Pottery

At my attempt to be crafty, I have painted some pieces. Whenever I can get a babysitter on a Thursday, I have been going to paint pottery with a friend. It is fun and relaxing. I have white dinner plates with blue flowers, so I was trying to go for that theme as I painted a few things for my kitchen.

The platter was fun to paint, but when they put it in the kiln to fire, it cracked. I am so sad. Now I can't use it as a platter, so it is now sitting on my counter as a display item.

I have been wanting a butter dish. I love my new butter dish, it is always in use these days.
My Texas spoon rest has finally gone into retirement as I have painted a new one.

By the way, I did not draw the flowers on this stuff. The pottery places have stencils and you draw right onto the pottery with a ballpoint pen. The pen marks fire off in the kiln. Fun, fun! I can't wait to go back soon!

Pumpkin shirts!

Last Saturday my crafty friends and I tye-dyed these shirts. We then drew pumpkin faces in the circles. It was very fun. The girls love their new shirts. Payton wore her shirt three times this week. I know I have mentioned I love Halloween. Happy Fall to one and all!

Madi's week at a glance

Madi started her swim lessons. She really looks forward to it each week. She is a little disappointed because she knows how to swim. But she doesn't know how to float on her back. They have started her at the bottom level. She is scared to float on her back, so they have to keep her in the class. She wants to move on so badly.
Her teacher was bragging to all the other teachers because Madi could swim quite a distance. Especially since it was her first lesson. We just need to learn to over come her fear of being on her back.
Madi was complaining of a tooth that hurt. The tooth had a crown on it. I got her in to the dentist. As we were driving there Madi said her tooth did not hurt anymore. I told her she was not telling the truth. I asked why she didn't want to go to the dentist and she said it was because she didn't want a shot. I, of course, said they are just going to look at the tooth and take a picture of it. She said OK and went in. 30 minutes later we were leaving the dentist with a tooth that was pulled out (a shot was given). She was so sad she had no tooth, but life got better with ice cream and the tooth fairy visited that night.

Last night I was buying a new dishwasher, because my old one died! Madi and Payton were sitting on chairs that spin. Madi got going so fast that she flew off of it. She literally landed on her head. After she fell, a computer mouse hit the back of her head. My poor Madi has an egg on the back of her head, a bruised cheek, chin, and eye bone. She seems to be OK, but she did have a headache after the fall. I don't blame her.

Madi's week has not been all fun and games, but hey neither has mine. Next week can only be better! :)

Ballet for Payton

Payton started a Ballet Class this past week. She loved it! She was in heaven. She has not been so happy for a long time. The class ends with a few minutes of beginning tap. She refused to take off her tap shoes and ballet outfit. I of course forgot my camera at home, so next week I will have to bring the camera to her class. This morning she put on her ballet shoes and walked around in them. She also keeps showing me tap moves. I tried to get a video of it, but she refused to do it for the camera. Maybe soon. Payton was sad this afternoon and I asked her why. She said she wanted to go to ballet class. I told her next Saturday. I think I will be asked every morning if today is Saturday! Madi starts swim lessons Tuesday, watch for her pictures later this week! I love happy girls!

Weekly Camp Outs

Way back in April we started something in our house. It was when Payton started sleeping with me nightly. I decided that we would have a camp out in my room every Friday night. This past Sunday night we also had our camp out because it was a holiday on Monday. It was my way of getting Payton out of my bed (of course she ends up in my bed anyway, who wouldn't, my floor is hard!!) and Madison gets to sleep in my room because she never does and feels bad about it sometimes. Of course it is never bad enough where she actually comes in. Madi loves her bed! Plus it is a fun time for the girls and I. We sleep in because of the black out curtains and the girls end up crawling in bed with me and we talk and laugh for a while. I hope this goes down as a good memory for the girls. I know it has for me.

A Beautiful 4 year old!

My Beautiful Payton turned 4 this week. I tried to make it fun for her. She told a couple people that daddy would be home for her birthday, but I kept telling her he could not make it home. She was excited to get a phone call from him the morning of her birthday. He sung her Happy Birthday and she giggled through it.

We spent a week having fun. I have the whole family signed up for free birthday specials at many different places. At Chevy's you get a free meal, same with Red Robin, Baskin Robbins gives a free scoop, I am also signed up for Chili's and Sweet Tomato's. So anyway, last Saturday the Artful Potter had a princess party. The girls dressed up as princesses, ate cupcakes, made wands, painted pottery, and got goody bags. It was fun.
Payton picked a castle. She did a good job painting it like a rainbow.

Madi painted a crown bank. I thought she did an awesome job with it.


After we painted we went to use Payton's free dinner coupon for Chevy's. Here is Payton getting sung to.

Madison and I shared our own ice cream and Madi is liking the table, yes that would be Madi, she likes everything!
Payton enjoyed her ice cream and was supper excited to find out that there was a bowl full of wipped cream under this cinomon bowl of ice cream.
On Payton's birthday I brought sugar cookies and a balloon to her classroom on my prep break. She was surprised and loved sharing the cookies with her friends.
Payton had a birthday party at Chuck_E-Cheese. It was fun, but very stressful.
I loved this picture because you can get the feeling that spit was flying out of her mouth as she blew (which it did!). That is why I love to watch little kids blow out the candles, maybe that's why I don't like cake?!
Payton got lots of new things for her birthday. She loved the Barbies, coloring books, princesses, and doll house she got. A big thank you goes to all her friends and family who helped Payton celebrate her birthday.

Payton is my wonderful child who does what she wants. She is very strong willed and I love her for it. I love you little red!