Art...still fun (Day 2)

Day 2

Caleb's watercolor... 

Woodpecker Man

Thoughts from the artist..."Why, Mama? Why Woodpecker Man? Because that owl is huge; that owl is a dad so it is definitely a woodpecker man. First, I painted the orange beaks. Then I did the yellow bodies. Then I did the eye's pink. And then I painted the blue background after I put a little of the purple in the background. Then I went to wash my hands. And I did not put those black lines on there. No person did; I didn't see any person put those black lines on my picture. Yeah, they came on there by theirself. I didn't do it. Today art was fun and easy. It was more fun today and not hard. They say stay in the lines but it's okay if you get out. Tomorrow I am going to paint a 'hu-gungus' picture. Mrs. Belinda said it was going to be almost as byg as your whole body!"


Dean's painting...

Per Dean, his class did not get to finish the
rooster's eyes or paint the background. So
no one brought their picture home. However,
he had quite a lot to say about his work.

Thoughts from the artist...“I didn't do a Sharpie on the lines how Mrs. Belinda colored it. So then I painted the body yellow.  Then I did the feathers on the back after I did all of the orange.  The beak was orange; the wings were orange; and the feet were orange.  Then I did the back of the feathers. I mixed in red and was supposed to do one feather that way but I did two accidentally.  One I did pink probably; it was actually purple. Then I painted some other colors but I forgot what they were.  Then I did the bottom of the beak red and the comb red.  Then I painted the face light blue.  Art camp today was a little bit hard but it was still easy for me but not as easy as 'easy peasy lemon squeezy'.”

I don't know about you but after that description Dean gave I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow's camp so I can see his finished masterpiece.

Yeah! Art Camp This Week! (Day 1)

Dean and Caleb have art camp with Mrs. Belinda this week.  So we will have pictures of their creations each day.  (Anna Grace's week is next week and Hudson has to wait a year.)  Each day the artist will name his painting for me and I will take a picture of it.  On Thursday (the final day) I will take a picture of the artist holding his painting along with his fearless (because let's face it you have to be either fearless or crazy to hold art camps all summer for children as young as 3 and 4) teachers, Mrs. Belinda and her helper Miss Mary.

Day 1

Caleb's Painting...

Pear Patch

Thoughts from the artist..."I used a paint brush to draw and paint the pear.  Then I mixed some blue to the paint to add some extra color to the pear.  Then I painted all of the orange background.  Then Mrs. Belinda helped me make a straight line of the brown and I painted the rest of the brown.  I added some red spots to the orange to make it more colorful.  Then I painted the brown stem on my pear.  And I went to wash my hands and I was done.    The first day of art camp was fun."

Dean's Painting...

Giraffe Head

Thoughts from the artist..."I drew with a pencil and then outlined with a brown marker the whole giraffe neck and head first.  I drew 3 spots on him next.  Then I painted the giraffe's face.  I did a sharpie for his eyes and I colored in them.  And then I drew antenna - outlined them and made circles on the ends with a brown maker.  Next I painted the giraffe yellow except the spots that were already brown.  I made the giraffe's nose then finally painted the background blue.  Making Giraffe Head was easy peasy lemon squeezy and fun."

By Far The Most Terrifying Bug in the World

Anna Grace had a bug on her shoe in the car this evening as were preparing to depart Honey and Big Daddy's house after a wonderful meal.  The look on her face was horrifying; the screams were blood curdling; the thrashing in the back seat could have taken down a small bear.  Neal and I stood motionless - with the exception of me closing the van door opposite her.  Jan and Tom were frozen with concern over the situation.  We instructed her to get out of the car and stand by Big Daddy for protection while we searched for the monstrous bug (keep in mind the boys are all strapped in calmly while the beastly bug hut is underway.)  We found no bug but asked Anna Grace to describe the bug that was on her in the car.  I'm sure you will understand her need for sheer terror in the car...

It was red

Like a spider

Covered in fur

Flying in the air

With a string off its back

Wrapped around it making it straight

And was about this big (making her hand about the size of a large sand dollar)

Neal kept his composure well enough to respond, "That sounds like the worst bug in the world; no wonder you were so scared."  Dean said, "I saw it..."  Anna Grace interjected with great relief, "You did, Dean!"  Then he said, "...it was a piece of dust."

Videos...Day 5...Spring Ballet Recital

Anna Grace's ballet performance (not the full recital for those of you concerned) is our final video for now.  Parents are not allowed to video the actual performance so this was taken at the dress rehearsal.

