My example portrait

I decided to make a grid style portrait along with my students, even though I don't use grids in my personal art. They are fascinated and excited to see my image form on the canvas right before their eyes. I used a photo of Helena looking cross-eyed. Some of the grids on the canvas look darker than others because I am playing around with ideas on how to paint it.

My students will be using oil pastels on theirs because oil paint is just not practical in an elementary classroom. Mine, however, will be in oil paint. The grid will remain an integral part of the composition. Hopefully, it will look a little modern and 'hip' when I am done with it.

Klondike derby!

My son, Will, and my husband are heading out this afternoon with the scout troop to participate in a Klondike Derby. From my limited understanding, a Klondike is a troop sled race. Each troop builds their own sled, loads it with their winter camping gear, and pulls it as a team in a race with other troops. So they pack as light as the conditions will allow. They then camp overnight. All of this is done up in the mountains in deep snow and absolutely freezing weather! More power to them. I think I'll curl up on the couch with a blanket and watch a movie tonight!

Chess Club and more?

Will has decided to join the Chess Club at the Junior High. I have spent years signing him up for various activities because he never seemed to show an interest in anything without that initial push. I am very excited he has found something he likes enough to be motivated on his own!

You should have heard Helena's reaction when I told her. She called me on her cell phone to see if I had arrived at the school to pick them up yet, and to express concern that Will wasn't at their standard meeting place (don't be fooled! She was worried he'd make her late to ballet). When I told her that he had already called me and gotten permission to stay after for Chess Club, her response was, "...........(dramatic pause).........Chess Club?!?" (you will only be able to hear the tone of her voice if you have ever had a 15 year old social butterfly daughter or been one yourself). When she and I got home I cautioned her that I never wanted to hear the terms "geek" and/or "nerd" escape her lips. She has a rather limited and egocentric view about what is considered "cool" and "acceptable". She was very gracious, however, and promised to be fully supportive of her brother's new interest.

Hope she will be as supportive with the next club he is planning to join next week...... The Axis and Allies Club. :)

Sixth grade artists

My Sixth grade classes are working on self portraits that will eventually turn out something like this one that was done by one of my students last year. We are currently in the drawing phase.

It is interesting to watch their struggles and triumphs with this assignment. It is the most intense drawing lesson they have ever, and will ever, receive from me. I am relentless with this one.

We start with a photo shoot. Each student poses for a head shot. They get to choose whether to do a serious or silly face. That night I print each student's photo 9 cm. X 12 cm. in black and white on plain paper.

The students draw a centimeter grid on the photo, then draw a 9"X12" grid on white drawing paper. You would be surprised at how difficult this is for many student to do!

Turning the photo upside down, the student then renders the image one grid square at a time. The goal is to focus on shapes and lines in each box rather than focusing on drawing eyes, nose, mouth. The students who 'get it' become extremely excited with their first truly successful self portrait. The students who don't 'get it' spend their time telling me they are having trouble with the teeth or some other body part; or simply give up completely and end up with a squashed head! The point I tell them is that if they focus on shapes and lines instead of thinking about teeth, the image will resolve itself and will look better! The struggling students don't seem to get it.

I hope to post some pictures of this year's batch of successful portraits.

Dressing up for Physical Education

This morning Helena got all dressed up for school. She was in a dress!

Apparently, they are having a ballroom dance unit in Physical Education class. Last time it was Latin ballroom, today it is waltz and quickstep.

It just seems so funny and backward to dress up for the PE class! :)

OH!!! Her PE class gets to do the most AMAZING field trip! They are going to go cross country skiing at Soldier Hollow! I signed up to be a chaperon, of course. What an awesome experience!

Sometimes they call me Mom...

I wonder if it is a good sign when the most unruly 6th grade boy in the class slips up and calls you 'Mom' on accident? I have been called Mom, Grandma, and even Dad from time to time over the course of my career, so this is certainly not a first.

He could have called me something much worse, so I guess it is a good thing. Besides, I like this kid.

