This is Timothy’s painted tissue paper collage, “Ocean, Sand, Grass,” inspired by Eric Carle.
A long time ago I did a post about a Bayeaux Tapestry project. I realized I never followed up with the completed projects.
by Tim
Here is the next project which exceeded the time we set aside for it. I decided that Daniel can finish it if he wants to. The point was to gain an appreciation for the magnitude of the tapestry and learn the history and I think we achieved that.
Mark didn’t want to be left out. The boys were being allowed to stab fabric with sharp metal objects. This was what he had always wanted to do!
Timothy began taking piano lessons last fall. He loves to play. His piano teacher often assigns him songs from our church. She is not of our faith, so it’s especially thoughtful.
Love is Spoken Here
And who can forget the essential Indian dance during the first year of piano study?
Indian Song
I love this old photo of Timothy and Daniel on the horse.
I have a tradition of decorating the birthday child’s bedroom door. This year, I enlarged and printed some of Paige’s dance photos. I cut out the dancer, traced the cutout on dark paper and cut out again.
We decorated sugar cookies, went out to eat, and went shopping for clothes.
We ended the day with a chick flick with Paige’s best friend. We munched on Paige’s signature gourmet sandwiches and sat down to watch the 2009 BBC version of Emma.
The little brothers contributed sweet and thoughtful gifts. Timothy made a mouse out of Sculpey clay for her. Mark wrapped each gift… several days early.
Here is Paige playing Mazurka in G Minor by Chopin:
Here is Daniel playing Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 (Tempo di Menuetto) by Beethoven. Daniel worked very hard on his technique as he studied this piece. See if you can guess which part was his favorite.
Paige showed me some of the work she’s been doing in her studio (aka bedroom). These are ink drawings on watercolor paper which she has moistened with a brush to add some shading. She came up with this technique and I don’t know what to call it. Ink watercolor? The effect is subtle and ethereal and these scans don’t do them justice. I love the simple lines and softness of each.
We recorded piano pieces back in May and today I want to begin sharing them. This is Paige playing Reverie by George Peter Tingley. It’s restful, reflective, and deeply moving. I’m grateful that I get to hear beautiful music from my children each day.
I hope you’re having a restful Sunday. I’m grateful for a sabbath day and God’s commandment to rest and keep a holy day each week.
Did you read that article about playgrounds being so safe that they are boring? The see-saws are gone, as are most swings, merry-go-rounds, or anything with moving parts. When my boys play on the playground, I usually catch them climbing on the Outside of the tube slides because it’s more manly.
This summer we tried to be really deliberate in our choices for the kids. We chose our vacation and summer activities with the idea that we wanted to provide adventure and opportunities for them to grow. In other words, we didn’t want a homogenized curvy-edged playground summer; we wanted an old fashioned teeter-totter-jungle gym-monkey bridge summer.
For Paige, this meant some time with grandparents on her own and a two week ballet camp where she lived in the dorms.
4th of July Parade. Expression doesn't capture her enthusiasm.Character danceShe's somewhere in this photo on the right.Roommate
For Daniel, adventure meant a tennis camp around the corner and then 9 days with my parents on his own. Daniel kept a journal of his trip which he read to me. Wow. What a good, busy time.
Grandma made sure he felt welcome.Collecting dead woodFire!Concrete work
Most of Timothy’s adventures involved rocks, water, and cousins. This kid loved riding the tube behind the wave runner and really improved his swimming skills.
treasure hunt
And now we come to Mark, who found adventures aplenty.
Bicycle rides through mud puddlesYes, he crossed this rickety bridge over the raging river, but he was tethered to his dad when he did it. This bridge looks like it came out of an Indiana Jones movie. All the boys crossed this again and again.
As the summer activities come to an end, I reflect on the value of getting out of the desert so we could spend time outdoors, build relationships with extended family, and experience adventure and even risk to help us grow and develop. It has been a good summer for the Ross family.
I think this picture is a whimsical treasure. Instructions here.
I feel a significant change in the dynamics of our life. We don’t read as many picture books and the house is no longer “baby-proof.” I’ve stopped stashing emergency diapers in the van; We don’t end up eating the snacks we take to church. Strollers are unused and no one rides a tricycle or uses training wheels. I threw out the sippy cups.
Sigh. In the place of all the baby gear, I find sports equipment, socks, big shoes, and Legos everywhere. Showers, not baths, independent reading over snuggling together with books, and more bike rides away from home without Mom watching anxiously are the norm now. I live in the van, reading books as I wait for activities to end. I read a lot of books.
It’s good. It’s different. It’s a little sad sometimes. It all happened without my noticing anything had changed. Now everything has changed, but it’s okay… most of the time!
Whenever Paige disappears for a while to her room I can expect her to emerge with a drawing or something creative (eventually). Lately, she’s been sewing for the tiny Blythe dolls, a pastime I highly recommend no matter how old you are. Thanks, Care, for the inspiration!
