Katharine's latest Art Portfolio

Katharine just entered an art scholarship competition.

Here is a video link to her bio, and then underneath are her submitted portfolio pieces.

https://youtu.be/W-FVy02XYMo

However it works out, we are all really proud of her. The girl can draw!

These Boots Were Made For Handing Down

Lukas originally owned these boots, and then Keira wore them for a year. 

They have now ended up with Kassidy, and she has been really loving them.

This it the kind of item that looks better with age.. so maybe we save them for some future grandchildren?

Lets Go Fly a Bag..

Bare feet + wind + yarn + plastic bag = FUN

Sharks on the Horizon

Here is Lukas and his new team 'The Sharks' practicing yesterday afternoon. 

He scored on a header at the very end, and was very happy with himself :)

Critters

Very different kinds of critter art from Lukas and Keira- no surprise there.

Although the one thing that they have in common is that they are both pretty awesome in their own  different ways :)

The Lego Research Team

You can tell that there is definitely a lot of research going on..

Prepping for the Pumpkin Patch

The kids spent Sunday afternoon helping to set up the annual pumpkin patch at church.

They were a great help, and it also provided us with a great excuse for making everybody take a bath/shower that night.

Next Gen

My old art college is starting to send Katharine promotional mail.

This parenting thing gets more surreal every year..

Happy Birthday, Keira!

Keira joined the decade club today, turning 10 years old.

We love our smart, creative, and very head-strong girl. 

Never trespass on her prairie :)

Keira facts:

Keira is obsessed with Little House on the Prairie and all things from that era (we are currently reading Little Women)

Keira loves to plan and organize

Favorite animal - still a cheetah

Favorite Disney character - Rapunzel

When she grows up - she wants to be either a farmer, dancer or zoo keeper

Favorite Little House book - The Long Winter

Favorite food - Her Mom's pulled pork
Favorite snack - Spicey Chips

Birthday meal - California Pizza Kitchen (pepperoni pizza)

Travel plans - Minnesota (Walnut Grove)

Favorite soup - tomato basil

Favorite drink - Lemonade (from the Little House recipe book)

Favorite hobbies - dancing and sewing

Favorite American Girl - Elizabeth

Best friends - Jane, Kaili, Mercy, Miss Terry

Favorite school subject - Crafts and anything from the prairie curriculum

Least favorite school subject - math

Keira does not like Fortnite or any video games, and sometimes that makes her feel like she doesn't fit in with her siblings

Typical Keira sighting - sitting on her bean bag sewing while watching Little House on the Prairie

Keira does not like elevators or planes

Keira is the first kid up every morning, and the first kid asleep at night

Keira loves ballet and jazz dance, but hates hip-hop

Keira likes cats more than dogs

Favorite holiday - Memorial Day

Favorite desert - Vanilla sundae

Keira has the cleanest room, and usually makes her bed every day

Keira is a bit of a control freak, and can get frustrated when things don't go her way

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - play with their American Girl dolls

Favorite thing to do with Lennon - be silly

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - play in the rian

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - talk about art

Favorite thing to do with Mommy - love and cuddles

Favorite thing to do with Daddy - reading at nights and Daddy/Daughter dates

Birthday presents - loose change and a five dollar bill (Kassidy) / prairie boots (Grandparents) / boogie board (Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter) / Prairie books and quilt (Mom and Dad) / rag doll with quilt (Keira, to herself)

Alphabet Sup

I like to cut Kassidy's initials into her food when I prepare it for her, although I often feel that I like it a lot more than she does..

All Jazzed Up

Chicago opens tomorrow night. Katharine has a bunch of roles in it, and I am looking forward to seeing her next Saturday at the final performance.

Iria will probably see it a few times before that..

Happy Birthday, Lennon!

Lennon turned 11 today, and shot around 11 goals in practice this week.

We love our intelligent, funny, smart, athletic, and handsome guy. 

Luckily he is still too young for the girls :)

A few Lennon facts:

What he is looking forward to this year- playing his rival FC Dallas team this Spring

Favorite Marvel Comics character - Spiderman

Three things he would take with him to a deserted island: family/food/water

Travel wishes - Seattle or Portland

Favorite school subject - Math

Least favorite school subject - grammar

Best friends - Trevor, Tristan, Fox, Nolan, Travis, Blake, Maddox

Favorite foods/drink  - Coke, sloppy joes, chili, Chick-fil-A sandwich

Least favorite foods/drink - cereal, peanut butter, nuts, lentil, tofu

Favorite movie from this past year - Ant Man 2

Favorite games - Fortnite, Shadow of War, Overwatch (plays as Mercy)

Favorite book from this past year - book 3 of 'The Trials of Apollo" (loves anything ancient Rome of Greek inspired)

Favorite Youtuber - Bazza Gazza

Favorite animal - whale

Favorite Mythical Creature - Pegasus

Favorite Twitch streamer - TSM Dakotas

Loves to wear - soccer clothes

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy - play Lego video games

Favorite thing to do with Keira - talk

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - everything

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - play Overwatch and hang out in her room

Favorite thing to do with Mom - talk and cuddle

Favorite thing to do with Dad - go to FC Dallas games

Lennon saw his first big musical this year (School of Rock) and loved it

Lennon also attended a Beethoven concert this year 

Lennon is probably the least artistic member of the family, but the best at Math

Favorite music - School of Rock soundtrack

Where he wants to live when he grows up - Europe, the Northeast, or the Pacific Northwest

Favorite stuffed animal - his yellow pillow and mouse

Lennon is more of en evening person than a morning person

Lennon loves to chew gum and drink coffee and tea

Birthday presents - Lego ninjago set (from Mom and Dad), World Cup soccer card full set (Mom and Dad), XBox gift cards (the Grandparents), 50 single dollar bills (Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter), a rag doll (Keira) and a 20 dollar bill with some random coins taped to a homemade card with a picture of a snow globe (Kassidy)

Favorite soccer players - Neymar, Harry Kane, Trippier 

Fall Colors

We don't get colorful foliage during the Fall, but the skies can be vibrant.

Photos courtesy of Iria, taken at Lukas's soccer game (he won, BTW).

Reading material

Kassidy received her third grade bible this Sunday. 

The reverend joked if this was the last of them- he has handed out a lot of bibles to our family :)

Tis' the Season

Nutcracker tryouts were today, ushering in the beginning of this years Christmas season.

Keira is the third from the right.

Fan Boys

Another night out at an FC Dallas game for Lennon and myself.

We look like we are having a better time than the father/son duo behind us :)

Finished!

The first rag doll rolled off of the assembly line today.

Three more to go (although she is giving her fingers a rest for a few days).

Busy Week Ahead

This is actually pretty typical for our calendar, what makes it busy will be the extra hours at Gearbox and home to finish off all of the art that I have due..

Doll Factory

Keira is mass producing a bunch of rag-dolls right now, using hand drawn patterns and calico swatches.

This is still a work in progress- I will make another post once everything is done!