Family Canvas Project

One of recent art projects was a family collaborative canvas.  We started by adding a layer of neon and bright colors to our large canvas.  Using assorted brushes we have.  I tried not to dictate how my kids applied their paint. Theas application was more wispy and Jones and I more solid shapes.  We then let it dry. 

I was not into that big circle I added. 

Our next step was adding tissue papers and painted deli paper with glue. This step really changed the look of our canvas and gave it some texture. Also goodbye green circle. 

After that we added another layer of paint this time with stencils and bubble wrap.  We applied the stencil paint with old credit cards and cardboard scraps my kids like this technique we’ve used it in our art journal before.  This layer added more depth.  

Before the next step I considered adding spray paint but that seemed like a bad idea since I only had gold and pink on hand.  So instead we did some just random drawing on it with paint markers.  I have some extra big Pocsa markers and these were the preferred marker of choice because they showed up the best.  But I also like the thinner tip look added in.

After we finished adding marker We decided it was done.  Originally I had intended on adding some splatter paint too but that seemed like much.  So I stead we signed our names.  I then added color to the sides of the canvas since I didn’t have the right size frame and hung it.  It’s truly one of my most favorite things now.  I love seeing it as I come up the stairs.  It’s so fun.

I love how it looks from the side especially.  I drew stripes on some of the edges.  

Note:  our project was adapted from the instructions from Family canvas Challenge by the art pantry https://www.theartpantry.com/

Pool People Summer

I think we are having “pool people summer” here in Ohio.  It is probably not different than normal summer (excluding 2020 when the pool had weird rules and no passes).  But as usual we are loving our pool days and nights.  The laundry room usually smells of chlorine and my kids usually have sunscreen half smeared on their necks and legs.  My kids now seem to have tanned glow and I am am slightly more pink

It’s been raining for like a week straight and this is driving me crazy because we haven’t been to the pool because of that.  Hopefully sunny days will return and we can resume our pool evenings and afternoons.  

Thea attempted her swim test but failed the floating part the girl does not float she sinks or flails around like a crazy child.  But jones passed his last year and delights in jumping off the diving boards with his friends.

It’s also very popular to play ping pong and four square at the pool this summer and when my kids aren’t begging for snack shoppe money they play these games with their friends. 

15 - Barn Door

My bathroom previously had two doors that bumped into each other and took up so much space in the bathroom.  I took one off immediately upon moving the other one was the door to the room, so i left it but it was nonstop annoyance.  I knew immediately i needed to replace it with a barn door.  So I bought a door and scheduled a contractor.  Well 4 months later the contractor hadn’t gotten around to this project.  So this past weekend m.  My best friend and I tackled it.  I thought it would take 90 minutes - ha!  

Upon opening the box I realized it wasn’t going to be fast.  The door had been scratched in transit and need to be painted and I needed a spade bit.   So off to Lowe’s we went.  

After two coats of gold spray paint I decided that it was the worst, so I switched to this random green we had in the garage.  And I rather like it now that it’s up, more than I would the gold. 

Well 5 hours, three coats of green paint, several missteps with hanging the rails, and only one anchor lost in the wall.  It’s up and I love it.  My bathroom seems so much bigger and better.  

It’s relatively an inexpensive project.  

Now to decide what art to hang on the wall next to. 

Happy Birthday Jonesy!

Someone celebrated his birthday the other day.  

Holy cow how did I get here i have a kid going into second grade, who reads and writes and does math.  

He’s fun loving, quick witted, smart, enthusiastic, handsome, happy, and genuine.  He is quick to forget where he put his shoes but will remember everything I say “maybe” to.  This year has been a rough one for my outgoing extrovert but somehow we survived and thrived.  So glad i get to be your mom even if I need a vacation.  

Looking forward to another year of you.  

We celebrated with a Minecraft party with friends and I took like 5 photos all weren’t really great photography skills.  But survived the party.

Preschool Graduate

This little one graduated from preschool last month.  And she’s heading to kindergarten in the fall.  How did that even happen? 

This has been one crazy year + and yet here we are ready for elementary school.  She writes most letters, and is sounding out words and counting and her fine motor kids are on point.  She’s fast to make friends.  Can’t wait for this next step but first summer camps. 

 

Also other big milestone - preschool and summer camps are all paid for no more daycare costs for mommy.  

1 - family vacation

Last week we went on family vacation in Florida it was our 2020 trip in 2021.  It was much fun with the kids together and being at the beach and having a pool for a week.  

We relished in each other’s company.  

We invented 100 pool games and built many sand castles that were crushed before completion. 

We let the water crash into us.

We floated on top.

We took boats into the bay.

We ate ice cream everyday.

We swam with manatees.

Scooped up sand dollars.

Located starfish.

Collected shells big and small.

There was a synchronized swimming performance and the most ridiculous game of duck duck goose.

We saw the sunsets.

The boys all went fishing.

At the end of the trip we hit up Legoland.  

We ate big family meals.

We sat in Orlando traffic.

There were 100 loads of towels and equally as many reapplications of sunscreen.

We drank TONS of water.

We played hard and slept good. 

Can’t wait to do it all again.  

Tuesday 10 - Just for Fun

1. These kids.  Photo from yesterday after school when jones cut an entire bag of lemons to make lemonade.  He almost forgot to add simple syrup.

2. My new red tom’s they have the thicker sole I dig them. 

3. Creative spelling

4. Rainbow organized closets - mine would be all black and Gray almost.

5. Second Vax done.

6. Everything about this!  Oh girl you are awesome.

7.  His freckles.

8. New needle art project almost done.

9.  My new bike ordered in Feb finally shipped.

10. Mom crowns.  

May update

Here it is May.  Spring is full on here it’s either rainy or warm or crisp and cool.  The blooms and tulips have came and went.  The kids and I weeded and hauled almost 40 bags of mulch and about half that in soil as well we planted Ohio wildflowers, zuchini, squash, lettuce, watermelon, corn.

The spring ice show happened my kids loved it.  They are skating so much better and it was fun to see them make friends with the other kids.  Soccer started although only jones is playing Thea herself is busy making a sisters club on the sideline.  School is also wrapping up for the year and this year I procrastinated summer camps so we have limited options but most weeks we have plans.  

And life in a pandemic seems to be getting much more routine like.  All the adults in our house have vaccines and most of our friends parents too.   We take masks everywhere.  I also have Lysol wipes and sanitizer.  We still try and do outside activities when possible.  This seems normalized.

Oh and Uncle JJ came to visit (Kathleen too). That was a fun surprise and we did small adventures and had a really good weekend with him. It was so fun to have house guests in our new larger house. 

I have been working slowly on some quilting projects, a new spring art project, and my hexies are move along slowly too.  

We are looking forward to our family vacation in June and finishing out the school year.