The painting goes on

Here are Erik’s latest paintings.  I just love the bottom one.  It’s definitely one of my favorites.

 

Digging

The warm weather has kept the kids busy outside.  Harvey said the only way I am ever getting a pool is if I did it…but it looks like I might be able to get some cheap labor to help me out:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always glad we put 12 tons of sand for them to sit by while they dig up all of the dirt.

A Door

For the first time since we moved in over six years ago…I have a door on my master bath!  I also have crown molding in the bathroom.  The first night we slept here it was so cold in our room (November) Harvey had to get up and get a heavy blanket and nail it to the door frame.  That lovely thing swayed from the cold air coming in from the hole in the roof for six years.  So back to the door, I was a little bummed when I found out that paint does not come next (since I bought the paint like four months ago.)  Next, Harvey has to figure out how he is going to do the little closet space.  I want shelves and drawers.  It’s pretty deep and also narrow.  The picture I gave him would be described as shallow and wide.  Oh well, keep that mind sharp!  He also has to build the casings for around the door.  That one is on him since he found the picture of a door that we both really liked.  He had to pick a 19th century farmhouse.  Anyway…I think you can pretty much add up that timeline.  But look at my door!

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Gramma’s.  We ate and ate and then opened lots of presents.  We always have such a great time with everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

“Dear Santa, We have been sort of good this year.  Please bring Megan Legos, Erik-Lego Star Wars and art supplies, and Ryan the same as Erik.  We love you!  Megan, Erik, and Ryan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Giants books came out this year!  The one Ryan has is about a little pitcher named Ryan.  I love when I find the perfect book.

 

Well…Megan got jammies for Christmas Eve.  I had this cute jammie-giving tradition on Christmas Eve until the boys ruined it because they hate wearing pajamas to bed.  That’s where the books came in this year.  I washed Megan’s jammies and she was going through the laundry on the couch helping me fold and I had to hastily grab and hide the bottoms.  Well…I didn’t find them until after Christmas so she got to look at the shirt and wear old ones.

Everyone went to bed rather easily.  We found out just before our party at Gramma’s that another friend was coming for Christmas morning, so Ryan and I headed to Target at 8:30 to get his stocking done.  It was great to have a helper this year.

iPhones For Everyone!

So the kids all got iPhones for Christmas.  I hate for them to feel left out.

 

 

 

 Of course ours are made out of cardboard and duct tape and will be set at 1:38 am forever…but they have been quite a hit and may have to be updated soon.

This is where I found the idea:

http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/

For the Artists in My Life…

I have so many projects I haven’t gotten to.  Today I got a great start on one.  I have to put the kids’ art in a couple of the frames and need a couple more to finish off, but I love it so far...

 

 

Thanks Gramma, Ryan, Erik, and Megan (coming soon.)  Auntie Gay I have a spot for you in the top right corner… : )

Getting Back?

 It’s been so long since I posted that it’s hard to get back at it.  Here is a shot at it:

Sorting colors

I tried to show her how to sort the shapes and she would have none of that.  By color and color ONLY.

 

 

 I saw this idea a few years ago and finally did it.  Right after Christmas I wrapped all of the Christmas stories that we had.  We received several more from a friend who was giving us some of her kids’ old things and wrapped them too.  So on Dec. 1 I already had 25 books wrapped and ready for our countdown to Christmas.  Every day one kid picks a book and another unwraps it.  They have really loved it.  There is a big variety of old and new, and easy and harder reads.