Towhead Adventures

autumn days

2011-11-06T03:30:00.000-08:00

scream creek time!

2011-10-03T07:28:00.001-07:00

maya's 9th birthday

2011-10-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

so i hear maya calling people inviting them to her costume party...i ask, aaaand when is your costume party? she say's on her birthday silly mama!! um ok that's in 3 days. oh and she's going to be a puppy :o)

great papa & granny decided to be puppies too

checking out her puppyface

when there's no time to pipe, throw on some candy

to match my little puppy girl

her feathered friends

how these girls love eachother!

puppy maya & peacock cora

you can tell who has her heart,

she calls her great papa every morning to check on him

she seemed to really understand what cancer could do to someone

and how a simple good morning, i love you phone call could do too owlet wyatt in his mama made wings

gretchen also made maya a pair of wings to match,

she swooping around in the yard right now as a matter of fact!

you are so loveable

our full house

could you be any cuter

my little party planner

happy birthday sweet girl

we love you

rewind...

2011-04-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

let us play catch up shall we :o)cold weather isn't keeping us from our favorite trailsor our stomping grounds as we wrapped up our study of fish and earned this cute patch

the art museum continues to bring us together

and teach us

as does the symphony

e..hem

as also do friends

almond cookies for chinese new year

and Valentine Day Cookies too...

chocolate heart shaped cookies

filled with buttercream frosting

rolled in crushed peppermints

and a spiffy banner made by mamahow lucky are these 4 children

to be so close to their GREAT-grandparents!Maya is still my nature nurturermeet spunky and hopscotch

she feeds them a steady diet of worms and snailsKobe is still taking guitar lessons

he'll have his 1st concert this friday!

along with his new look...soon to be postedMeg is still dancing her heart outshe was a mouse in the nutcracker this yearMaya learned to blanket stitchand we shared sweet conversation

while stitching this little owl togetherour yard has never seen so much snowmy handsome sonturned 10 this year!we had plenty of indoor projects

while we lived in our jammies!this cold winter was especially tough for me though those eyes of hers never failed to warm me I've been on a quest to bake bread everydaywith the help of this cute little kneaderon a new years eveand a new years dessert togetherour Solstice was full of new goalsand holiday traditionour morning spent with new toysunder our tree of homemade gingerbread starsand angelswhere the night before these cookies were placed

(and eaten) gingerbread did fill our home this yearas well as the love of friendshipsrehearsals became our everyday there for a while!although time with friends stayed top on my list

hi sara! xomy new hobby, to repurpose wool sweatersand then i just couldn't stop :o)i stocked up on marshmallows

for hot cocoaand honey for snow on cold wintry daysonly recently littered with leavesand a playful daddy with his boys

sharing the joy of this season

now I'm buying jellybeans and eyelet pillowcases for spring!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-27T14:11:00.000-08:00

Arts & Crafts Fair

2010-11-22T17:04:00.000-08:00

Have I neglected my bloggin world :o( yikes, so behind...

how to find a happy balance? hmmm

until then, some scenes from the arts and crafts fair
a tradition
for auction..

paper goodness for my windowsill

abstract canoe

Me and my babes

fair food
mmmmmm

a softie tent!!! weeeeee

weaving

marionettes

friendship
for another window :o)

artisans that sharelike Brazen Designs

at the heart of why we go

and why we'll be back

BOO!!!

2010-11-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

I hope you guys had a spooky halloween xo

Camping

2010-10-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

with my 4 little one's

always an adventure :P softness found honey locustwake up mama!!

and sister

good morning campand harvestmanwe found a familiar stream to explore a beetle occupied leafand a stream drenched one

nature reflections

Kyle's pod canoe
and his tree with a viewto really experience a stream,

you must feel the stream!

I watch the way leaves fall, float into a new path

change

as I have

while other things remain as my heartand my love for these children

Apple Orchard

2010-09-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

Some scenes from our day at the apple orchard!

