Stuck inside

We were stuck inside yesterday. Scout wasn't feeling well and it was cold and snowing, yes snowing, like crazy all day. She slept a lot, we watched Gordy (she rarely watches TV) while snuggling, we played with blocks and read stories and....

we painted. She asks to paint almost everyday. This is her paper mache horse. She made it. Now she paints it, over and over again, fabulous.

She tells me which colors she wants each day, it is always different.

I love the concentration on her face.

These markers get used everyday also. This picture was made for Daddy. She makes circles and uses every color.

We filled the sink with warm water, added bubbles and some bowls, cups and spoons.

She decided it would be better to remove her clothes...they were getting wet!

Jousting poles

Becoming a knight is something one of the kids is interested in. This works well for horsemanship and also gave us an idea for our next art project...jousting poles!

We happened to have some pvc water pipe lying around. I cut it into sections, sized to each childs size. This section is curved because the pipe was in a coil. But hay, it was free, so we just keep bending it and it will eventually straighten out. We cut the top of a milk jug and positioned it as a hand guard. Then taped it into place.

Next we wrapped the "business" end of the pole with a piece of pipe insulation.

A piece of insulation, about 1 inch long, was left extended past the pipe. It was folded over the end and taped with electrical tape to make a soft point. You can get any color electrical tape you like at the hardware store. The bigger stores may have better color selection. We happened to have green already so that is what we used.

The whole thing was wrapped in the electrical tape, including the hand guard.

You could use multiple colors for a more dramatic pole.

Then the knights mounted up!!

Spring chores

The ground was to frozen to pick up the paddock so we cleared the trails today.

Using your pony makes the chore extra fun!

When everyone was getting cold we moved into the art studio.

The kids are all at different stages in making and painting their paper mache horses.

I set Scout up with this horse, came back, and this is what she had done...all by herself. It even has eyes!

A finished pony

good times

whats better then a boy whistling while he works!

Happy Valentines Day

Scout worked for a couple weeks on a big project.

Valentines day was coming and she wanted a gift for the best Daddy ever.

Of course the subject would be a horse. A paper mache project. We started by drawing a horse on a piece of cardboard, cutting it out and taping two together.

She tore up newspaper.

We used white glue and water for our paste because it would be a very durable finished product.

After it dried it was painted with primer to cover the newsprint.

Then the decorating began....

the two fisted style of painting...

attention to details....

a serious artist, working in her studio.

Ready for Daddy when he gets home.

Happy Valentines Day Daddy!

Life is Good!!

Ar day-collage

The kids made collages about themselves. They used scissors, glue, magazines, yarn, sticks, foam shapes, stickers, glitter and imagination.

Zach started the wood stove early in the morning to take the chill off the room. All the kids, even the littlest one's gathered around the table with piles of inspiration.

Scout is getting so focused now, she stayed at the table for 30 minutes!

Beautiful projects began to appear.

We had cocoa and snacks and laughs.

Exploring scissors.

The day ended with snow play, kids, dogs, swing set, fun!!!

Life is Good

Art day-painting

Art day now includes the big kids and we had a blast. It was also the inauguration of the art studio!

The kids put on a puppet show while we prepared the paints.

The little kids worked at the easel.

These paint cups are great. The the tops keep the paint from spilling and also wipe off the brushes as they are pulled from the cup.

Scout was very into her painting project, a first for her. Now that she is a "big girl" she is more focused on stopping in one place for more then a moment.

She put all the paint on the paper, not her face!

Team work

The big kids worked at the table..

painting their shoes.....

and mixing the colors they wanted using only the primary ones.

Looking good!!

We did have a little face painting!