my painting teachers

I played hard last night. Oh how I played. It was awesome. I've had this in me for a long, long time and last night I began to mix paints and choose which size of brush to use and the process was pure joy. I purchased two huge canvases, but in the end, I started with three little ones. The smaller ones felt like a better place to start.

As I worked I kept telling Rory how good it felt to play. I thought about the three painting "teachers" I have learned from, all though their blogs and books, and how grateful I was for the freedom they have presented in not judging the art as its being created, not worrying about the final product, but rather enjoying the process, embracing the imperfections and waiting with anticipation to see what unfolds.

I thought I would take some time tonight to share with you these three free spirit teachers whose art I enjoy so much.

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First, Donna Downey:

Lots of years ago I started following Donna Downey's blog. She is a mixed media artist who paints on canvas...just the fabric part. She makes awesome aprons and made a flower art project that knocked my socks off, so that I had to make one of my own. And then I got to attend one of her workshops when we lived in Nebraska, and that was about the greatest thing ever.

She's not afraid to get messy, and when I watch her Inspiration Wednesday videos, I always feel a freedom to create. Like there is no one right way to make art. She works with whatever happens as she creates and to watch the process is sort of mesmerizing.

I stopped following her a while back because I had to simplify my life and streamline my online time. But I still would consider her my first painting teacher. And I definitely still spend some good chunks of time browsing her site and her latest projects.

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Next, Kelly Rae Roberts:

I was introduced to Kelly Rae Roberts by my friend Shannon. Kelly Rae was pregnant with her son the same time I was pregnant with Ivar, and at first I just liked tracking the size of her belly compared to mine. I think we were three weeks apart. But now I read her blog not only for her candid take on motherhood, but also for her creative joy as she lives her life, makes her art, and runs her very successful business.

When I was in California with Rory this spring, I brought along her book, Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings. I can't say enough good things about this book. It brought something to life in me that wanted to come to life and I'm still listening closely to that little voice inside of me that surfaced as I read through the pages of this book.

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And finally, Flora Bowley:

Kelly Rae introduced a friend of hers on her blog a few weeks ago. Her friend's name is Flora Bowley and she recently came out with a book that I purchased based on Kelly Rae's recommendation called, "Brave Intuitive Painting." It's a very free spirit book that does everything to empower you, encourage you to try and rid you of the fear that you might not actually be a gifted artist. Last night I kept thinking about her words, telling my critical self to calm down, telling my creative self to keep on playing. I read the book in one afternoon and still thumb through it for eye candy and inspiration.

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I'm going to paint again tonight. It's really fun. And a really great way to nurture my own self after a day of care taking. Here's to all things bright and beautiful!

a great big blank canvas

                                                                image from google images

A few months ago I was at the obgyn and pointed out a lump I have in my armpit. The doctor kept an eye on it from visit to visit and after another 6 or 8 weeks it had noticeably grown. So she sent me across the street to the hospital for an ultrasound immediately that afternoon. I just had a few hours to wonder and get really curious. She seemed concerned, but I refused to get really worried until I had all the information.

Still...in those hours I did wonder how I would react if I got some crazy-bad news. You know, the sort of day dreaming you did when your parents were late coming home from a meeting at church on a snowy winter night and you were able to take that situation all the way through the fatal car accident that left you orphaned and alone. And you may or may not have had tears streaming down your face while your imagination ran wild.

Or was that just me?

So in this scenario, I wondered, if I got news with a timeline that told me I had months to live, what would I do. It's a good question to ask from time to time anyway, just to see how fully we're living out our days. But in this moment, the question held a bit more weight. And honest to goodness, sitting there in my paper smock in the ultrasound waiting room, looking out the window at the tree blowing against the glass, I had one clear thought: I would go to Dick Blick, buy a HUGE canvas, every color of acrylic paints, a variety of brushes and I would paint something really big and colorful.

It made me smile. This honestly is my dream. Not a trip to Bora Bora. Not a chance to meet famous-celebrity-whats-her-name. But to use a lot of thick paint on a great big canvas.

My appointment proved to be very uneventful (praise God) and I left with a clean bill of health. With this good news, I got in my car and drove straight over to Dick Blick. You know, to price check my dream. Turns out, my greatest life's dream might run me around $100, depending on how much paint, how big of a canvas, and how many brushes.

Not too shabby to make a life dream come true.

So for Mother's Day I asked for a huge canvas and some acrylic paints. And tonight we are going to Michaels (because I've been price shopping and have a 40% off coupon) to purchase a large canvas, paints and brushes. I can't wait. I'll be sure to show you my masterpiece when it feels presentable. It might take a lot of paint to get it presentable...

memorial day

Rory and I just watched a documentary on PBS called Hell and Back Again. It was powerful and sobering and the sort of reminder I think we all need to remember the true gift we are given from a military who protects and defends and serves our country. To those of you who have served, and to those of you who pray with might for someone you love who serves on our behalf, thank you.

