Life is in the Details

art finally happened for *all* of us - at ONCE!

 
(a little blurry because it was shot while I was inside and our glass door was closed and the kids were on the other side but I couldn't miss the chance to capture the giggling that was going on as Ryan was tickling Jessi while she was painting - priceless).

Yesterday we took a great walk to a nearby school and I ran around the track (wishing I was wearing sandals like the Tarahumara) while the kids played nearby. My brand-spanking new, cushiony running shoes make my feet ache! We also brought our painting supplies out in front of the house and painted for close to 2 hours (YES we did! Even ME!)

I dropped the researching and opted to not buy a single drop of paint and use what I have - what a concept!

(photo by Jessica)

I forgot I had bought the water mixable oils at the beginning of the year so it was a nice little surprise to open the tabletop easel and get a nice little surprise). The kids had the best time using the camera and catching each of us in action as well as their painting in progress.

Jessi's paints of choice for the day:

(photo by Ryan)

Ryan's medium of choice (photo by Jessi):

Ryan's painting in progress (photo by Jessi):

My painting in progress (photo by Jessi):

Ryan's painting further along in the process (photo by Ryan):

Jessi painting a photo for Ryan (photo by Ryan):

My painting further along in the process (photo by Ryan):

Jessi's painting for Ryan further along in the process (photo by Ryan):

Then we met up with some friends for some play time and got the hubbies to meet up with us for dinner.

Today the three of us have been in sync - it's great when the planets align like this.

We are all in CLEANING mode because the lovely Sabrina is coming to clean today (we ADORE Sabrina and could talk to her for hours). So the kids are figuring out what they want to donate, where to put the things that have been cluttering up their spaces for way too long, and sometime today we'll figure out a way to go for a walk and make it to the pool.

And then we have to pack because tomorrow we're off to Hershey, PA for a weekend away (Mike and the kids have been waiting to watch chocolate being made for months. And me? I will be avoiding the rollercoasters.)

painting en plein air

I haven't gotten outside to paint yet (I was folding laundry) but I made sure the kids did.

We made it to the pool yesterday and even for a nice walk (which I always think we need to do more of - I just love walking around)

Today we're headed to take Linky in to see the doctor (her eye is infected again - it's been a recurring thing so I'm hoping we can get a different medicine for her as the one we are using doesn't seem to be working). We need to be there in 20 minutes and it's 15 minutes away and I still have to get everyone ready. Later I hope to catch up with some friends for some indoor bouncing time... but if it's nice out I think it's going to be hard to convince me and my tribe to go inside... we'll just have to see!

And later tonight I need to stop researching oil paints - which brand should I get? What color palette should I start with? - and JUST GET MY SUPPLIES AND PAINT ALREADY!! Sheeesh!

I'm OFF!

two more weeks until the pools close

The staycation is now a memory. I never did end up getting to Utrecht yesterday though we loved Rock Creek Park and the planetarium there and are making plans to go back to hike around there soon. We scrapped plans for a weekend in the Shenendoahs based on room configuration and thought even closer-to-home hiking an ideal and even more perfect idea. Have I mentioned how much we really love our own home - when keep your own house your home base you never miss your bed or the water pressure of your shower. And there is so much new-to-us stuff right in our own area that it would be a shame to not explore it further. Mike and I had a date night last night and had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (with some wine!) and then went to see Julie and Julia with some friends. A nice end to the week.

Today starts some time just me and my kids. Good stuff!! We're going to try to realistic in our expectations for this day. There is lots to do but we're going to try to service body and mind today and not get too crazy with long to-do lists. We have a bicycle ride planned around the lake, a few loads of laundry to tackle, and a closet to clean (Jessica's), and a bare refrigerator that needs some food (Wegman's, we'll be seeing you later, even though Monday is my least favorite day to go food shopping.... but Mike is now officially out of OJ and he gets cranky if he doesn't get his big tall glass of liquid happiness in the morning). If it's nice later and we have any time we will head to the pool because there are only two weeks left of it being open!

After the kids go to bed I fully plan on starting work on some additional content to my BPS Wellness class for the next time it runs (more on that another time).

I would also like to figure out what kind of easel configuration to get. There are a ton of options. I thought this was going to be easy. I even already had a french easel in my cart over at Dick Blick's (but then found the same one at Utrecht with a 40% off coupon there - hence the planned visit yesterday that never happened). But when we were driving home yesterday we pulled off onto one of those scenic overlook's where you could gaze out into the expanse of light blue sky that went on into infinity, see the boats floating on the Potomac and see the big houses that stick out of the Georgetown trees... and it turned out there was an art class gathering there. We started talking to the students and I asked them about their easels. The teacher told me he had gone through 7 Jullian french easels in 2 years (the kind I had in my shopping cart) but had his Mabef french easel for 8 and had no problems. But then I went online and saw pochade box easels (EasyL, Guerilla box, OpenM) which look so stinking cool and LIGHT so now I'm trying to figure out the advantages and disadvantages and which one would best suit my needs (which since I am just beginning my painting adventures I have no idea of my need! I just want something that will be light and easy to use and will allow me to paint more outside). I have to admit that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of it at the moment.

