Chris' birthday

The kids have always hand-made birthday cards for friends and family. Their effort has varied throughout the years, but I hope the recipient enjoys the thought and effort put into them. The cards crack me up sometimes. Willow usually finds something funny online to use lately and Owen's are a reflection of his sense of humor and creativity. 

Willow made this yummy thin mint brownie cheesecake using a recipe we found on Pinterest. It was so yummy that we had her make it again for our family Christmas gathering!

We went to our first VT women's basketball game of the season. The last time we went was during the NCAA tournament, so the energy was NOT the same by any means! The coach and team have changed a lot, and the students were out on break, so the energy was different but the girls came out with a solid win against Radford! Hopefully we'll make it to a few more this season. We went with Nana, Grandpa, and the Caldwells, then went back to Nana and Grandpa's for icecream cake to celebrate Hannah and Chris' birthdays. 

Art!

We've found fun ways to make art lately! 

The library had a paint pouring bookmark event. It was cool to see the colors mix. We made a TON of bookmarks, then enjoyed writing Bible verses and book quotes on the backs of them. :)

The Created to Create group at church did a rock painting event that Willow, Gramma, and I attended. We enjoyed placing the rocks in random places. Willow and I set one in the parking lot of Walmart, then it was gone when we came out! Hopefully it brings someone joy!

Owen updated the picture for his YouTube channel:

His character drawing for a project in English class!

This was a fun Wine and Painting event at the memory care facility where Gramps lives. 

I love following tutorial videos on Instagram! It makes me feel like I can do so much more than I could come up with on my own!

Gramma got blankets for the Operation Christmas Child boxes and asked Willow and I to "customize" them with puff paint. 

One of my favorite songs lately:

Morgan got me a cool sunflower water color set with tutorial for my birthday! It came with 4 pieces of cardstock so I had Willow join me. :)

Art Fun!

I have a few accounts on Instagram and lead you step-by-step in making watercolor pictures. Willow will usually join me if I ask her! Owen doesn't prefer watercolors, but remains quite an artist himself!

Our church has a "Crafty Ladies" group that we enjoy going to. This time we made pressed flower vases!

Whiskers is excited about having us home for the summer too!

Sometimes the directions say to paint with a stick...so I do!

First Day of School!

The kids enjoyed a trip with Nana and Grandpa to Massanutten and PA to see the Sight and Sound production of Moses during teacher work week. They always have a great time!!

 The day before school started we did some artwork together to ease some nerves and mixed emotions!

It's a big year with both kids starting at new schools! They both came home smiling off the bus, so we'll call that a win! 

Gramps and Gramma joined us for a "sometimes" tradition of getting giant pizza downtown on the first day of school. 

Camp Read-a-Lot is back up and ready for a new group of students! A few things were added thanks to VBS being camping themed (they let me grab whatever I wanted off the walls at the end of the week!!) and the sweet new Assistant Principal who gave me a sleeping bag!

It's too bad it doesn't just take 30 seconds to put up the tent ;)  And I can't thank Karen enough for walking in at just the right time!

And I have to say that I have the most supportive supervisor in the world! I was super stressed out at the beginning of the year with a meeting conflicting with Owen's middle school orientation, being told that I would be the testing coordinator, AND missing a 2-day training due to a wedding we were attending. I couldn't thank Joe enough for being so supportive!

Corona Art Therapy

Through school I've been able to take an hour-long mindful art class once a week. The instructor said that kids are welcome to join us, so Owen has done the lessons with me twice. I've really enjoyed it!

We've enjoyed lots of chalk art too!

The kids I work with have all received some happy mail....and I've gotten to enjoy new markers and lettering practice:

Tryin' to be like the cool IG handletterers!

In "other forms of art," we are working on a chew by number art project. There's a neat "Gum Art" book at school that mentions this project, so I ordered one kit for the group reading the book and one kit for the kids.