Our new Lawn Mowing Game

It used to be that when we were little, Dad would Mow, and Mom would keep us occupied in the house. When we got older, Dad would teach us how to mow. I was the only one who kept it up. (I'm an outside person, so trading inside chores for outside chores seemed more of an advantage to me!) Now, we have a place of our own, and one of us has Thomas time, while the other sweats in the TEXAS heat. Labor Day was here, and I mowed everything but the ditch this time, so Bob and Thomas watched from the steps of the front porch, or back deck. They were also in charge of making me drink PLENTY of water. The lawn was done, and TK was really wanting to see the mower. We let him touch the wheels, but not the engine because it might have been still hot. Then he did this all by himself...He REAched for the handle and tried his VERY best to help Moma put it away. *sigh* my little man is growing up! I hope you'll enjoy these pictures! (taken by my cell phone)

Thomas' 1st Haircut!

Last Saturday (August 23, 2008), The whole family went to support TK loosing his baby-hair-doo, and to get a big-boy haircut! Papa also got a haircut. He went first, and told Thomas that it tickled! It was finally time for Thomas to sit in the big chair, and that worked for the first half of the cut! Yep, our Thomas didn't even cry through the whole thing! It's amazing how the professonal clippers are so quiet. I wish what we bought was quiet too. In the middle of the cut though, he decided enough was enough, and too many people were staring at him. So in the end he ended up in my lap, but still, their were no tears. The only part that the lady had trouble with were the ears. TK didn't want to be still for that, but as you can see she did a great job through it all. He is definately growing up. He is one of the TALLest kids in his class, but with a Moma at 6'1" and a Papa at 5' 11" he is going to be that way. He is 16 1/2 mo. His next check up will be in October for his 18 mo.

Trying on Daddy's shoes

Two evenings ago, Thomas tries on Bob's shoes. I had the camera handy, so I hope yall will enjoy these pictures.

TK likes Chicken and Dumplings!!!!

I made chicken and dumplings last week, and Thomas absoutly went wild!!!! He really wants to be successful with the spoon or fork, but I think his stomache called for faster action! Here is some more pictures of the event.

One of my Favorite Pictures!!!

After cake and ice cream on Thomas' b-day party, all the guest went home except for Aunt Sara, Erika, and Grandma-C. Sara took this picture and then manipulated it on photobucket.com. (If you haven't tried the program, its a must see!!!) Dad used to draw us when we were really little. Unfortunatly, he didn't draw the two younger ones because the times changed. We are currently going through Dad's office, so Mom can use it as a staging area to pack and store while showing the house. She is moving to Oregon before November or before the passes close. Anyway, we had found some awesome sketches of mom when she was younger along with pictures of my older sister Katrina and myself when we were babies and todlers. When Sara manipulated this picture, it was like Daddy was in the room all over again. I really miss him, and wish he could be here for his grandchildren. He would have been an awesome Grandpa! Seeing Uncle Richard be a Grandpa to all his grandchildren makes me warm and fuzzy inside. Even though I know Aunt Michele would've also made an awesome Grandma, through her kids, she is living on in spirit! Mary Ann thankfully created a book of memories in honor of her, and I wish I could create one in honor of my dad. I just don't know where to start. I need to get Sara to do a Blogger site. Her pictures of Erika are so cool and she is a better camera gal than I am. Erika has pigtails in her hair now, and its so adorable! Anyway, I thought I would share this picture with you. TK and Erika (who is named after Aunt Michele too) are sharing puffs on the Livingroom floor in the Harrott House.

Pottery from Summer of 2008

An art teacher from another school district also came to play with clay (I think there were a total of 8 teachers this summer) I like to trade pieces with people, and I asked him if he minded the adventure. So out of the three, that I couldn't make my mind up, he chose this one for me. I think it is absolutely beautiful!!!! He chose to singly dip this into Oestrich Tamaku and then with two fingers place accent marks of Leach Gloss White down the edges.

