Sunday, April 30, 2017

Family

Leiden does these little drawings and then just leaves them around.  Every once in a while I find them and I'm so impressed with her skill.  I am at my best with stick figures, so this ability to draw is completely beyond me!!


After church today we took some pictures in the front yard by our bush.  The girls were being silly, but then that's hwo they relate best to Jon!


And then a nice family picture for spring!


Leiden tried some different poses to showcase her nails.  I find these on my phone and they make me smile and also a little wistful.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Thanksgiving Point

I found this on my phone...Leiden painted her nails and then took a picture of them.  Very funny, and really cute of her.  She's definitely growing up, and paying more attention to how women take nail polish show off pictures!!!


We headed down to Thanksgiving Point with the girls to see the gorgeous tulip gardens, and Mac wasn't in such a great mood.  It's heartbreaking to see her so unhappy.


We tried to just go along as best we could.  The other girls were thrilled to be there, dancing and posing amongst the flowers.


It was truly a gorgeous spring day.


We aimed for a cute picture on a bench, and got mostly all of us,



Mac finally agreed to be in one, but under duress.



Of course we stopped and got food for the koi, and Mac perked up a bit for that.



For the first time, we saw this darling little turtle in the lake!  He seriously stole our hearts with his little swimming legs and hiding under the lily pads!  He liked the fish food, too, but he was a bit slow to get it before the koi frenzy!


After that we had some beautiful smiling faces.


And some beautiful colorful tulips to go with them.


Mac wanted me to take her picture by some of them with just her...gladly!!


They found this big hill and each did some funny rolls and tumbles.  The pictures following come from the videos.  First we have Meemer.
 


And then Macko!



And then Leiden!


Funny little girls!  I think the hill was a bit more steep than they thought!





What a beautiful day at beautiful gardens!

Friday, April 28, 2017

Blue Light

We've been having some trouble with the girls since they returned from Amsterdam.  Bedtimes have been difficult, and just general orneriness.  So Jon brought over his blue light, that combined with a few days of melatonin, should help their little sleep systems get back on track.  This morning they huddled at the table eating breakfast while it shined its cool rays on their faces!  Hopefully this works!!

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Endeavors

Leiden wanted to make a huge cookie today, and I am trying to say yes more often, especially when they come up with ideas on their own.  This was her creation!  The problem with large cookies is that they are hard to cook right...this one was a bit overdone on the edges.  A lower heat in the oven probably would have righted it.


Then the girls were outside drawing on the driveway in sidewalk chalk.  I am astounded at Leiden's eye.  She has the artistic ability that I just don't.


Mac's bird was glorious and purple...and she let me take a picture of her with it!!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Finishing Up

These will get shipped tomorrow, and I'm very pleased with how they turned out.  I like that each one is different, and the colors together really pop.


Leiden appropriated one of my extra cards and drew a pretty silhouette on it.  A lovely little mermaid under an umbrella!  Very funny, and creative.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Flying Creatures

At Jon's this evening, we found this giant moth fluttering about in the landing.  Jon tried to use a broom to get him out of the ceiling corner he was frantically bumping against, and the moth landed on his shoulder when it zipped down!  BIG guy!


We were eventually able to get him outside where he belonged!

Friday, April 21, 2017

More Etsy Orders

After I got some pictures of the tiles for my shop, I got them delivered to the woman all safe and sound.  She lives downtown near Jon, so it was an in person hand off.

Jon is thrilled with the idea of a yard to take care of, and headed out this afternoon to mow the lawn!  Gah.  I can't say how wonderful it was to not have to do that!!!  I am blessed to have him.


Today had me hard at work doing another Etsy order, this one some watercolors!  She wanted ombre blue and gold writing, I believe for some kind of beach themed party.


I wish ALL ink were as easy to use as the Finetec golds are.  And they are so pretty.  I was nervous about these as my first watercolor sale, but they turned out really nicely.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

So...I was so excited yesterday...and then I was examining the sheet the woman gave me with instructions, and realized I had not oriented the tiles correctly.  Seriously.  Every single tile I did yesterday was lettered with a flat side on the bottom instead of the directed point on the bottom.  I had to wet and erase every single one.  And redo them correctly.  THANK HEAVENS erasing was an option!!!


So now I've made REAL progress--correct progress!


I'm pretty proud of how they look! 


Some I had to do several times to get a particular ligature to look 'right' to me, but with all the practice yesterday, I felt it went really smoothly. 


Far more smoothly than poor little Meemers, who banged her head really hard today on a sharp corner.  She was very brave, and only cried for a few minutes.  Luckily, despite it being a head wound, it did not bleed for long, and she had no other complications. 


I found this that Mac wrote, and it made my heart swell.  I have wished she could focus more on positive things, and this was a sweet little card to find she had done without me prompting or even knowing about it until it was done. 

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Wedding Tiles

I have made a ton of progress on these tiles for a wedding.  This whole idea of being able to ERASE if I make a mistake is incredible.  Lettering on slick marble is another interesting new experience.  I am super excited about how this is turning out!

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Taxes

Ugh.  Taxes.  I dread it every year.  My tax situation isn't so great, so I get nailed.  I generally just get caught up with the debt from the previous year's taxes and then it's time again.  Blech!


The numbers are still going strong.  It's really too bad there isn't a faster, more efficient way to take care of these each year, but there really isn't.  I'm not even sure my cutter is faster or more efficient.  It's still just as tedious, although in different ways than tracing and cutting by hand.  The blade doesn't like the butcher paper my parents must use, so it catches, and snags.  Tiny little adjustments and modifications to the positioning of the numbers seems to help, but that just adds to the tedium.


Regardless, we WILL get them done!  And as we do each spring, we solemnly swear to get a head start on them so we don't run into the same rush next year.  We shall see!

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter!!

The other part of Jon's tradition is that the Easter Bunny comes and leaves them something in the baskets they've set out the night before.  This was the surprise waiting for them this morning!


They were super excited about their baskets, and look forward to this afternoon when they get to add to their spoils at the family Easter Egg hunt!


Even Jon got a basket, filled with delicious treats!


This afternoon, the hunt had been set up outside with all the treats and eggs.  Thomas joined us, and he was hilarious.


As I've done for years, now, each girl has a number, and she's only allowed to pick up the things with her number on them, so as to preserve the hunt for others.


Mac had struggled and so I offered her the option to come out and take pictures if she wanted.  She snapped some really good ones!  This one of Jon and I is I think one of my favorites to date!


She wandered around taking pictures with my good camera.


These of Bapa and John are really good, too.



Surprisingly the hunt wasn't over in a flash, and they took a decent amount of time to find all their things. 


Then it was dinner time!  Grandmere's kitchen cannot host people for dinner right now, so she brought it all out here!  I made little centerpieces for the table.  One a hollowed out cabbage head with kale and tulips.


I didn't get a close up of the other, but it was carrot lined tulips and dill!


It was a wonderful evening with family, celebrating the marvelous resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.