Little Artist

So back in Vermont a group of us ladies got together once a month and called it Mom's Night Out. One Friday in May we went to a really cool place in WRJ called Tip Top Pottery. We had such a great time that we decided to go there again the next month and this time to bring our daughters (all of us had little girls close in age). Maeve just loved painting her unicorn. So, for a teacher's gift, I thought I'd bring Wells to the pottery place and have him make something for Mr. Haley.
He designed and painted this great little plate. I was surprised since Wells usually hates coloring and drawing and things of that sort.
Tip Top Pottery, it turns out, runs several week-long summer camps, so I asked Wells if he'd be interested in attending. The camp offered pottery every morning and then other art activities in the afternoon like batik, acrylic painting, sketching, tie-dying, etc. Wells was enthusiastic about the idea. And it turns out that he's quite a little artist! His painting teacher, Rebecca, who is awesome, noticed that he had some talent for painting and brought this to my attention one day when I went to pick him up. She said he was delightful and that art was his new favorite subject. He really does love painting so for his 10th (!) birthday this year I bought him some canvas, paintbrushes and paints. Here's a mini show of his artwork to date:

Hermit Crab


Hornet

Piano on Pond Surrounded by Frogs
(this was a gift for his piano teacher)


New Mexican Praying Mantis

The Kindness of Musicians

Wells's violin teacher is out of town. So, this Wednesday, I decided to take him to the New Mexico Orchestra Chamber Music concert, held at the violin shop. A small venue. So I called on Wed. afternoon to make sure there were still tickets available. "Oh yes, we will have tickets at the door," the woman assured me. "The box office opens at 6 and the concert starts at 7:30." That is all she said. So, I forced Wells into some decent clothes and we arrived at the concert a little after 7. Only to be told, by the same woman I spoke to on the phone, that the concert is sold out. I was a little upset and protested and recounted our earlier phone conversation. Where she tried to convince me that she told everyone to buy tickets in advance due to the size of the venue. She did not tell me that. During the conversation a few people started surrounding the table. I didn't realize it right away, but they were the musicians. They began trying to help. One woman suggested that the piece they're performing is very popular and I should leave my name and number and they will call me if they do it again. Another man offered to have us sit just outside the door to hear the music. I replied that, although a very kind offer, my son was taking violin lessons and I wanted him to see the musicians, their posture, how they hold their instruments, etc. He nodded. Then, a very nice man with an accent came over. He shook our hands. He said, "Please, leave your name and number. Come to our next concert for half price. And please, come backstage and talk with us afterwards." Then he said, "I am the conductor of the orchestra." I didn't know if I should feel honored or embarrassed. I think it was a little of both. He guided us over to the table, insisting to the nasty woman that she write my name down. Then, with another plea to enjoy our evening and many apologies, he went in to begin the concert. Late. Because of us. The frowny woman did take my name but NOT my phone number and I didn't want to press the issue. But Wells is so excited to meet the musicians at the December concert that he's been practicing a song to play for them. So, I guess it turned out to be a great concert after all!

Weather.com

This was a funny story from April or May that I wanted to remember. After Eric had his job interview with Sandia, his mind was totally on Albuquerque and moving to Albuquerque. I think, mentally, he'd already left. So, one day as I was getting the kids ready for school, he called to check on how I was doing. I asked him to give me the weather forecast for the day so I'd know what clothes to put on the kids. He said something like, "Oh, it's going to be a beautiful day in Vermont. Really sunny, high in the 70s." We were both surprised at that forecast since it was gray and cold and drizzly outside, which fact I mentioned. He said, "Well, it'll probably clear up soon." So I dressed all the kids in shorts, sandals and sweaters, thinking it was going to clear up and warm up any minute and sent them off to school.

An hour later it started to snow.

I don't know what those teachers must have thought of me sending them to school in shorts and sandals and no coats. They couldn't go outside for recess because they were freezing. Poor kids.

And where did that beautiful forecast exist, you wonder? That's right: Albuquerque.

NOT Vermont!

