knocking on doors and checking back yards.  Then my brother pulled into the driveway and saw Red Fish looking out the front window at him.  I'm pretty sure she was in the house the whole time.  She told us later she was behind a pillow wedged in the corner of the toy room asleep.  She would have had to be pretty tightly rolled up but it is definitely possible.

I have never been so scared in my whole life.  I couldn't find her for a good twenty minutes of yelling for her.  Plus I hadn't actually looked at her in two hours before that so I really thought she could be gone.  The things that ran through my head... terrifying.  Thank goodness she is safe and was never in any real danger!  I on the other hand am a total basket case tonight.  I feel ill just thinking about it.

Also good to know- if something goes down, my entire family gets here even faster than the police! ;)

Trouble

This face says: "I hear you saying "NO" but I'm going to do it anyway.

Jazz Concert

We went to a concert in the park to see Uncle "Doo's" band perform.  They are headed on tour to Nauvoo Illinois next week so they wanted to show off all of their new songs.  The girls had a great time eating dinner and dancing to the music.  It rained on us a little but it was a great concert!

Four Wheeling With Pop Pops

A quick trip up to the cabin since Two Fish is diving tomorrow.  The girls went on a twilight drive with Pop Pops and I think Red Fish is officially hooked!