Jul 30, 2009

New York

Ava and I got to spend an amazing 6 days in New York on a trip planned by my mother-in-law, Ruby. All of the girls on Chad's side of the family attended, making 7 in all ranging in age from 4 to 66 and covering 3 generations. Ava loved getting to hang out with the big girls all week and was a trooper as we toured all over the city and kept her up late every night. Here are some of the highlights:


The girls (minus Melissa who was sick) in Times Square

The Museum of Modern Art

This is a room at the MOMA where you write your name in marker at your height. The effect in a large room with so many millions of names is pretty cool. 

The Statue of Liberty

Riding the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty


The group in Rockefeller Plaza (with Tommy the Turtle who didn't get to come home with us. Apparently turtles are not allowed on airplanes. After much sadness and crying in the airport, we had to leave Tommy in New York. )

Ava daydreaming in Central Park. I love this picture!

The Museum of Natural History dinosaur exhibit

Ava taking a nap after a long day. I wish I could have slept in that stroller a few times. We wore ourselves out walking all over Manhattan.

The view from the Top of the Rock

My niece Melissa and me at the Empire State Building. The lady taking this picture thought we were sisters. It is interesting to have a niece that is so close to my age. I loved hanging out with Melissa on this trip!

Ava and Ruby at the Empire State Building Observation Deck

The view

Meeting the actress who played Mary Poppins

We got to tour backstage with Zach, the boy who played Michael in Mary Poppins. We had extra tickets and Ruby handed them to two women at the door. It turned out to be Zach's mom and she made sure we got a backstage tour after the show! Ava was in heaven.

Ava and Zach-- He was awesome in the show and such a cute kid!

Riding the carousel in Central Park

Getting the morning started from the front porch of our home away from home in Harlem. That stroller saved the day. There is no way we could have survived that much walking without a stroller. I got pretty good at folding it up quickly to get through the subway turnstiles. 

My photos are all out of order. This was actually taken our first night in NY before Gay and Karaline arrived. We bought that dress up outfit for Ava earlier in the day at Toys 'R Us and she couldn't wait to wear it. She walked all over the city in that little outfit!

Being silly with Grandma Ruby

So excited by the ferris wheel inside of Toys 'R Us! Ava was squealing with delight at the sensory overload of a 3 story toy store AND a ferris wheel. It was hilarious!

Thank you again Ruby for this trip. We loved it!

One more view of the city. . .

On our last night in Manhattan, we went to the Museum of wax. Ava dancing with Beyonce! 
All the single ladies, all the single ladies. . .
7 Girls, 5 Decades, 3 Generations, 1 NY Trip of a Lifetime! 
(This was what was written on our sign at the Today show.)  

Jul 27, 2009

It's almost wedding time. . .

In honor of my cousin Carly's wedding this Saturday, I am posting a great wedding video from youtube. I know this has made the rounds so you may have already seen this, but if you need a pick me up on this Monday morning watch this wedding entrance from a couple in Minnesota who knows how to have fun! You can't help but smile. Love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0


Sorry I don't know how to upload a youtube video. Just click on the link above.

Jul 24, 2009

Art Camp '09

Ava wanted to go to a camp this summer and after looking into our limited options for preschoolers, I decided to create an art camp on my own. July 6th-10th I taught a Preschool Art Camp from 9 to noon and an Elementary Art Camp from 2 to 5. What a week! It was a ton of fun and hard work, but I think the kids enjoyed it. We featured an artist everyday, worked on daily sketchbooks and skills, and created 9 projects from a variety of mediums to take home. Here are some pictures from the week:


My Cute Preschool Class
My Wild and Crazy Elementary Kiddos
One of the preschool tables with their helper, Miss Jaci
Japanese style Shoji Screen 
(tissue paper, wax paper, craft foam and ribbon)
Clay Bowl
(air dry clay)

Paper Mache Bowl
(paper mache, newsprint, and tissue paper)

Self Portrait
(pencil, marker and crayon on drawing paper)


Dali inspired Surreal Collage
(magazine cut outs and pastels on pastel paper)

Abstract Painting
(paint on paper)

Mosaic Stepping Stone
(tile and marble in cement)

Watercolor Still Life
(pencil, watercolor and marker on watercolor paper)


Warhol inspired Pop Art
(watercolor on photocopied prints)

Ava showing off her Art Camp Diploma
My amazing table helpers
I couldn't have made it through the week without them!
Every kid got to take home their Art Bucket full of supplies to keep 
creating at home and their art camp aprons.
Stay tuned for photos from our New York trip. . .