(except this 1st one :o) it's from another, smaller orchard) I have to add how lucky I feel

to have an apple orchard within 15 mins of my home

My little ones in their mama made apple attire

all set for a picniccuties on their handmade picnic blanket made by their creative mama

as if the apples weren't sweet enough...the farm had us candy them up :Da hayride with friends

lesson learned: sit next to your friend with an apple lolli

and you'll end up with a sticky arm :o)

but he's cute isn't he!home with only a half bushel? what was i thinking :oespecially with this apple peeler

get one get one!!

b/c it's fun! and b/c fresh apples are oh so good

52 weeks: 6

2010-09-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

My last selfie as a blondie :o)

52 Weeks of Us: weeks 4, 5 & 6

2010-09-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is us..

reflecting eachother and making our way

Hand in hand

Homemade Journal

2010-09-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Supplies Needed:

1 sheet of decorative paper cut to 10x7in

1 sheet of construction paper or cardstock cut to 8 1/2 x 5 1/2in

1 sheet of construction paper or cardstock cut 7 1/2 x 5in

5 sheets of white paper 7 1/2 x5 in

yarn/leather/string ect to bind

hole-puncher

gluestick

scissors

or paper cutter from my scrapbooking days :DGlue 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 cardstock to middle of decorative paper

and fold over decorative paper to edges with glue then glue remaining 7 1/2 x 5 in cardstock to middle of book
center all pages and fold in middle

to determine where you'll punch the holeschoose your yarn to slide through the holes a few times,
tying a knot at the back of bookand now you're ready to journal!

My Sleepy Boy

2010-08-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Protesting Eyeing me
shhhhh

It was a busy day!

Toad

2010-08-19T11:00:00.001-07:00

Hello

Butterfly Dreams

2010-07-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

In her Great Granny's Garden...

2010-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Bird WatchingPicking garden candyFinding a good luck friendGarden Galloping and Twirling

Life is good :o)

52 weeks~5

2010-07-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Something warm happens when you take your own portrait,

you discover and uncover

it's a self validating experience...I am here, I see me

how exciting this photo of mine made Explore!

http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/2010/07/15/page4/

I accept me

Patriotic Us

2010-07-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

52 Weeks of Couples ~Week 3

2010-07-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

Playful Kisses

Highschool Sweethearts

Together 15 years, Married for 13

4 children later and he still makes me melt

My husband, I Love you

with a passion

Butterfly Tickles

2010-07-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Maya saw the shadow of this swallowtail fluttering

at the top of our friends green house,

she jumped out of the pool to get a closer look

and surprised us all as we watched it fly down into her hands!

She placed it on her nose to say hello of course :o)
We talked about how her missing "tail" probably saved her from a predatorShe then found a lovely flower to place her butterfly

A moment like this, shared with a butterfly and my little girl...precious

To Befriend a Dragonfly...

2010-07-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

he likes me :o)

From Online Friends...

2010-07-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

to in person friends

we share passion for photography and unschoolingShe found urban decay and a dragonfly found herMaya was impressed :DOur daughter's found a fossiland cuts on their toes *ouch*

but it seems friends make even booboo's bearable

they laughed as they hobbled the trail together Now you can see how I get my shots :D2 above photo of me taken by Sarah

Shish Kabobs for dinner
then we pitched our backyard camp smores and gathering around a fire We woke early to gather Black Berry goodness I needed to make sure they were yummy2 above photos of me taken by Sarah
Our children explore the orchard together
Kyle was excited to find so many peach pits

Maya inspected a grasshopper
with her berry stained fingers

We made the yummiest blackberry cobbler!!
I'll post the recipe here soon

I topped it with fresh handwhipped cream

and a couple of mint leaves from my garden
omnomonmmmm

it's what's for breakfast ;o)

There were water balloons toothe sweet laughter of 6 kidsand 2 friends :o)

whose photography makes the miles fade away

See you guys again soon!! xoxo

52 Weeks of Couples ~2

2010-06-28T07:31:00.001-07:00

Good Morning My <3spooning toes, so cuddly...

Our bedroom faces the sunrise

it's the light and the little monkey's jumping on our bed

that help us to wake in the morning :o)

Wren

2010-06-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Mama Wren wove her nest deep in our rafters,

we could only hear the chirps when her fledglings were hungry!

We watched as she worked day after day with the same perseverance as

our mama Robin did a few weeks ago.

Then the time came that they were strong enough to fly

and we were privileged to witness that beautyThis little flyer landed on my lap!
and then into Megs handsLittle sister's handsoh yes, as well as my head!! We then watched Mama Wren coach her to the edge of our backyard

then to the treeeees!! See her in the center?

It was precious, really, can I watch this scene everyday pleeeease!

Blackberries

2010-06-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

There is an art to eating them..

This morning we gathered

some of the juciest yummiest blackberries together!

Maya said to me, "Come on Mama, let's walk and talk"

Our summertime is made of many things fun

and picking blackberries together (while taste testing a few :o)

is high on the list!

52 Weeks of Couples ~1

2010-06-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

In attempt to capture more moments of my sweetie and myself together,

I've started a group, 52 Weeks of Couples!