Spider Princess

I asked Wells to play nicely with Maeve for a little while so I could get some unpacking done. This usually works as long as he comes up with a game she's willing to play. And he's generally pretty flexible. Well, they came up with quite the collaboration this time: spider princess. It combines the best of both worlds - a remote control tarantula with tiny little princesses. The tarantula (named "Fluffy") even consented to pull Cinderella's carriage around the house. It was the most bizarre, hilarious thing I've seen in a long time.

They played spider princess for quite a long time. Thanks for not eating any princesses, Fluffy!

"I Am"

A poem by Wells, age 9

I am made of elements, I am complicated.

I wonder why my mom won't buy me a mindstorm.

I hear my seeds,

I see my favorite dream.

I want a mindstorm.

I am made of elements, I am complicated.

I pretend I'm a bird

I feel trees

I enjoy swimming

I worry of bullies

I cry of pain

I am made of elements, I am complicated.

I understand stories

I say, "by the way",

I dream of a mindstorm

I try to write this

I hope to finish soon

I am made of elements, I am complicated.

Nobody's Perfect!

Since I have months of posts to fill in, I thought I ease back into it with just a small, simple story.

Today was the second full day of school for the boys at a brand new school. There are a lot of new things at a new school. I don't think I fully appreciated what a big adjustment it would be. But they are doing great and I'm so proud of them.

After a long day of school and rules I promised the boys they could play the Wii for a little while. Originally I said half an hour but then I realized I wanted a little more time to myself (isn't that what TV is for?). They were already playing when I went in and said, "If I let you play for one hour will you turn it off when I come get you - with no complaining?" W says, "Maybe." I said, "Maybe?" He answered, "Well, I'm trying to say yes but I just can't. I mean, nobody's perfect."

I appreciated the honesty.

We agreed that I would tell him when time's up and give him a bonus 5 minutes if he needs it to finish in a good spot.

After all, Nobody's Perfect!

AMEN!

I recently read these words from the blog of Shannon Hale, author and BYU alumna. http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html


I'll just quote her feelings about housework because I Totally Agree:

"OK, really I should say, I plan on accepting that fact any day now. I wish my carpets were vacuumed weekly, that I had a meal plan and didn’t panic when 6 pm rolls around and the kitchen is stone cold. Our backyard is literally a back yard, and I still can’t manage to keep it weed free and full of happy plants. Really, you’d be shocked. And don’t look under my bed. But my priorities are: Max’s needs, husband time, writing, feeding self, sleep, bathing self, church volunteer responsibilities, paying bills…housework comes somewhere down here, maybe after Essential Grooming."

Thank you, Shannon.

COOOOOOODE

I had to post this funny story from M and A on Saturday. I was sick and spent the day lying in bed. W had bruised his back earlier in the morning by sledding into one of the three trees on our property so he was also quietly lying in bed which made for a very peaceful day. For some reason M and A were playing this secret agent game which went like this:

M: (knocks on A's closed bedroom door)
A: Cooooooode?
M: Pieman!
A: No, M, that's not the code. Do it again.
M: (knocks on door)
A: Cooooooode?
M: Pieman!
A: M! The code will never be Pieman!
M: Well, what is it then?
A: Sword! Knock again.
M: (knocks on door)
A: Coooooode?
M: Pie! .....man?
A: NOOOOOO, M! Sword! Sword! Coooooode!
M: (very satisfied). Swordman!
A: I give up. You do it. (knocks on door)
M: Coooooooode!
A: Sword!
M: Nope!
A: What is it then?
M opens door and whispers to A.
M: Code?
A: (disgustedly) Tinkerbell

A Cactus Lesson

Today I learned a very valuable lesson about cacti. Or cactuses. Whatever. I spent the morning with a very nice Realtor driving me around and showing me potential houses in case we do actually (slight shudder) move to Albuquerque. And I want you to know that I just spelled that correctly without using spellcheck. Anyway, of course many of the houses had cactus plants growing in the yard. I don't think I've ever seen a "wild" cactus before, so naturally, I had to touch one. Very, very bad idea. My two fingers were literally stuck to the cactus. I mean, I could not pull them off. At all. The Realtor asked, "Are you ok?" Have you ever had to say this sentence: "No, actually, I'm stuck to a cactus." She said, "What?" I said, "Seriously, I cannot take my hand off this cactus." At least, not without a great deal of pain and bleeding, I was thinking. She suggested I pull my hand really hard. Of course, once I did that I ripped a big chunk off the cactus, destroying years of growth. I can't think of a time recently when I've felt more idiotic. Luckily the Realtor had a pair of gloves in her car so she grabbed the piece of cactus and held tight while I literally ripped my hand off the barbs. It hurt. A. Lot. But I only bled a little!

