One more blanket please

I am not sure if Winter is offically here yet, but it sure seems as if She has arrived on frosty feet. The babies are cuddled together in our room under blankets and the little heater begging for hot cocoa. I am trying to decide what pair of amazing socks to warm to keep my toesies from falling off.

In two weeks we will be warm under the Floridian sun, but for now we have a great excuse for snoggling together with a book, a blanket and each other.

 PiBoldMo was a success! I have lots of ideas and I can not wait to flesh them out. I am trying hard to budget my time between ideas and asseblages. I am still planning for a one woman show near the end of January and I have several pieces to finish. So I best grab some glue, cozy socks and my own cuppa cocoa.

Enjoy!

Sidling up

I have joined PiBoIdMo. It is a 30 challenge by an amazing blogger, Tara Lazar, and if I could figure out how to post the badge on this blog I would. We, those who accept the challenge, write a story/idea for a picture book every day for the month of November. What a fabulous and scary adventure.
Yesterday there was a grand post from Emma Ledbetter about sidling up...how she begins to read and the children gather around to listen. In our house that happens when ever a book-sketch, lined, published or otherwise appears in somebody's lap. What a great thing to share with the world, our child friendly ideas...sometimes with adult themes or kid tradgies. My daughter decided that she would take the challenge with me and busted out one of her many spirals and began an illustrated story about a dog. I am grateful for the talent God granted me, that my mother shared with me that I can share with my children and so many others. I hope that my pictures as well as my words are something to sidle up alongside.

One less, is one moore

Never did I imagine that when I sent "Before I met you..." to the Spartenburg Artist Guild Show, that it would be the last time I laid hands on her. To my delight, and a small saddness that feels, I imagine, like when a child leaves the nest, she was sold last night. How wonderful it felt as I watched them place a red sticker on her. She also recieved the Upcycle Award, which I feel a special honor with because I enjoy giving new life to disgarded elements and objects. My children sealed the night's joy with their big smiles, and glorious hugs. What a fan base I have acquired!

Halloween manners

This Halloween my son made me think of something very important: Halloween manners. He made me so proud as we walked down the street in the holiday fashion from door to door, he was very careful about being sure to say thank you when he was given his treat. It may have been more adorable as he would yell walking down driveways, i said thank you again! As candy is his favorite food group, and what could be finer than a holiday created for giving away free candy, i was super proud that he used his manners.

Kindergarten Homework

This was our first big Kindergarten Homework Assignment.

In the mind of four year olds

In the mind of a four year old living in my house, this is a hot air balloon letting out it's hot air to get to the moon.

First Day of School

Today is my baby girl's first day of school. With wide brown eyes and a beautiful new aqua and white dress she set off with her way to big for her zebra backpack. She said her stomach was excited but she was a little nervous. I walked her into her room where she was greeted by name. We put her bookbag in her cubby, her lunch box where lunch boxes were kept, and I said, "Do you need anything else from me?" "One last hug," and she squeezed me tight and went to sit with the other kindergarteners.

My little girl. The very small six pounds six ounces that I was afraid to carry around because she might slip out of my arms. My very perseptive, kind, loving, smart little girl has started her school career. I look forward to the tellings of her adventures, of the challenges that lie ahead. I know just how her stomach feels, excited and then nervous.

Ninja Fruit

If you are able to download apps you may have downloaded Ninja Fruit, a fun time wasting game where the player slashes fruit. It is lots of fun and can be the best way to avoid laundry. I do believe there should be a clause involved before you allow your four year son to play it and then help you make dinner.... I am still picking up the celery pieces....

Just entered these pieces into a local Juried Show

8 days of doctor's visits

After my post about Abrum's doctor visit we spent 7 more days in the ER, the doctor's office and then in the end the Children's Hospital. It was a scary time for us. The Children's Hospital was wonderful! They had to do surgery to drain the abcess in his abdomen. We spent a week with a very quiet, slow, hunched over four year old. I am happy to report that yesterday his energy exhausted me! So ladies and gentlemen hug those babies, especially if you are having to chase them around the house, or yard ....especially if their energy exhuasts you...

