Art Day with Aunt Gwen/The Pink Lady

S was not so into it. I'm not sure why.

J making his watercolor.

The whole group.

K was very precise. She calls me "Pink Lady", which I love!

Niece S creating her watercolors.

FYI Crayola watercolors are the BEST! Totally worth the extra money.

M, being the oldest, actually listened to the directions.

Her parents would be shocked!

I love the concentration!

Finished art project.

My art piece. I like it, very colorful.

I already have a list of close to one hundred new art/craft projects for next summer.

Maybe I should homeschool, and then the boys and I could have art day everyday.

I'm sad that the summer is coming to an end. I will miss the boys, not the fighting, but the closeness.

Craft Day with Aunt Gwen: "Tie Dye" shirts

This was such a fun project! I kept wondering why I didn't buy myself a t-shirt!

You will need one 100% cotton shirt, Sharpies or Bic permanent markers, eye droppers and rubbing alcohol. It's easy-peasy. Lay the shirt flat, placing a piece of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent bleeding through. Make dots in a circle, pressing hard to have lots of ink on the fabric, then drop rubbing alcohol in the center, and watch the ink bleed. I threw them in a hot dryer to set the color. The kids all loved this project. And I am now working on a tote bag.

M was the most diligent, which probably comes from being the oldest. I think hers turned out the best, just don't tell the others!

The finished product. I love that the kids love spending time together, and get along great.

The Fab Four!

July Fourth Weekend

Time with all the cousins
The dinner beauty shot

My Brother-in-law's beauty shot, I love him!

Chilling

Pretending a graham cracker is a cell phone

At the beach.

Antiquing

Boating

Eating Frosty Tip

Out of the Mouths of a Tween

Today my in-laws came for a soup and salad lunch, and my 12 year old niece has a salad that consisted of lettuce, carrots and cheese, all in little neat piles, with nothing touching each other. I took one look and said, "Ah, M is having a deconstructed salad." She looked puzzled, and left the room, then telling her mother I said she had a decomposed salad. While her eating habits sort of drive me nuts, she herself completely cracks me up.