In the flurry of packing for a family trip, I always have to cram in one last project. This time, the project was a swim coverup for me. From this:
To this:
To this:
I’m overall pleased with how this turned out. I do think it’s time for me to step back from the RIT dye boxes and get some REAL dyes. Fuschia wasn’t EXACTLY the color I had in mind. Ah well. Back to packing I go!
Last Sunday, the project at the art museum was based on photography. Using digital cameras, we all took photos of flowers. The photos were printed on special paper. After cutting the flowers out of the paper, they were dropped in a tub of water. The images separated from the backing and were placed on tiles to dry. After a coat of varnish we now have five unique and cool coasters.
I woke up at 8 this morning when Oli crawled into bed to snuggle. He and I went downstairs. I got some coffee, he had some breakfast. At 8:30, I sent him to wake everyone else. The rest of the family slowly descended to the kitchen. John poured juice.
DNA helped himself to some rhubarb pie (& ice cream for added calcium :)) for breakfast.
Then DNA and I zipped out the door. He’s in String Orchestra camp this week. Fortunately it’s only a few miles from home. I dropped him off.
When I got home, Mojo and Oli were watching TV. I let them watch a bit and then sent them outside to play.
The basement playroom is a disaster area so we went to pick up.
It was a bit overwhelming so we took a break and made some cookies.
When the cookies were done, it was time to pick up DNA. Then we made lunch — PBJ for the boys, leftovers for John, toast & cream cheese for Mojo and I had a bowl of cereal. Then I cleaned up the kitchen while the kids checked on Oli’s science experiment. He’s charting mold growth on playdough and is not too pleased with how gross it looks.
We all headed back to the basement. A short while later, it was looking much, much better!
As a reward, we headed out for frozen drinks. We brought one back for John who’s furiously working to finish everything before vacation.
I ran out to pick up a sewing pattern that I ordered. Oh, goodie! I found some cute fabric, too!
I quickly cut & sewed a swim cover-up for me from the fabric. Then plated the cookies & ordered take-out pizza.
We picked up the pizza and headed to Mojo’s violin teacher’s house for a recital. Pizza and salad outdoors and then beautiful music.
Afterwards we went swimming with the teacher and her children in their neighborhood pool. We stayed until dark and then headed home. When we arrived at home, our elderly neighbor popped over with a tray of cupcakes for my kids as thanks for cat sitting last week. It was finally bed time — the end to one of our usual non-stop days.
John’s niece got married last weekend. She was a gorgeous and glowing bride and the day could not have been more perfect. The ceremony and reception were held at a local park with victorian-era buildings and plantings. My boys were all dressed up for the day.
And my little girl didn’t look too shabby either.
After the ceremony, everyone got carriage rides through the park.
Dinner and dancing followed.
Someone danced so hard that he fell asleep.
And missed the spectacular exit of the newleyweds.
It was beautiful event made even more special by the adoration that the bride and groom have for each other. May every day in their new lives together start with such love and anticipation and end with the sparkle and thrill of their wedding exit.
Mojo and I spent an afternoon making jam this week. The results are 23 jars of jam.
The flavors? Strawberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry-Blueberry. The taste? Delicious!
I don’t know which was soapier — the children or the car.
Regardless, all were clean in the end.
We live in a city that the Mississippi River runs through. Due to heavy rains this spring, the Mississippi, well, she’s running wild. We took the kids downtown today to look at the river. There is normally a road between where my children are standing and the river. See the tree in the background? That’s on the river bank.
The first floor of this parking garage is almost completely underwater. My kids were cracking up at the pedestrian crossing sign (way off to the left) that is nearly submerged.
My husband had to drive us right up to the closed flood gates so we could see the water bubbling up from the manholes. This, of course, freaked me out. I could just picture myself adrift by the pedestrian crossing sign, doggy-paddling like crazy to stay afloat. 🙂
Afternoons spent swinging on the porch and eating popsicles.
Ahhhhh, summer, we want these days to last forever.
Our slip and slide has a big ole tear in it so it no longer squirts water at the kids. No matter. Just turn the hose on and away they go!
A sheet of plastic + a hose = an afternoon of fun!
They’re back!
Another reason to stay up late and run around outside. Really, what could be better in the summer?
Living my simple life 