Our book stack this week

This week the two youngest have been sick, both
coming down with fevers. The youngest is pouring over
Superman grapic comics (for kids!). We first found these in Indy and they are great! They have all his favorites, Justice League, Superman, Avatar...
he's a happy boy, fever and all. He and I are also reading the first HP book. He can nearly recite the movie, so has been shocked and awed
to discover so much of the book was left out!

His sister (fever partner) has been reading every
Buttons family book she can get her hands on.
They are great little early readers that both girls have
really enjoyed. I've caught her after 10 some nights
with a flashlight still reading. Makes a momma proud! Her favorite author is Beatrix Potter, and some of her favorite books are Babar books.
Neither of those are very easy for beginning readers
though she has poured over ever single one that she
gets her hands on.

The oldest is reading book five of Harry Potter
in hopes of being finished in the next 12
days so that she can join her grandmother, father and I
for opening night. I am among many parents who are
thankful to Jo for creating this captivating character.
I do not point to these books as the break through for my dd.
The reading break through for her was actually books on
babysitting and child care. BUT these books and E. Nesbit's many books
did fuel her desire to read. And I'm thankful for that.

My husband has been having a Rex Stout marathon for the past two weeks. I think this is his 4th. The last one he read featured a murderess from our fair city! Rex Stout is from a town about 5 hours north. I wonder if there is a biography out there about him. I'll have to check that out as a possible b-day gift! I've been reading book 6 of the HP series. This is my second time.
Well, I've also been reading book 1 as mentioned above and book 5
sometimes in the afternoons or evenings to help dd#1 get along quicker. Don't think that hasn't been confusing! I am getting ready for book 7.
22 days, 13 hours, 37 minutes........not that I pay attention to those silly counters.
What are you all reading?

The best place to read at our house? Right on the porch, under the fan
and with a tall glass of ice water nearby.

cellist first attempt
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

This is a sketch is from a photo that I love. Dd is about 8 yrs old and is just so sweet. This is my first attempt and I am happy with most of it but not the face. She has a gorgeous smile that I have not figured out how to capture.
So this picture is three years old.

Many changes in three years time:

~She is on her second teacher since then
~we've moved twice,
~I have no kids in diapers (Whoo Hooo),
~my middle child has started reading - like whole books in one day!

~my youngest has considered a career as Speed Racer, Superman, Dash, and lately, an Artist
~Two of my dearest friends have moved away
~I have relaxed as a parent (and a homeschooler)
~I know more than 3 guitar chords
~My oldest discovered she would like to work with children
~Dh has learned he likes a bit more flexibility in his job
~I found that a curious desire to buy art materials has been in my
heart for a reason all these years...I am an artist

April 14th
One of the first sketches I did after listening to the creative mom podcast and hearing the
prompt, "home".


Two months later I am
Surprising myself....
June 25th

Well, this week has been interesting. I was to co-lead music for VBS, which is always grueling, fun, and overwhelming at the same time.
Yet this year my co leader's children became ill. Translation? I lead. I didn't think I was ready for that, and in a way I wasn't. My voice doesn't carry like his, I'm not as into leading as he is. I like to sit in a circle and teach some cool songs. Not stand infront of a mic and entertain.

What I ended up doing was cutting the song time in half and creating a skit by pulling kids up from the crowd. Over four days we did a short skit about the unmerciful servant. On the second day I was shocked and surprised to hear the VBS kids chanting, "Skit skit skit" instead of one of their favorite songs!
Pretty cool.

Once the third hour of VBS had passed, we'd straightened all we could for the day and my children had been fed, I escaped to the couch. Sketch book in hand, I grabbed a cd from the library and decided to recreate it. Dan Zanes will forever be named by my 5yob, "Crazy hair guy" . This is absolutely one of our favorite cds and I highly recommend it to you all.
Sketching it was really fun. The high point had to be Wednesday when the 5yob says, "Momma! You got his hair just right!"

June ATC
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

This month's creative mom podcast ATC theme is "at water's edge". I have had tons of ideas, of which you have seen a few.
This one struck me the other night.
I love "Spinning Wheel" by Blood Sweat and Tears. And I'm not going to delve into the deep meaning of the lyrics, or what happens if you play it backwards on your old record player......just let me enjoy the music for enjoyment's sake!

ATCs for swap-bot
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

I signed up for a swap and they demand (or did for this one) 9 ATCs to be mailed within 7 days! Whew. I think I like having a month to brainstorm!
I totally borrowed Creative Mom Podcast's June theme...


........At Water's Edge ........... it just keeps rolling around in my mind. Pretty funny for a gal livin' in the mid-west. ........

please do not waste
art materials.

Use paper. Empty paint jars. Deplete pens.

If it's teaching you stuff

it's not being wasted.

~ Danny Gregory on learning, creating, unschooling, life.......

Drawn today whilst taking oldest dd to camp. I was thinking about the ACT exchange and trying to come up with ideas when my dd showed me something in her magazine. This little picture was on the same page and I am very happy with my rendition! I can't wait to draw it again and add color. I think this little girl might show up again in my art.