The Quiet Week That Ended with a Big Splat!

Usually life around here is bouncing around all over the place but this week, we spent quiet down time together and enjoyed the company of our kids and grandkids. Jeannie came over to work on diapers a couple of days and we gals later in the week got together for a girls night out!

Our quiet week ended today with a big splat as I launched myself through the opened front door of the Church this morning and ended up on all fours in the foyer! Yep, there I was sprawled out for all to see....I didn't really trip, my foot just didn't pick up when my brain told it to so naturally I kept moving forward without it......Jenny and Chuk stood there stunned. Karen Nelson arrived immediately after my tumble and got down with me to keep me calm.....not that I was going nuts, but gee it hurt! I tried to get up but couldn't and it looked like Chuk and Jenny weren't going get me up.

By this time the crowd was growing and I realized I had become a spectacle so I sent the troops out to look for Ernest who soon after arrived to take charge, get me up and moved to the couch. No lasting trauma, but thank goodness for my friends who helped to doctor me up. I spent the remainder of the meetings being escorted around by Chuk, who would not let me wear my shoes. That caused quite a few raised eyebrows and a lot of comments. When word of my smackdown started getting around to everyone......I just told them I was staging a sit in!.......sigh........I really need to work on my entrance!!!

Here is our Jocelyn smiling for the camera..... And here are our girls, Reagan, Jeannie, Ivy, and Jocelyn. Jeannie is just back from girls camp and loving being with her girls again!
Reagan decided to pull up a stool and take over the salad makings for dinner. This is a first time for her to join in the kitchen with me. Usually the girls want to make cookies!

Ivy has discovered her two bottom teeth and the tongue just keeps coming out to "feel" them!

And here is Chuk, kicking back to read his Church News and spend a quiet Sunday afternoon with me as I nurse my leg. Yes, I am thankful for my blessings.

Oh My Gosh! We've Got Skills!

Okay, this is the only time I am going to admit that I might have gone over the speed limit in my entire life. Honestly, I tried not to because I have this thing about breaking the law and well, then there is hyper miling. You know, using good driving habits to get great gas mileage. It does work.

Let me start over. Last night after working on the yard all afternoon, Chuk asks me to go out to eat with him. I'm covered in dust and pollen because I have been cleaning out the flowerbeds for the first time since hmmm........probably last year! I give him the "you've got to be kidding" look. He just grins as he stands there dripping with persperation and grass stains from head to toe.

An hour later we are on the way to La Madeline's to eat. As we are visiting I ask him if he paid one of our bills that is due that day and he says, "Nope, we'll go pay it after we eat." We continue to carry on about our different activities of the day as we finish up our dinner and then take a little dessert.

Not realizing the time, he says, "Hey, you want to go to Fry's to see if they have any of the Carol Burnett Show video's?" I don't realize the time either so I say, "Sure, let's go!"

So off we go to Fry's. We spend maybe twenty minutes looking around at the videos...can't find Carol Burnett so we pick up Stargate Atlantis Season 4 (waiting for this one for a year!) and then proceed to the appliances to look for a dishwasher since we are in the market for a new one. We must have spent at least 15 minutes there when all of the sudden Chuk asks, "What time is it?" I look at my watch and it is 8:40 which means most stores will be closed in 20 minutes. "Quick, let's check out so we can get to the Mall!"

We run to the checkout, a friend comes by to say hi, and as we are running and waving we say, "gotta go, see you later," (sorry Gregory!) and by the time we get out the door it is 8:43. You are probably wondering why this is such a big deal. Well......that bill that I asked him about earlier? It's due now and if we don't get to the Mall ASAP to pay it at the store, LATE FEES! So you can picture us as we climb in the car thinking okay, we can make it to the Mall with plenty of time to spare because it is only a short jaunt down the interstate. WRONG!!!

We have to go back to the house because we don't have the checkbook, get it and the bill and THEN head to the Mall. So here is the conversation.

Me: "Honey, I don't think you can make it."

Chuk: "Sure we can! You drive us home, I'll run in and grab the stuff, you turn the car around while I'm in the house, and then I'll jump in and you can drive us to the mall and let me out at the door. It'll save time."

Me (the sensible one): "There is no way we are going to get to the mall in 15 minutes if we have to go to the house first."

Chuk: "Sure we will. Step on it!"

Where there is a will there is a way....sigh..... You just can't tell this man any different.

So I'm driving as sensibly as I can. I make it home from Fry's in under 5 minutes, as Chuk is silently praying that the way will be open for us and we will be safe. Of course, I am not doing my hyper miling at this point. Starting out slow, coasting to stops...nope, not happening. I am searching the road for every opportunity to drive a clear path to home. I may, repeat, may have exceeded the speed limit by 5 miles a couple of times, but the amazing thing was that every light, every lane cleared when I needed it to.

So we make it to the house , I turn into the driveway with Chuk hanging onto the open passenger door, he jumps off and hoofs it into the house. I barely get the car turned around and he jumps back in. We have just done a driveby briefcase snatching!!! We are off and running again, down the road to the Mall. I kid you not, I'm being careful but now I really have to get around and through the traffic. It seems like everyone is out on the road . What can this mass of humanity be doing at 8:55 at night? Oh yeah, the new Batman movie is out.

