3rd Graders Meet Shakespeare

Last month Bronwyn read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for her book report. They were allowed to do anything for their presentation. Nat has been developing his Shakespeare marionette show and we thought it would be fun to have her present it to the class. The show is based loosely on Jay Leno and is called "Shakespeare's Half Hour Comedy Hour". The show starts with Shakespeare and his opening monologue. He also does a top ten list, headlines and ends with the "mechanicals" community theatre presenting Prymus and Thisbee. This was perfect since that is taken directly from "Midsummer". Nat usually uses a different puppeteer but taught Bronwyn the show. I came and did some props and sound. The class was great and very responsive to the show. It is always good for Nat to do the show for an audience as he is trying to add and refine it. Bronwyn did great! She really enjoys puppeteering as well. After the show the kids asked lots of questions and wanted to work the puppets. Nat also stayed and helped them make their own paper cup marionettes. I think the class had a great time, hopefully learned something and Miss Russell (Bronwyn's teacher) was very appreciative of the event. Hopefully Bronwyn got an A on the book report!

My Little Artists

I love that quiet time when I can pull out supplies, treasures, etc and create something new and beautiful. Most of the time this happens in the quiet hours of the night when kids have been tucked in for the night. The girls however, always seem to be aware of the projects I am working on and beg on a weekly basis to do something too. Now, I have to be honest and admit after working a full day, running a household, doing homework.......you get my meaning..... the last thing I want to do is make "crafts" with my kids. Now understand, I have a room in our house full of projects and supplies that they try and enter on a daily basis. I could put them off no longer and we hunkered down Sunday afternoon to CREATE. I went in my room to find something. I had bought these little chipboard flower books really cheap and I also pulled stickers, ribbon and misc. paper to bring to the crafting table. They were so excited and went and found some pictures to use. I made them do all the work, Brooklyn traced, cut and glued everything. Bronwyn being more meticulous took her time to make sure the flowers were cut to perfection. We spent all afternoon working on the project. It was so nice being able to spend time this way with them. They love to create, just like I do and I realized I needed to allow them the resources and time to work on projects to allow their creativity to flow.It was the kick in the butt I needed and I have vowed to spend more time"creating" together. I leave you with the very wise words of Pablo Picasso:

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

A Birthday Party that Cooked!

I love parties, I love to plan them. I probably would be a party/event planner in another life. For Bronwyn's 9th birthday party we decided to have a cooking party. She invited 5 friends and we had so much fun! It was the perfect age to have a party like this. This is what I did:

1. Made matching aprons for all of them. (Thanks Mom for all your help!)
2. For party favors, I bought measuring cups at the $1 store and filled them with lifesavers and sour patch kids.
3. We dipped chocolates and they loved it. We dipped strawberries, carmel pretzels, rice crispy treats and oreos. YUMMY!
4. They each made an individual lasagna in a bread pan. We also made little salad kabobs with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and carrots.
5. For the invitations, I made a recipe card.

The party lasted about 2 hours and they each took home a plate of their dipped chocolates. Six was the perfect number. The party was a great success and I would recommend doing it for a fun birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRONWYN, MOMMY LOVES YOU!

The measuring cup party favor.

The recipe card invitation.

The girls dipping chocolate!

Bronwyn and Milly taste testing the chocolate strawberries.

Skyllar and Sarah dipping up a storm.

Bailey dipping her fingers in the chocolate!

Milly stirring the ricotta cheese.

Bronwyn and Bailey cooking the meat.

Beautiful Button Bracelets

I just got all these awesome vintage buttons recently and could wait no longer to make some bracelets. Recently, I was able to get my hands on some really cool green ones. I recently bought a vintage rhinestone button lot on ebay and it included some beautiful green ones. I found the white buttons with the green rhinestone centers at the Springville Antique Market. They only cost $1. The other bracelet has really awesome buttons, a lot of black glass, Bakelite and cool 50's and 60's modern buttons, and as always vintage rhinestone buttons. A lot of people ask me how to make them and where to find the buttons. I am always looking for vintage buttons, some of the best places I have bought them are:

Ebay (I have been able to get some really good deals!)
Confetti's Antiques (They are in Spanish Fork. She has an antique claw foot tub full of buttons that she sells for 10 cents each. Be prepared to look!)
Treasures Antique Mall (In Springville off of I-15, more sporadic...it depends on stock.)
DI-(Rare to find some there, but I have on occasion.)

You can find plain bracelets on the internet or even Michaels. Just get some jump rings and pliers and CREATE.

She Can't Be 9 Already!!

Tonight we celebrated Bronwyn's 9th birthday. We had Grandma and Grandpa Moss and Great-Grandpa and Grandma Hawkins, and Michelle, LJ and Garrett. I made Bronwyn's favorite meal: lasagna, green salad and corn. It is hard to believe that my little girl is turning 9. Time seems to go by faster as you watch your children grow. Nat and I are so blessed to have such a beautiful sweet spirit in our home. She is growing up to be such a fun and talented girl. We are so happy to be surrounded by our family and to have them celebrate these "milestones" in our life. Bronwyn, we love you.

Bronwyn with Great-Grandma Hawkins, she gave Bronwyn a card with money!
Bronwyn loves Great-Grandpa Hawkins!
Michelle made this cute apron for Bronwyn. She can use it when she cooks!
She opened this present first. Why does she need a helmet???
Because she got this cool electric scooter!
Blowing away 9 years. (Don't you love the 8 and the 1 singe candle? :)

Button, Button, Who has the coolest buttons ever?

I love, love, love vintage buttons. This is my newest stash bought at Confetti's Antiques and Ebay. I thought they were so pretty, I wanted to take some pictures. Aah, the possibilities!

The Little Drama Queen

We are a theatre family. Nat and I do it for a living. Needless to say, the girls have spent many hours in dark theatres as we have worked. I think the theatre bug has bitten them and they like to do a few shows of their own. The Lehi Arts Council has a wonderful musical theatre program for children and our kids love to participate. Recently, Brooklyn was cast as Berloiz in "Aristocats". Now I know what you are thinking....Berloiz is a boy cat. This is true but like most theatre around here, there is always an abundance of women, and not so many men. The wonderful director, Tiffany decided to make Berloiz a girl. It was fun to work with Brooklyn, she actually had a few lines and we borrowed Dad's tape recorder and she and I said the lines into recorder. She then could listen to them over and over again. (Which was great so Mom didn't have to say them over and over again.) As you can see from the pictures, she is adorable and did a great job. These are pictures of her with two of her really good friends, who were also in the musical. Deep down inside I love that my kids love theatre. It's something that we can all do as a family. It inspires confidence, self esteem and brainpower. Now, Brooklyn may never end up on Broadway, but she will always be a star to me!