Character Designs

Here is a character design page that Katharine made of herself, along with some pages from the her sketchbook.

For the animal drawing, she had to combine a mongoose and a spider to create a new type of critter.

Hot off the Presses

The latest 'Doescher Gazette'.

Four Portraits

Self portraits by Katharine in charcoal.

The Ickabog

JK Rowling recently released a new book online, which I have been reading to Keira at night. It is a fairytale, called 'The Ickabog'.

It is being published in book form this fall, and the publisher just had a contest where kids could submit illustrations of their favorite scenes from the book. If they are chosen, the illustration will be used in the print edition.

Here are Keira's. 

As you might expect, very crafty and creative.

Sunday Funnies

They are all laughing on the inside.

Pose and Picture

Here is Katharine working on her weekly class assignment.

 

Fridays

Sherman loves Takeout Friday.

Well, he pretty much loves every lunch of the week.. but especially on Fridays.

And especially Ihop.

Kid Candids

These pictures were taken on the family camera by Keira and Kassidy.

 

Kids take pictures of themselves a lot differently than parents do. 

 

It is always fun to see them loosen up.

 

Katharine's first summer art assignment

This sketching style is called "reportage". 

The artist draws from life and the pen is never supposed to leave the paper. 

So you will start drawing in one corner, and then just expand out in whatever direction it takes you. 

Color and shading can be added at the end.

The group shot on the couch (2nd image) was from last Friday night, when we visited with the Martels for the last time before they took the kids home for the summer. Everybody was gathered around the TV to watch Hamilton.

Morning Bar

When you can't go to the dance studio, the dance studio comes home.

Late Nigh'topia

The boys and Katharine have been watching Barbie movies late at night.

I think it is some weird Covid ritual that they picked up and will be laughing about when they are reminiscing at my age.

Happy Birthday (and Fathers Day) to me

Foe someone who doesn't like the attention, having both Fathers Day and my birthday on the same day is a double whammy. But at least it gets it all over with all at once?

This might sound bizarre, but no matter how terrible this pandemic is, it has given me my best present in recent memory. I've been home with the family for almost three months now, and I have gotten more involved and closer to everyone in the process. I cherish this time with them, and I cherish them.

 

 

Flower Girl

Sophie likes to pose amongst the flowers when she is not trying to eat them..

There needs to be a better word for "puppet" to describe this..

Katharine is going to try some stop motion animation, and created this puppet. It has moveable joints so that she can put it in all kinds of poses. I can't wait to see it in motion.

 

Family Portraits

Wow, we are going to have a lot of people in the house today.

And knowing the Martels, that will likely include their two dogs. 

Hopefully we will not need to add Sophie to the RIP corner..

(art by Kassidy)

Bathroom Break

Sophie is pretty obsessed with toilets. 

 

Maybe she will become one of those cats that learns how to use them- not that I would want her to be using our toilets or anything..

 

Anyways, today she came bearing gifts, so I couldn't refuse to indulge her.

 

 

 

Home Is The Nicest Place There Is

Speaking of pillows, Keira finished the middle section of her stitched pillow last night.

That is her own design, and she wasn't following any patterns.

She usually works on it while I read to her at night.

Big Pillow, Little Pillow

Sophie is a pillow cat. 

Nothing can be too big or small for her.

Sunday Night Zoom with Craig

Just about every Sunday night, we usually log onto Zoom and have a game session with Craig.

We play jackboxtv party games (drawing and triva, etc etc).

Happy Birthday, Kasssidy!

Kassidy just completed her tenth fun and freaky trip around the sun. 

We love all her quirks and quick thinking, but not so much the temper :)

Twas the night before her birthday..

Twas the day of her birthday..

 

Twas the night of her birthday (still working on the activity books)..

Kassidy Facts

Favorite color - pink

Birthday meal - Sonic (corndog and tater tots)

Favorite food - mac and cheese, bread and Nutella, ice cream sandwich

Favorite restaurant - California Pizza Kitchen

Favorite junk food - gummy owls

Least favorite food - mayonnaise

Favorite toys - Cars, Lego sets, Playmobile

Favorite video game - Animal Crossing and Overwatch

Favorite vacation - Massachusetts and Germany

Favorite book - Narnia series

Kassidy loves activity and sticker books

Favorite book you have written - Princess Ruby

Favorite tv show -Corn & Peg, Spirit Riding Free, Top Wing

Currently listening to - Ingrid Michaelson and Perry Grip and Disney tunes

Goal for year - Do more art

Best Friends - Kate, Oliver, Maren and Amy

Favorite memory from the last year - Massachusetts trip

Favorite animal - lions, tigers, monkeys, unicorns

Future job/career - vet

Rural suburbs or city? - country

Favorite style of dance - ballet

Birthday presents - Pink Switch Lite and some sticker books (Mom and Dad), Mario Kart game (Uncle Peter), Animal Crossing game and sticker books (Grandma and Grandpa), art and photo supplies (Uncle Craig)

Favorite plant - rose

Cat or dog - both!

Time travel - Pirates

Favorite school subject - Math and German

Favorite Keira toy - Elizabeth

Least favorite school subject - Science with the boys

Favorite thing to do with Mom - cuddle

Favorite thing to do with Dad - read books at night

Favorite thing to do with Lukas - play Battlefront video game

Favorite thing to do with Katharine - look at her art

Favorite thing to do with Lennon - playing

Favorite thing to do with Keira - ride bikes and play with dolls

Favorite season - Winter and Spring

If the house were burning she would grab these three objects (people and animals not included) - her giraffe, her blankies, and Fantasia

Looking forward to in 2020- developing your art skills

What scares you - Tornadoes and thunderstorms and wind and dehydration

And people still think that I spoil Kassidy :)