1. Creation in all its forms
I don’t always say that in the moment nor after the moment. But when I come back and look at these pictures I am in awe. On a tired day, when my capacity and energy is low, they are messes, disaster zones, destruction, waste and more work for me. On a good day, I am filled with wonder and awe for what they conjure up.

Sometimes I wish it wouldn’t include all the things it does, but I choose to live in a house with lots of stuff and so it goes. They view all this stuff in a much different way. Everything has more value that just sitting on a shelf, everything can play an active role in their play. It is really fascinating….and sometimes frustrating.

1. Enjoying firsts with the kids. This day: bowling.

They loved it. I don’t know what to say, they really loved it. Quinn kept saying, “what fun! what fun!”. Tyler was bouncing all around all smiles. They wanted to come every weekend. With the summer temps on the rise, bowling will definitely be added as an option for weekend fun. I love bowling, so am really jazzed about their enthusiasm for it. The pictures tell the story.

And as we were changing shoes, Quinn had to try to tie hers herself. She is getting to be such a big girl! And she did figure out the knot part this day! Is she really about to be 4?

1. Playing ball with my Dad
I blogged about the latest with my Dad separate from this project, but this morning thought, I really enjoyed playing ball with my Dad. It was a moment of connection with the man I knew. I am looking forward to spending more one on one time with him. I need to have a few visits where I get to be the kid with her Daddy.

1. Making fun, seasonal treats

This is an horchata (rice milk) granita. We infused cinnamon into the rice milk and then added homemade simple syrup, lime zest and lime juice. Freeze, stir, freeze, stir, freeze, stir, eat!

Oh my it was so good! No machine needed, so a fantastic, easy dessert. The combinations are endless. This week we also made homemade lemonade – lemons, water and agave nectar..yum!

Now that summer is here, I am having a great time visiting recipes I haven’t seen in many months and discovering some new ones! Just one of the ways I beat the heat.

1. Ideas becoming reality
Lately I have been letting ideas bubble up almost like a slow volcano. It keeps me from expending too much energy on every whim. And so the notion of putting an art wire on our dining room wall has been gnawing at me.

This day I had a stack of art on the table and made the discovery that magnets would not work on the front of our new fridge. That was the impetus to just do it. Wire + 2 nails and a bag of baby clothespins = problem solved. The items were all on hand in the house, so in a few minutes the project was done and I love it!!

And now I want more!! We need more places for art, so I am currently surveying other parts of the house that would be suitable for art display.

First pic:
I painted the “You brighten my day” postcard. It made me smile the moment I finished it and I couldn’t bare to let it go. I wanted it to be somewhere I could see it so I could say those words to myself. And every day on my way out of the house I see it…and I still smile.

Second pic: (from right to left)
A Maze – by Quinn (cut up doilies and yellow marker)

Tent – by Quinn (folded up and taped doily)

Downtown – by Tyler (watercolor, wanting to paint the same picture as Mommy. He did really well!)

Out at Night – by Mommy (watercolor)

Paint Collage – by Quinn (watercolor. They had done this at school a few weeks ago and she was trying it on her own again. She note card the paper where she wanted and the folder in half.)

Spring and Summer – by Tyler (watercolor on doily)

Pond – by Tyler (watercolor and collage. He painted a doily, cut it out and then cut out little fish adn added them to it. He then added more paint around it.)

1. An adventure rhythm
I am really happy. We have gotten back into our adventure rhythm and so every weekend space is made for us to go somewhere. The unexpected happens all the time and this adventure was no exception.

We went to Perdenales Falls and to our usual spot near the falls. Usually it is easy to spend many hours here, but it was hot and sticky. Hanging out near water but not being allowed to get into it was cruel today. And I will admit I was cranky too.

So we decided to head down to the swimming part of the park. We had no swimming gear with us, but decided we needed to cool off, so in with our clothes we went. The current was still a bit strong, but the kids still had a great time as did we! We hung our for another our and a half enjoying the river and the lovely cypress trees.

On the way home we stopped to get some cherry and strawberry limeades. They were so tasty! Another great family adventure fully enjoyed.

1. Creating art

I am loving watercolors. It is a very easy and forgiving medium and a wonderful new outlet for expressing myself and creating in the process. Sometimes I start with an idea as in the city scene and sometimes they just create themselves as I go along as in the rocks and waterfall one.

I am usually a person who needs directions, patterns or recipes to create – that is just how I roll. When it comes to painting or drawing though, it comes from me. I am comfortable to start from scratch do whatever and so I find it quite freeing.

I do postcard size paintings. A smaller canvas so perfect when there isn’t a lot of time, easy to mail some love to a friend and easy to hang or store. Some of my faves I want to hang on a wire with some baby clothespins. It will be my “happy wall” full of things that make me smile and inspire me.

Yay for art – so good for the soul!