HOME WORK

I am teaching a new class this semester and need examples of the assignments, so I have been doing the assignments along with my class.

I've actually had a good time. Give me a design problem and it is just like a puzzle. I just want to get started figuring out the solution. This one (above) had to do with pattern continuation and line direction within a composition. It was done with Sharpie.

This is an embossment (excuse the photo, my nice camera is still being repaired). They had to pick an emotion or concept and express it visually. Mine was fear- can you see the spider? The shot needle? The blood? The number 13? Not necessarily my fears, but dealing with fears common to many.

This is one I just did today using mixed media. They had to choose a color scheme and use collage and paint. I'm diggin' this one. Doesn't necessarily have a message, just fun.

SOCCER & RED ROVER

We went to Little C's game tonight and were very entertained. The teams were both local and there were quite a few of his friends on the opposing side.

Here is Little C (in gray) up in the air.

Here he is about to score a goal. The final score was 3 to 3. They were very evenly matched. I guess they can all remain friends.

On the side lines another match was being held. All the little sisters got together and played a spontaneous game of Red Rover. They were SO cute!

Here is Princess P in pink. She had a ball! (ha ha, soccer pun).

SUNDAY EVENING

We went up in the mountains last night to cook dinner with friends. I was going to make steaks anyway, so when they called and invited us we just took everything up there to cook.

Here's Big C cooking steak and potatoes. It was perfect weather. We had a fire and it was just chilly enough that the fire felt good, but not too hot.

4 families= 8 adults, 20 kids and 1 dog. The leaves are changing up there and I don't know how many more days like this there will be. It is very beautiful!

We ended up with lots of food! Desserts were especially plentiful. We had watermelon, roasted marshmallows, 3 kinds of cobbler, chocolate cake, divinity, and fire-popped popcorn. We were all very full and tired when we got home. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening.

P.S. All these photos were taken with my new waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof camera. I got a Fuji. We like it so far...

P.P.S. Can I just say how much I dislike the new Blogger editing space. VERY confusing! And then there's some contest that attached itself to my post. I need to go through these new settings. I am not happy!

I LOVE THE THEATER (say with English accent)

I got to go see the matinee of The Drowsy Chaperone at the Hale Center Theater in Orem with my sister yesterday. Her step son was in it. It was SO good! It was hilarious, fun, had great music, lots of talented singing and dancing and acting.

I highly recommend it if you can get there. It is a pretty small theater, but it was completely sold out and I can see why. I can't understand why people always go down to Tuacan when we have such a fabulous theater so close. I guess the outdoors theater is pretty cool, but...

Not to pick favorites (okay, yes I do), but the Latin Lover was, in my humble opinion, the best part of the show. Orange sweater guy was pretty awesome too.

PHOTOSHOPPED KEN

For a quick intro to Photoshop we had a choose an image and alter it in four different ways- a sort-of Andy Warhol piece. I chose Ken and I have no idea why except that the possibilities for alteration were endless.

I ended up using POSTERIZED KEN, ZOMBIE KEN, MIDLIFE CRISIS KEN, and HIPPIE KEN.

I think they turned out fun. My next assignment is a photoshopped self-portrait. I have never taken a self-portrait without photoshopping it, so it shouldn't be too hard. :)

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK

Those of you who've read my blog before know that I am not a fan of canning. Probably because I was raised by a mother that canned EVERYTHING. I grew up helping to can beans, tomatoes, pears, peaches, grape juice, etc... I think it might have burned me out because I refuse to go out and buy fruit so that I can can it (besides the fact that my family won't eat it).

When we have grown our own, however, I make an exception. This year we got quite a good load of apples, so last night for family night we canned apple pie filling. What usually would have taken me 4-5 hours alone, took about 1 1/2 hours with all the family helping. Now we have 12 quarts and I am thrilled!

PROBLEM SOLVED?

I broke my camera again. I am so mad at myself I can hardly stand it. I bought it less than two years ago and this is the second time I've had to send it in for a new LCD screen. I sat on it when we went to Green River. Applause, applause, applause. I know.

I love this camera! It's my favorite! And if I'd just keep the screen shut, it would be okay, but I don't. Hopefully I've found a solution to the problem...

... this Pentax waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof camera. All the things my family and I need from a camera! I'll save my Canon for the less treacherous trips, whenever those might be...

MY MONSTERS

Assignment #1 DONE! I am happy. My skills on Illustrator have improved and it is no longer quite so daunting to me.

Here are my set of 3 black and white monsters...

... and my set of 3 colored. Bring on the next assignment!

10 YEARS AGO

I don't think I've ever written about 9/11. Since this is one of my journals, I would like to record what I do remember from that time on its 10th anniversary.

