Dr. Seuss Exhibit

We had a really fun day today exploring Lansing. We went to a local gallery that had a Dr. Seuss Exhibit. It had some amazing drawings, paintings, and  sculpture. They had a traditional bronze sculpture (pictured above), but they also these great sculptures that hung on the wall called "Unorthodox Taxidermy" made with real beaks and horns. (pictured below) They were awesome. 

Homemade Charging Station

For Christmas this year, Chris and I were trying to go low budget. We did very well. I would like to take this opportunity to document what I made for his present. Its a charging station. 

Stacking File Holder + Dremel Work + Electrical Tape + Vinyl = Charging Station 

I got the idea from a Pottery Barn catalog. Here is what I wanted to get for Chris. Ummm.... $100! That is insane.  I made mine from things I already had around the house.  Take that Pottery Barn. 

Nerf Gatling Gun Christmas

We had a great Christmas. The boys got a couple presents they were hoping for and Chris and I got to rest a little. This little video shows just how much fun they were having when playing with Chris' gift from his parents. 

Since I missed my family a great deal, I made effort to create our own Michigan family out of ward members who were also far from home.  The dinner was a success, (I was a little worried. It was my first turkey) and there was great conversation, and best of all there was Monopoly and Guitar Hero after dinner. It felt just like a family Christmas for me. Thank you Deloris, the Paynes, and the Sisters for making it great. 

Great Crockpot Recipe

Today was a dinner success. That is very exciting for me because I tried something new and experimental.  Experimental because I only had half the items in a cookbook recipe that sounded good, so here is what I ended up doing:

1 lb. frozen meatballs

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 medium onion sliced

1 c. sliced carrots

1 c. sliced potato

1 c. green beans

2 tsp. sugar

2 c. vegetable juice

Layer all items in the crockpot (in the order given) starting with the meatballs. Cook on High for 2 hours and then on low for 4 more hours.  This is just what I did today because we were at a birthday party from 2-7 but I'm sure the times could be adjusted depending on your schedule. 

I think I'll call it... V8 Meatball Casserole

8 Paper Towel Rolls = MAGIC

Alex is all in to creating new things out of our recycled products. So when he gets that idea and he sees that we have 8 paper towel rolls waiting in our recycling bin... great things happen. 

If you can't tell from the picture we made a series of tracks and cups for a marble to travel.  We worked on this for an hour or so. Aaron loved it so much when it was his turn to put the marble down he would say "okay marble... ready... go" and with the same anticipation each time watch the marble complete its course and then fall into the big bowl on the floor. 

Hairstyles of the Last 4 Years: 

2008

2007

(growing out phase - yuck)

2006

2005

I am still choosing which length I like the best so any feedback would be great!

Graham Cracker Treat House

Lately we have been spending long days at home doing Christmasy stuff while the snow falls outside. The other day we made a Gingerbread House. As I was talking to Alex about the Gingerbread house, he looked at it, thought for a moment and called it a... Graham Cracker Treat house. Probably because he saw no Gingerbread. He is Mr. Attention to Detail

This was today...

This was a couple of days ago...

We get a lot of snow here. With snow comes a lot of difficult things (ice, overcast sky, salt on every surface, chapped lips, scraping windows, I could probably go on and on) But it also yields snowmen, snow angels, and no matter how hard I try the kids will always make homemade snow cones. 

We love it here in Michigan. Especially when the sun breaks through and we get bright blue skies over a heavenly blanket of snow. Today was a was one of those days. And thank goodness! 

The words "Well Done"

"A little encouragement goes a long way."

Just finished watching Super Nanny after a particularly exhausting day. (I'm not sure why I would watch a show about children with behavior problems 5 minutes after getting my kids into bed)  This episode was the most extreme poor behavior I have ever seen. What I loved to see was how praise had an immediate affect on the children. 

So tomorrow I am going to structure the day so I have opportunities to encourage the boys. I realize that there are many ways I can busy myself during the day and give no encouraging words. I can't exactly encourage them while they are watching TV or if they are playing alone. 

I am just going to brainstorm a bit. Activities where I have opportunity to encourage:

• Doing a project at the table
• Cleaning (they love washing windows, vacuuming, washing floors)
• Cooking
• Puzzles and games
• Kids doing play-dough in the kitchen while I work
• Teach Aaron to dress himself
• Working on letters and numbers
• Get out the beginner reading material with Alex

These activities also can be the most frustrating, messy, requiring the most work. But if my Heavenly Father was peering through my window, I know he would love to see me using my agency to teach my children (and His) how to use their agency righteously. As I say "well done" to my children, He says "well done" to me.

 

Simplicity

This has been an interesting week. The boys (and I) have been sick since Sunday and we have barely left the house. Alex gets cabin fever quickly and today we had a conversation like this:

"Okay boys get your shoes on, we are going to Dad's work" 

Alex started bouncing around with joy. 

"What are we going to do there? 

"We're just going to drop something off, we won't even go inside. Sorry. Do you still want to go?"

"Yes, I'm excited." (with a huge smile on his face)

Sad thing was, he fell asleep after a minute of driving and when we got home he was miserable because he missed our only outing of the week. 

Anyway, the homebound life has given me some much needed perspective. 

1. The boys are so happy. From this I have learned that my attention is the most valuable thing to them and the most available resource I have.  
2. Less is more. Each day this week I have taken on only two "to do" items - and actually accomplished them. Feels much better than wanting to do 10 things and accomplishing nothing.
3. Use what I have. 

Wrapping Christmas presents tonight was a perfect example of this. I looked at my seemingly endless roll of Christmas wrapping paper only to find about 6 inches left. Next to it was my roll of kids art paper. Hmm. This is paper - it can wrap stuff.  I think I'll use it. Then I go to my ribbon box - the only thing is white ribbon. Hmm. I bought this because I thought white went with all colors of paper. But does it go with white paper? Why not. So as a result I wrapped my family's presents with the white on white look (hopefully not too weddingish)  

As I wrapped I thought of all the colors associated with Christmas.  In the US, the month of December is not lacking in colors, frills, bows, lights and accessories.  When Christ was born he  was wrapped in swaddling clothes  because thats all they had - and it was beautiful. 

Albert Camus said "in the depth of winter [we find] within [us] an invincible summer." I am finding that this week. 

So many firsts

I did my first oil painting. I am really amazed and embarrassed that I've done art my whole life and never picked up oils. I always thought they were reserved for "masters" who only did a certain style.  It was so fun to play with medium that was forgiving! It will probably be a long time before I go back to acrylics or watercolor. (for now) 

Please, as a favor to me, don't look at the gourd.  (It is hideous and I just wanted the painting to be done so I skimmed over it. )

Welcome to my life

I decided to start writing a blog. Mostly because I am way out here in the boonies of Michigan and I love reading and catching up with my long lost family and friends who have blogs.

Lately, I have had this insane desire to connect with old friends, (I mostly blame facebook) develop my artsy side, not eat all my son's halloween candy, and be more grateful for everything. I think that blogging will help me accomplish these things. I am always more grateful for my life when I put in on paper (or screen) sit back and look at it and think... oh its been way worse. 

I chose the title "house of bricks" because I love classic tales like The Three Little Pigs and how stories like that can be sentimental while they are symbolic to life. Plus, I actually live in a house of bricks.  

So as for the artsy side, here are a couple of the projects I've been working on lately:

• The 4' by 4' charcoal on linen piece pictured above entitled "Freedom"

A book I illustrated as a gift for my Mom. The text for the book was taken from a journal entry I wrote in the summer of 1990.

• Just Mom and Me 
• Just Dad and Me