And now the cactus was stuck to the Realtor's glove. She had to step on it with her shoe to get it off.


So, the lesson is, Don't Touch the Cacti (Cactuses). Ever!

Christmas Vacation: by Guest Blogger W

We went to Edmonton this December for Christmas. And since we flew with airmiles (thank you, family), I had to take the kids out of school a week and a half early. They were heartbroken. W's teacher gave him an assignment to keep a journal of his trip. Priceless:

Dec. 12: First we drove to the airport. Then we went through security. Then we went to look out the window. I saw many strange and beautiful things like airplanes, trucks and birds. It’s amazing that planes can fly.

Dec. 13: Things I noticed about Canada that are different than Vermont: it was freezing. I could see my breath indoors. It was -40 degrees Celsius. In Canada they use Celsius not Fahrenheit. With wind-chill it was -58 degrees. It was the coldest place on earth. At the airport I heard people speaking French. That’s because Canada has two official languages. French and English. I also noticed that people are nicer in Canada. They act like a waiter at a restaurant, asking what we want. I try to be really nice back.

Dec. 14: We went swimming today. It was really fun. It had a current you could go under and the water would push you along faster. I liked it when the bucket dumped on my head when I was under water. Since I’m 9 I can go everywhere all by myself. I went on the slides, too. I didn’t even have to pay attention to the red light green light thing because there was nobody else there. All the other kids were at school. Ha, ha, ha!

Dec. 15: I got to try on a snowboard. A snowboard looks like a gigantic piece of cardboard in the shape of a rectangle. There’s metal on the bottom to help it slide in the snow. You can also sit on the snowboard and ride it like a sled. You can go really fast. But they don’t let you do that on the ski hill. Awww, that’s too bad. The boots were a little big and they were cold at first. My aunt is taking me snowboarding when it warms up.

Dec. 16: last night I played on the wii a long time. But forget about that I have something BETTER to tell you. I went to a museum. We saw diamonds that my uncle Steve put there. I learned how First Nations, that’s like Native Canadians, caught fish. They sharpened sticks and stuck them in the mud so when the fish tried to jump over the sticks it killed them. I took a picture of plastic fish guts which were pretty realistic.

I got to see one of the biggest spiders in the world THE GOILIOTH BIRD Eating TARANTULA. It was cool. THE END.

Dec. 17 2009: I went SKATING! It was fun. I had black HOCKEY SKATES. The blade was so sharp I cut myself without knowing it. It’s easier to balance than you think it is. There are lines on the rink and you follow them.

Dec. 21: We had a family Christmas party and went dancing and played tag. I played my violin with my cousins. Santa came but it was really my grandpa.


Dec. 26: Do you know what a quad is? It’s like a 4 wheeler made for all seasons. We hooked sleds up to the quad and we went around in circles. Anson’s sled hit a giant clump of snow and his foot almost broke my NECK when he fell down onto my sled.

Dec. 28: we went to the biggest mall in WORLD. There were lollipops the SIZE OF MY HEAD. There was a giant robot dragon that breathed real FIRE. There was an electronic whoopee cushion. There were under water fish tanks. You had to take a submarine to see them.

Dc. 29: Do you know what a GT. Racer is? It’s a sled. A sled that has a steering wheel. It steers so good I went over about ten jumps. The hill was huge. It was dark out but the moon was bright enough.

Dec. 31: We went to the mall's waterpark . A. hated the slides. I hit my SHIN real bad on NESSIES REVENGE. OW ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ! I went on 3 out of the 4 scary slides. The slides were sky screamer, howler, nessie’s revenge and tropical thunder. My favorite slide was Blue Bullet.
THE END