After the program, I wrote an email to my cousin Diane whose son-in-law is a Marine and has served our country on multiple missions in some terrifying situations. This is what I wrote:

Diane,

Rory and I were just watching a documentary of Marines in Afghanistan and it made me want to drop you a line to pass along to Steve. I watched this program and thought about all the things that he has seen that he wishes he never had seen. And all of the things he has felt that he wishes he never had to feel. All the sounds he has heard, the emotions he has experienced and terrifying moments he has lived through that he wishes he hadn't heard, felt or witnessed.

So on this memorial day, just wanted to say a huge thank you to Steve. And to Libby too, for sharing her husband and her little girls' daddy with the rest of the country. It is overwhelming to me and impossible to say the perfect right thing. But I'm grateful. That's what I want him to know.

Becca

Ivar's swing/ thoughts on 18 months

I adore 18 months. Ivar now uses enough words that I can usually figure out what he needs, and this is fantastic. I recently heard him yelling from the bathroom, "Helpee! Helpee!" which is his combination of Help and Please. I ran to the bathroom to find his hands on the bottom of the tub and his feet extended over the ledge. He had been bending to try to get a ball and was stuck in a pike position with legs in the air. Thankfully there was no water in the tub, but more than that I was glad he had a word that could get me to his aid so quickly.

He will do anything for a laugh, and is often making himself laugh. Yesterday I heard him back in his room, all by himself, cracking himself up. No idea why. And now we have this swing, which is basically a giggle machine.

He also can entertain himself for longer stretches of time. I can't always count on this, but sometimes he will play in his room for lengths so long that I have to go and see what he's up to. Sometimes he's balancing on a box looking out his window and yelling, "hi!" to our neighbors in their backyard. Sometimes he's reading books in his glider rocker. Sometimes he is manhandling the cat. It's so fun to watch him grown and learn.

the machinery trader

While at the farm, we told Uncle Jake of Ivar's love of tractors and trucks and big heavy equipment. Uncle Jake walked into the next room and came back with a special gift for Ivar: The Machinery Trader. It's a newspaper filled with pages and pages of tractors, cranes, diggers, loaders and semi trucks that are for sale. Ivar cannot get enough. He will go page by page for a good long time. And when he needs redirecting all I have to say is, "where is your newspaper? why don't you go and look at your newspaper for a while." And he'll pull it out and begin his sound effects to accompany each page.

uncle jake, he had a farm EIEIO

We went on a little weekend adventure on Friday. Had to go see the baby moo's and baby meow's. And the buzz-lips-like-an-engine tractors. It was a great trip. We all got to ride in the tractor with Uncle Jake, Ivar and his second cousins Ida and Stella became quick playfriends, Aunt Louie made me my alltime favorite spaghetti and cheese sauce, and Ivar let us know when it was time to visit the cows again by standing at the front door with his shoes in his hands yelling, "moo!"

The coolest thing at this farm right now are the farmers. Uncle Jake is now farming with his daughter Sarah. Sarah is my elder cousin by three months and is working to take over the whole operation one day. She's tough as nails, mother, wife and 31-year-old female farmer. I mean, for real. I just think this is so cool. I'm so proud of her.

On Friday night we were up talking and Uncle Jake came and gave Sarah instructions for the morning. She is driving this tractor lately, over the planted fields, pushing down the large rocks with those heavy rollers. Uncle Jake told her she had 1 1/2 inch clearance on either side...if she got the wheels of course at all she would rip up the newly planted beans with the tractor tires.

It made me think about how sometimes I hit that buzz strip with my ford focus on a large highway, and how Sarah only had 1 1/2 inches of grace with this huge tractor! It also made me feel badly that we had stayed up so late when I saw her in the field the next morning. No dozing on a tractor.

We went to a farm auction on Saturday morning. That was a whole new experience for me. We left for naptime, but they actually auctioned the entire farm at the end. It was an old farmer's place, now dealing with memory loss. Cool to see the community show up and so fun to take in the banter of an auctioneer.

 And then, perhaps the highlight for one person in attendance: we shot guns.

Even the 8 month pregnant mama shot a round. This gun hit my shoulder hard...I wasn't a huge fan. But my husband was a huge fan of watching his round belly wife fire a weapon. Which made it all worth it.

good reading

Sometimes blogging is tricky because you're just not sure what to say. This week Ivar and I have been taking lots of walks and spending lots of time with his new swing in the backyard that is tied to the lowest branch of our biggest tree. That's really all I have to report on.

But other people seem to be saying good stuff this week...and I thought I'd pass a few favorites from this week your way.

Jamie threw an amazing Watermelon party for her son's third birthday. I have already informed her that I may very well copy this one in the near 3-5 year future.

