The Little Artist

Olivia is taking an after school art class with Barbara Diamond (Bemis Art School) and is making some pretty cool pieces!

I'm a proud mama. 

Portrait of her friend Lark

Collage

Watercolor 

Mobile

With Friends on Phones

So grateful for social time with friends! The conversation, the laughter, the connection....oh.

Olivia's First Poem!

If I Could Fly

If I could fly I'd make a nest in a tall tree. If I could swim I'd make a nest under the sea. 

She wrote a second one, both on the small paper, then rolled them up and secured them with rubber bands. 

Reading & Writing

Olivia loves language. As she learned to speak, she would play with the sounds and even talk in made-up accents. Just this last week or so she has started reading silently to herself.

Here she is reading aloud - yea for Dr. Seuss!
March 11, 2014

We went to a wonderfully entertaining play about the life and stories of Beatrix Potter at the United Methodist Church last night. Despite getting home very late, Olivia needed to do some writing (while finishing her bedtime snack) before climbing under the covers. March 15, 2014.

On the left: "Food Olivia Likes" - broccoli, tortellini, hog trough, baby corn, baby baby corn.
On the right: "Olivia Likes Plays" - different scenes of plays, Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Charlotte's Web, Water Cycle (not the correct title, but a show we saw at the MAT).

Family Contra Dancing - Buena Vista School Dance

Buena Vista Elementary Dinner and Dance March 14, 2014

All for $5 we got very yummy Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens, etc (after a REALLY long line), but the family contra dancing - with a caller and fabulous live band - was the BEST! (Patty Cake Polka, even).

Olivia loves high-jumping with Daddy (and Grandpa, for that matter).

Mashed potatoes on Christmas!

December 25, 2013

Magic being made.

Sew Fun!

January 14, 2014

Olivia just learned to hand sew and she made her own sewing pouch (contains thread, a needle book she made, extra buttons and "anything I want!").

Olivia loves Bemis Art School!

This is maybe her 4th time at Bemis' "Family Adventure Day" free art making event. It's pretty much her favorite thing in the world.

When we got home, she did more drawing and coloring.

Beets for dinner!

 Beets tonight for dinner! Olivia helped Jeremy plant, tend and harvest a pretty fabulous garden this year. This is the last harvest of the season. We'll roast the beets and carrots (hiding under there) and serve them with pork tenderloin with glazed apples and roasted red potatoes - Grandma & Grandpa are coming for dinner tonight!

Who teaches a 4 year old to play chess?!

The girl can swing

Three times today Olivia got on the swing by herself and pumped her legs to swing high!

Here's how tickelish Olivia is! ;-)

Look ma, no hands!

Tounge with Sound

Her new stuff is coming fast and furious. She started clapping in earnest less than a week ago, and now tonight she's mimicking me with the tounge. She's endlessly entertaining!

Killer smile