How fun would it be if you and yours played along with us!

I figured if I could take my own portrait, I could take ours together :o)

And he's game.. So here we goooo! 1 portrait 1x a week

Week 1.... His hand on my leg

Oh how I adore that..

Blue Swimming

2010-06-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

I remembered this as I was talking about these photos with Ana this morning on flickr... When I was younger, my favorite thing to do was to be under water, I loved the calm, the silence, the feeling of weightlessness, I would even make air pockets under the ladders just so when I got to them, I wouldn't have to come up for air! It's no wonder I have water babes :o)

Today..they braved the Rapids

2010-06-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

kept a lookout for rock throwing babies and for mayflies with scarlet laced wings

remembered how to swim
made lots of noise together..lotsand explored the banks

everyone was thirsty in this heat
we're thankful for Sonic's happy hour!

fossilized coral
a couple of happy mama's

thankful for this place where our children can play

Field Day

2010-06-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

Mama did the face painting
Kobe completing his lookmy little snaggle toothSack RacesBalloon Shavingcarefulnot careful enough!Water GamesFriendsdancing in the rainlots of running and balloonsAward Ceremony I gave my children stars because they shine!

I'm feeling Back on Tract :o)

2010-06-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

My attempt at kidney humor,

laughing does make me heal faster, even just a giggle :o)

It's taken me all week to gain just a little of my energy back. I may not have mentioned, I'll back up (b/c really i thought it wouldn't be such a long ordeal) I woke up around 2am last Saturday morning in excruciating pain..oh yeah...I was puking from being in that kind of pain and I could barely stand on my own. That elusive kidney stone I had a few months back..the one stone that had found a cozy little spot back in my right kidney after causing me so much pain had now decided to make it's way down again! Emergency room kind of pain. The CTscan showed a 6.3mm stone headed for my bladder, which would not be sooo bad if I hadn't had a double kidney infection only a few months ago and signs of infection again. They gave me some..wow..amazing painkillers, thank-you to them for that and you'll know why if I said anything strang (er) than usual on your streams teehee :o) Soo Monday morning I was in surgery, I was home in a few hours and I feel like I've been zapped of all energy for a whole week. blah And you do know how next to impossible it is to be sick with four curious children right ? :o)

I did get outside this morning with Maya for a little gardening,

our 1st tomato this yr mmm

we found this baby Maple growing in one of my pots..

What tree is this? here's a sign..

I was out of breath just pressing the shutter for this shot

something so simple, something I love to do
not taken for granted

we did transplant the little tree after she got a great look at the roots

and the seed from which it emerged

so we'll keep our fingers crossed

Maples are always welcome in our yard

Maple tree talk led to Maple syrup talk like the kind we had on our french toast

which led of course to a chapter of "Little House in the Big Woods"

and some back porch painting

Maya painted Laura's little house in the Big Woodsshe included details from the story,

like the little and big cat door from the joke that Pa told his girls

and Jack, the bulldog

it was a good day :o)

and it ended on a sweet note

nobake chocolate oatmeal cookies

and now..good night zzzzzzz

Ducklings

2010-06-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

You know how we have our favorite creek? This is our favorite ..pond :o)

I think it's important to explore many different habitats.

We find a variety of plant and animal life in ponds

(which I'm determined to make time to blog in more detail for later posts. )

As for this day..we were greeted by a well known pond visitor

A mama duck and her 2 ducklings! She is a Muscovy Duck

and she's helping her duckling over a branch in the waterkeeping them closeand teaching them to find foodthis little fellow reminds me of my own ducklingscurious :o)
and cute, yesThe time we spent with this little family was full of fun

and full of new questions to be answered such as..

"how long will mama duck protect her ducklings?"

"do ducks have teeth?"

"where do they sleep?" "what do they eat?"

"do they have any predators?

sounds like a trip to our library and more duckling observation!

until our next pond visit...