Sara was interviewed on some radio station and packs a good conversation in a short amount of time. The announcer guy is the quintessential radio personality. It's sort of a riot.

Flo wrote beautifully about her own mom.This blog is quickly becoming a new favorite. (and she goes to my church!)

Sara wrote a post on editing that makes me so happy to love words too.

Meta wrote an awesome piece about her favorite night of the week.

Enjoy! Happy Weekend!



our first photo booth

At church on Mother's Day they had a few photobooths set up for mom's to get a picture with their kids. I loved this idea so much... Just that week I had received an email that the church was looking for pictures of mom's and our kids for a slideshow they were putting together for worship and I didn't send one in because it has been so long since Ivar and I have taken a picture together...just the two of us. So this was a gift!

A photobooth with a one year old is hysterical. As you can see, he never took his concerned eyes off of the camera. He wasn't really into making specific faces (silly, serious, tongues out, smiling) with me for each frame. Which made me laugh. 

I love these shots. We'll be utilizing more photobooths in our future! 

babymoon

I wrote last week about how it dawned on me that if we are going to go anywhere before baby #2 arrives, we had better hit the road. And looking at our calendar for the weeks ahead, it became quite obvious that we needed to sneak in this trip as soon as possible.

Within 12 hours I had booked our favorite place on the North Shore and pulled some pretty mighty last minute favors for Ivar-care with grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles. It was amazing that it all worked out and made the whole getaway that much more charged with excitement.

I've written about our love of Lake Superior before...if you're looking for a fantastic vacation destination check out the posts I've written...this one on my personal north shore favorites here, why this place is so restful for me here and a lovely picture slide show from our trip a few years ago, here.

The new highlight for us this trip was our discovery of The Rustic Inn (or Rustic Cafe?) in Castle Danger. Looks like a ma and pa restaurant right on hwy 61, and blows you away with gourmet. It was one of those meals that we ate while talking about the food we were eating, unable to stop raving over each thing on our plate.

And as every getaway always proves to be, our time together was restorative, necessary and so good.

could I love him any more?

Nope. My heart is overflowing for this kid. This is his smile when we ask him to say, "cheese!"

Bapa!

On Sunday Shepherd of the Valley had the annual petting zoo raising money for Heifer International. During the service my dad was leading the liturgy in the sanctuary that seats 900. We were in the third to last row and every single time my dad stood up to speak, Ivar would swivel his neck, get to standing position on my lap, point excitedly and yell at the top of his lungs, "Bapa! Bapa!"  It was hysterical. And loud. And it meant we had to keep leaving the service. But Ivar was thrilled to see his Bapa and wanted to make certain that none of us missed the fact that it was his Bapa up in front.

summer is on its way

I don't know what it was about Monday morning, but the sky seemed more blue, the sun seemed brighter and even though it was still sweatshirt weather, I felt my first taste of summer bliss. We took a family walk to Lake Harriet and it dawned on me that if we are going to go anywhere this summer, we had better squeeze in our trips before the doctors say I can't go anywhere before delivering baby #2.

So I've been in summer road trip planning mode this week. They have to be short trips, they have to be fairly close to the cities and they have to be relatively inexpensive. Any suggestions? Favorite small towns? Favorite state parks? Favorite one or two night destinations?

ladybug cupcakes

On Friday, Annika and I got together to frost Mara's cupcakes. Mara had found a picture in a kids cookbook of ladybugs. Aren't they cute?!!

I helped lead the games at each girls birthday party, and tapped into my inner camp counselor...big time. It was super fun, super comical and super exhausting. This first game was like a cake walk, except the numbers were scattered. When the music stopped everyone stepped on a number, we pulled a number from a hat, and the person on that number got a starburst. That's a winner of a game. Easy and active.

And what is a birthday party without the fishing game?!! The fishing poles were loaded on the otherside of the sheet with a gummy worm and sent back over. Yum and Fun.

Each party was a little different, as Mara's party had eleven kids around age 7 and Sonna's party had ten kids around age 5. Very different attention spans! :) But between the two, we also played Birthday Blanket Name Drop, Birthday Tag, Sonna Says, Duck Duck Grey Duck, Pin the Cloud on the Rainbow, Balance Beam (with a book and an umbrella), Birthday Tag, Stone Stone and at both parties a spontaneous dance party was held shortly after the cupcakes had been consumed, thanks to the sugar high.

rainbow cupcakes

Well, I think we can all agree it was just a matter of time. I finally made the rainbow cupcakes. This weekend was filled with birthday celebrations and cupcakes as Mara had her party on Saturday and Sonna had her party on Sunday.  So I gave the rainbow cupcakes a go, with a sweet request from Sonna to make them like the rainbow cake, but just with tiny cupcakes. They turned out splendidly.

This blog post was sponsored in part by Red Dye #40: Nothing Natural About It.

we never got out a christmas card, so...

...from our family to yours.