summer

Summer is in full force here. The weather is beautiful, the kids have been out of school for a few weeks now.      It's taken a little adjusting this year, to the new schedules and having to continue with speech & school for {L}, but I think we are getting there. I keep trying to remind myself, when the kids are all in my ear, bored, hungry or arguing--that this is hard for them too. Let's face it change is hard no matter how small or insignificant seeming. I should know, I am the queen of anxiety, over unstructured, change.

While each day hasn't been filled with rainbows and unicorns {yet-fingers crossed for that day}, we are enjoying each others company and getting back to the relaxing, feeling of release that summer brings. I hope another week or so and the older children will get back in the hang of being home all the time {ohh, how I miss homeschooling, right about now. There would have been no shift} This summer I am trying to let go a bit and give these two quickly growing up, children, a little more freedom and independence. I am working on speech and letters with the younger two over the next few months, waiting to see if {L} will be ready to enter school when he should. {It's the unknown and waiting that gets me}

Lots & lots of reading has been happening in our home for everyone. We removed the tv from our living room a few months back, and I couldn't be happier about the process. The first week was rough for everyone. Lots of whining, grumpy, children and I thought I might go mad from the complaints. Right when I thought this would never work, what was I thinking making life harder for myself, a change fluttered through the house. The kids were finding toys long forgotten. Reading way more than before {and they were big readers to begin with}, spending more time exploring in the yard and just plain relaxing. Rach day, they were missing that old tv, less & less. I think the shift helped Little {L} the most of all. I am a happy mama with our choice. Our home is not totally tv free, and Friday movie night has now taken on a while new meaning for the kids.

So as summer filters into our lives day by day this month, we will be enjoying the sun, working on a few relationships in the house, and trying to make everyday count to it's fullest.

Finally

We finally have a finger painter! As an artist myself [did you guys know I majored in fine art-painting in college?], I think it's really important to give kids a chance to be creative and get dirty doing it, if they want!

I always found it funny that my oldest two kids wouldn't even think of putting paint on their hands! We used to joke that Mr. {D} might actually have a problem with the amount of times he washed his hands in a day, and freaked out if they were dirty. As a baby/toddler he actually preferred me to feed him with a spoon rather than grab at his food..yep, cause his hands got dirty!

Miss {M} was the opposite. She would rub pudding on her face like she was getting a spa treatment, felt pasta & sauce was a great hair condition and her veggies looked nice on the ceiling! I really expected her to be the messy painter, but paint was the one thing she didn't like on her hands, face or head. She would meticulously paint in little strokes with several brushes.

The other day while the kids were painting I realized Little {L} had paint on his hands! He started with a paint brush and about half way through a piece, decided to use his hands. When I said, "let me see your hands", he had the "great now, I'm in trouble look". He's one of those kids that gets into everything and Mama is always following around saying, "Ohhhh, not that L!". It was awesome to see his face light up when I said, "Good Job! Make some more!"

In the Sea

For school last week, the kids learned about some small sea creatures. We took a field trip to the pet store to look at fish and the HUGE aquarium at the Columbus Zoo, read lots of books and colored, painted, sketched, and glued. The kids made these paper aquariums housing the animals we learned about. It was really fun to study and the kids were able to chose which creatures they wanted to learn more about. The only mama pick was the seahorses. Honestly how can anyone not love them? Mr. {D} chose the Sea Anemone as the first to study.

We made a trip to Ikea the other day, and among other things [many other things], {D} got a new duvet cover for his bed. I had picked it out at our last trip, thinking it would be perfect for him & the boys room. He approved and said he like it because..."it looks like millions of tiny sea anemone".

Corners of Our Home

A few of our favorite things.
::The kids have their very own special artwork. The skeleton pieces above were purchased by {D} with his own money. He wanted the one on the right because he said it was a family portrait-lol ::The snow white music box belonged to my grandmother :: Books

::Artwork pulled from an old book. It had beautiful images and a torn cover. Inexpensive and repurposed. ::One of my childhood dolls, much loved by my children. :: The boys mantle. Hand painted dolls of our family with friends. Also {D}'s painting from mama :: A rare sight at our house. Things actually hung where they belong

Friday Feature!

Today's Feature Friday highlights some cool artists I have recently met. While collecting promo's for the Westerville Show, I've had the chance to chat with the lovely women from Stymiepie Studios and Happy Cloud Moments. Enjoy!

This Lucite Calla Lilly hair comb would have been THE perfect touch for my wedding. Calla Lillies were our flowers. Happy Cloud Moments $18.00

Happy Cloud Moments have some beautiful glass jewelry that any fairy would covet. I love the use of color and sparkle in this piece: Princess Mori Necklace

Hand painted, personalized wipes case. We "need" them, so why not have a really pretty one!! $12.00

My kids are so into fairies right now. You can find them searching our yard for fairies or clues that they were here. This beautiful print is from Stymiepie Studios. You can find a great selection of art prints and personalized banks, pictures and frames. Check her out!

Have a great weekend everyone! Anyone have any fun plans?

{ Featured Artist: Katie m. Berggren}

I came across one of Katie Berggren's pieces while looking through some Etsy favorites. [yes, I LOVE browsing what other people favorite!]

I was immediately drawn in by the bold use of texture, color and the feeling of movement in her work. I looked through every page in her shop!

With each piece, the artist gives incite to the meaning, inspiration, or story behind the work. I was really drawn in by the information in each listing. The feeling of intimacy and love really shines in her work. As a mother, I was quickly drawn in by the warmth and caring that the work exudes.

The shop offers both prints and originals at an extremely affordable price! Any of her pieces would make wonderful Mother's Day gifts for either your mother, or the mother of your children.

Go buy some: Katie m. Berggren art & design

{ Art }

What have we been up to lately?

February is right around the time, I've had enough of winter! The kids are bored, I am bored, the dogs don't want to go outside in the cold any longer....or worse, they come back in covered in mud.

To keep the children happy & entertained, we worked on some Valentines Day art the other day. I love how you can give 2 children the exact same supplies and paper and they will create completely unique pieces from those supplies.
{d} was covering his hearts in the paint to "hide" them. After this he did a cool splatter effect across the entire page.

Little Miss {m} was happy drawing faces on all her "girl" hearts. They were happy and decorated in bows.

{L} did not get to participate in the painting today. He was NOT thrilled about it. After a few crackers, he no longer wanted to sit in the high chair and opted for throwing all his toys across the room. {d} thought it was fun, so kept bringing him more toys to toss.