FIRST IMPRESSION OF TURKEY HANDS...

i can still remember learning to trace my own hand when i was in kindergarten and doing so over and and over again on reams of old printer paper (the old school kind with the holes all the way down both sides of each page that were used to feed it along the printer).

this year adelaide has become quite skilled in this artistic ability herself. at the beginning of november she and i helped each family member make a turkey hand and decorate it. we punched holes in our turkeys as well as leaves we found outside and strung them together in a garland. 

as the month went on the same garland that once made me smile began to pull at my heartstrings a bit. as it was fading and bending, it began reminding me that the hands it represented wouldn't stay the same forever either. therefore a more lasting thanksgiving decoration inspiration came to be.

on a long, blank canvas (that has been in the top of my closet for quite sometime just waiting for turkey hands i guess) graham used acrylic craft paint to make the tan background (i love seeing his brushstrokes when i look closely).

next, using more acrylic paint i painted the hands of each family member brown and the feather colors of their choice (some were easier than others). then i added eyes, beaks, waddles, and feet.

after it had throughly dried adelaide copied the verse we chose on the canvas using a sharpie marker (i love her handwriting being captured just as much as the size of these hands).

"We will celebrate your abundant goodness,

and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

Psalm 145:7

SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS...

in 1985 (the year i started kindergarten) a pioneer school was beginning in florida that would have students learn in a traditional classroom setting part of the week and at home the other days. my family had no idea this was going on but i find it neat that the same year i began school in oregon, on the other side of the country this concept of collaborative-style schooling was beginning.

in 2009 (the year adelaide was born) a school with the same model of learning as that first school in florida was beginning in houston. five years ago i still didn't even know these types of schools existed. but it makes me smile that the same year i was figuring newborn days in austin, the school adelaide would eventually attend was starting.

for the past several years we would get questions as to where our kids would go to school. we didn't have a clear answer which seemed out-of-character for the planners we usually are. but i now know it took time for my heart and mind to be prepared to do something different than i could  even envision.

(students learning pencil grip, pincer grasp, shapes, and reading)

it's quite humbling (and comical) to watch the list grow of things we have checked into just to rule out, and how they end up being exactly what we are now doing. school is one of those.

and so adelaide goes to school two days a week and has home assignments two days a week. we got the bonus of seeing how this collaborative-style school worked for our family when she was in pre-k there and loved it more than i imagined.

her classroom teacher assigns the lessons i teach her for her home days, while graham and mae do some play lessons of their own. we are still figuring day-by-day how to adjust and make this work best for all, but i love watching these kids learn and getting to teach them too.

(a glimpse into our september school at home days)

for our family this really has been such a neat way of schooling and i am thankful for all those that paved the way for this type of education long before i even knew it existed.

ready- CANVAS, set- TAPE, go- PAINT!

get ready for some...

INEXPENSIVE, EASY, FUN (KID OR ADULT FRIENDLY) ART.

SUPPLIES:

canvas

painter's tape

acrylic paints

paint brushes

(wax paper- optional)

 DIRECTIONS:

1) tape off different sections with the painter's tape.

*press down the tape firmly so paint doesn't bleed under it.

*i recommend large sections for kids under five, or letting them paint in several settings.

each of ours had 16 sections and they enjoyed painting until the last few and then were ready to be done.
2) set out one color of paint at a time until all sections have been painted.

*for younger kids, try taping down wax paper on nearby sections so only one section is painted at a time.

3) let dry completely.
4) peel off painter's tape.

5) hang the artists' work proudly, admiring the brush strokes and color choices.

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep."

-Scott Adams

SHE'S MADELINE, SHE'S MADELINE...

recently adelaide's class read madeline by ludwig bemelman.

they made adorable yellow hats

(painted an upside down paper bowl yellow then added a black ribbon)

and she proudly came running out of school wearing it one afternoon.

later she let her eager brother take a turn with her newest costume.

i can't stop laughing at his resemblance to fozzie bear while wearing it.

A PHOTO A DAY (JULY EDITION PART TWO)...

DAY 16:  SIGN

gotta love the $1 throwback movies at studio movie grille

the kids and i thoroughly enjoyed today's feature with witt, mel, chic, and jim

DAY 17:  YOUR ADDICTION

looking at kids' catalogs and trying to wait patiently for sales

DAY 18:  PLATE

birthday brownies on our PLATEs to celebrate

the beautiful 81-year-old great grandmama

DAY 19:  ANIMAL/PET

walking the dog (and the baby)

DAY 20:  EYES

close your EYES little buddy

DAY 21:  9 O'CLOCK

the middle of our triple date night was at 9 O'CLOCK

(dinner at coppa, erick's art show, then coffee at antidote)