What happens when toys are not put away in the Moore house

Roasting Marshmellows in July

Currently there is a fire in our fireplace and my husband is patiently roasting marshmellows with Abrum and Olivia. Sounds odd for the middle of July you might think, and when you ask why I will tell you that is what Abrum asked for in the ER this morning. WHAT!? Abrum spent his morning in the ER this morning with an infection on the inside of his abdomen from a bug bite. I do want to mention that yesterday my lovely husband took Abrum to the peditrician when daycare called saying he couldn't stand up straight and was really cranky when he awoke from nap. The doctor said it was just a bug bite...my husband, the one who always asked why in school and never just took the teacher's word for anything, said look again please and indeed there was a hard mass never the bug bite. So dear friends, the next time you get irritated at "why" or frustrated at one more question...that persistance might have been what saved my dear boy's life.

Artist Block

As an assemblage artist I find myself often, not lost for ideas, but at a lost for supplies to visualize the ideas. My husband and I spent Friday looking all over a local town for junktiques...antiques that I can afford to buy to add to my art pieces. We went home happy and full of bags to begin. A lunch at Super Taco and then to the studio....where I sat, and sat. I have found myself now at a loss for motivation...the weekend is never a good time to start a piece, how can it be with amazing little ones running around hoping for your time to spend with them?

As my husband tried to help motivate me by constantly reminding me to, "Go make Art!" I headed down to the studio with little feet following. As my current new piece is about little boys I began going through my bags of new finds which are mostly old boy toys. I began frustrated at Abrum who was so excited to see what else I had found for him to play with. Then I realized that watching him play was just what I was trying to capture and I listened and watched where he placed everything and how he used the toys. And then I realized, once again, that time is precious and we will never again have this day together so back up the stairs away from the studio we went...to play.

And as I sit here in the early morning hours watching Electric Company with my babies, explaining and teaching every chance I can I realize what a struggle it is for a mother to be an artist.... Perhaps that will be another piece...

Tomorrow the studio, today the babies.

Under My Feet

As a mom of two there is always something on the floor of our humble house. Currently there are about fourty different shoes, that may or may not have matches, legos, a dump truck, a beginner reader, teacher supplies and of course crayons and wheels. And often under my feet I find my two beautiful babies! I am always amazed at the love that comes out their mouths. Recently Abrum has decided to marry me. As a mother of a boy, it's been what I was waiting for. However, he has now found playful banter with his father. Just the other day I overheard them arguing over me with Abrum telling my lovely husband that he was going to take the marry away and marry me himself. When Dad said, no my wonderful four year old yelled, You wanna a piece of me? Now that is love under my feet.

Still in Summer

Summer time works differently. At times it moves fast, and it other times a minutes can last days. Lately it has moved fast...in the last two weeks that I have been freed from everyday school life I have traveled to Florida for a short turn around stay, rearranged the house for the upcoming Florida guests, searched high and low for the best grill to purchase and came across the new love of my life, the ice cream maker. What family fun! Together we have come up with some great and gross ice cream ideas... Abrum did suggest pizza ice cream. The entire family gathers in our small little kitchen to measure, mix, squeeze ingredients, stir the pot of soon to be frozen treat and add the ice and salt to the machine. And then hours later, we taste the treats and pass judgement. We have not gone wrong yet with our flavors of Mexican chocolate, Lemon Lime sorbet and blackberry cheesecake. What a grand additive to Summer.

Summer In South Carolina

It is offically summer. Not by the simple fact that school is out but by the bugs. One of the greatest reasons for moving to South Carolina from Sunny Florida came after the move. No, it isn't the weather which is currently 66 degrees outside-I do love that though. It is the fireflies. They are magically! Little balls of fairy magic chasing each other around the backyard. And tonight as it got real dark my son caught a glimance and was outside in an instant noting, very loudly, each one he saw... then joined by his sister who decided she wanted most to be a super hero with stretchy arms so she could catch all the fireflies.... and then of course letting them go...because that's Olivia. It is a great image to pack with me as I head back to Florida the place of my birth, my amazing sisters, and wonderful parents, great old friends and sandy beaches... and hot hot weather with mosquitos and NO fireflies. Keep your eyes open.

