Art lessons

So, this year I had wanted to start giving the girls art lessons. And so we are! We are having a lot of fun with it! I do a lesson with Ksenia and her friend from church, Nora (she lives down the street), and I also do a lesson with Maya and Belle on another day. They are really enjoying learning basic technique right now, and we will soon be doing more involved projects. But for now, here is a peek at what they have done in the last couple of months!

Nora and Ksenia created a mixed media collage for Activity Days Talent Night

Maya's Lion

Belle's Lion

Nora and Ksenia working on a still life

Still Life by Ksenia

Still Life by Nora

Hard at work

Nora and Ksenia working on spooky fall trees

Finished projects!

Maya and Belle working on a still life

And their beautiful finished projects!

Abstract by Nora

Abstract by Ksenia-pretty awesome!

Anyway, I will post more as we do them--the girls are loving it, and want to share it with the whole family!:)

A few things...

So, Family...
I am having a hard time deciding where to begin here, since I haven't written anything in a while, but there are a few things I want to write down before I forget! For some reason:) my memory is no longer what it used to be, so I want to record a few things I have jotted down over the past few months, really. A lot of little things I would put in the "Notes" in my iphone, which proved to be a huge mistake, as it met its demise at Woodward Camp this summer :(  So I am going on what I can remember of what I want to remember; makes a lot of sense, right? Anyhow, I just don't want to forget the things that I am grateful for, like...

Raistlin's cute little fat feet...,

 Maya's happy little self,

The back yard that we love,

    

And friends to come play in it!

 How much Belle loves horses right now,

And breakfast in bed on birthdays!

 

How the girls absolutely love the bikes they got this year, and ride them for hours every day,

How exciting it was that Rustam went to the London Olympics with the USA team,

 How the girls are really a big help in preparing meals,

 And how much they love our first pet, Fred Weasley;

 The good friends that the girls have made here,

 And the fact that they are best friends with each other.

 I am so grateful that Rustam will spend his small amount of free time...

 Playing night soccer in the back yard,

                                                   

 And going for bike rides...

I love finding these...

& that Maya loves Addie with all her heart, and Ksenia really likes Denny's:)

 

 I love having a sweet baby in the house (even if he is growing everyday!)

 His love of the outdoors,

and that he already tries to pretend,

How he loves the cubbies at the gym,

 I am grateful that fall is here,

and I want to remember 

how much Maya absolutely loves 

this green bag from Baba.

 I am thankful for family...

and old friends that love our children, too.

 (K and M with Svetlana Boginskaya at gym camp)

For big sisters that love their little brothers so much,

 And little brothers that love them right back...

And even play with their old toys...

For Maya's humor,

 and Belle's willingness to give speeches:)

 That Ksenia loves gymnastics so much she spends hours making up routines.

 These are just some of the things that I don't want to forget.

I am so grateful for these children and what they bring to our family, and that I get to be their mother!