Me ~week 4

2010-06-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

My babes and I went to our favorite park today,

where we saw the sweetest newborn ducklings eeee! photos soon to come..

and while they were knee deep in the stream I was chasing my timer :D

I've been asked a couple of times to give an sp tutorial :D how fun is that!

so for these shots, I placed my water bottle in the exact spot

(which was a little patch of flowers for my hair :)

where I knew my eyes needed to be in order to line up in focus with my lens

I then pressed the shutter to focus, then again for the timer,

then I dashed to the grass while trying not flash onlookers :o)

A favorite little tip of mine I use to relax clients:

only look directly into the camera at the very last second,

it works for my sp's too

Now go have fun with your sp self! xo

Wildlife Biologist

2010-06-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

A much loved and always anticipated program at our library is when the wildlife biologist comes to visit with all of his cool friends

like this prarie dog

I forget what this was, related to a scorpion anyway
Milk Snake
mimics the venomous coral snake
"Red touches black, friend of jack..Red touches yellow, kills a fellow"

If he thought she was scared..
she wasn't :o)

Tortiose

she will outweigh and outlive her caretaker

Fennec Fox

his ears help regulate his body temperature

Meg's been telling me she'd love this as a pet

so it was super fun for her to see one in person

sharp teeth and eyes at the front of his head

signs of a carnivore

then we brought some of our own friends

of the human kind back home with us

for lunch and play!

See those markings..this must be Maya's apple :o)
i love her toothy gap

Birds of a Feather...

2010-06-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's been all about the Robin's around here!

They seem to love our yard

and we couldn't be more pleased about that :o)it also seems they are constantly hungrythen a week later, all of that grub started to show

and the nest became too smallwe were there for their first flights!!

And we noticed that both parents coached them to safetyKyle gave this little guy a pet on the head

before he gave his new wings another go and he's off
we watched eachother for a while...
then he flew to the treesthe 3rd of the 4 that took flight
also caught the eye of a neighbors puppy
Maya and Kyle chased it and were proud to bring it home
so as it would be a plaything no longer but the next morning his injuries prevailed...

Proud and beautiful, thank-you for gracing our yard

and our hearts

Week ~3

2010-05-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

Blue

Summertime Swingin

2010-05-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

my little boy...lost his 1st top tooth!

he had some help from his skateboard
and our sidewalk :o)

A snaggletoothed summer..my favorite

2010-05-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

We're fortunate to have one of the sweetest friends

and homeschooling families around

live near us..And now we look foward to welcoming

a precious new member of their family with open arms and the best of wishesYou are loved, my friend

Watercolor Resist

2010-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Needed:

white watercolor paper

white wax crayon

watercolors

the wax from the crayon will "resist" the watercolor

52 weeks ~week 2

2010-05-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

of natural me

Laughter and Bubbles

2010-05-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

dancing in a field of clover matrix moves (a few tears)and then some worms, those too
I love this girl

52 weeks ~week 1

2010-05-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

taking a moment each week to flip the direction of my camera and focus...

on me

2010-05-10T06:49:00.001-07:00

My Iris Garden in the afternoon light...

makes me happy and so do weeds

when being hauled away by my little helper :o)Meg helps toosome work will have to wait

as Kobe found a rainbow to dream under...So here are some shots I took last yr

of precious robin nestlings We're tickled that mama Robin decided our porch

was a safe place to build her nest this spring

and directly above our hammock too!3 little Robin's hungrily chirping On the opposite end of the porch,

while replacing rafter boards

we found this nest tucked away

holding one single egg...

we wait for mama to come back

and we're filled with hope

Friendship

2010-05-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

I was excited to see this shot featured over at the fabulous Shutter Sisters :o)

http://shuttersisters.com/onewordproject/2010/5/7/everyday-by-shona-leah.html#comments

Thank-you for yours

It Rained...and rained

2010-05-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and stormy day,

the banks, formerly known as our backyard

swirled in a muddy mass and beckoned us to set sail...There was a hint of sadness as we made these,

knowing that at that moment rescue boats

covered areas of our community that we

love and travel frequently

While our city is under 50ft of water I'm thankful the rain only brought my family extra large puddles

onto which we set sail our origami canoesthis canoe has a motor apparentlyThen they wanted a faster pace another tryit escapes the rocks!Kyle setting to sail his wooden boat

After all of our paper canoes capsized and tore apart
The boys decided to race leaf boats We also inspected a damp log teeming with life,

there we found fungi, a tiny spider hanging from it's web

a snail, pillbugs, ants, a centipede

wonderful decomposers in our backyard! and Kobe found a firefly

as Kyle broke out his

"I need an icee" face Maya splashed in puddles

Our thoughts are with those affected by this flooding

Today in Nature

2010-04-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Mayflies were skimming the pondand so was Maya for tadpoles and toad eggs
I like them I like them a lot

and yes a toad, as ifKyle's ready for a hike! and to help a baby snapping turtleback to his watery homeKobe's holding fossils

flowers are bloomingI'm playing with my cubs It's a good day :o)

Bird Boy

2010-04-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

This day he was a birdHis beak was drawnHis wings were leaves

and he soared with his imagination

Photorealism

2010-04-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Needed:

Paper

Paint

Glass or plastic sheet

Photograph

Place photograph of choice on flat surface

Lay clear sheet on top of photograph

paint directly onto clear sheet

before paint dries, lay paper onto clear sheet

lift and you've made a print!

