Mother's Day/Baccalaureate/Art Show

Today was full of loveliness!  We all went to church together this morning, and the girls even sat with me (instead of their friends.)  That was super sweet.

The kids each gave me a lovely card, which were precious before I even opened them...

Jeremy grilled a yummy lunch for us at home, which was a treat because we didn't have to fight long restaurant lines and I didn't have to cook!

In the afternoon, we attended the Baccalaureate service at the school.  Annah was asked to read the scripture for the message.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press ontoward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. - Philippians 3:12-16  (NIV)

After Baccalaureate, we went to check out the school Art Show!  It's always one of my favorite school events of the year, and this is the 13th year we've had kids in it!

2018 - 2017 - 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 

Annah didn't technically take an art class this year, but she did stay involved in art through designing and helping create the set for the musical, and helping taking photos for yearbook.  So, Ms. Sevik allowed her to do a ceiling tile for the art room ceiling!  I love that what Annah chose to leave behind as a physical, visible memory of what is most important to her is scripture about LOVE.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

Caeden was the only one of our 3 who actually had art class this year, and it was just this current semester.  In the past, art class has always frustrated him, because he rushes through everything he does and his artwork never turned out how he wanted.  This semester, he has actually enjoyed making art!  I'm SO glad!

Here is Caeden's still life drawing of various types of peppers.

I think this one has something to do with Fortnite.

The boy and his art

As if all this wonderfulness wasn't enough for celebrating Mother's Day, Sylvia had her BNYS concert this evening as well!  Such a fabulous way to celebrate!

Art Show 2017

The kids and I went to the Amazing Ridgeview Art Show this evening--one of my favorite events of the whole school year!

It is still strange, even after almost an entire year, to see them all walking into the JH/HS side of the building, and not the elementary side any more.  They will always be little in my heart's eyes.

I always like to look back each year and remember Ridgeview Amazing Art Shows past: 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 

Annah took high school Art II this year, and has really loved the challenge and creative outlet of it.

This was a project she did early on, and her mind was blown when she learned about graphing before sketching! The project was to sketch a selfie, then finish it with oil pastels. I think it is a beautiful self-portrait of her.  

And I loved that it was hanging by two of her best sophomore friends' projects--Shelby and Alexis!

This charcoal project was a real challenge for Annah, but she learned a lot and did a great job with the shading and shaping.  She recently realized she earned a 100% on it, and it was the project that was taken to the conference honors art festival.  (The drawing is of a violin endpiece.)

These paper quilling projects looked very cool together!  This was one of Annah's projects I had seen, because she'd brought it home to work on it last fall. (Hers is the heart made from music clefs.)

Annah was frustrated by her lack of ideas when working on her clay project, and says it is the one project she is not proud of. I think her saucer (in front) is pretty, and asked her to have it when she brings it home!

 This is Ms. Sevik's first year teaching at Ridgeview, and Annah has learned so much from her! 

Sylvia only got to have 9 weeks of art in 8th grade, but she made some cool projects!

This etching project was perfect for my doodler!

I think Sylvia's koala, which she named "Herbert," is so adorable!

Sylvia's melting analog clay clock...

Caeden had art with Mrs. Hoffert during the first semester of his 6th grade year. She is so wonderful!

What a cool project!

Caeden hasn't enjoyed art the past couple years, as he feels his skills are lacking. I think it is just his confidence lacking.  But, he did like the clay gourment chocolates he made featuring a city skyline.

6th grade learned a lot about shading.

Fun 6th grade projects!

On our way out, Annah showed us the beginning of her current art project--a stencil she's started to cut out by hand.  It will be a spray paint/graffiti art type project.

We love the Ridgeview Art Show, and we LOVE our art teachers!!!

Art, Everyday, and Friends

My crocheting business has had quite a big lull since February.  I've been crocheting, but having a hard time finding time to get good photos and especially finding it difficult to do much marketing.  For now, I'm ok with how things are, but I think sometime in the future I will need to really find a more specific focus.

