I just have to brag a little

My little hobby is painting canvas panels for people. I've been doing this for almost 3 years now. A friend of mine gave one to me after Lyla was born and I thought I could do that too. I love doing crafty things so I took it to an art store and they told me what to use. Then another friend graciously let me use her opaque projector. That is how I get the letters so precise and use different fonts. But anyway, I've kept busy doing boards for people here and there. I'd love to grow it into a nice little business one day but for now I'll have to keep it where it's at. I can't paint until the girls are asleep and that just doesn't give me enough time to do very many.

The canvas in the picture above was done for a friend who wanted something for her newest little boy's nursery. It was completely her idea. She gave me the design, words and colors that she wanted. I don't usually do them so large but I think this one turned out great. This is the 3rd large one I've done so far. They're harder to do because I can't project the lettering on the board all at one time, so I have to piece it together and try to get it all centered. It's not perfect but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out!

My website of pictures is www.jennygardner.smugmug.com

Jump Zone

We took the girls to the Jump Zone in Franklin recently. They love those places with the huge jumpy things, as they call them. I really like the Jump Zone because it is all in one big room so I can see where everyone is at from one viewpoint! Plus, they let you bring your lunch in to eat there. It's great. Joni took these pictures. It's hard to get good pictures at these places though because they are constantly moving, even if they're sitting on a jumpy thing. She asked each of them to pose for a picture. You can see Lyla's choice of pose was typical Lyla! The black circle on her belly is a temporary tattoo. One day a few weeks ago I came downstairs to find Lyla and Grace covering their bodies in temporary tattoos. They each had about 8 on them by the time I found them. Grace had put 3 on her face! I should have taken pictures. It was a big pain scrubbing those things off of her face the next morning for church. She won't do that again.

My Big Helper

One night recently Grace decided she was going to put Lyla to bed for me. Sometimes Grace can get Lyla to do things easier than I can. So, I let her! In my heart I knew it would never really work, but why not let her try! So, she got her dressed, brushed her teeth, "read" her books, said her prayers with her, and then turned her lights out and tucked her in. I tried to catch a quick picture of them reading together. Grace likes to be a little mommy to Lyla. It's cute and can be really helpful at times! Did Lyla really go to sleep without my involvement? Of course not! I'm not THAT lucky!

Softball Fun!

A couple of weeks ago the guys had early games in softball so there were several moms and kids at the games. The kids had a blast playing in the dirt! The pictures don't do it justice. I want to know if Sydney's dress came clean. If anyone could get it clean, it's Joanna Latta!

Thinking out of the box...literally!

From I've seen so far, Lyla seems to be an "out of the box" kind of person. That is the opposite of me (and Grace I think). I let Lyla and Grace paint glass vases one day last week and I told them to use the paint brushes and paint the outside of the vase. I sat there the whole time and tried my hardest to keep Lyla from slinging paint everywhere. She just couldn't stand it! She had to paint the inside of the vase. It was like her inner soul wouldn't let her be satisfied by staying in the lines. She also just had to use her hands. I just sat there thinking, "we're going to have problems getting her to follow the rules when she's 16". What am I saying? We have trouble getting her to follow the rules when she's 3!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago and walked through the play room and just happen to glance at the bulletin board. I took a second look when I noticed a piece of paper hanging to the right of the board. It was stuck to the actual wall. I called Lyla in the room and asked her if she knew anything about this picture. She said it was hers. I asked her why it was stuck to the wall. She simply said, "there wasn't room on the there (the bulletin board) so I put it to here (the wall)." She glued her picture to the wall!!!! I didn't get mad at her or even take it down. I just got my camera to document a manifestation of how her little mind thinks.

If anyone is wondering, no, she didn't write her name on that paper. Grace did that for her.

Swimming Lessons

We tried swimming lessons when Grace was barely 3 years old and she was terrified. After the first lesson and her not letting go of the instructor's neck, the director told me she would give me my money back and to get her used to the water before trying again. So, that's what we did. Later that summer she finally decided to believe me that she wouldn't die from putting her face in the water. At 3 years old, she actually put it together that you have to breathe to live and you can't breathe under water, so it must make you die if you go under water. She was only about 3 years and 3 months old. Once she discovered for herself she would be OK, she's been a little "fish" ever since. Now, she didn't learn to swim but she wasn't afraid at all. Unfortunately, it's taken me this long to get her back into lessons. She's learned a little from Eric and me but it is definitely time for some professional help. Lyla can't really swim at all but she will jump in, go under, and doggie paddle around with her "floaty suit" all day long.

We went to the Franklin Rec. Center. They're the cheapest lessons I've found but I don't know that I will return. We're going to try someone else later this summer.

Anyway, Grace loved it. Lyla pretty much loved it. She still said she didn't want to go each morning but she said it was because she didn't get to do what she wanted to do! That's Lyla for you! She is definitely her own person. She did very well in the lessons too. Poor little Reesi had some trouble enjoying the lessons. She is the one to the left of Lyla in the picture above. She is still scared of putting her face in the water and that caused her major stress. Joni had to resort to bribery each day to get her in the water. Hopefully by the end of the summer she'll be more comfortable in the water.

I can't believe I did it!

After Grace's friend, Addie, cut her hair short around Easter time Grace has been asking to do the same. I kept saying, OK, but let's think about it for a while. I didn't want her to cut it on the spur of the moment and then regret it. But, every now and then, she would say it again. "I want my hair like Addie and Reesi." So, last Friday I was putting sunscreen on her and her hair was a sticking, messing, tangled mess. It needed to be in a ponytail every day but wouldn't stay put. Then putting sunscreen on all the time just makes it greasy and sticky. We were leaving that afternoon at 3pm to go to Rockport for a wedding and I hadn't done anything to get ready yet. It was 11am. As I was putting sunscreen on and feeling her yucky hair I asked her if she really wanted to cut her long hair and she said yes again. I called my sister and mom to get their opinion because I'm an awful decision maker. Joni knows this about me and she has seen this same problem arising in Grace, so, when I asked her opinion she said, YES, go now! So, I called Sweet and Sassy and made an appointment for 2pm! I had to do it before I lost my nerve. Lyla had to have a haircut too since Grace was! So, we packed extra quick, took quick showers, and left the house in a mess. They got their hair cut and it looks very cute. It is SOOOOOO easy to maintain too. It really makes Grace look taller I think. She is so tall already and this just accentuates it. But it's very cute. I think Eric is the only one that isn't too fond of the new Grace and Lyla.