  DAY 22:  UPSIDE DOWN

1) freeze trinkets in water in muffin tin

2) turn UPSIDE-DOWN and shake into swimming pool or bathtub

3) instant fun

DAY 23:  MIRROR

hot air balloons with a MIRROR image on the puzzle

that is spread out on our coffee table

DAY 24:  A STRANGER

baby knox won't be a STRANGER much longer, 

i loved celebrating tiffani's boy

DAY 25:  HEART

i HEART summer, swimming, goggles, this kid

and the way this shirt accentuates his physique

DAY 26: SUNSHINE

thanks to the SUNSHINE's fading skills and pinterest,

we now have placemats for matching magnets

DAY 27:  ON THE ROAD

driving wheelies cars and thomas trains ON THE ROADs

DAY 28: CUP

girls day- painting pottery CUPs then eating CUPs of ice cream

DAY 29:  LAST THING YOU BOUGHT

orange (pre)school shoes for my orange-loving guy

DAY 30:  CALM

CALM (and mostly relaxing)

puzzle-ing with evan from 9pm to 1am every night last week

DAY 31:  TOOTHBRUSH

one of my favorite pictures from swim camp:

the kids pretending to be fish brushing their teeth

while they sang one of my favorite kids songs by laurie berkner 

THANK YOU FAT MUM SLIM

for another fun month of photo challenge visit fatmumslim.com.au

AT THE DRIVE-IN...

each evening of swim camp we did a fun activity.

the last night's activity was everyone's favorite.

teacher grammy sherri created the most memorable event-

A NIGHT AT THE DRIVE-IN.

she had seen a few ideas for creating a drive-in theater with kids,

so she saved old cardboard boxes to create their own cars.

the kids spent the afternoon giving their cars custom paint jobs.

we helped a little with paper plate steering wheels,

foil headlights and antennas, and personalized license plates.

the cars stayed outside while the paint jobs dried.
we all tried to wait patiently for the sun to go down so the main feature could begin. finally around 9pm
the drivers climbed inside and started their engines.
they completed a few race laps around the tree. 

next stop, all filled up at the water hose gas station.

movie tickets (glow bracelets) were given to each driver,

and they drove off to cross the street

to my grandparents backyard where the show would be.

after discovering the sprinklers were on in the front yard

there was an impromptu trip through the car wash.

when we arrived at the drive-in they checked our tickets
and concession stand funds were given to each kid.

our cousin carson and aunt cami served up each request at the concession stand window,
the steering wheels made perfect trays
for the candies and snacks each driver chose.

tom and jerry cartoons and the flipper movie were featured
using a projector on the side of my grandparents' white shed.

the kids and adults equally loved this night.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MEMORABLE SCENE.

(linked to MADE BY YOU MONDAY at www.skiptomylou.org)

PINTEREST MADE ME DO IT...

most people i know have gone through the same
five stages of pinterest as i did:

1) refusal.

2) visit "just to browse" then

end up creating an account upon first visit. 

(http://pinterest.com/annaleeper/)

3) spend countless hours browsing through the

never-ending abyss of creativity and

repinning almost all of it.

4) slow down on pinning and realize you will

never make everything (or anything) you pinned.

5) start to actually make some things

and find you love almost all of it. 

                                                    (source)

it is easy to think of all this as a waste of time,
but thanks to pinterest:

our cupcake liners now have a home.

i have a new favorite soup.

and a new favorite dessert.

graham and i made valentines that made his heart saur.

adelaide puts her shoes on the correct feet.

i can easily find my phone charger.

and this weekend i enjoyed the best pinteresty idea of all...

a pinterest potluck.

my smart friends lindsey and katie came up with the idea to host

a way to sample many of the recipes that we have all been eyeing.

feast your eyes on some of the yumminess:

each of the guests made a recipe (or two) we found on pinterest,

then we tasted as much as our stomachs could hold.

i made brownie batter dip (and pizza puffs not pictured).

and of course i took mental notes on which recipes

to add to my pinboards and our dinner rotation immediately!

BRIGHT COLORED PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRING...

looking for a fun CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA for kids?

well, here you go!

my sweet friend leah

gave adelaide a homemade memory game

for her birthday last year.

she stamped adorable faces on each piece and we had lots of fun imagining who in our family each one should represent.

adelaide loves to play it and so does

her cousin carson when she comes over.

so we made carson her own memory game

for her birthday last month.

i didn't have the cute stamps leah used,

so we adapted it and used photos instead.

the kids love both!

SUPPLIES:

wooden circle discs (from any craft store)

craft paint

identical stickers

2 copies of each photo

modge podge

paintbrush

container to store the game

DIRECTIONS:

1) paint one side of the discs.*

make sure they look the same from the top.

2) add a small identical sticker to each.*

(we used tiny yellow hearts, i just forgot to take a picture).

2) cut each photo into a circle that will fit properly.
3) glue one photo on the back of each disc.*

4) paint a thin layer of modge podge on the back sides.

5) let dry completely, then paint the other side.

6) let that side dry completely too.

7) put all the pieces in a container

and wrap up to give to one lucky recipient!*

(*steps that adelaide was able to help do)

(more creative ideas found at "made for you monday" at www.skiptomylou.org)