Painting The Sidewalk

 Today seemed like a good day to invite friends over and paint the sidewalk.  We did this a few times last summer and it is very satisfying.  I even splattered some paint on the driveway after the kids were done.  This would make a fantastic Jackson Pollock type activity and would be much easier to clean up after.  We used corn starch, liquid watercolor and water.  It dries on like sidewalk chalk and rinses right off the driveway.  There is nothing better than having an enormous canvas like the driveway.  The kids were running around playing and having a great time.  I just love watching my kids with their friends.

Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paint 8 oz.

First Day Vs. Last Day

First day of school vs. last day of school

Last day of preschool for the year.  Red Fish told me she is going to be so sad she might have to cry a little.  Hopefully that means she will be thrilled to go back next year!

Monkey

The air dry clay is disappearing quickly around here.  Red Fish made a monkey yesterday and I love him.

Preschool Program

 Red Fish had her little preschool music program today.  She has been singing all of the songs around our house for weeks.  I think New Fish even knew most of them by the time we got to the program.  Red Fish sang much more than she did in the December program and I think she enjoyed being on stage.  She had quite an audience with Two Fish and I, New Fish, my Mom and Mother in Law, my brother "Doo", and two great grandparents.  It's nice to have so much family support nearby.

Red Fish is a little bit of a goofball, especially with the boys but she loves all of her little friends from school this year.  It was fun to see her running around to hug and greet all of them.  I think she has really enjoyed school this year. 

Miss Lisa with Red Fish

Art Group Day 4- Jackson Pollock Day

 We had our annual Jackson Pollock project today.  When I told the kids about Jackson Pollock and asked them what they thought about some of his paintings they said the painting looked "pretty naughty!"  Hilarious.  We have a few rule followers in the group who were pretty nervous about splattering paint and playing in it and then we have some kids (like Red Fish) who can't wait to dive in and rub it all over their legs.

 Since this is my third year of doing this, I have figured out a few things.  This project is best with young kids in a group of ten or so.  Washable tempura works great.  Cloth is best for the painting.  We used an old shower curtain this year that had a texture to it.  It was great because it was a little bit thicker than the sheet we used two years ago.  Sheets also work fine.

 After the paint the kids went throught he slip and slide and sprinklers to start the cleaning off process.  There were little footprints all over the yard.  Then they laid on the sidewalk and ate popsicles.

Next week the big kids will join us and art group should get crazy!

Colorations Simply Washable Tempera Paints 16 oz. - Set of 11 Classic Colors

Summer Party

It isn't a party at our house unless there are decorations.

 We had four birthdays in my extended family (my Mom, brother, sister in law & gradnma) to celebrate plus the beginning of summer.  Red Fish just learned about Hawaii in preschool and when we went to the dollar store to pick up a lei for her to wear, we found a bunch of super cheesy luau decorations.  Red Fish thought it would be very fun to have a "Hawaii party" so we did, in a non-authentic but fun way.  She was especially excited by our Flamingo printed table cloth. 

 I decided to go with a shishkabob theme for the food.  Nearly everything was on a stick.  We grilled veggies and had fruit.  We even had bread balls on sticks.  Each stick had a dip cup.  Next time I would try and make the dip cups more colorful.  We had cookies, ice cream and cake for dessert.

 My lovely friend Cassi told me how to make some delicious shredded pork.  We will definitely be making it again. 

Red Fish's job was to hand out the leis when people came in.

Some of my pictures came out blurry.  I probably need to clean fingerprints off of my camera. 

I love family get togethers. I really do.  Getting together with either side of our family is one of my very favorite things.  My kids absolutely love it.

Racing their horses or "hussies" as New Fish calls them.

It's A Kid Thing

 There have been so many times in the last week that I have watched my kids do things that are just classic kids things.  I can hardly stand it, I think it so adorable.  Things like swinging in the backyard on their stomachs, eating popsicles or hunting for bugs in the yard.  Talking to their baby dolls, blowing bubbles or dancing their little hearts out to our stereo.  I love it.  I love watching them be little girls.  I love how innocent and sweet they are.  I love that New Fish discovered the word "wonderful" this week. Everything is wonderful. Last night she took my face in her hands, looked deep into my eyes and said: "You are a WONDERFUL Mom."  I almost cried.

Red Fish made this caterpillar in preschool but her newfound love of insects has inspired her to make several more at home.  Pipe cleaners, egg cartons and paint.

Wood Sculptures

 Sometimes my girls wake up in the morning with art projects on the brain.  They can't do anything else until they've done a project.  Today was one of those days.  We are going to do wood piece sculptures in art group later this summer so we decided to try them out ourselves.  We used
Colorations Tacky Glue and random
Box of Wood Bits - 5 lbs.  The girls absolutely loved this project.  The tacky glue held things together really well and they loved having complete freedom to build.  I can't wait to do it in art group!  Maybe we will paint these later.

Red Fish

New Fish

 
Then while I did some cleaning (because my house DESPERATELY needed it,) the girls made birthday cards with
Do-A-Dot Art Shimmer Markers - Set of 5. Sometimes I think they could create all day if I could keep them supplied with projects.

Hawaiian Day At Preschool