This week, I made a couple more silky metallic shawls.

The kids caught me taking a picture of them eating supper, and had to make protesting faces. I still like to document those every day things, like their protesting faces.  

Today, Annah had the honor of attending the Heart of Illinois Conference Art Festival. 

Annah's art teacher chose her charcoal drawing of a violin tailpiece to be exhibited!

Annah really enjoyed the spending day with friends taking in lots of amazing art and learning!

She attended two hands-on workshops, which she really enjoyed.  In fact, she was so excited about one, that she came home and immediately gathered supplies to do some more experimenting with the new techniques she learned! 

 This evening, the kids and I went to Calvary Baptist Academy to watch our friends the Kellers in their school musical!

I hung out with our friend Bekah for a bit while Ang took baby Ty for a diaper change. Bekah taught me the proper way to flash the peace sign for a selfie.

Then our friend Celia joined us!

Adam played Schroeder, Jillian was Peppermint Patty, and Samuel was Floyd. We have loved this show for a long time, and Calvary's production was really, really great!  We thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Friday Fun Day

This afternoon, I ran the tic-tac-toe relay at the elementary Field Day.  It was Caeden's last Field Day,  and it was a beautiful day for it.  We had so much fun!

Sylvia gave a how-to speech in Reading/English class today about how to play the cello.  Her friend, Ms. S came to class to try her hand at the cello.  Ms. S works with special ed classes, but Sylvia has gotten to know her by chatting with her in the mornings before classes start, because she monitors the kids in the gym before school starts.  Ms. S has been a great encouragement and support to Sylvia over the past couple years, and I appreciate her so much!

This weekend is Ridgeview's Amazing Art Show!  We knew we wouldn't have a chance to come back to the school during the actual hours of the show, so we walked through after school and looked at everything.   I am always completely blown away by the art show.

Shows past: 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 

This year, Annah took high school Art 1 as a freshman and loved having art class first thing every morning!  3 of her projects are in this photo--

--The yellow paper next to her legs has some origami projects from the first day of class.

--The circle of butterflies above her shoulder is her Color Mixing/Color Vocabulary/Simulated Texture project.

--The project on the side of her legs is also hers--Monocromatic Painting/Color Mixing/Value.  

I think these were some of the earliest projects from the beginning of the school year.

I cannot overemphasize how thankful I am for Mrs. Hoffert and the way she teaches art! For 10 years now, I have been amazed at the art history and techniques my kids learn in her classes.  She is a fantastic woman and a phenomenal teacher!

Annah's 3-D project in the style of Jackson Pollock on display in the art classroom

For this project, Annah was to use items she had to represent her own likes, things that are important to her, or that tell her story.  

Some of the things that stand out to me: 

- the pin that says, "Jesus puts a song in my heart"

- glow-in-the-dark butterflies from her closet at home

- Reeces peanut butter cup wrappers

- pink and purple yarns to represent her favorite colors

-a pin that says, "When all words fail, music speaks"

(Annah sang this song for solo/ensemble last year, and it really represents her.  She has trouble making her own words say what she feels or wants to say, but loves using music to express those things!)

This side is all colored with markers.

Annah's clay coil pot

I realized later that I didn't take pictures of Annah's most impressive projects.  I'll have to take some when she brings them all home.

Caeden has struggled a little bit with art class this year.  He earned his first B ever in art 2nd quarter, and doesn't feel very confident in his artistic abilities.  When I asked for a picture of him with his henna hand drawing, he didn't want to smile at first, so Sylvia helped him.

He finally did oblige with a smile...His project is to the right of his face in this photo.

This is one project Caeden was happy with.  His is the red/purple tree in the middle the row right next to him--so, up and left of his head.

Caeden is almost completely done with elementary school!  We have been blessed by our kids being part of this "unique garden" for 10 years now, and I have to admit I'm a little sad thinking about them all being too grown up for elementary school anymore in just a few days!