This is Art Week, although I realize it's wednesday and you haven't heard anything about it. We've been busy, though!
Our new favorite book is this one:
We gave it to Phin John for his birthday and it's been great--he is particularly fond of it. We read it the other day and then all decided to do "ish" drawings (you'll have to read it to find out exactly what I mean). The point is basically that lines and color can give the impression of something even if it doesn't look "exactly right", and that there's freedom in that.
So when we went to do this, it turned out that they all wanted me to start and do the lines and they'd do the color. And since I'm trying so hard not to be held back by my lack of skill and talent in the drawing arena, I said I'd do it, very cheerfully. And since this was such a fun family art time, I'm going to show you what we did--one more step on the road to artistic humility. :)
Phin wanted me to draw him on his bike.
Samara wanted ballet dancers and flowers.
Asa wanted to be playing soccer.
Then we switched it up and they drew the lines and I got to paint them in. This was much better, from my point of view. Here's Asa's picture:
If you'll notice, he included everyone in our family--can you find yourself on there? (No, there aren't two Carrie's--that other "C" is for Craig, Hannah's boyfriend.) The teams are ilo, Asa, Carrie and Mom against Dad, Phin, Samara and Bethany.
I love it.
Sorry, Hannah and Craig-- you guys are keeping the bench warm (!) ... and I mentioned that I thought Adelaide was missing and Asa said, "Well, um, she's taking a nap." He also informed me that he'd "just hit the volleyball to Phin and that of course, we were going to win, and did I see that...what is that "p" word, Mom?" "Perspective?" "Yeah, perspective on the net, Mom!" So fun.
I very highly recommend this book and this kind of interactive drawing together--even though I can't draw a face for anything (tips, anyone?!), my kids think everything I draw is awesome, and I think everything they draw is awesome and so it makes everyone feel so good.
And it keeps us out of the heat! If you've been wondering why it looks like we never play outside anymore, it's because we don't. It'll hit 100 degrees everyday this week and so if water is not involved, it's too hard to be outside--we went for a bike ride this morning at 10 and it was sweltering. Can I put any more emphasis on that?! Samara says all the time, "My back is sweaty, mom!" You know it's hot when that's the most common comment we've heard from her...We're in the habit of swimming at the Bonner's from 4 to 6, to miss the heat of the day and get our naps in. Thanks so much to Grammy and Poppy for snacks and swimming every day! I don't know what we'd do without the pool. The kids' swimming skills are leaping forward, too, with the consistent hours in the pool--Samara is almost a safe swimmer! I'll have to take the camera over there, but I'm in the pool almost the whole time, so it doesn't make sense to have it out. You have to see the fun on their faces as they go off the board, though...priceless.