Megan~11 yrs

Kobe~8yrs
Maya~6yrs

Kyle~5yrs

Sunset Swallowtail

2010-04-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

She curled around Maya's fingers

I loved how they matched with
the golden light of sunset
My little nature girl releasing her swallowtail...

Maya's Magnolia Tree

2010-04-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

Maya bathed in light

Pas de Banjo~ Le Corsaire

2010-04-17T18:58:00.001-07:00

xoxo

Let us see...

2010-04-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

My allergies are in full swing but Spring is so worth it!The park is buzzing and my little one's think they OWN this swing

Kobe's learning to play his guitarand working on an original song

Meg's been dancing

(her spring ballet is this weekend!)

Maya's been acting

Here she is "walking through a field of bees"

She see's meeee!

Acting class will resume in the fall
but yeah.. for Maya
All the world's a stage..

We explored Ancient Greece at the art gallery for the
"Heroes" Exhibit

Kobe being interviewed
Kyle's been on an Elvis kick :o)
he's already decided that's what he wants to be for Halloween
And he's been so interested in drawing,
he brought his artwork to homeschool show and tell day
and told everyone his inspiration is...
his big sister

And I take time for my homeschool mama friends

you are some fun ladies! xo

My Photoshoot!

2010-04-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

All photos of me taken by my talented, awesome
precious and dearest friend since middle school, Michelle...

She knew me

before I was a homeschool mama :o)

We haven't seen eachother in months as she lives out of state,

and both of us being photographers

and loving the light in this little historic town..yep we started striking poses!

did I mention she's also gorgeous

So much fun, thank-you Michelle! xoxo

ok so I kinda liked them :P

If you've never pretended to be a fashion model with a fun friend...you should!!

Farm

2010-04-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

fresh air newborn chicks
Isn't he a proud fellow!

a gentle goat

and donkey let us pet them

so did the speckled piglets

There were games too!

lots of cotton candy

and icee's that stain your tongueCousins

I found this Corn Angel cooling offafter a day of super fun!!We'll be back, yes we will!

Egg Hunt

2010-04-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Early Morning ...

Bunny brought new towels for bathtimeand hidden eggs too!

Meg found her first firefly of the season,went on her 12th yr of egg hunting
then cozied up to her daddywhile the littles traded smarties for nerds :D

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day

Jr Naturalists

2010-04-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

We Picnickedlike birdsand climbed like lizards we observed a northern water snake as it caught a toad and the creek was full of them!because it's mating seasonsee the strand of eggs?So we didn't disturb them for long,

there was plenty more to discoverlike hearts for Mamafrog eggsand plantlife

Maya's handful of toads featured on this nature lovin blog, "The Magnifying Glass"

http://themagnifyingglass.typepad.com/weblog/2010/04/jr-naturalist.html#comments

Early Spring has brought...

2010-03-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

A Spring Bouquet dinner made by a friend

as I admired her collection of white dishes :o)

Thank-you Casandra!

while our children playeddreamedmade discoveries including the 1st snail sighting of the season! and Maya was so in her elementThere has also been music from Kobe

and riding into the rainy spring sunset together!Sigh..Spring

I adore you

Spring Portraits

2010-03-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Nashville and surrounding areas,

I'm available for your spring portraits!

Please e-mail me at

shonaleahphotography@yahoo.com

Our week..

2010-03-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

a Slumber Partyat Grandma'swhere color fills and "True Stories" are toldbedtime talks with daddyA puppet show..where all are welcome :o)

A Day of greenof playof friends and rainbows

A tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame

and museum
Notes of fear

and Love

watercolors

Classical Constructing

Art Class: We learned a technique called "Sgraffito"

After covering paper with oil pastels,
a thin layer of paint is applied.
once dry..
a stylus is used to reveal the surface layer
More driving time,
with much to see..

and ponder

on our way to Alice in Wonderland 3-D !!

"Whooooo are you?" then for some late night pasta
nope
it's never too late to play with your food

and now for a new week of exploration!on this path,

where Life is learningand every bend holds something new

Water Fairy

2010-03-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

We're Soaking up the Light

2010-03-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

reaching new heights dreaming under rainbows and it feels so good

Road Trip!

