Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Art Show

We took down this artwork from our playroom wall before we moved.  These pictures evoke some fun memories for me and the boys:

Ellis' life size portrait - we made it "together" (back in the stage when Ellis refused to use markers or crayons, so I'm sure he just watched and told me what to do :).

Henry and I made this back when he wanted to do a "craft of the day" almost every single day.  He was pretty excited when I taught him the easy way to draw birds.

Grandpa Dave made these on the day he came to visit our Primary and drew caricatures of kids who were singing well.

I think Henry drew this one when he was best friends with Ava Sorensen.  She had a very swirly influence on his style.

School art project - kindergarten

School project - first grade

Keepin' it real by adding the appropriate wildlife to the scene.

Another school project.  You can see him starting to deviate from the assignment here.

 And even more deviation here.  I believe this is a . . .

Moving on to the completely creative type of drawing Henry typically does now.  There are a lot of pathways leading to secret places and machines that do complicated stuff.

Self portrait, with a description of what he would keep in his top hat if he were Abraham Lincoln.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Acadia National Park - the dream amidst the chaos

Once upon a time, when we were already having one of the craziest weeks of our lives between graduation and moving, we decided to go on vacation.   It really was such a crazy time to go, but we had been talking about taking a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park for years, and we couldn't bear the thought of leaving New England without taking this trip.

So we went.  And it was beautiful.  Exactly what we needed.  We have zero regrets.  Look at the house we stayed in!   It was perfect.  

The kitchen was dreamy.

 And the bedrooms were glorious.  

We biked on the carriage trails . . . 

  . . . and did lots and lots of hiking.

 Everywhere we went, there was no shortage of wonders for the eyes.  



 and discoveries to be made...

 We had so much fun with the Yosts: Brandon, JoDee, Olivia, Ben, and Annabelle!  They were the perfect travel companions.  They were patient with our stressful struggle between trying to relax and also me being kind of type-A.  I do think once we were up there, I did a pretty good job of relaxing and taking everything in.

That is Jordan Pond below.  We ate at an absolutely marvelous outdoor restaurant called Jordan Pond House that overlooks the Pond.  They had popovers that I'm still dreaming of!  My camera died shortly after this hike, so I don't have pictures.  Maybe someday I'll get some from JoDee to share.  :) 

 Curious boys

Bubble rock, suspended at the top of this cliff (yet impossible to push it over the edge).

I wish I had pictures to show everything else we saw/did/loved.  I also loved shopping on the Main Street in Bar Harbor, eating treats on the Pier, watching the sunset at the top of Cadillac Mountain, and watching waves crash along the rocks near Thunder Cave.  We were only there for three days, and we feel like we could have stayed a whole week and enjoyed it.  It was an awesome vacation and the perfect way to say goodbye to New England.

We needed it.  Acadia, we love you!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Ellis' Joy School Year

Do you recognize this boy?

 Almost a year ago, Ellis was starting his very first Joy School group.  I think he looks so young in this picture!

Ellis was SO proud of himself for being able to do Joy School like Henry did, but with his very own group.  He especially loved having Joy School at our house so he could see the behind-the-scenes planning that went on when it was my turn to teach.  This is the best Joy School House that I have made - it included some digital graphics and Velcro dots!

During the year, Ellis also participated in Pre-K sports through the town, which he was also very proud of.

He loved being with his friend, Ethan!

 Joy School - Christmas time - "The Perfect Present"

 Getting silly with Amelia

 Getting messy (and not really loving it)

 Crazy hair day with Amelia and Zack

 School photos by Mandy Baker (LOVE them!)


 Daphne, Lennon, Amelia, Zack, Ellis, and Evelyn


With the moms: Laura, Becky, April, Mandy, and Michelle

 Joy School Graduation!

I am so proud of Ellis for learning so much in Joy School and for being such a good boy at school.  I loved the memories we made together!  I will admit, I got super stressed about teaching Joy School each time, mostly because it took so much time and made it hard to be a mom before and after, but it really was such a fun memory.  I am happy that Ellis will get to go to a separate preschool this year, but it was so special to have this time with him.

Missing . . .

Looking at these pictures just gave me a really big pit in my stomach.  I hate saying goodbye!  Here are just a few of the people and things we are missing.

Tiff Rinne, Rachel Durazzani, Jen Hubbard, Ashley Schmutz, Jenna Mullen 

 The Evanses: Emmet, Romney . . .

  . . . Emilie and Christy

Amy Kyle (my beloved voice teacher and friend) and Heidi Smith 

 Stephanie and Tabi (and Ryan and Sami too)

 Jenna Mullen, Laura Sprague, and Jamie Cook

 Riley and Amber Lovendale

 Rachel Durazzani and Lacey Christensen

 Keziah Dutchak and her boys, Andrei and Elijah

Best friends: Sammy and Sami

More Best friends!  Bryson and Henry

Henry's best school friend: Jules

The Lowell School - it was awesome.
(end of year picnic)

 Sweet friends and girls' nights (this was a farewell ice cream party hosted by the ever-classy Jamie)

 Man, I could use a girls' night with my girls right now.  I'm missing them so much that it hurts!

I'll have to admit, we are loving our new house so much that we're not really pining for our old space too much.  But it is the home to many beautiful memories for us, and we love this home for that.  What a lovely little place.  Boston chapter, you absolutely ruled.