How to fake a fever...or not!

Will has caught Bill's cold. He did not want to get up this morning or go to school. I told him what I tell them every time they pull the 'I'm too sick' card ... if you have a fever or are throwing up, you can stay home. If not ... toughen up and get dressed!

So... he pulled out the thermometer. When he brought it to me it read 100.9. I calmly told him to run a second reading in my presence. Shockingly enough, the second reading was completely normal! A miraculous recovery? No. He confessed that the first reading was actually the dog's temperature! LOL! Good thing the thermometer is an external reader (meaning it did not go into the dog's or my son's mouth)!

You know, this mom has been around the block a time or two; but the kids still think they can pull a fast one from time to time.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I know that my Mom reads this blog, I hope Dad gets a chance to see it from time to time, too! I just wanted to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

Online journals!

I discovered a great website today! It is http://www.ldsjournal.com/. It is a FREE online journal! Yes, I said FREE!

Don't get me wrong, I love blogging and will continue to post all the fun, uplifting, quirky Watson clan info and pictures that I can on this site. But there are many more things I need to get off my chest, as it were, that I cannot post publicly. I simply cannot break faith with my kids or husband on those things of a sensitive nature that I am dying to record.

I used to keep handwritten journals. I find I don't write anymore. Maybe it is because I am too busy (blogging, for instance ;) ). Maybe it is because I am leery of someone in the house picking it up and reading something I didn't intend for them to see. At any rate, I am already on the computer blogging and checking e-mails every day. It only takes a few minutes more to enter a journal entry, too!

So...HURRAY for LDSJOURNAL.COM!

A ballet update

Here is a photo of Helena in the Chinese costume for Utah Regional Ballet's Nutcracker. She says she doesn't like this picture and names reasons why. She is like the rest of us and sees microscopic faults that no one else sees. I think she looks fantastic! She had so much fun dancing that part. I hope she gets to dance it again next year!

The next thing for the ballet company is the Choreography Design Project. The concept; aspiring choreographers submit a plan and are awarded a group of URB dancers to 'set' their choreography on. Each choreographer is given 3 weeks with the dancers to fine tune before the performances.

I have been to this for several years and it is always fun. You never know what is going to come out of it. Some of it is classical, some of it is modern. Sometimes it tells a story, sometimes it is just plain weird!

I don't know if Helena will be performing in it this year. I don't think Helena knows either! She has never performed in it before, so it'll be a first for us if she does.

For those of you living close enough, the Choreography Design Project is being held at the Ragan Theatre at UVU on February 12th and 13th at 7:30 pm each night. Admission is $10 student, $12 general admission. Proceeds support Utah Regional Ballet!

My Marine is a Lance Corporal!

Yes, I know. You are all dying of envy because I have my own personal Marine! Nothing like having someone on hand who knows 101 ways to kill a man...especially with a teenage daughter at home!

Seriously, though, Matt gave us an update. He has been promoted (ranked up?) to Lance Corporal. He is stationed at Miramar. That is in San Diego and is where the 'Top Gun' school is located. Poor boy! Has to live in San Diego. ;)

He works from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm as an airplane mechanic. He keeps very busy so that he doesn't look like 'that new guy, the slacker'. Apparently an issue with some new to the job.

Those of you who want to write to him... here is his address!

LCPL Matthew Partridge
P.O. Box 454591
San Diego, CA 92145

Stupid dogs eating stupid cat poo!

Yes, it is true. Dogs like to eat cat poop. If you don't like your neighbor's cat pooping in your yard, get a dog. Now you just have dog poop, instead! Okay, so it's not such a hot idea.

So, this morning I was hurrying to get ready for work when I suddenly realized that the bathroom smelled like cat crap. I looked down to see that one of our dogs...Demi to be precise...had rummaged in the cat litter box and had brought a 'treat' to munch on while keeping me company during my morning rituals. AURRRGH!!!!

It is Will's week to be in charge of the cat litter, so he got the dubious privilege of cleaning it up.