Chalk Art Festival 2015!

After a week of nail-biting, due to unusual amounts of rain, we held our 4th annual WJMS chalk art festival. It sprinkled a little bit in the morning, cleared up, clouded over, and finally rained on us 10 minutes before the end of the day. For as rainy as the weather has been the last couple weeks today was practically a miracle with almost 8 solid hours with no precipitation. The theme this year was fairy tales. Our advanced students were supposed to develop an image of a fairy tale made modern. Some groups did better than others, but everyone had a great time!

Uh, oh- the Little Mermaid got harpooned.

Jack skating up his beanstalk.

A jaundiced Aladdin and his genie coming out of a lava lamp.

The three little pigs . . . not exactly sure what's going on here.

Cinderella goes shoe shopping.

Rapunzel at the hair salon.

They insisted on doing Spongebob and wondered why everyone kept asking them why they were doing Spongebob. They just couldn't quite grasp that Spongebob isn't a fairy tale.

The three little pigs cooking the wolf. 

Merida taking a selfie with her bear-mom and bear-brothers.

Some kind of funky Alice in Wonderland image.

Aven Turns 6!

We had Aven's 6th birthday party today. Cinderella came and created a magical experience for everyone. I can't recommend Part of Your World Princess Parties enough! Brittany, A.K.A. Cinderella, had them wrapped around her finger for the entire hour she was here. She began by twisting balloons for all of the kids and then she told a wonderful story before she presented Aven with a necklace with a magical key on it. Even the big tough boys seemed to have fun participating in the magic.

I love how Jacey and Etta are completely hooked on Cinderella's story.

Look at all those cuties!

The two Cinderellas

Cinderella let Aven try on her glass slipper.

Awwww . . .

Blowing out the candles.

Cute little cupcake eaters.

10 Years?!

So my wonderful new colleague and I just finished up our annual art fair at West Jordan Middle. Sometime early in the week it hit me that this was my 10th art fair- my 10th year at WJMS. It kind of took me by surprise. Even though some days my job seems impossible and some weeks feel like years I love it and am so happy to be teaching art to so many incredible students. I think we had our biggest turn out EVER for our evening reception. We ran out of cookies and drinks and received about a hundred lovely compliments from parents, grandparents, and other community members. I really am grateful that I am able to spend my life doing something that I find meaningful and rewarding.  

Look at that crowd!

The interactive altered book display was a hit.

The biggest ceramics display in about six years. 

The drawing purchased from this year's show by the library.

The drawing purchased from this year's show by our principal-  hopefully the beauty and talent comes through despite the fact that this photograph is not very good.

Sug Turns 90!

We went to Moab this weekend so that we could celebrate Ian's Grandpa's 90th birthday, which is a pretty incredible milestone.

We began the weekend with a small family party for Sug.

The next morning we went hiking at Courthouse Wash. It was disturbingly warm for February. Aven and Etta did their best to give me a heart attack.

Etta is a natural climber, just like her dad. 

Ian's dad took us to see some petroglyphs.

An apparently serious moment.

I love spending time with Ian's family. It's always a great time.

I love this picture Ian took of me and my baby.

After our hike it was time for a big party in honor of the nonagenarian. Again, I love this family.

The next day we hiked to delicate arch. Aven has become a champion hiker. Etta does good on the way up, but requires a lot of carrying on the way down.

It was a fabulous trip- we can't wait to go back!