The Worrier

My daughter is a worrier if ever there was one. She worries about many things, whether Abrum will crack his skull jumping off the couch, if her car seat is truely safe, and whether or not she has hurt someone's feelings but telling the truth. After a trip to the grocery store with her father he came back with her newest worry. "Daddy, if I die in the shower will I be naked in heaven?"

Chicken Vegetables

As school comes to a close things are getting very busy in our household. This past week my husband was put in charge of the darlings so that I could attend a Senior Awards Night. That night as I got home past bedtime, walked over two "camping" children in the living room, dirty dishes left on the dinner table, and toys in the living room (a restricted toy area)- I was told the story of Abrum's battle with vegetables. Chicken pot pies were on the menu and as he dove into the pie he was reminded to eat his vegetables as well as the chicken. He promptly picked up another chicken piece and was scolded, "Abrum that isn't a vegetable, that's chicken." My brilliant son responded, "Chicken probably ate a vegetable." My husband was stunned. Abrum then began to sing the chicken vegetable song, smiling all the while and eatting the chicken and avoiding the vegetable. Olivia described it later to me as, "Hilarious!" Being his biggest fan, I had to smile at her. My husband is still contemplating what he might have said to Abrum, but the story is much better. Long live chicken vegetables!

Behavior

Behavior is our house is on polar ends of the spectrum. Today is an excellent example: In Olivia's class they use the traffic light to help the children understand their behavior. Green is good behavior, your clothespin gets moved to yellow if you break a rule, and red means that you have not headed the warning of yellow and your behavior is bad, bad, bad. So having explained that, this is not much of a conversation with Olivia. She is a green light girl. She enjoys doing the right thing. It is almost an obsession with her. Today when I arrived at the Daycare to pick up the children I was met by one of Olivia's teachers. She explained that Olivia had to be moved to yellow when she was talking while the lights were out. The dear teacher was not explaining this to me so I would talk to Olivia about her behavior, it was more of an explaination of the state of my dear first born. Olivia had already been in tears and appologized numerous times to the teacher. Sorry that she had made her upset by talking while the lights were out. As soon as I walked into Olivia's room to gather her for the weekend she broke down into a flood of tears. Sorry, so sorry. I explained to her that everyone makes mistakes and that we just needed to learn from those mistakes. She continued to cry. I told her that I forgave her and so had her teacher. She continued to cry. I told her that I had bought her breadsticks for dinner, she felt she didn't deserve them. She continued to cry...out the door, to the car, on the ride home, and stopped approximately an hour ago. Olivia has always been sensitive to those around her. She prides herself on making others happy-and she felt she had not done that. Remember this was only a yellow light. I pray for us all if she ever hits a red light moment. On the other end of the spectum is Abrum. Abrum whom several times this week has sat in time out, licked toys, thrown toys, not done as his teachers have asked, can't believe that his parents are both teachers Abrum. Yes, he cried when I told him that his father and I were disappointed in his behavior. And on the way home he asked if it would make me happy if he did the bug dance (a little bumper wiggling dance). I said no, it would make me happy that he listened and choose to do the right thing at school and home. And by the time I pulled up in the driveway he decided a kiss would be the best way to make me feel better. And really how could it not make me feel better? and the tragedy is over. Simple and sweet. And now that the behaviors are settle and the house has returned to it's original state...we begin our weekend with a M&M taste testing, movie watching adventure....

Measured Time

In our lives time is measure in Phineas and Ferb episodes. It is two and half Phineas and Ferbs to the PawPaw Patch. Two Phineas and Ferbs to my school. And a Phineas and Ferb title sequence to DayCare. Some how this is a time measure that Olivia and Abrum both understand, however, we haven't found a watch or clock that measures this way yet.

