Our Roxaboxen Adventures

Playing and Plays....Mommytography Update

Here's a recap of our first week in April...more updates to follow

 

Saturday, April 2rd, while hanging out at SPTC,  I snapped this cutie picture of Kennedy.

 

Sunday, Alex showing her two grandma's her newest art work.

 

Monday, April 4th after school we went to the park and found this house relocated to it. It's an old 2 room  "colored" schoolhouse. The county plans to renovate and open it up to the public. Great idea.

 
Then we played at the playground adjacent...Alex showing off her "chin ups"

 

Jordan found some kids her age to "drive" around town.

 

and Kennedy & I sang nursery rhymes on the swings

No picture on Tuesday....
...

Wednesday, the girls played basketball on daddys old hoop.

 

Alex completed another art project

 

No picture on April 7th (I'm starting to slack off, I know)

On Friday, April 8th,  I took the girls to see "BIG" the musical put on by the local highschool.

 

and here's the infamous jumping on keys scene...

 

They did a great job and it's always so nice to see many of my 8th graders as seniors and how they've grown up. It's also nice to have them remember me fondly and introduce me to their folks and friends.....and best of all- offer to babysit my little ones sometime :) 

Alex's First Showing at VMFA (around the corner from Picasso)

Alex attended an art camp last summer  at VMFA  and her piece was selected to show in their first children's art exhibit two weekends ago. They had a reception for the kids, and presented them with certificates. The museum did a great job making the young talented art students (elementary through high) feel special and this reception encouraged them to think like "real" artists. Alex is excited about continuing her art lessons this summer and we're even considering taking part in their weekly afterschool art club.  Here are some pictures.....

 
 

The students also had some opportunities to do some art at the reception....

Inspiration T-Shirts....

 

and a quick lesson on Still Life w/Fruit from the wonderful Megan Liles....

 
Final product-

 

and one last shot wearing her Matisse inspired "Inspiration" shirt by her piece

 

before heading off towards the Picasso Exhibit (literally right around the corner from her piece)- which is exciting in itself to know her work is so close and being within mere feat of such a great artist.

 

Thanks VMFA for this great opportunity/recognition. It's a wonderful thing you do encouraging and recognizing the potential in young art enthusiasts.

 

 

 

 

 

Is your blog on Facebook?

Just curious as I see a few of my favorite blogs aren't posting and I'm noticing more & more blogs on facebook. Leave me a comment if you've switched over.  Thanks!

 

 

#83-86/365 Mommytography Project

Monday 3/28- A neighbor came over looking to play with Alex (who wasn't home yet) and decided to stay and play with Jordan. Jordan was thrilled as she never gets to play alone with the bigger kids :)

 

Tuesday, 3/30- Chick file kids night w/musical performer. Jordan loves live music. Pardon the left over piece of nugget on her lip (smiles)

 

 

 

back at home the girls did some art...

Alex's started like this...

 
and ended like this.....I believe she called it: "Tropical bird eating  slug". Can you see it? (the slug in the beak to the left). I could be a little biased, but I think it's great piece of abstract/ Matisse styled art. She actually drew it sorta upside down. The brown circle above is actually in the bottom right corner below.

 

The little girls played with playdoah....

 

Wednesday, 3/30- We plan to finally learn to play, hopefully this kit will help teach the girls. I actually like that you can hide little "treats" inside the pieces, doesn't that sound fun.

 

Thursday 3/31- Time to go grocery shopping. Let me just say up front that we shop every 2 weeks and we go to 3 different stores. This is my photo journal of each stores support of our local college (my & hubbys alum)  making it to the final 4 basketball tournament.

We always start with Trader Joes for meats, dairy & frozen items ......a full banner as you walk in.
 

Then Whole Foods for fruits, vegies, and cheese ....

 
 

Then Walmart for all the household "stuff"...

 

Stay tuned for more pics. showing VCU pride as the tournament approached......

#77-82/365 Mommytography Project

Nothing too eventful, but here's our week in pictures.

Tuesday, 3/22- Pick up little girls from grandma and the girls (both are very tall for their age) wanted me compare themselves to grandma's height.

 

When we got home, all the neighbors were out so the kids played in the front yard while us grown ups chatted....please ignore how desperately we need some mulch/ work in the flower bed.

 

Wednesday 3/23 after a long day of school/work- I decided we'd treat ourselves to some gourmet cupcakes. Too Sweet, yum yum.

 

Thursday 3/24- Found Alex on the deck making this lovely spring crown.

