Ode to my mother-in-law

This week is a very special week around our house. The kids are so excited because it is their Nana's birthday! As you can see from the photo on the left they LOVE her! We scored big and in a major way in the mother-in-law department. I know there are lots of people with mother-in-laws, some of them even like their mother-in-laws but none of them are as lucky as me....we got the best one. I have included a few photos to help me illustrate the above and beyond Nana we have here on our hands.


So, they have a pool in Dallas....every time we come she demands it is spotlessly clean for us, much to Papa Pollan's dismay....Though to his credit it has always been sparkling and refreshing. There is no complaining as the kids run in and out of the house a thousand times with their dripping feet and wet suits and towels hanging everywhere. She lets them swim in the morning before breakfast, and again after lunch and if they want they can have a quick dip before bedtime....and two or three swim trips a day is okay too.


This was Nana's trip to Utah, she came out with a suitcase full of crafts and activities for the kids to amuse themselves with. They made aprons which she had sewn herself, then they decorated pots for my garden with stamps and outdoor paint, another day they did garden stones in the shape of Texas, because of course we have to promote the Texas pride....(still haven't figured that out yet) The kids had more fun than they could handle. She even kept them for three days in a row while I ran an art tent and sold my paintings.

This was on a trip to Dallas which has many traditions....it is a big deal when we go to Dallas.....one of the items which has to happen is dipping strawberries in CHOCOLATE....oh how they love it. You should see my three sweet kiddos present their beautiful platter of chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. You would think they had memorized the periodic table they are so pleased with themselves. Yes, they do even share a few with the adults....if they have enough left over after making them. Notice the bowl, yes they not only get to make them but lick the bowl as well. Heaven may just be at Nana's house in Dallas.

So the sun is going down and things are winding down. Mom is thinking oh phew, just a few more minutes till bed but Nana whips out the idea to run over to the splash fountain and dance and jump around to the water in the dark. Yes, it could be kid heaven. Just as mom would send them off to bed Nana let's them play some more. Did I mention the Papa and Uncle who also ran through the fountain like crazy kids. What a fun memory to have of your Papa acting like a little kid. They laughed so hard Tyler busted out another hernia....(jk he already had both repaired, should be done with that)




Alas another tradition.....this one is awesome, nearly as good as Christmas but you get it every time you see Nana. It's called a string party. Nana supplies the rewards along the string and at the end and the kids have to follow the maze of yarn spider webbing to their presents. This one was a big one with a very good loot. They were most pleased.

To sum up....I am the luckiest daughter-in-law in the world because I am sure we have the Nana there is. She treats the children with the most
love and kindness possible. We just play and play and have so much fun whenever we are with her. If I asked my kids if they would rather go to Dallas or Disneyland they would pick Dallas.

I would just like to wish Laura a happy birthday. We love you and are so lucky to have you in our lives. You are such an inspiration and example to me. You are so generous with your knowledge and are happy to share recipes, ideas, games, etc... I have learned so much from you and am so grateful to have you in my life.



So that is my ode to my mother-in-law...now I am moving on to how much I love my new car....It has been a while now since I have been needing a third row, not a necessity as our family does still fit in two rows, and will continue to fit in two rows. I am so happy to have a third row so I can carpool and drive friends around with us. (So are the kids) They have been my greatest supporters in the quest to convince Dad we need a third row. The kicker was his car died so he volunteered graciously to take over my trailblazer and got us a Honda Pilot.....it is gorgeous and I couldn't be happier.





















So, Ali and Gabby are at it again. In the photo above Ali spent Saturday planning this tea party with Gabby. They were going to have hot chocolate and Chewy would drink his tea water. Chewy was also to wear his doll dress with his hair in a pony. Ali invited Gabby at church on Sunday and they planned all the details. They are just to cute.







The painting this week is coming along. This is one of the photos I am using for reference. The red painting is my block in. People ask me how I start....this is it. I just paint on a loose outline of the main shapes. Check the composition to make sure I like what is going on. Then the work starts. This time I started with the sky and got it all in. Then I went down to the mountains and got them all blocked in and nearly finished. After that I went to work on the capitol building itself. I worked on the general shape. Then focused on the lights and darks. Putting the dark shades in first and then working lighter. Squinting is a great method to check the values of what you are working on. Sometimes I like the monochromatic sketch in better than the finished painting. I really love it in a sienna color so it looks like an old photo....anyway. I am still working on the foreground, today I added the greenery, trying to get a dark shadowy area behind and then adding the lighter shades on top. The jury is still our on the road... I think I may curve it and make it head back towards the capitol even though it doesn't do this in the photo it will draw the viewers eye into the painting more, or I may just end it at the tree and have the tree line hide the rest of the road. I feel like the road may take you across the road and out of the painting. If I use the tree as a curve line it your eye will go up the road and follow the curve of the branch back into the focal which of course is the capitol building. It is coming along though and hopefully I can have it done by Friday. It is a commissioned piece and I have to keep reminding Ali that she can't paint on it. She really love to paint. So, there you go. From start to half way done. I really like how the capitol is looking. I am feeling hopeful this will be a good painting when I get it done. (Some are.... some aren't...)

I am off to run get the boys. We have two hours of gymnastics this afternoon. Better not forget my book. Once again....Happy Birthday Laura!!! We love you.