That morning I was busy. I didn't have the TV on until later after both the towers had fallen, but I didn't miss the footage. They showed it over and over again. I called my mom to confirm that what I was watching was really happening. We talked for a while in disbelief and then I sat for 2 hours, stunned by the images and the messages they carried. It brought me to tears over and over and, like the rest of the US, I still couldn't believe it was happening. I finally had to turn off the news. I just couldn't take it anymore. I realized at the time, how fortunate I was that I COULD turn it off. For so many people it was a nightmare they would have to live with for the rest of their lives because of the loss of loved ones.

When my husband and my children (then 9, 7, and 5) came home that evening, we talked a lot about it. Our school had the kids watch some of the reports (I wasn't sure how I felt about that at the time) and they just could not understand. Why would people want to kill themselves and lots of other people like that? I am so glad they couldn't understand. I would worry about anyone who can.

I am grateful for the freedom that I have continued to be able to have these past 10 years. Many have lost their lives on and since that day. I know some of the men personally that have gone to live in foreign countries and live through unspeakable events so that our families are safe. I will always be thankful for them and their sacrifice for the life I am able live.

SOCCER STARS

I am coaching Princess P's soccer team this year (as I've mentioned before) and it has actually been fun. She is much more aggressive and pays way more attention to the game than I thought she would.

I am proud of her. We are purple and she likes that part too.

Little C is an awesome player again this year too. He played against one of his best friends last night and won. They are still friends, don't worry.

He actually scored two goals, but neither counted because the refs had called some sort of penalty right before. Poor guy. I keep telling him he'll get one eventually. He sure loves this game!

BUSY BIRTHDAY

Amongst school, piano lessons, soccer games, baptisms for the dead, and a powder puff game, somewhere in there it was Little C's 11th birthday. He is very casual, so although we didn't even have time to sit down to dinner, he remained happy and cheerful to just go with the flow of the busy day.

We finally got around to having family and friends over for cake and ice cream and presents and he was even happier. He is such a sweetheart and a joy to have around. I am so grateful he is part of our family!

11 THINGS ABOUT LITTLE C ON THE 11TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH:

1. He is such a good friend to everyone.
2. He wears green converse.
3. He can dance like nobody's business! He's working on learning all the moves to Party Rock Anthem (check it out here)right now and has almost got it!
4. He is a great hugger.
5. His favorite sports are soccer and snowboarding.
6. He is always so happy.
7. He is an amazing gymnast/athlete
8. His favorite color is green (and so is mine!)
9. He's a pretty good worker for someone his age.
10. He is a mover. Always running around, never sitting being bored.
11. His favorite candy is plain M&M's.

LABOR DAY?

We didn't 'labor' much on Labor Day- most people don't. We went down to Green River to run the river. And we had a fabulously fun time!

We met and camped with friends and played, played, played. The photo above is of the place my kids rode on the drive up to the put-in. I was sick about them all being up there, but they had a blast. I guess they were pretending to row as we drove along and entertained the people we passed on the way.

Here I am (right) with two of my good friends.

We stopped at this sand bar and had fun collapsing it. The kids did some 'cliff' jumping too.

S is still home for a few days and she was thrilled to kayak another river with Big C. More father/daughter bonding on the water. She's really got a good roll down. We're so proud.

This is A flipping off the front of the boat. It was hot, the water was nice and there is A LOT of flat water this time of year on this run, so we did lots of throwing each other out of the boats, flips off the raft and water fights.

FAVORITE MEMORIES OF THE TRIP:

• Steaks for dinner.
• L's famous chocolate chip pancakes.
• Big C pulling me off the raft into the water, me flipping him over in his kayak and losing our friends' car keys in the process.
• Calling a friend at home to bring an extra set of keys to us 2 1/2 hours away and then finding the keys in the boat when he was only half an hour away. fail!
• Swimming the rapids in our life jackets. (It was the only way they were even fun).
• Watching the kids flip the raft on purpose.
• Getting our last sunburns of the summer.
• Eating a huge, deliciously amazing burger at Ray's.

BAPTISM

Princess P was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. Her big brother, D, baptized her and it was a special experience for them both. They were both nervous, but everything went great.

Here we are! My forever family! I am so blessed!Here they are in their matching white jumpsuits. S gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and Big C confirmed her afterwards. She has repeatedly told me how happy she feels and how she wishes she could do it again. I am so proud of her!

Here are the invitations we sent out inviting family to this special day.

MY DAUGHTER IS HOME

S came home on Thursday night. It was SO fun to see her again. I always forget what a beautiful girl she is. We have had a great time being a whole family again. (Even if its only for a week).

She has been sleeping in a tent all summer, so she couldn't bring herself to sleep inside the first night. She looks like a homeless person, but I promise we didn't banish her to the back porch.

Big C talked her into running Cottonwood with him after work tonight. (He didn't have to talk too hard). After running rivers all summer, she is STILL loving it. This is a crazy river too- solid Class IV (the outlet of Joe's Valley Reservoir).

I don't know if a father and daughter could have more in common. These two are die hard outdoors lovers!