 

3/25- American Girls Book Club night. Jordan usually plays at the train table while Alex attends the group. They had a big turn out.

 

 

Saturday 3/26- We went to dinner at BW3's. Kennedy is munching on a celery stalk.

 

Sunday 3/27 we woke up to tree blossoms and snow cover. Talk about weird weather.

 

Cleaned the car then off to grandmas for the day- where the girls played until their hearts were content.

 

 

I wanted to share that the blue chair Jordan is sitting in, was actually grandmas chair from when she was a small child and was a gift to her from her grandmother. The hubby used it when he was a child and now are our children are enjoying it....how special is that.
 

Do you have any items that have been passed down, specifically for "childhood"?

#73- Mommytography- Bad Mommy

3/18- Our day in pictures.

Well, the day started off fine. Alex had speech therapy at 7:30am before school (yes, early I know). They are working  prouncing the letter R, right now her R's sound like W's.

 

 

The hubbys car was in the shop, so we had a lovely convertible that we picked Alex up from school in, she LOVED riding in it and waving goodbye to all her friends.

 
 

Then off we went to grandma's to pick up the little girls...where  they discovered this nest in the bushes...

 

Then we packed up the girls and headed to dinner....

 

where we ate and enjoyed this shared desert....

 

Then home we went. I should note that none of the girls wanted to go to bed. Alex and Jordan both always come up with a list of somatic symptions and tonights was a sore throat. Well, I suppose Alex in particular didn't like my "mommy voice" of how "sick and tired", and "didn't want to hear another word" about all the excuses why she couldn't go to bed, etc. ...... becuase I found this note on the kitchen counter.

 

well....her words are true. My tone was harsh and I did basically tell her to "shut it up". I'm glad she wrote this note to express herself to me though, I've really made an conscious effort to watch my responses and consider everyone's feelings since reading it.

 

#69- 73/365 Mommytography Project

3/11

After our nature class, we headed about 10 mins. away to the Farmers Market, which was hosting the St. Patricks Day festival. Jordan dance to some Irish jigs.....

 
They did some crafts (becuase again, I don't do them at home)

 

and we bought some a little fruit snack for the ride back home...

 

3/12- We took the girls to play/shop at Pottery Barn Kids....

 

3/13- My sister and I went to visit my mom in her new apartment. She doesn't have any furniture yet, and I took this picture of my sister and her baby snuggling/reading together.

 

3/14 -I snapped this picture of Jordan trying to play daddy's trumpet.

 

no pics for 3/15-3/16- Not sure why or where it is...sure I took one.

3/17- Alex's "self-esteem" girls group at church. Unfortunately, only 3 kids signed up so it's not going to continue :(

 

They  made these " positive self reflection" posters of themselves and presented them to each other.

 

The girls had a great time at their first and only meeting. I was really amazed at how open they were about themselves- well the other two, Alex- not so much. It saddened me that the two other girls (second graders) both reported bullying at their schools and that despite notifying adults- it was still going on. I hope that now that their parents are aware, they can put an end to it. Alex's issues are more internal and her sense of perfection. Even though she is smiling above, she had a complete melt down in the car about how her poster wasn't  good and her presentation wasn't good. In the end I suggested she redo her presentation to grandma and she did......and I guess felt "redeemed". 

 

 

#74-76/365 Mommytography Project

and picking right up (and still playing catch up) here we go.

3/19- The morning after my "bad mommy" note, daddy  made a special breakfast and I spoke to Alex  about the previous nights incident.

 

 

The weather was beautiful so daddy took the two oldest out for a spin with the roof down. Can you see their hands up in the air as they drove off :)

 

Later we went to our favorite mall, where the girls looked/played around in Build A Bear. Ignore the date on the photo, for some reason the actual time/date keeps getting off.

 

3/20-The next morning, Alex was cuddled behind the sofa reading a stack of picture books in her angel costume. I love the brightness of this picture.

 

 

Later (as every Sunday) we went to grandma's, where I finally had a chance to update Jordans weekly work shelves. I'm sad to say, the shelves haven't been updated since, but it was only 2 weeks ago, right.

 

3/21- The first day of Spring. We took a late night family walk and the girls found this little fella on the way back.

 
 

I mentioned that we do the same things on Sundays  (church/grandmas for dinner), a family ritual I suppose.  What are your family rituals and how do you handle outside requests during that time? (thinking about birthday parties, extracurricular activities, etc.)