Children of the World - Iceland

   

Videos...Day 4...Anna Grace's Spring Choir Performance

Anna Grace's performance was called "The Lost Boy."  If you look very closely you will see Anna Grace directing Neal as to where she would like the camera pointed...on her or the actors.  Amazing how she can sing on stage and direct the cameraman at the same time.

Videos...Day 3...Dean's Spring Choir Performance

Dean's choir performance...Little Love Notes.  You can't tell watching the video but he was so into the singing that we could hear him clearly about eight rows back.

Sweet Caleb quietly sang every word from his seat.  Next year he will be up there too!

Videos...Day 2

This spring Anna Grace's choir went to sing at a retirement home.

Beginning Project Video

Neal got a bunch of videos uploaded the other evening.  So for the next few days we will share one video per day.  (Maybe this event will inspire me to write Anna Grace's 7th birthday letter...5 months late.  Poor girl, it has been composed for quite some time.)

Hudson's 2nd Birthday

You Can Tell A Lot About A Man By His Truck

Yesterday I had the privilege to drive Wayne's truck back to Birmingham.  I was somewhat stuck on the coast (sorry but 4:30 am Friday morning was too early and Sunday morning was too late - I made a promise to my babies to see their game and recital).  I hopped in the truck Saturday morning excited about the adventure that lay before me.  It is not very often that I get to drive a pick-up and the Mississippi girl in me was thrilled (and let's be honest a mom of four is always eager for a few hours alone).

It wasn't too long into the trip that I began to notice that the truck and its contents described the man.  Before too long I was fascinated at how the two spoke of each other.  Then I began to wonder what my somewhat messy van speaks of me (but that is for another time).  Quickly putting that thought out of my mind I began making mental notes...

a truck ready and willing to work

a Chevy American-made, simple, nice but not over done

clean but a little dusty due to choosing to be one with nature over the air conditioner

no cruise control (that I could find at least) for the person who is steady and reserved

over 110,000 miles but still perfectly maintained thanks to attention to detail

full tank of gas always prepared 

(keep in mind it's owned by a man who thinks a 1/2 full tank is as good as empty...never know when you might find yourself out of reach from a gas station)

a measuring tape for accurate work

toothpicks, the man loves a good toothpick

one napkin obviously confident there will not be a spill

A few hours into the trip I finally decided I was ready for a little noise so I turned on the radio...

six disc cd holder because he may be simple but there is more than meets the eye

disc 1 was bear tunes (a family favorite) while made for children they are fun, catchy and there is a very informative track 13 that offers numerous bear facts

discs 2 and 3 turkey calls and a talk about being silent in the woods perfect for the man who loves to hunt and nature and a man who is of few words

disc 4 Don Williams Greatest Hits Collection for the man that is classic, country, and romantic even if he doesn't fess up to the 3rd part

disc 5 another children's disc...I laughed when I came to it because I could not help but be reminded that he is again always prepared - how many grandfather's keep a booster seat in the backseat? - and that he probably doesn't change out these discs but about twice a year.

disc 6 Amazing Grace 3...A Country Salute to Gospel pouring forth twangy voices and the steel guitar yet a beautiful testimony of a man grounded in his faith, walking daily with the Lord

By the time I was in Birmingham, I was laughing at how well Wayne's truck spoke of him and eager to tell him so.  I am still concerned about what the Odyssey says about me; if I know what is good for me I will not let him in it for fear he will happily comment all about it!  Keep in mind the title is not "You can tell a lot about a girl by her mini-van."  I don't know a mom in the world who wants to be defined by her mini-van!

ps...I am sure he will not be thrilled to be the topic of this post so I need a few of you willing to back me when he finds this post - for a man not enthralled with technology he always seems to find his way to the blog.

Dean wasn't aiming for handsome today

This morning Dean picked out his own clothes; he picked a striped golf shirt and jeans.  I thought he looked very handsome but his collar was up so I turned it down.  He took offense and informed me that he wanted it up.  I looked at him funny and asked him why.  He told me he just wanted it that way.  As odd as it seemed to me - no one I can think of other than Fonzie (and Dean doesn't know him) wears this collar up - I did not really think it was worth any further discussion.

So at lunch time he strolls into the kitchen and asks, "Mama, do I look like a vampire today?"  Unsure what the best answer should be I cautiously responded, "Um, I don't really think so (then it hit me) but is that why your collar is up today because that does look a little on the vampire side."  With a bright smile and twinkling eyes he said down to eat and said, "Yeah, that's why I am wearing it like this today."

It is hard to be a mom so on the rare occasions where I "nail it" with my children it sure feels good.