Last Day of NaBloPoMo...Artsy Fartsy

I am livid.  Well, as livid as I can get which is more like a whine for most people.  Why you may ask?  Well some nut job woman at a school meeting tonight suggested doing away with music and PE to meet the budget cuts for next year.  Gratefully, this is not in the proposed budget plan...crazy woman!  In my mind I reached out and "touched" her right upside her snobby little head.  Take away the arts?  OVER MY DEAD BODY!!  We live in a very blessed school district where my kids get choices and can be anything they want to be.  My son can take guitar in middle school and website design.  My daughter can take french and drama.  We moved here for the well rounded education of our children.  And when you have 5 children, we bound to have varying interests at play.  I'm sure that we will be seeing every corner and aspect of this district the longer we stay here...no we are not moving...never!!!

This whole experience made me realize just how important the arts are to my family.  I don't think I could live without them.  I might not be an accomplished musician or painter but I dabble at quite a bit.  I think this has fostered an eagerness in my own children to explore their artistic side.  I'm forever yelling at my kids to give back my scissors (never mind that there are at least 15 pair floating around at any given moment) or ask someone for the tape dispenser.  My colored pencils spend more time in every room in my home than my on my desk.  My jewelry parts become play things.  Paper, glue, Mod Podge are staples in our house and I buy gluesticks in the 24 pack a couple of times a year in addition to the school season.  That is just the way it is.  The piano is being played daily.  Music is on almost always. We sing in the car, at church, at home, when we clean, and dancing...well that is almost a no brainer.  I have painters, and constructors, and composers in my home.  I have performing artists, material artists, and artists with the written word.  No one is left out.  In fact, the older kids are making all of the presents for their siblings this year.  We have knitted caps, puzzles, fashion accessories, jewelery, bags, go-carts, remote control boats, and I got a full floral arrangement made out of origami placed on my computer tonight.  I am one lucky lady!

Tonight, after I came home from this meeting, I noticed my daughter working on something while watching Glee.  She was making a mini nativity for her little brother.  He seems to be fascinated by baby Jesus at the moment.  And I am grateful that if she chooses, she can take a ceramics class when she gets to high school.  Because we live in a great district where they believe a child learns just as much from the arts as from history, science, english, and math.

It's Official...Christmas Has Begun

Cabbage and Beef Stew is simmering on the stove.  Cornbread is going in the oven after I finish this post.  I spent the morning in bed watching movies with my man.  The kids are busy creating things and playing rock band.  Such a lazy day (well in between I am preparing my lesson for church tomorrow).  We did get something accomplished though...we cut down our Christmas tree.  After having a fake tree for 7 years, we decided on a real one last year.  Someone gave us a real tree for free last year and we scoured our Christmas boxes and found lights.  This year, we had to search close to our home.  I didn't want to drive all the way out to Newberg/Sherwood to find a tree and I definitely wasn't going to pay 6.95 a foot at Lee's Farms (What a rip off!!) 

 So we drove through the little town of Willamette and conjured up a beautiful noble for $25.  It's a gorgeous color with a tad bit of blue to it, and it was a mere 15 minutes from our home.  My husband and Christian cut the beauty down with the help of the reciprocating saw.  Now, our family room smells like Christmas.
   



Tomorrow, while we snack on ham and left-over stuffing, we will be decorating our tree.

Soccer Phenom

I got one kid out of 5....that actually enjoys sports.  I guess that isn't quite true because my daughter enjoys gymnastics and that is a sport, but still an individual sport at this point.  Christian tried his hand at soccer, t-ball, and football.  None stuck.  He's going to try basketball this winter...but I'm not getting my hopes up.  See, my family was not into sports at all.  I never saw my father watch a game in my life (unless you count WWF wrestling which is more like violent acting).  My older brother was on the JV basketball team, but as far as familial sport talent, we got the short end of the stick.  Patrick on the other hand, was in basketball and soccer during high school.  He wasn't phenomenal, but he did make varsity.  He hit his stride when he was in the Army and played basketball.  Since then, he's been playing ball on and off with great success.

Enter Anderson.  Crawling at 6 months.  First set of stitches at 8 months.  Walking at 9 months.  Going up the stairs at 8 months.  Climbing onto the table, 9 months.  Crawling up the pantry shelves, 10 months, and running at 9 months 1 day!  Seriously, this kid is physical.  I put him in a walker from the moment he could crawl because that kid had no fear.  He didn't see an obstacle, he saw a challenge.  So it's no wonder that when he was 3, we put him in soccer.  He cried when he didn't get the ball the whole time.  We waited a year or two.  When it was time for Kindergarten soccer, he excelled.  Top scorer on the team.  He's aggressive.  He dives for the shot.  He isn't afraid of anything.  And this year, it wasn't any different.

