Sunday Drawings/Flannel Board Fever

It's the year of the flannel board.  Between Pete's Christmas gift (a flannel board with nativity pieces) and Cass' piece in the 9th International Art Competition, I have flannel board fever.  So, General Conference had me drawing our first flannel board story.  We just finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family (whoop whoop) and are about to start again, so we are telling the story of Moroni, then leading into the first vision.

  

Process: I took a big piece of flannel, fused it (wonder under) with a pice of muslin, gessoed, drew with pencil, colored with colored pencils, cut out the pieces, and it's story time.  Next time I should let the kids help... 

I'm thinking of starting a flannel story exchange.  Any takers?  

Spring Break is over.  I sent my sweet babies back to school after 17 days of togetherness.  It was hard to let them go, but we had lots of fun while they were home.  Here is what we have to show for it. 

This used to be a CD shelf in Gavin's office. I spray painted it turquoise.  Then, together, we drew and painted on the back panel.  Now it resides in the studio and holds art supplies, of course!  

We also mod podged these little clip boards for the car.  One must not be too far from drawing supplies at any given moment.

Found my Camera... few.

Sunday Drawing

Courage.

4

My baby turned four!

H.B. Ezra Petunia.

Country Road

Did a ten mile run this morning.  Threw some John Denver on my ipod before I left and it shuffled into place (right between Jack's Mannequin and Relient K) with the sunshine literally on my shoulders.  I had a moment, luckily I had phone with me to capture it.

Sewing

My girls went back to school today.  I'm oh so ready to get to work, but I miss them!  On Saturday my sweet delia and I made a pillowcase with her sewing kit that she got for Christmas.  I need her to learn how to sew so she can teach me.  She loves it, I think good things will come out of this.

Spring Break

Oh Disneyland.  We had a wonderful vacation, and all our disney dreams came true.  Including wearing badges on our Birthday so we got tons of birthday wishes.  As we reviewed our maps on the last night, we were down to three rides we had not done.  That's right, we did everything else. Turns out five days allows you to be pretty thorough between the two parks!  (Says the exhausted, but satisfied mother.)  Anyway, Honey I Shrunk the Whatever was one of the rides we had left and we were debating whether it was worth hitting before we headed out.  Just as gavin repeated his sentiments that they should bring Captain EO back, considering recent events, we discovered they had!!  And it was every bit as thrilling as it was in 1986.  M.J. in his prime, remember when he was good looking?  I had a hard time staying in my seat, I wanted to bust out my fire girls 550 south moves.

My mom came down and did a couple days with us which was fun.  We took an afternoon to go the beach with my mom and some good friends.  Felt good for my soul.  I so wish I lived near the ocean!

We brought a project for our down time: fun with calligraphy pens and colored inks.  We didn't get too far (I couldn't stop reading cook books, I'm a little addicted as of late) but we had fun experimenting and are definitely on to something.  

Remembering the Great Things of God

This painting is for the Museum of Church History and Art's International Art Competition. The theme for the exhibit is "Remembering the Great Things of God."

I remember the day my mom left, Gavin went to work, and I was left alone with my two year old little girl and my two week old baby.  As I ventured downstairs to make lunch for the first time as a mother of two, I was thinking wild thoughts about the craziness babies bring.  I was thinking, "Who in their right minds would choose to have a baby.  Considering the money and time they require.  Considering all the lost opportunities, adventures not taken, ambitions set aside as the world practically stops turning."  I thought the idea must come from on high, divine intervention to override the insanity of voluntarily asking for all this.  

At about this point, I set a sandwich in front of my darling daughter and she looked at me up through her thick long lashes with her big blue eyes.  She didn't say or do anything, just looked at me for a second.  It hit me so hard, it took my breath away and brought instant tears to my eyes.  It was as if the windows of heaven opened through her eyes and poured out its love and light on me.  All I could choke out was, "Oh.  OK."  My question was answered and I understood completely.  

Children are a precious gift.  It is an honor and our privilege to be their custodian for a time.  I want to remember this every day.  I want to feel this every time they look at me.  I want to give them so much love and treat them with the kindness that they deserve as children of our Heavenly Father.  

To serve our children is one of the greatest gifts God has given us.  I hope I captured that remembrance in this painting that I  am calling Windows of Heaven.

Naked

If you ever wanted to know what I look like naked, today I reveal all.  Cloe (4 years old) drew this picture of me with my towel, taking a shower.  Kids are so funny.