Well nothing a little bike ride can't take of! So that's where I'm off to.

Staycation Day 6 (National Gallery of Art & Bureau of Engraving and Printing)

Today we went down to the District to take a tour of how money is made (at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing) as well as visit the National Gallery of Art. I wish we had more time to gaze at art so it's a good thing we live close enough to go again soon. I could spend another whole day just at the gift shop! And in all the times I've visited there with the kids I've never gone over to the information desk to ask if there were any things of interest for families with kids and it turns out that THERE IS! There was a sheet that was like a treasure hunt for specific pieces of art (as well as good maps on the back as to where they can be found)! Both kids had a great time finding the selected artwork. And I got seriously inspired to get back to some painting.... I keep telling myself that as soon as the weather turns too cold to ride I will take up refuge in my art studio downstairs and get to work! So I plan on perusing some art catalogs to make sure I have all the supplies I need. I'm really wanting to get some oils... I just don't know how practical it is since where would I use them? I have horrible ventilation down in the basement. Maybe there's something I can buy that will suck all the yucky air out since it will be too cold for me to paint outside. I'm a wimp when it comes to cooler weather. It must be all those years spent baking away in south Florida.

Ryan started looking a little shaggy (even though I love the longer 'do). So we took him for his first haircut at a barbershop. The same one that Mike goes to (and the same guy) and Ry got the best haircut of his life. He looks awesome and we are never going to our old places again!

Mike and I now have the kids in bed so we're going to pop open a bottle of wine and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Here are some more photos from our day today.

I want every one of these books. The childrens side of the gift shop always has this effect on me!

So I take photos of them so I remember to see if our library has them.

And Jessi was reading this one while we were looking around but didn't get to finish...

I remember going to BEP when I was in 5th grade (hello fellow Nova Blanche Formaners) and coming home with a bag of shredded money. Glad to see they still had them available.

(these photos are pre-haircut)

Stayacation Day 5: Discovery Museum & Route 11 Potato Chip Factory

I was immediately drawn to these dominos.... the art was exactly what I love.... and I couldn't figure out why.... until I took a closer look.

Of course! They are illustrated by Melissa Sweet! Well now it all makes sense. She's my favorite illustrator!!

I found some great beads at this store (that I definitely need to go back to - and one that Jessica asked me if I could TAKE her back to when we had more time).

Some wishing being done.

I loved the sidewalk artist and could have sat and watched for hours as she mixed her oils and blended on her canvas.

Some window shopping.

 Our Route 11 "souvenirs":

week in review (long)

Bags packed. Who's? Read on, dear blog reader, read on!

(Ry in front of *part* of the Apple opening day line - it was a loooong one)
This week's been a blur. Who am I kidding? This summer has been a blur even though I've been taking time to really enjoy things. It's just that this summer has been amazing and the weather has been terrific and I never want it to end. I LOVE SUMMER!! But I can feel school supplies breathing down my throat and the Hallmark store is already previewing Christmas ornaments (sheeh! Are you kidding me people?). This is a summer that I don't want to end, that I don't want to be rushed. One that I want to savor.

So I've been doing my best this week to savor the free moments that I had while the kids were in camp for one last hurrah.... what have I been doing? I've been on my bike.

Were you expecting something different?
And it's been AWESOME!!

So here's a quick recap of the week since I was in the saddle instead of in my chair (things are all going according to plan!!)

Saturday:

the postponed-due-to-flu-birthday-party finally happened and went well. I think this will be the last year of parties for Jessi indoor with large inflatables... I'm thinking some smaller, more intimate, in our own home doing stuff that's succinctly more Jessi... maybe where she invites her favorite girlfriends to come over in their pjs to watch a movie, make some pizzas, decorate some cupcakes, create something crafty that the girls can take home with them. It's definitely time for something different.

I made the chocolate chip zucchini layer cake that Jessi wanted and iced it with vanilla buttercream but when Mike saw it he thought there wouldn't be enough for all the people we invited (he was worried about the parents there himself) so we went out in the morning to get another cake just to be sure). Notice Jessi in the photo above, though, is munching on the one that **I** made. Good thing, too, or I would have made her eat the entire cake in one sitting, bellyache be dam%ed, had she asked for the cake-of-indifference baked by someone who didn't even know her. As IF!