He gets in there with his scrawny self and dominates.  He passes, he dribbles, he does a whole bunch of stuff that I don't understand at all...

That kid can kick the ball...and leave his team in the dust.  Of course having half of the spectators cheering for you doesn't hurt either does it?!  (6 people and that is just immediate family)  I can only imagine what it will be like when he plays in high school.  I'll be that crazy mom that is screaming in the stands, "Run, Anderson, Run!!"  He has this side kick thing that just blows my mind...I guess I need to figure out the rules for soccer now.   And next year...Patrick is going to coach.  His award this year....

This year, to mix it up a little...he got Best Goal Maker...same difference!

Front Yard Foilage

My Front yard this weekend...

This yellow tree that I can't figure out what it is.  We had one in Hillsboro too...anyone know?

And of course the best part of my front yard is this cute little boy that carries around his Hot Wheels, needs his mommy, and loves to give hugs.

Downtown in the Fall

Madeline had a free day from school and everyone else had to attend, so guess what we did?

Downtown Portland!!

Iconic Portland drinking fountains were running.

Gorgeous old churches with intricate stained glass line the park blocks.  

The history speaks to me.

Of course we went to Powells to check out the overwhelming amount of books for sale.  Madeline is sick to death of all the remakes made into vampire adaptions.  Doesn't she look like she needs a book to read on this park bench?

We had a great time.  Next time your in need of something free to do, wander downtown and check out Powells, the Central Library, The flying Scottsman Food Cart, and the Park blocks.  It wont disappoint.

Brighten's Obsession

My little Sad Goth ballerina...

 Brighten's current obsession is Goth...so every halloween, she goes all out.  Please don't judge her if in a few years, she decides to dress like this on a permanent basis...




Goth Ballerina in all her glory











































Such a sad Ballerina

Now That Is Dedication!

Here is my son and his long, thick hair.

Here he is after a quick trim...

 ...to a mohawk for a minute

for this reason...dedication to the authentic depiction of Aing from the Last Airbender.

I made the outfit out of old drapes from our house in Utah with no pattern.  And that is why I was showing dedication to my craft...to make something out of nothing.  And I think I did a pretty bang up job if I do say so myself....

I've climbed that Mountain...

What is the  Mount Everest of Motherhood?  

 I climb it almost every week!  Well the Mount Everest of laundry that is...

After scouring the Internet, I have finally conquered my Everest!  

#1. I have the kids bring there dirty laundry in and separate it into three bins.

#2. Whites, colors, and darks are clearly labeled and all but the youngest kid can figure it out.  These are laminated to last.  I used to have white bins but when the handles finally broke off, I began to color coordinate....

#3. See that nifty window in my Laundry, well it doubles as a mirror at night where I can practice my latest dance move while folding the laundry hot out of the dryer...how is this possible you may ask? (Yes, that valance is hung with clothespins I painted green!)

#4.  Well just above the 3 sorting bins is 8 smaller green bins that are arranged from oldest to youngest and one for socks.  Once the clothes are folded, they go straight into the corresponding bin.

#5.  When a bin gets full, said child or spouse, puts their clothes away and brings back the green bin or else I may inflict pain.

 #6. Why all this craziness?  Well my laundry room is also right off of the garage and it doubles as a mud room.  See my children's coats and helmets?  Well if I didn't organize it, I wouldn't be able to get to the freezer!

#7. Of course it also helps if you decorate it with cute little trinkets like these knobs I found pre distressed.  I don't mind laundry so much anymore, because if I don't get it done in a day, it doesn't matter.  All the clothes are neatly organized and I have finally conquered the Everest of Motherhood!

Chuggin Down The Track

Our Staycation on the Hood River Train

We sat in the "old" car with the old fashioned "air conditioning".  It's called windows!   Needless to say, most of the other passengers were wimps and stayed in the more modern car with the domed ceiling.  My kids loved having the car to themselves as you can see....

It was relaxing for some of us...

mesmorizing for others....

Just plain fun!

 Contemplative for some...

Informative for the smarty pants

Stories illustrated at every turn...

The thrill was intense...

The peace, profound...

Life comes at you fast...

The key is to keep your face in the sunshine...and all the shadows fall behind.  (Helen Keller)