Christmas

We had a quiet Christmas at home. Eric was on call all weekend so family was suppose to come see us. The crazy snow/ice storm that hit Oklahoma changed those plans. I enjoyed very much waking with my boys and watching them enjoy the morning. In true The Christmas Story fashion we even had Chinese food for dinner. Happy Memories!

PS. I will put them in matching jammies for Christmas morning until one or the other refuse.

Happy Birthday, Eric.

I feel so lucky to spend your 35th birthday with you. You are an amazing man and father. The boys and I are so proud and grateful. We love you very very very much. Happy Birthday!

Step 3

Create website.

Step 2

Sign up for Art Class.

Watermedia and acrylics are well suited for the painter who desires a shorter drying time and a quicker working style than can be obtained with oils. Discover the basics of acrylics, watercolor, and watercolor pencils to broaden your horizons in the use of watermedia for painting. Acrylics can be used to create various effects including watercolor-like washes, layering, transparent glazes, and heavy impasto. Through demonstrations, you will learn the techniques and tricks necessary to make your opaque works come to life. This class includes open studio on Fridays from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Studio 2

Step 1

Step number one is create a etsy store and a portfolio.

www.peacockandpeccary.etsy.com

Here

It's 10 degrees this morning in Wichita. This is not where I want to be. I want to be out in the ocean. With the sun on my face.

Sailing takes me away

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain

7 days in San Diego Bay.

Sleeping on a boat.

Without a heater or hair brush.

Studying for hours for a test that matters only to us.

Romantic moments wearing a headlight on my forehead.

Public restrooms and showers.

Numerous fish tacos.

Hours spent walking hand in hand.

dolphins, sea lions

Sun Rise, high tide

Manners Monsters

Angela asked for Monsters for her playroom. I couldn't picture in my head what I wanted to do. Then one day I picked up a scrap of paper I had used for another piece of art and was inspired. Here's my interpretation of Manners Monsters. I like that they are a little off the wall. and super super silly. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. :)

Gobble Gobble

So this post is a bit late, but...

We enjoyed the holiday in Tulsa with our families. I am thankful each day for the opportunity to love. I have so many blessings.

Coming Soon???

I've decided to go out on a limb. I love painting. Almost all of my girlfriend's children's room are decorated with a few of my pieces. There are 4 rooms in my own house that have my stuff on the walls. I loved art in high school, but for self-esteem issues I was too afraid to pursue art in college. Right now, I am privileged with the financial freedom to give it a little time and attention. When both boys are in school I will get a real job, but for now I'm going to see what happens. Mostly just for fun. (I have at least 10 current ideas floating around in my head.) But also to have an excuse to cultivate a hobby that truly feeds my soul.

Here's a Preview. Not the best photos ever :) But you get the picture. I have a few more pieces, but don't have pics of them for some reason.

The Peacock & the Peccary-

Make a Smilebox slideshow

What a Face?

Smell My Feet

Halloween is my favorite. Today was perfect! Thanks Arnetts for hosting again this year.

flying to Earth

It's official! I made my first custom Halloween costume.

About a month ago, Nathan and I were discussing the brightly colored Fall trees on the way home from preschool. I said we need to start thinking about what you want to be for Halloween. He quickly replied that he wanted to be a snowflake because he was ready for snow. I said okay. I asked again several times over the next week or so and the answer was always the same. So I got creative.

We went to the fabric store and Nathan picked out fluffy white fabric. I dug my sewing machine out and I started my trial and error. A couple weeks later we made a family trip to the Halloween store to find costumes for Mom and Dad. We found the coolest aviator goggles. We decided to incorporate them into the snowflake costume. The design continued to evolve. Now it is complete with an aviator hat and scarf. Nathan is a snowflake flying to Earth. I think it is the best costume ever!!!

One on One

Nathan loves to cook. I love to cook as well. But I especially like to cook with Nathan. Today we made lasagna. He is an expert egg breaker. Today, he mastered peeling garlic. Afterwards, we washed the dishes together. I washed and he rinsed. It was a perfect afternoon.

Car Ride

Don't let this 30 second video fool you. Zachary is not fun in the car.

Once a teacher...

Teachers of small children all know the power of the stamp. Kids loves stamps and stickers! I also know that kids love and need order and schedules. They want to know what to expect in a day and they what to know what is expected of them. The other thing smaller children really like is the feeling that they are capable and needed. If you combine these things, and you're a former teacher, you spend about an hour coming up with a behavior chart complete with picture icons.

Wow! This is the start of our second week with a behavior chart and Nathan loves it! I am once again amazed by the power of the stamp.

Note: He must earn the stamp. That PM listener is a particularly hard stamp to get. I will say that he has got it the last 2 days in a row.

Pina Colada

Nathan's last words to me tonight as I'm closing the door to his bedroom, "Do you like Pina Colada and getting caught in the rain. If you wait for an hour, if you have half a brain." He even sang it to the right melody. OMG! He is so funny! I'm afraid I'm the only one that understands his wit and sense of humor.

Toddler

cold turkey

Zachary is officially off the bottle. We just do cold turkey around here. He didn't even mind. He is choosing to walk about half the time, and is starting to repeat word sounds. I swear it feels like it was just yesterday that I was tearing up every time I hit a bump in the road. How could that have been a year ago?

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Zachary turned 1 on Saturday. Oh my! How quickly the year has gone. He is starting to walk and babble. Very soon there will be no more bottles and my baby will officially be a toddler. They don't stay little for long enough.

My Love

I am so lucky to have the very best job in the world. I wake up each morning to 2 of the most amazing people I have ever met. I get to spend the whole day, laughing, learning, teaching, and nurturing. Each night I get the last kisses and snuggles and get to tuck my little ones into their beds to rest so we can start over again the next day. My heart is full and I am speechless.