2010-02-28T07:45:00.000-08:00

On our way to a Train Museum/Birthday party

~3hours away

I've never driven this far away alone with the kids..

you know what that means Sarah!! :D

(Tara, does this count for my smiley smile face)

After lunch and birthday cake in the dinner car,

we explored the train!and the model trains with Kobe at the controlshe also enjoyed this train whistle ...

over

and

over

again :o)

Now for the 3 hours back home with

3 overexcited windblown babies on the verge of a sugar crash

Thankfully,

Art kept the peace

Van Slumber

2010-02-26T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sleeping like babies dopeacefully
When we finally got to the park,
I didn't dare wake them

Dinner Delight Night

2010-02-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

is a Mama's night out!!

or IN..

whatever :o)

homeschool mama's taking a night for eachother

to laugh togetherand create together..
a new tradition for our little group
each lady brings an ingredient from a menu set beforehand by the hostessthen we prepare the food together

following the recipe cards taped to the cabinets

(Our sweet hostess.. Hi Casandra!)

and we celebrate togetherwhile enjoying great company

and a delicious dinner

don't we just need that sometimes!

Playfulness

2010-02-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

2010-02-17T07:16:00.000-08:00

I began my morning with a cup of coffee, blog reading

and cuddles with a towel swaddled baby after her bath

which is sweet enough,

but I knew I had to snap a picture when she said to me...

"I'm glad my self is free,

so you can be with me"

~Maya 7 yrs

So am I sweet Maya xoxo

Art Makes Place it engages usand inspires us

Kyle is sporting his new favorite pose

while playing on a portable sculpture by Mike Calway-Fagan

On the way home from the gallery,

I turn around to make sure everyone is buckled

hmm something's different here(just to make sure Mama's paying attention!)

Symphony

2010-02-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

At the Symphony Center

we appreciate the elegant building

as well as the concerts

too dark, but it cracks me up the way they posed themselves!

more beauty outside

distracted from the fountain,

Meg gives her little brother this... look

we do feel quite cozy here

Ice Skating

2010-02-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

Maya's sweet friend, C, turned 7

and we celebrated with a skating party!

to iceskate
for the 1st time
and to share precious memories with friends

... :o)Happy Birthday C,

We love you!

Chinese New Year

2010-02-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

Our library hosted a Chinese New Year Celebration!

We enjoyed yummy foods such as dumplings and egg rolls

We made red paper lanterns

by folding a piece of paper in half

and making cuts along the folded side

careful not to reach the top

Open the paper

and staple the top and bottom together

then fashion a strip for the handle

Maya's Lantern

Each child was given a customary red envelope

containing 1 Chinese Dollar or a "Yuan"

(Kyle asked if it could be used at the dollar tree store :o)and we watched an array of traditional as well as contemporary Chinese dances

the costumes were so colorful and fun!Maya checking out the theatre lighting

me, right now,

2010-02-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Kate :D

http://http//mamayou.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/hey-bloggers/#comment-187

hi there!

tackling the moutain of laundry

in order to find the coffee table

my little..helpers?..in the background :D
and needing some sleep,
um yes please

Dawn, Stephanie, Tara, Sherry and Gina
what are YOU ladies doing right now!?
Show us, show us!

(I need to figure out how to link properly :P)

Heart Day

2010-02-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Melted Crayons molded into hearts

10-15 mins in a 250* ovencooled, cute and ready to color!Breakfast love

A favorite candy of ours to make..

Peanut butter mixed with confectioner's sugar

rolled in chocolate and topped with m&m's
Peanut Butter Cookies rolled in pink sugar

and sealed with kissesHave a lovely day!xoxo

Final Research Night

2010-02-06T07:43:00.001-08:00

Our local art museum hired a research team to accompany us on 6 of our family outings over the course of a year. The goal was to gain knowledge on how families use and the value they place on interactive spaces in art museums.

Photographing Maya is our wonderful researcher,
who also quickly became our friend There were plenty of crafty supplies for us to dive into!

This is Maya's

"City of Skyscrapers"and my little man set to work on a bracelet for his MamaWe were asked to create, as a family, a piece to share with the group which represented our year in the study and we were given a cardboard box..a favorite building material of Maya's!

(as we were leaving, she asked ever so politely to take a box home with her :DWe put our heads together :o)

and reminisced over some of our favorite moments

like when we shared our time in nature and the beauty it held for us

and the cityscape's they made on one of our trips to the museum..
Megan~12 yrsMaya~7 yrsKobe~8 yrs Kyle~5 yrs how we took time to notice the amazing architecture in our city

and the puppet show represented here.. from this past summer I so enjoy watching my children express themselves creatively!