Belive it or not, we have to stop at the light at the Mall at 8:59. We watch the clock move to 9:00. Drawing upon all the sensitivity I can, I look at him, how do I soften the moment?

Me (compassionate, caring, trying to keep the disappointment to a minimum): "Well, at least we tried, Honey."

Chuk (not the least bit worried and patting me on the back): "Don't worry, we'll make it"

Nothing stops this man. He can accomplish really weird things with his determination. I wish he would determine me into a new house!

We drive up to the side door of the store. It is 9:02. Chuk jumps out of the car and races to the door, opens it (Wow!) and races inside. I am flabbergasted! A moment later a security guard comes to lock it. How does my husband always do this? He is like a cat with nine lives. Nothing stops him or phases him when he is determined. After all, I'm thinking, it's just a bill. We can pay it tomorrow. My husband's motivation......he absolutely hates LATE FEES!

I wait for him. When he returns to the car, we quietly and slowly ease our way back toward the street. Suddenly we both look at each other and break out laughing. This was the most fun we've had on a date in weeks. Eat your heart out Dale Earnhardt, jr. We've got skills!

Cultural Activity at the Kub Home!

So this is a Sunday afternoon, after the family meal with the Chan's and the Kubs, we are all kicking back and just enjoying each others company, but oh! The kiddos decide to provide their own entertainment because the adults are so into each other visiting.....but you know that Grandma and Papa always know what's up with the grandkids and loving every minute of it!!

Couldn't leave out this precious picture of Aunt Jenny with Evy (both sleeping) after a very tiring outing this week! ...just a trip to Target and to Motherhood to help Sandra find some maternity clothes was all it took!

Sandra' Birthday

Yesterday was Sandra's Birthday and we celebrated by going to Perry's to Eat. Today we had the entire family over and had a great time visiting and eating cake! Ernest got this HUGE cake from the Cake Lady, almond cake with raspberry filing and buttercream icing plus chocolate dipped strawberries. Yummy!

Here is Sandra holding her niece, Ivy, with Ernest by her side!

Reagan (left) and Jocelyn (right) celebrating with cousins Evy (bottom left) and Christian, with their sister Ivy (bottom right).

Charcoal and Ink

My drawing course final was a week long assignment to take an object and draw it from 9 different views, having each composition stand alone, and then having the combined composition also stand alone. I used a charcoal wash and then ink washes, using charcoal again to add details to the image. The object is a woven grass of two fish kissing which I made when visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii a couple of years ago. This piece is very symbolic of the way I feel about my relationship with my husband. In the large center composition, the stem that rises up from beneath flows up through one fish and then curls around to flow into the second fish and then back down below-the upward flow can begin with either fish....represents the total give and take between us. In the composition to the right, the tied knot on the two sticks represents our total commitment to one another through, the binding force of the covenants we have made with the Lord. In the upper right corner is a very hidden view of one of the stem circles, which represents each of our need for privacy. The upper mid area focuses on the important of keeping our love living and vibrant. The upper left composition represents our desire to go off and follow our dreams...we call it our ability to let each other fly! Each fish, one in the left white section and the one in the bottom dark section represent the differences between us. The bottom right composition in white is sensitive, almost sensual, and speaks to the affection and love that we have for one another. The right hand side composition is really focused in on the weave of the fish and represents our lives being woven together, each strand, every crack, wrinkle, that serves to teach us and make us strong. The overall composition suggests that though all these areas seem separate and distinct, all these, when balanced together create a strength of unity in our lives.

Pen and Ink

This still life was done over 2 days to learn how to use washes and pen nibs. I learned a lot on this one that helped me with my final composition of the class. In case you are wondering, that is a plaster bottle and fish combo sitting in a drawer!

Graphite and Ink

Okay, this is actually charcoal but I wanted to post it to show you a study I did to blow up an item that fits in your hand. This looks like a basket weave but is actually ti plant leaves that have been woven to make a headband (one we got in Hawaii). Cool, huh?

This still life was drawn with graphite. There is a white sheet under the blcck sheet which I thought was awesome to capture.....I do love drawing now but it sure takes a lot more time with the graphite!

Just finished a composition in class in ink and will post soon. Ink is harder than graphite, and certainly takes a lot more time. I have a greater respect for artists. They have so much patience!

More Drawings

Here's another charcoal piece I worked on at home. I love charcoal! I am really having fun learning how to bring out the shadows and shapes of things!

This is my first graphite drawing. I ran out of time before I could finish the bottom portion. Graphite is to much more time consuming than charcoal. But I like what I am learning. My perspective is a little off on the table top but all in all I am happy with the composition.

And here is my last Charcoal that I did for a grade. I love how I was able to get my flute to look almost realistic! And I really enjoy drawing out the fabric in my pictures. We are working in ink washes this week so hopefully I'll have something to post this coming weekend. Everyone have a great 4th of July!!!!