Let it snow, let it snow!

Ahh! Bliss! Pure quietness and whiteness!

Good morning! I woke up to snow all the way to the door.

Wow! We got hit by a blast of snow yesterday and today. The girls were so excited! We went sledding on an empty lot a couple of doors down, made a igloo and are working on a snow slide. I barely got part of the drive way shoveled. It will have to just stay the way it is for now.

Shae just loves blasting Kayla with snowballs!

DECEMBER ART CLASS

Painting Perspective

Above are the kids creations ranging in ages 6- 10

The kids did a great job in my art class this month!

We did acrylic painting this time. They learned how to create a water and mountain scene and how mountains are different shades of light and dark when seen from a distance.

Dance

The girls had a little dance recital for the parents and it was so cute! Loved seeing those smiling little faces!

Great job ladies!

Great Cast!

We really have been blessed with Prescott Fine Arts Association! Our holiday play has been great fun and the cast and crew are wonderful!
Kayla as Erica the Elf, Shae as Peppermint Elf with their new friend, McKenna as Hootie.

The girls and I

We have three shows left to do, so come and see the show!

Show dates left are Friday December 17th at 7 pm and Saturday, December 18th at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets are $8 at PFAA

** there are some better seats left at the Friday 7pm show **

Where in the Woods is our Elf?

It's just about show time!

Get your tickets to come see a cute holiday show at Prescott Fine Arts Association! Show dates are Friday, December 17th at 7pm and Saturday, December 18th at 2pm and 7pm. $8

"Where in the Woods is our Elf?" is about our little "Elfie" who wonders off into the woods and gets lost. All the forest animals are looking for him!

Where could he have gone?

Above are some of the characters in the cast. I am the make-up artist in this show and the animals are coming out wonderful! Top left is Kayla as "Erica" the elf.
There are beautiful ballerina dancing trees that create our forest.

Shae even got to be an Elf and is just delighted to be part of the show.

Prescott Christmas Parade 2010

The Academy of Performing Arts Float

When our float left the academy to go line up .... we got sad news! A snowman took a spill and died in the road! The APA parents went to the rescue and did some surgery and he made it!

Shae and Kayla dance to 2 songs over and over and over and over during the entire parade! It was great!


What fun the parade was! I guess I should back up and say that it was tiring! ha,ha,ha! Kayla and Shae were both getting sick and the morning of the parade Kayla took a turn for the worse. She really wanted to be in the parade so we went and she about pooped out on us before it started. Then, she decided to try it and see how long she could dance. I couldn't believe it as she made it to the end! But, barely standing! Oh, I am a terrible mother!



The dancers behind the float



Tom and I followed their float the entire length of the parade keeping an eye on Kayla and she and Shae made it to the end. But, the second it was over she about passed out and was in bed for the rest of the day. I felt so bad!

You can tell here that Kayla was just not herself this day. But, she always manages to squeeze out a smile! :(

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAE!

Seven is no longer for Shae. She couldn't wait to be 8! The minute she woke up she said, "I'm 8!" So, we made her wait a bit then her search began. She had been asking for another hamster and we have been telling her no,no, no! But, I gave in and the night before I went and got her one. I tested each hamsters temperament and one had wet tail that I diagnosed for the lady who worked there, ha,ha,ha,ha. One was a complete spazz and was screaming and flipped on his back showing teeth! YIKES! Finally, I choose one and he is so sweet and was mellow, quiet, gentle when he walked and allowed me to hold him right away. This was the one.YAHOO! I am finally 8!

Shae had no idea what she would find in the end. The search was so exciting as both girls read Shae's notes and ran around the house.

Here is their journey.

This is what Shae found! Even looking at it ... she had no idea of what was inside!

Then off to the Freedom Station for fun with all their girl friends.

We had a combined party for both Kayla and Shae

I just love this picture! It shows the true friendship that they all have!

They all get along so well and just have a blast together.

And of course the moms sat around for 3 hours and talked while the kids played the games with their loaded fun cards!

We too have a wonderful friendship!

The Doggies!

Our rescued / adopted dogs have been so good with the girls! Nala and Tuesday pretty much do what ever Kayla and Shae want them to... even gettin gdressed up and wearing a beanie!

Come See The Show!

Where in the Woods is Our Elf?!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Prescott Fine Arts Association

445-3286

$8 / ticket

"Help us find Elfie before Christmas, in this fast-paced, singing, dancing family-fun holiday show!"

The Tree is up!

I love this time of year! The tree is finally up! It took hours to get it decorated and ready to show its beauty.

Pink is my favorite color!

Thanksgiving help

We were so lucky to be able to help out at the Salvation Army today. We prepared 300 sack dinners for people to take on their way out after they eat their meal. This way they will have a meal for night time on Thanksgiving. There is no better way to spend the day than with your friends doing a wonderful deed.

The Gang!

Getting ready for the show!

Baby Owl "Hootie"

The holiday show at PFAA is almost here! The costumes are done and I am just sampling the animal face paintings. I have a blue jay, deer, dormouse, old owl, baby owl, 2 girl rabbits and 2 boy rabbits and 9 elves to paint. I have recruited a crew to help me out with the face paintings so we should have them all down within 1 1/2 hours.

Blue Jay

Happy Birthday Ginger

Shae's favorite bunny in the entire world had a birthday this past week. Shae had it all planned out and marked it on the calendar. We made brownies and Shae made Ginger a cute birthday hat. Shae has a great imagination and loves her bunny. Her bunny guards her "blankie" during the day when Shae is not in bed.

life ....

