My Masterpiece Art Studio

For Hannah's birthday this year I took the girls down to a local art studio to make some masterpieces. I discovered this place a few summers ago and the girls are always asking to go back. I always put them off because really we can do art at home just as easily. But there is something about being in their studio and having all their materials to work with. They can and have spent hours here. And I can't argue that it is nice to leave the mess behind for someone else to clean up.
We bought the mixed medial package and for $10 they had paper for painting, tracing, and enough clay for them to each make something.
Hannah used the light table to trace some cats.

She also used the oil pastel crayons on this piece of black paper.

Tyler wanted to paint and made this beach scene. They also have canvases that you can buy to paint on which would actually be really cool to hang their art work up somewhere. Next time.

Their favorite is really the clay. They rolled it, cut it, shaped it, molded it and...

came up with a birthday cake

and a turtle.

Here they are ready to be fired.

It takes a few weeks to get fired and ready to glaze. When they were ready we went back to glaze them.

This week they were finally ready to take home.

Ta Da! A masterpiece is born.

Toothless

I love a toothless grin. At about 6 or 7 years old when those front teeth start to fall out there is a short window before the permanent ones start to grow in when each of my kids in turn have sported this toothless smile. Hannah is there now. It doesn't last long and once it is gone you forget they ever looked like that.

Case in point: I barely recognize the girl in this picture. Is it really Tyler? She looks so different and all the more so because she is not only missing the top two teeth but one on the bottom as well. How did she even eat?

It was harder to find pictures of the boys with missing teeth. They were generally only missing one at a time and the new ones grew in so fast. Cole was only 5 in this picture.

Luke was 7.

It's a turning point. One minute they are little and toothless and the next minute the permanent teeth are in and they are suddenly older and it doesn't help that they are in first grade, and it's all day, and they are suddenly reading and writing and then tomorrow ... college!

Ok, that's getting a little carried away. Luckily I have a few more years yet.

The Last Hoorah, or Out Flying Kites

Summer is officially over and I am sad to see it end. I love summertime. I love it when everyone sleeps in until 9:00am, including me. I love not having to be anywhere much in particular. We can head out to the beach for the day if we want, go to the movies in the middle of the day, go to the museums or out to lunch. I love having help cleaning the house. This was a good summer in that the kids got along well, did not complain about being bored, and were helpful when I needed the house cleaned fast or my truck vacumed out.

I am actually dreading the first day of school. It brings back memories of the anxious, tearfull first days of my childhood. My kids are actually all excited about going back to school (except for possibly Hannah). I will be the only one with the stomach ache tomorrow.

And so here we are making the most of our last few days of freedom out on the Oregon Coast.

We mostly flew kites. This is the biggest one we have and Danford has finally learned how to use it without being dragged down the beach.

Luke learned to kiteboard.

Everyone flew a kite...

Even Hannah.

We also did a little exploring.

And so, so long to summertime...

at least until next year.

Friends with boats

Last week our neighbors took us out on their boat.

It's nice to have friends with fun toys. Cole tried his hand at driving.

Luke is pretty good on the wakeboard.

I gave it a try too.

And it seems Danford can still waterski.

The tubing was the most popular with the kids.

Tyler kept giving the thumbs up sign to go faster.

Love the look on Hannah's face here.

Two Hannah's.

A swim in the lake.

Thank you Francis Family!