first attempt

One of my wants this year is to learn Adobe Illustrator. Ouch! I know. The program is a beast, but I am determined. I've tried playing around with it in the past, but got so frustrated I decided Photoshop would have to suffice.

Until now.

As you know, I've been very interested in graphic design. I'm tired of just dreaming about it and really want to push further, which unfortunately means getting uncomfortable. The more I looked into my ultimate goal, my own designs, the more I want to use the tools in Illustrator that will make the creations easier and quicker.

After 2 weeks of playing in the program, believe it or not, I am picking up on it rather quickly, but I'm not the only one. Megan has been watching me and finally asked if she could take a turn. I taught her some of the basics and this is what she created.

Titled: Kitty with Leg Warmers



This is her first attempt.

Adam and I have both recognized lately, not only how much her artistic eye and skills are growing, but how often she spends her time with paper and pen in hand. We should have known her attention to detail would have been expressed this way. All her school work comes home with doodles all over it. I hope she keeps this up.

Can't wait to see where she goes as she evolves.

a drawing a day

I feel lucky when each day I'm presented with an original drawing from one of my girls (i hope it never stops). Mostly these days they're from Megan because the other girls don't have quite the leisure time she has. Today, this is the drawing Megan gave me.



I understood it right away and it made me extremely happy. I guess there's nothing like receiving a piece of art depicting you doing something you love. She said, "Mom look, it's you taking pictures of beautiful flowers." My girl knows me...I love that.

The only thing I'm a little unsure of is my see through skirt.

It was a good 9 months

If I could tell the complete story of our last day of school in a photo it would be this....



Megan bouncing around being her cheerful self not in tune to the heightened emotions going on around her. Tess a little in different and bothered about the teacher she got next year. To be completely honest, I'm a little bugged as well only because it's the same 2nd grade teacher Bella had. It's not that I don't like her, I just don't want her comparing Tess to Bella because academically they are not the same. Tess' teacher did make sure to put her with her good friends so she has that to look forward to. Then there is sweet Bella in the background struggling to keep it together. In fact, she totally gave into her emotions and cried as she said good bye to her teacher (swollen eyes here). I can understand...I cried too. She's the type of teacher you don't mind your child spending 6 hours a day with. I'm not sure how it started, but they sure do have a special relationship. Her teacher even told me as we were leaving that Bella changed her in many ways...not sure what that meant exactly, but I couldn't have agreed more.

The last day of school the kids have an awards assembly. I never go because the kids haven't gotten awards, but I wish I had this year because they did. Tess got the Physical Fitness award (she still hasn't told me what it was for) and Bella got an award for being in the top 10% in the nation on her Iowa tests in reading & language. Needless to say I was more than impressed that someone from my genes could ever get an award like that (if you haven't noticed already reading & language are not my strengths). I was proud of them both and wouldn't you know, the awards fit them perfectly.


[megan art, may 2009]

So the summer has officially started for us. Do we have big plans? NO, not really. I mean we are going to do swimming lessons and the girls are going to do a theater & dance class, but other than that we don't have any big plans. I'm sure we'll go swimming a lot, have picnics at the park, club house read-a-thons, and hopefully time with cousins. I was feeling a bit intimidated weeks ago, but now I'm looking forward to the lazy summer days.