I was just thinking the other of how you think you know someone and you really don't. I think everyone hides things about themselves to others. Don't get me wrong .... people can hide all they want and live the "hidden life." I guess I could say that I am a pretty open person and probably share to much info, but I am me.

Do we live in a different world from the outsiders of whom we know? If so, why? Do some people hide from others? I believe so. I have learned that through the years ... when you think you know someone .... you really may not. Come to find out later that that person hides behind lies. Lies of fear of being judged by others. I am a very strong person and speak my mind out loud a lot and probably to much, but that is I.

Hardly anything bothers me to make me cry. I take in lots of friendships and embrace them all to which I can share myself with them. I do not hide things from them as for I am me and they all know it.

I am teaching my children about this very strong statement .... they are learning too. They are also learning of people I know as adults who are living a lie and hiding something from the world. That is okay. I tell them that we know who we are and we love our life and friends, but that can change any day or given moment. Friends are very special to have. So, to keep your special friends .... one must be open and trustworthy ... and comfortable ... and happy with the connection. If those things don't fall into place then the relationship is just there and becomes just another acquaintance.

November Cats for Art Class

The kids did so great today! Here are their finished cats!

PHOTO TIME

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these photos of the girls!

It is this time of year that I look forward to for taking pictures of the girls. I love all the warm clothes, fall colors and rustic looks. Today, the girls and I decided to go down town and take some holiday photos. We had lots of fun! You won't see dad in any of these as he was working and ..... he isn't a big fan of having his picture taken.

I just love both of these! The girls have the sweetest smiles!

Of course they had to have a picture with their favorite hats on.

Since we didn't have an extra body to take a picture of all three of us ... I used the timer on the camera. ha,ha,ha! Those don't work out to well! Shae cracks me up with her facial expressions above. And I even had my tongue hanging out the side of my mouth in the one pic!

Although, I look like a statue .... we managed to get one decent photo of us.

The end

November Art Class

So, I was playing around with creating a cat face to teach the kids to paint next week. The one above was fun, but way to detailed for the kids to do and may create frustration. So, I needed to come up with an equally neat looking cat yet with an easier less time consuming painting technique. I am all about the end product looking neat and the kids feel proud of what they created without taking to long.

The one below was much quicker and with a stippling technique.

My original plan was to create a leaf collage, but I didn't like my sample. That is what makes this so fun for me as I get to create everything first.

I have to keep it a bit simple and have ease in the instructions as my kids are only ages 7 - 10. Next week, we will paint these cat faces onto a piece of wood that my dad cut out for the kids. The wood is in the shape of this cat face so it will look awesome!

Someone once asked me how I get my art ideas. I find them in books or if I am out and I see something that I like I will take a picture of it. One of my kids in class may give me an idea or I just come up with something.

The other day the girls were at a homeschool field trip at the Highlands Center of Natural History. In one of the activities they asked the kids to draw something that had to do with nature. Kayla was describing to me her picture and she had this crazy blue blob going into the air. I asked what that was and she said that it was a lake and that she and her friend couldn't figure out how to make one so it would look flat. So, that will become one of our art classes in the future. :)

AMAZING SIGHT TO SEE!

Kayla got to see the most amazing thing the other day with her dad while I was out. As they peered out the kitchen window into the front yard they spotted a roadrunner across the street. The roadrunner was particularly scouting out a bush. Then he struck into the bush and out came a snake and the roadrunner and snake were about to battle. The roadrunner and snake both were swaying their heads back and forth and the snake struck at the roadrunner. But, the roadrunners amazing quickness grabbed the snake with his beak and began to ferociously bang the snake on the ground back and forth until he was knocked out. The roadrunner then took the snake to the sidewalk and ate it. WOW!!! Who needs wildlife TV?

Mom ... have you heard of.......?

You see it right! Kayla today was on the ipad and she asks me .....

" Mom, have you heard of the game, Spin the Bottle?"

Ha,ha,ha,ha!

"WHAT!"

I didn't think I would hear her ever ask me that!

HALLOWEEN 2010

Our favorite time of the year!

What a ride it has been for the past 3 nights! Yes, you heard it right ... 3 nights!

We have dressed up and put on our zombie makeup for days and performed around the Prescott area to THRILLER.

See below some pictures of our Halloween and a few clips from youtube.com from our flashmobs.

ENJOY!

Transforming to perform.

We used toilet paper and Elmer's glue to make our scabs.

Me with my good zombie buddy, Marie at top right.

THE UNDEAD!

Rehearsals, group photos, performances!

Oh, what fun!

Halloween night on Mt. Vernon is the best ever! If you haven't experienced it... you haven't experienced Halloween!

The video Tom got of our first performance on Mt. Vernon. There were people everywhere and gathering around to see it. A police motorcycle drove into the crowd and you can hear when he beeped his horn and flashed his lights, but we kept dancing. The undead doesn't stop for cops! ha,ha,ha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fwp-4Ynp8Q

Another view of it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_tEJ9IoDjk&feature=youtube_gdata

A short clip that someone caught of the end of our performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jaZ0bpoa_o

A darker video, but one of the performance at Oct. 30th at 10pm at Eco3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVbM46BgFrY

THRILLER lives on!

It was just to darn short! I wish we could of hit play again!

THRILLER!

My little ZOMBIES!

The girls and I have been practicing the THRILLER dance for several weeks with many other people. It is for a special performance ... soon to be seen by many. SHHHHHHH!

Yes, that is me in the middle ( do ya like the hair?) and the little ones in front of me are my little zombie girls.