This is something I have been planning to do for quite some time. I finally sat down tonight and got started.
I would like to do a cross stitch portrait, Chuck Close inspired, of each of the children.
This is the first. It is a photo I took of Jasper on New Years Day. I layered a grid image onto the photo and had it printed onto cotton quilting fabric at spoonflower.
Now, I stitch.
This is what it looked like this week in the workshop.
Dave built and shipped 12 Abe Lincoln tables.
It's a little spooky when they are all staring at you.
This has been a week. Not a bad week. But a week filled with the chaotic schedule you would expect from a family with six kids fulfilling all I those end of the year field trips and projects.
Three days this week kids had to be at school obscenely early. One evening I found myself at Walmart feeding my kids dinner at the McDonald's kiosk. It's okay for 10 month olds to eat French fries right? Pretty sure that's on the list of things I, at one time have said I would never do.
The crescendo to the craziness came yesterday morning. Trying to get Juliana to school at 6 am for a canoeing field trip. We overslept and had to dart out the door. All the plans I had made the day before to smoothly get the other 3 kids where they needed to be we're out the window. Thankfully, my amazing husband and mom were there to pick up the pieces and got everything taken care of.
And then this picture. I love this picture. This photo will be burned on my brain forever. This sweet innocent girl. She looks at the world with wonder. What a treasure to spend the day with her hunting for fossils. I had the most wonderful day with my daughter. All the chaos faded away and I realize that my life is blessed and full. What more could I ask for?
Enjoy this photo bomb of our Family doing a little Plein Air painting. We took the kids to Manatee Park.
We didn't see any Manatees, but we did do a little painting, and Jasper ate some grass.
Beautiful Day.
My heart is broken for the Watlington family.
http://www.mcgregor.net/news-and-events/jesse-watlington-fund/
We have been playng waiting games around here. It has been way over a year since I wrote on this blog. I so enjoyed writing about my family and all the work of my hands, but for a while there it just wasn't feeling right.
Looking back on it, it's pretty easy to see why. No matter how much the parents love each other, blending a family with 5 kids is tough business. Dave and I have almost been married for 2 years now and our family is still by all means a work in progress. There have been enough triumphs to way out number the roadblocks and this is where we can measure our progress and successes.
During this time of defining our roles and establishing our life together I have been completely uninspired to take too many photos or document our life. I guess it feels like such uncharted territory, that my fears of doing it wrong and documenting all our mistakes took over. And there have been plenty of mistakes, but we are all learning and the kids are amazing. Just like with most everything else, if we follow where the kids lead and look at their example of willingness to love unconditionally, anything is possible.
And here now, we find ourselves in another waiting pattern. Any day now we will welcome a 6th child into this family. All the kids are so excited and Dave and I are amazed. We feel so blessed to get this chance to have a child together.
Life is such a gift and so full of surprises. When I look back and forward at all the progress and possibilities I am blown away.
The picture above is the quilt I made for the new little one. Lets hope we get to introduce him soon. His due date is still a week off, but I am so ready and I am not sure his brothers and sisters can wait much longer.
Have a great weekend.
Ain't no rhyme or reason no complicated meaning
Ain't no need to overthink it....let go laughing.... (lyrics from Sugarland)
I am not going to lie to you. I love Sugarland. I heard an interview with Jennifer Nettles recently when she was talking about a song. She said (and I'm paraphrasing) that some songs are meant to change your life and some are just there to change your day. Their songs do both for me.
I am taking a few days to hang out with kids and take it easy. It sure does feel good. I'm also spending some time working on our dolls. Dave is way ahead of me, so I have to catch up. He is sculpting them and I am doing the clothes. It is so fun to work together.
Here are a few photos of the tribe....
Here you have Anastasia the punk rock bride and Erik the Orange Vikingman
With an unfinished Tom Waits in front
Slash and Amy Winehouse
The Pope
Check out this cool jewelry/mail/book organizer made by my brilliant and talented husband.
The little light switch on the front turns the built in light on and off. You can see more photos here
Have a great weekend.
When you live in Florida year round, there is a little snow envy going on. It IS nice down here but when Christmas comes around who doesn't dream of a little snow and wintery weather? But ,something wonderful happens and you remember why Florida rocks. Fresh Yummy localish strawberries on December 30th. Oh yeah that's good stuff.
We had a really fun day yesterday hanging out with Allan and Kimberly. Going back to work on Monday will be tough.
My handsome husband on the bagpipes
Allan was a natural.
He gets his skills from his mother.
A great way to end 2010.
Happy New Year.
