MONET TO PICASSO

A few Saturdays ago, Liv and I decided to be spontaneous and we hoped in the car and headed to the U of U Fine Arts Museum to see the "Monet to Picasso" exhibit that was being shown there. Only a handful of museums were chosen to host this show.

It took about 45 minutes of standing in line before we were able to get into the actual exhibit, but once we did we were transported! We saw amazing paintings that took us from Realism - Impressionism - Post Impressionism - Modernism - Surrealism. It was a real treat to see how the styles of paintings transformed in color, shape and subject matter.

One painting in particular caught both of our eyes at the same time. It was by French painter, Odilion Redon. It was a simple Impressionist painting of a vase of flowers, but the colors were so yummy, warm and inviting (see the pic above). I loved the warmth of the oranges with a touch of sea foam drops in the background. We both concluded that is was our favorite from the exhibit.

The best thing about this outing was sharing it with someone and more importantly, my daughter. I really hope these outings that I expose her to will help inspire and influence her as she develops as an artist.

OLYMPIC THEME SONG

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION

I suppose I've officially passed a certain milestone as a mom now that all the kids are in school. I sort of feel like a kid in a candy shoppe, not knowing what to do with the kid-free time I now have available. I guess I could clean; maybe I could go shopping; have lunch with friends; read a book; take up a new hobby; exercise.....the world is mine! However, I find that I look forward to 3.00pm when they all come walking through the front door.

SUPER SOCCER STAR

Both Jake and Liv have played soccer, now it's Tubby's turn. Tonight was his first soccer game of the season. And already he is a lot more fun to watch than the first two.

Jake would place himself strategically outside of the "pack's" perimeter, patiently waiting for the ball to break free from the crowd. And we all know, in this young league, the ball rarely breaks through the fence of tiny feet.

Olivia, on the other hand, volunteered to be the goalie every game. She enjoyed the "alone" time to dance about and contemplate the meaning of life. Because, once again, as we all know in this young league, the ball rarely makes it to the goal.

But Ian is all over it! He is like a little ball of fire! He's right there in the heart of the action. Our #8 (Tubs chose this number because it reminded him of his comic creation he's been working on, Meatball Man) on the Super Sonic team is all business and it's so enjoyable to watch.

SO LONG SUMMER

We had a fun-filled summer,

but it had to come to an end.

We can't wait until next year

so we can do it all again!

CAN'T STOP READING...

Here are the three books I've finished reading during the past few weeks.

I actually picked up The Glass Castle at 8.00pm yesterday and read straight through and finished just a few hours ago. I enjoyed the overall story of the author's life, but I was very frustrated as well with her parents and why the children enabled the parents so much and why the parents neglected their duties as parents. I think anyone who reads the book would find themselves myself questioning their own parenting skills. You wonder what you could be doing or not doing in raising your kids that could really mess them up or really encourage them not to be like you. It was an interesting true story because you really can't believe they actually happened to real people. You would have to read it to know what I mean.

I was also frustrated with a woman's role in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Not being able to chose your future or your destiny, your spouse, your role in life would be so suffocating! To have your life already set before you the minute you were born would be unbearable to me!

Okay, two very dramatic books.

Now for some hilarious laughs! You gotta read Diary of a Wimpy Kid (and the sequel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules!) It only took a day to read, but what a great. laugh-outloud, fun book. There is really not much to it, other than pure silliness.

So, what's next on the book list? Well, to get my friend to read Twilight, I offered to read a favorite book of hers. And though Brian found the book ridiculou (which it's not suppose to be), I will be reading The Secret. I have to get it read before August 1st when BREAKING DAWN comes out!!!!!! Can't wait.

THE CANADIANS CAME--THE CANADIANS LEFT

My good friend, Marina and her two kids, returned "home" to Utah at the end of June. They made our home their "home base" and spent the next few weeks visiting old friends not available in Canada; eating at favorite places not available in Canada; stocking up on necessities not available in Canada (such as Krusteaz coffee cake mix, Bush's beans and AppleJack cereal; and swimming, which I guess is not available in Canada either. Because as we all know it's 2 to 3 times as expensive up north.

We had a great time having them around (which didn't seem all that often...maybe, that is why it was so great?!? J/K, Marina!). For our final farewell outing, we took them to Red Robin and discovered taht Kiana actually inhales her food. She slammed down her burger before any of us stuck a fry in our mouths! We then followed dinner up with the fastest mini-golf game ever played---8 minutes flat! Which was partially due to losing 3 of our 5 balls. At least we knew we could get "100 experienced balls" if we needed to. Now that's reassuring!

Goodbye, our Canadian cohorts. I'll see you in September.

4TH OF JULY

This is what it's all about.........

FREEDOM to have FUN,

FREEDOM to spend quality time

as a FAMILY,

and FREEDOM to rock

the holiday

with FIREWORKS!!!

ROUNDY ANNUAL 3RD OF JULY BBQ

What's more American that an original Roundy Family BBQ? .......... Not much!


We all gathered at Mike and Mad's around 7.00pm.

With hamburgers and hotdogs, an assortment of salads, chips, chessy bean dip, soda pop,

and tableful of desserts, we were good to go into the wee hours.

With lively conversation, ping-pong games, wagon rides behind the riding mower, swings, there was plenty to keep us busy.

Of course, we had our nightly walk to the local 7-11 for more sugar, just in case.

WE'RE BACK

Some of you have been wondering where we've been

(and so have we).

Well, we got lost at the Ogden Nature Center,

but we've finally got the heck out of there!

So, here is a sampling of what we got done during our first month of summer vacation.

Don't worry...not much reading, just pics.