What better way to gain insight into their world.

As a thank-you for our participation,

the kids each received an art journal with supplies

and another year free membership to the art museum!

We expect the data gathered will encourage more art museums around the world to incorporate interactive spaces.

Because children, as mine showed this year, have an innate affinity for the tactile and they learn by doing!

We're Snowed In..Still!

2010-02-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

I cannot remember the last time we've had this much accumulated snowfall..4 inches! A rather big deal for us southerners, we're not exactly prepared for this type of weather and so for the past 4 days, the simple act of leaving our driveway has been impeded..

But not our sense of FUN

because being snowed in means being in SNOW! It means snowy desserts with thumbs up approvalIt means snow gathering and snow sculpting

snow dancing and snow throwing

lots of snow throwing :o) However Maya preferred to eat the snow

rather than throw it

A much needed snow,

it brought color and smiles to my winter blah

It's not the cold, it's not the snow..it's the lingering gray
So I'll keep warm

and be patientbecause the sun hasn't forgotten me

Kitchen Companion

2010-01-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

Maya's working in one of her favorite books

"Play Shop", DK publishing

You'll hear her saying things like,

"Eggplant can be found in the PRODUCE section"yes,

she will one day

have every possible photographic angle of her baking

and how I do love her little helping hands at work!

"M's Cooking"..M for Mama and Maya cooking together :o)

that's the name she gave our "cooking show"

she likes to pretend we're on while in the kitchen.

She often has an accent :D and is always her future older self!

Reading directions and applying those math skills

Mostly..it's our time to create and share together

Thank-you for being my constant companion in the kitchen Maya!

Mama looks forward to many more yummy dishes and cooking shows together xoxo

Strength

2010-01-27T06:09:00.000-08:00

and clarityI know you

Our Day

2010-01-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

Early Morning Dentist check-ups for my 4

no cavities..2 loose teeth for Kyle..

Oh the Tooth Fairy has been working overtime already! Then onto Earth Scouts where I served up some Dirt Pudding

(chocolate pudding topped with crushed oreos)

complete with writhing gummy worms

(2 above photos by Casandra :o)

We made Chia Pets
and took, in the wind and flurries,
what we called the "fastest nature walk in history"
to find leafy lichen indicating air quality
There were poems read aloud by all
this one of conflict..by Meganand each scout
made a garland of treats for the birds

Then we went to visit and snack with friends
and stayed out way past our bedtimes!

Does this mean they let me sleep in? LOL~ no

2010-01-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

This is how I've been feeling...

I'm here though :o)

watching my children learn and grow

They are my joy

and my heart

As for Meg,

she has this new way about her Maya's still searching for treasuresand giving them a home in her pockets
Kobe's been practicing new tricks
Tree climber Kyle,

with the wind in his hair

Now to focus on the task at hand..
it's cold at the moment and there's a long way to go

but we'll do it together

Picasso Inspired Portraits

2010-01-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

Megan~12

Kobe~8

Maya~7

Kyle~6

It's Cold Outside..

2010-01-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

Inside..

there's been card playing by the fireplace warm french toast mmmdesign and embroidering by Maya
And there's been Mail

Etsy goodness from a sweet blogger friend

Thank-you Gina http://unpinklife.blogspot.com/

you made my day warmer!

Dino Day

2010-01-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

T-Rex model building sparked some reference reading and Dino Art

Kyle's "long neck" is wearing goggles

and then pretend play...the claw of a Maiasaura!
It was tough for a storm trooper in Prehistoric times to be continued...i'm sure

Aprons

2010-01-03T18:21:00.001-08:00

I've been busy!!

2 pleated waist aprons

2 doll aprons to match

1 butcher style apron

Tae Kwon Do

2010-01-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Kobe, my little martial artist

He brought his brother and sisters to experience a class with him

Kyle seemed to be in his element :o)

Maya was thoughtful and her kicks were especially graceful They sparred eachother...I think they rather liked it

Meg Victorious!
Class ended with a game of dodge ball
Kyle was the last man standing,
he's a speedy little fella

These are from Kobe's last belt test,
where he earned his blue belt!
The judges...
The stealthy knife handHe's an earnest student
and he has a lot of fun too!!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T18:55:00.000-08:00

The kids made party hats to ring in the new year

Maya baked the cookies

and we found something fancy to sip

Daisy was overjoyed to try on her new party hat... Cheers!!

Here's to a New Year!