Things you don't hear at other people's houses

"Rock, pair of scissors, and shoot for the spot next to Mom." Abrum "Happy almost Mother's Day!" Olivia "If you don't pick up your toys when I tell you they might end up as Art!" Me

Laundry Day

If I haven't mentioned I am a part time Art teacher. However, during standardize testing I am a full time tester. Due to two weeks of full time work, the house has suffered. I suppose that's because it's not nearly as loud as the children when they are not getting their proper amount of attention. Currently I have employed the children to sort the laundry, one fudgecicle a piece for the pile of clean clothes to be sorted. So while the Paul Simon Pandora plays on sorting continues. Olivia is picking from the pile and properly placing the item in it's basket. Occasionally she moves to the rhythm of the music, ballet or some form of modern dancing. Abrum on the other hand is rummaging through the basket to pick out the socks. Then going to the opposite of the room, on the couch, up on the back and throwing them into the basket. Let me correct myself, attempting to throw them in the basket. I just informed him that was not efficent-he informed me he was a basketball player, said Simon said to give Mom a kiss and has now turned the socks into slingshots. Still not getting them near the baskets. ... well Olivia has finsihed and requested her payment...I see Abrum trailing close behind claiming he did more work than his sister. What's a Mom to do?

The Paw Paw Patch, Ducks, and Grits

Well as Monday rolls by I feel the need to record the weekend. It started with a stay at the PawPaw Patch, which is what we call MawGra and PawPaw's house. After a week where my lovely husband did not come home before the kids bedtime due to soccer playoffs at his school, and had planned to go camping Friday night...I asked, pleaded, and begged my amazing in-laws to go "camping" at their house. They agreed. And as my mother in law, also an artist, made dinner, made Duck Derby hats, and played the tickle monster-I sat on the couch watching cable television...something we do not have at our house. My father in law amazed me with his cheese grits in the morning and something called "cookie butter" that was bought at Trader Joes, I highly recommend it. Abrum found he could not walk at the PawPaw Patch, only skip and jump. And Olivia felt most at ease snoogled up in bed with MawGraw telling stories back and forth of "Once upon a Time..." Then it was off to meet the not so often seen this week father of the lovely children to go watch the Annual Rotary Club Duck Derby. The Duck Derby is a sight to see, about a million and one rubber ducks going down a river towards a waterfall, where they fall off and continue their race. Great fun! Then the weekend ends with Olivia and I in the studio creating things-she is really into cutting paper and taping them together. And the boys upstairs racing on Mario Kart. A game I still can not understand or will myself to want to understand. And so ends another weekend at our house. I think Abrum is still pretending to drive a car in his bed, and Olivia trying very hard not to ask to sleep in our bed. My goal this week is to begin completing and scanning in the comic strip that I hope to accompany this lovely daily blog. Cheer me on!

Garlic smashing

When not playing with trucks, trains, tractors or my ipad, Abrum enjoys helping me cook dinner. His favorite kitchen task is smashing garlic. Today was just such a cooking day. Usually we use a pan to smash it, today we used a hammer. He is a great smasher! No mincing required. However, today was an unusual day because after ripping mint and smashing garlic for chicken kabobs Abrum tried the kabobs and enjoyed them enough to ask for more. So ladies and gentlemen, if you find yourself with a bored four year and the need to cook dinner before the midnight hour arrives-hire a garlic smasher.

crayons and wheels

I am creating this blog with the purpose of recording my on going life as teacher, artist and mother of two of the most amazing and diverse children on the planet. As I sit typing my first post in bed, Olivia-age 5, is trying hard to read Judy Moody to herself while Abrum-age 4, is playing with Matchbox Cars on the bed. All this is going on while my laptop and I (remember this is my bed) are smushed over to the side of bed. These are my two very amazing diverse children. One very literal, one very figurative. These are our adventures...