Sunday:

 

shopped for some furnature for our bare room and gathered design ideas (both home and painting, as in me and paintbrushes on canvas - which has been way too long but more about my thoughts on myself as a seasonal entity - art/painting in winter, etc. - another time) at Crate and Barrel

this is one of the pieces that's on our "we're thinking of getting this one" list

Monday:

We dropped Jessica off for her first time at sleep away camp. It was great to meet all the other families that were scheduled for our stop. We brought doughnuts with us (which is ironic to think that these people will think of me as the doughnut lady when this is perhaps the first or second time I have ever bought doughnuts in my LIFE! If anything Mike thought I should be known as the health nut lady, or the biking lady. He'd probably even want me to be known as the vegetable lady or tofu lady. He's just that kind of guy. But, come on, I don't eat THAT much tofu!, did some yoga at home

Tuesday: 2.5 hour bike ride, signed Ryan up for fall t-ball, date night with Mike to the Japanese Steak house and to the movies to see 500 Days of Summer (cute movie that we both enjoyed!), talked about upcoming plans to visit Hershey Park at the end of the month

Wednesday: signed the kids up for fall tennis, volunteered to be webmaster for the PTO at Jessi's elementary school, did STS Stability Ball Abs, rescheduled Jessi’s doctors appt, caught up on some emails, planted some seeds in the garden; talking with BPS and found out that Wellness will run again in the beginning of 2010; did some digital scrapbooking and finished 2 layouts

Thursday: 65 mile bike ride along the trail and some amazingly beautiful country roads - definitely the prettiest ride that I've ever been on and I didn't want it to end (well maybe I wanted it to end a little during the hills that made my quads cry out even in the granny gear), took Ryan to a birthday party where I got to see some of my friends too (love it when that happens!)

Friday:
Very seriously thinking about registering for a CENTURY (100 mile bike ride) in Sept!! - trying to find someone who wants to make the drive with me to the event, got a deep tissue massage (not the kind you fall asleep during - oh NO! - this hurt like h*ll, but was definitely needed deserved), brought my old mountain bike in (yes, the same one I am looking to replace but am kicking that can of an issue down the road a bit until I can decide which bike to get) to get a new saddle and also a wireless biking computer install for it so when the kids ask how long it took to get to their favorite park, I can say something other than, "I don't know.", ran around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to find a kosher challah and some kosher wine to drop off at our synagogue since it was our turn to provide some of the refreshments for the Friday night Oneg there (even though we weren't going to be able to be in attendance later that night), picked Jessica up from her first week at sleep away camp - she was exhausted but wants to go back and wishes she didn't have to come home and didn't miss us at all (and told us so!); dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant (Jessi's pick!)

Saturday: Cohen Family Staycation Opening Day (so far, so good!)
As promised last year as we were DRIVING home from our vacation last year saying to our kids in no uncertain terms that we ARE NOT GOING AWAY FOR A VACATION NEXT SUMMER (which is now THIS summer), we stayed in town. How can you not follow through on that? I mean kids know when you are bluffing and know when to know you're bluffing by your words and then your actions. We still hadn't recovered from last year's vacation and so we are being true to our word AND smart by staying close to home for our week long vacation and taking shorter trips interspersed throughout the year; went to opening a new Apple store near us (got free t-shirts and a super welcoming receiving line in which all the employees were hooting and hollering at us like we were rock stars. Apple really knows how to do things right, I tell ya! Can you say customer for LiFE?), visited a new bike store with the kids while Mike was waiting in the Apple line to get in, lunch with friends at a great Mexican restaurant that has the best quacamole, a visit to a yummy gelataria for some Bourboun Vanilla and Almond gelato (2 different flavors), a round of mini-golf, lots of rounds at the batting cages, signed Jessica up for fall softball (after experience the joy that IS the batting cages), dinner out for some really good pizza (and a second dessert - a special treat given that it IS the opening day of our staycation after all)!

See, Mike, WE GOT IN!! I knew we would and that all would be OKAY!!
Breathe in.
Breathe out.

The kids wasted no time in trying to co-opt a screen for themselves and promptly started playing on their webkinz accounts.

And Ryan went over to drool at my favorite screen. The one that will one day be mine. YES. MINE. <just as soon as I can find a place to put it!>

We were walking back to the car after mini-golf and realized that Ryan was no longer walking with us. We turned around and he wasn't there. Upon closer inspection we found that he was immediately suctioned by a fence enclosing the batting cages. He seems to have been bitten by the baseball bug which comes on rather suddenly but may have been due by an exposure to his dad during a recent Yankee winning streak. This was also accompanied by the third and latest installment of "get to know your Yankees" in which we brainwash teach the kids some interesting facts about the Yankees players which was started and quickly dropped last year but revived by much coercing from me to bring this back and bring it back BIG, BABY! (Or else I was going to do it myself and I don't think Mike would be able to live with himself if *I* was the one creating these printouts and hanging them in the kids rooms on their walls).