Terry (who is Katrina's Boyfriend) requested a mug and a bowl (specifically for ice cream) So I took him through the process and emailed him pictures of leatherhard mugs (before being fired the first time). Then I emailed him pictures of some glazes based on the colors that he told me he liked. So this is the results of his set! The mug is 4" high, and 4" diameter at the mouth of the mug. The bowl is 3" high and 5" diameter wide at the mouth of the bowl. Katrina wanted a mug as well. She likes the warm comforting feeling of this brown (Oestrich Temoku, pronounced O'Strike Tam-o-koo) She already has one of my bowls in this color. The light smokey blue as mom describes it over the phone is up above. (Woo Blue) She wanted more plates/bowls for her late night snacks of cheese and sliced fruit while she watches the news before bed. I made her a mug to go along with them partically because of the assignment, if she doesn't want it, I can always keep it for someone else.

The misc. cups/mug to your left is just what they are.

This was suppose to be a red set! Red is so hard to bring out in a firing that I am almost ready to give up on this color! *sigh* They still kind of match, but I was more disappointed in not getting the red color that I was expecting. These are almost my favorite. They are green (Tea Dust Black is the color of the glaze) and blue (Shaner Blue). I hand built some plates by laying slabs into the Chinaware paper plates to get to leatherhard and then I could fire them. The paper pealed off very well. If they didn't, then I would've just burn them off (doesn't hurt anything) While the plate was still really wet, I dusted baby powder on it, and then smooshed Thomas hand into it and with a pencil wrote his name and date on the plate. I decided to do the same thing with his classmates at school. The parents get their plates today. I hope they like how they turned out.

BTW: I have an outside specialization in ceramics along with my Bachlor's of Science in Technical Theatre. (If I were to do it all over again it would be art education) I bounced at the chance to take a continuing education class at the nearest junior college this summer. (Thanks to Thomas loving daycare, and Bob letting me play with clay! ;) )

The Blue set (mug and bowl) is for our Doctor that recently graduated from his Residency Program. Unfortunatly, he will be doing Emergency Medicine, but it will make life more comfortable when/if we have to use the ER. Hopefully, he will be on call! This set was suppose to be an off white bottom (it still is...) with a dark chocolate top. Instead I have a green top. Go figure chemistry! I think of it as a happy accedent and at least it looks good!

So with the summer half gone, I need to concintrate on the mommy part and revamp my lesson plans for the upcomming year. I have my fingers crossed that maybe Bob will let me take another class in clay, It worked well two christmas' ago where I was able to sell my work (for christmas $$). We will see where life lands. I hope everyone is having a happy summer! Stay cool, 'cause its HOT here!!!

Thomas is happy in his play pen only because the camera is out. He really wants out though. It was a LONG day at school and Daycare. Thomas is wearing new pin striped pants that Grandma-Coughenour gave him. Friday afternoons when Thomas and I get home, I let him "drive" in the driveway. He even knows where the clutch is, but then he can't see out the front window. ' Look Papa! I'm driving!!!!' Some day I fear this picture will haunt me. Or maybe when it's time for those baby pictures in his senior year book....hmmmm....

Tiling our dinning room and kitchen

We bought a house in 2002 and tore down a wall between the kitchen and dinning room in 2004 to make more counter space between the two. Bob got some FREE tile from work this past October (Portabello-they needed it out of stock before inventory) so we are in the process of laying it. We are almost done with a few more boxes left to do in the kitchen. Meanwhile, The dinning room table is in a corner of the living room with chairs on top of the table. When Bob and I are both working on the floor, Thomas is in his playpen...supervising. He doesn't like the confinment and wants to help, but sometimes he is a good sport about it all. Bob will tile, and I will grout...or thats the plan.

Skippy, one of our cats is patroling the new floor. I will gather more pictures of the kitchen, and then the completed floor later.