craft time

The boys got lots of fun craft supplies for Christmas, and now that we are back home and back to "normal" we've been having fun making art every day.

Here's two of the things we've made this week. So cute!

Ben's goal post and Des' football. (We taped the shape down, painted all over and then removed the shape to reveal the white. Notice how Ben wouldn't mix the colors!)

Our popcicle snowmen. Des' 2 on the left, mine in the middle and Ben's 2 on the right. The all orange is for Papa.

Art for the day...

I aspire to be one of those mom's that crafts with her kids regularly. I have good ideas and lots of the supplies but lately I just don't have the patience or energy to execute. :(

Good thing the boys have this awesome art easel. I just keep the jars stocked with paint and whenever the fancy to create strikes...well they can have at it!

art by Jack

Our dear friend Jack has many artistic abilities. Most of you know him for his music, but he has also proven his talent in writing, teaching, sculpting, and now painting. He has held several art shows in the OKC area and has been doing so well that he even quit his "day job" to pursue his painting.

Check out how awesome it is here: jackfowlerart.com

My parents commissioned him to paint a HUGE John Lennon for the lakehouse. It turned out amazing!

When he brought it to them, they were so excited!!! There was lots of hugging, smiling, congratulating and admiring...

And of course, a few shots were poured in celebration!!!

Thanks to Jack for an awesome piece that we will treasure!

Look Ma!

I drew a man!!!


and a sailboat!!!

painter

easel: courtesy of lala and jess

home depot apron: courtesy of grandma mary

muscular thighs and cute buns: courtesy of some mysterious dna belonging to neither my hubbie or me.

Another beautiful ORANGE painting. Once completed Ben agreed that this one we should take to Dr. Young (our chiropractor) because "he fixes our backs".

It was a hit!

a football...

Can you see it?

Ben ran in to the living room shouting, "Mama! Come look at my football! I drew it all by myself!"

And sure enough he did.

And one of his autograph...

B.E.N.

Mimi and I finally had a moment to sit and chat after hours of fun indoors and out. We sat the boys down with some markers and a big pad of paper. Ben loves to scribble with Mimi's highlighters and Des just loves to take off all the caps and see how much he can get on his own skin before he gets caught.

I noticed Ben was talking to himself quietly. Something like "line. then a hump. then another hump." And when I looked over I saw this...

He had drawn a B all by himself! I snatched the camera to grab a pic and then asked him if he could draw an E. Yes mama he said. "a line down. then a line across. then another. and another." Whoa. How do you draw a N I asked? "a line down, a slant and then a line." And there you have it folks. He writes his name.

We have worked on these letters together. Obviously. He is quoting verbatim how Brad and I walk him through the letters of his name, but never, I mean ever had he done them alone. On his own. Without help. Ever. And then he did. Just sat down and wrote his name. And I cried. Because this is big. So, so big.

The best part? He got to display his first autographed piece in the closet of fame. The tiny nook under the stairs with decades of grandchild artwork. He was thrilled. Though I don't know what was more exciting for him, hanging the picture among the classics, or getting TWO THUMBTACKS! Kids are funny like that. (Don't worry, I had him write his name again so I could have a copy to take home. 2nd time ever is almost as good.)

This was over 3 weeks ago and now his name is written on everything. And I love it. Way to go bud.

A Snow Series: PAINT.

*A brief series showing what this humble family does when the inclement weather shuts down their civilization. (or in other words, how we don't kill each other when Daddy is home from work and we are all trapped inside for a week thanks to 12" of snow!)*

Both of my boys love to paint. LOVE it. Though I think it is most likely due to the extreme mess they get to make all in the name of creativity.

We try and do some sort of art every single day, though I would much prefer sidewalk chalk or colored pencils! :) Today, it was paint. LOTS and LOTS of red paint...

(Des would much rather paint his body parts. We made footprints a couple of weeks ago and I painted their feet. Ever since, he thinks that is what painting is!)


And they were gleeful.

a bit of art.

Wanna know how a 3 year old can completely impress his mama?

By simply figuring out all on his own how to paint his hand, press on a handprint in one color, get his own rag, wipe off his own hand, paint his hand a second color, press it on the paper, wipe it off and then repeat this entire process until the entire sheet is covered in handprints.

All the while I was in the other room, unaware of his painting adventure, but he made no mess! Impressive coming from a kid who's mama never bought him fingerpaints out of sheer terror of the possible chaos....

Notice the two colors he chose...Red and orange of course. :)

(and please don't go feeling sorry for the kid about never experiencing finger painting. he has had PLENTY of messy, creative and expressive opportunities in his short life.)