Winter Brings a New View

2009-12-30T17:22:00.000-08:00

Today in Nature..

how has our favorite creek changed with colder temperaturesthe girls sketch a squirrel we saw in the tree
later we observed and listened

as a grey squirrel ate a black walnut Kobe notices the water is full and fast flowing
and tries to convince his mama that a creek crossing is in order

Kyle makes a bark rubbing,

inspects the protective outer bark
shedding to reveal the inner bark
and wonders what these leaf markings mean
His skateboard carries our books
and his pant leg picks up

a Sycamore seed Winter brings a new view into focus, I wonder, would he notice bark if the trees were covered in leaves and there were little creatures crawling in his path?It was a chilly walk, but so worth it,

Thanks for hanging out with us!

Our Christmas Day

2009-12-25T19:28:00.001-08:00

was a day of sharing time with my Family.. my girls
in case Kobe forgot how to smile for a picture..

hello handsome

Kylie eating his share of sweets!

Cousins playing puppies Jessica, look at our girls, were we ever this small?!

my little sister, I love you

there was chatting in the kitchen
and a sleepy uncle
Meg and Aunt JoJo

my cousins..we took turns curling Ashley's hair

(for her date that night, and I can't wait to hear about it :o)some of the lovely ladies in my family..I love you all!HUGS!
It's time to leave..
but we'll enjoy Christmas night at my sister-in-laws

where I sneak a picture of Kobe

before he pulls his cap over his head :D

his mama and nephew

laughter ends a FULL day,
I hope you had lots of hugs this Christmas!

..Visions of Sugar Plums

2009-12-23T23:40:00.000-08:00

Peppermint bark in the making

Cookies for Santa

We read books and sang carols

Visions of sugar plums..
shhhhhhh

I have some sewing left to do!

2009-12-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

The tree is lit,

covered in the kids' paper snowflakes

Little sister is in her jammies

happy to be included with her big sisters slumber party

(thank-you for being sweet girls

and finally allowing the little brothers in to watch a movie,

even after Kyle kept knocking on the door claiming to be the pizza delivery man)

Your giggling filled our home with joy!

Morning conversation over Pancakes

Kyle asks Megs friend if she has any little brothers..

to which Kobe replies "If she did, then she'd feel our pain!"

to which Meg replies, "You mean she'd feel MY pain!" :o)ornament planning while drinking my coffee Kitchen Math:

"Each bottle of glue contains 4oz,

how many bottles will we need if our recipe calls for 1 cup?"

We'll decorate these today with lots of glitter I'm sure!

onto something edible..
I hope your holidays are warm and yummy!

My Nature Girl

2009-12-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

ventures into the early morning snow

she spies tracks on our porch alongside a litter of acorn caps

she strings a garland of treats for the birds

and her little cold nose

warms up with some hot cocoa!

We've been...

2009-12-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Enjoying the season!

Spending time with dear friends

hi Sarah!xoxoBakingMovie MakingCreatingContour Drawing

Observing

the positive and negative space of an object PaintingCoffee and crafting w/friends

and hoping Gretchen will teach me how to crochet ;o)

while our children roast their lunch in the fireplaceyes.. including smores!!! mmmm

Appreciating Art

sculpting
Snowman by Kobe

Snowman by Maya

following a blue print

and building something pretty for our tree

A Day at the Creek

2009-12-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

Creek LoveMama Friends

our babes enjoy nature's playground
there's water to wade
a sandy shore to experienceand treasures to be foundlittle "W" outlines his rock treasures
Maya analyzes
pretendsinspects a turtle shell
and enjoys the mud between her toes
Meg knows exploring can be tough

Hugs.. until next time

the necklace

2009-12-07T15:35:00.001-08:00

She Dances

2009-12-03T11:25:00.001-08:00

Her 1st year as a soldiernext as a party girlthen as a little teaand now a baker prepares to dance

it's good to smile at yourself :o)

and make sure your scarf is tied

while Mama takes her 100th photogetting into character

The Baker dance is upbeat and always makes the crowd laugh!
My little baker girl
has 4 more shows to go!

Bon Fire

2009-11-29T14:53:00.000-08:00

A crisp cool evening perfect for a bonfireKyle roasts his marshmallowsand tries not to get too roasty himself
while daddy keeps us safe mmmm s'moreslittle sister enjoys her treat

and rescues a wiggly worm from the ashes
it's now safe and sound in our garden

campfire songs

mine got a little toasty

I adore the smell of an evening bonfire under the moon

the warmth of the flames

and my snuggly babes

who get stars in their eyes at the thought

of gathering around a fire to eat a melted marshmallow