We're back!

Good evening.  It's good to be home and back in somewhat of a normal routine.  A normal routine for only about a week more.  Darbee starts school next Tuesday so the schedule will change once again and we will find a new normal.  I have a TON of pictures to share with you from our trip and I promise to post them soon.  We had a wonderful trip.  Words cannot describe how much fun we had and how amazing it was to watch Darbee's face as she took it all in.  I will never forget those looks.  

Are your little ones back in school yet?  If so, I hope they are having a great year so far.  Darbee is very excited about kindergarten.  Today was meet the teacher.  She was happy to find see several friends from last year's class in her class this year.  Both of her teachers seem really nice and we are looking forward to a fun year.

Here she is right outside her classroom door.  She can't wait for school to start!  

Here she is at her spot at her table.  It looks like a fun classroom!

We are keeping busy and enjoying some different activities.  Yesterday, we began a new adventure.  I have signed Darbee up for a homeschool art class at a local art studio here in town.  Her friend Mia and her brother also attend and told us about it.  We had the first class yesterday and it was awesome.  Since Darbee is only attending a 1/2 day kindergarten, we will be able to attend the class.  I was so glad to sign her up.  

She LOVED the class yesterday.  Each week, they will learn about several artists and their techniques and then create a piece of art related to the topic of study that week.  This week, they learned about ceramics.  They worked with clay and made pinch bowls.  They painted them and left them to dry.  They will then be fired in the kiln and they will have a really cool bowl to bring home.  It was really neat.

Here are some pictures from the class.

Darbee was so excited to work with clay.  This is not something we have worked with much at home. 

The first step was to get the air bubbles out of the clay.  This was accomplished by throwing the clay very hard onto the floor.  This looks fun huh?  Oh yea.

Then, the clay had to be formed into balls.

After that, two thumbs were inserted in the middle and then they began pinching the sides to form a bowl shape.  It was really cool watching it form.  

Then they could get creative and make their bowl look however they wished.  Darbee chose to make her sides curvy and put little indentions in the top.  It turned out really cute.

Last, they painted them with a glaze.

Darbee chose purple, white and blue.

I can't wait to see the finished product.  We are already looking forward to next week's class!

We are looking forward to a fun weekend at the craft fair with Nana and Papa.  I hope all of you have a fun weekend too! 

Until next time....