Ryan had the right idea and what was probably my favorite part of my day, though my hitting was atrocious. I am WAY out of practice and pretty much sucked it up but it was still so much fun that I couldn't help but walk away with a smile!

bike ride, gnocchi, Book Review - Once Upon a Time: Creative Writing Fun for Kids

We are all starting to feel better finally - not fully there, but GETTING there and that's the direction I want to be going in! I took the kids to the doctor's yesterday to do a follow-up. They are both still coughing and I wanted to make sure it wasn't bronchitis or pneumonia as it tends to become. Their lungs sounded fine and were cleared as good to go. Yay!

They have tennis camp for a few hours in the morning until through Thursday so I've been taking the time while they are there to get back on my bike. It feels both good and bad. Good to be out and riding again. But I'm sucking wind. I've been laying low on the society front since I am contagious through today so I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself given that I still have the flu and am still feeling its sluggish effects. I've met some nice people out on the trail and in the biking community lately and that's AWESOME. There have been many familiar drive-by "good mornin's'" and a few new people that I've  met that I'm glad I made the time to talk to. There's also a new bicycling group starting up nearby so my hopes for finding a good group to ride with are high. Tonight I even attended (FINALLY!) the free monthly bike maintenance class that I've been meaning to get to for the past three months so I should know how to change a flat now. I'd like to try taking things apart at home Friday or over the weekend just to practice and feel more confident about it all. After all it's probably only a matter of time before I get a flat out there on a ride and I'd like to be prepared. I've said little prayers of gratitude every single time I finish a ride and DON'T get one! Seriously. I also learned of a good century ride nearby that I need to check out to see if it's something that I want to do.

Speaking of things that I want to do.... I've been wanting to MAKE GNOCCI ever since I last ate a delicious dinner at The Wine Kitchen with Mike. So that's what I did for dinner. A full recipe will follow in the future. But here's a peek. They were delicious little pillows of potato-y goodness. YUM!

Oh and I love days when packages arrive on my doorstep addressed to me. Especially from Amazon.com! I'm a big, HUGE library fan. We visit our local library at *least* once a week and currently we have way more books checked out than I feel comfortable admitting. But there are some books that I just have to get my hands on that they, and our local brick-and-mortar bookstores, don't carry. Once Upon a Time: Creative Writing Fun for Kids was one of those books (so was Mudworks which was also in our package today).

The cards are separated into categories like How-to, Genre, Characters, Action, Setting, Feeling (Mood), Object, etc.

What Jessi found most exciting were the "Can you imagine?" and "Sparklers" sections. The "Can you imagine" section gives some interesting words that you could use in telling your story to get your thinking more descriptively. The "Sparklers" section asked questions that serves as jumping points to create your own story. Children can combine a few of the questions and their own imaginative answers to make their story more complex.

Here's my Goodreads review:

Once Upon a Time: Creative Writing Fun for Kids by Annie Buckley

We just got this and both kids LOVE it!! We spent some time reading through some of the cards while eating lunch and then Jessi (age 8) couldn't take it any longer and ran upstairs to get her notebook and a pencil and is writing away on the couch. She just needed some inspiration and the sparklers and words to try were just what she craved!! Ryan (age 4 11/12ths) is walking around with five of the cards he has chosen for a story of his very own that he told just us that we are now going to do some art representations of (not sure if we are going to do drawing, clay, or something else). View all my reviews >>

Both kids enjoyed these and Ryan even wanted to go further with his story. In fact the few words that he mentioned were really the seeds of an idea. He grabbed the clay and got to work and in that more details came forth as he created.

It started with the soccer field which is where his character, Jack, was having his birthday party. His best friend, Bob (who is also his neighbor) came along, as did his other friends, and his dog, Buuku. They split up into teams (the Yankees and the Redskins - yes, soccer teams) and even Buuku knows how to play soccer. He told me about the house, the driveway, and the car (made out of Wiki Stiks and some wheels from a mini-skateboard toy that he once got in a goodie bag at a party he attended two months ago. The skateboard is long gone but wheels get saved around here).

I loved seeing this take place. The initial motivation and thoughts. The details as things expanded. The problem solving when the first soccer goal wouldn't stay up. The excitement in his eyes. The pride at the completion. This was something he really got into. Very fun to witness and be a part of.

 

 

Jack's house with the car parked in the driveway (maybe his mommy can't fit her big car in the garage like me).

 

And Jack and his friends only have to take a walk down the sidewalk to arrive at the soccer field and the birthday party location. Sweet!

Another view of the car (in this one you can see the wheels)