Pepper Paints

Go Go Go

It’s almost over-this hectic busy time of year. About now I am wishing for a day to just stay home and do nothing. But soon enough we will be pushed right back into our regular old routine and these days  of visiting and celebrating will be just a memory.So I guess I will take advantage of them and visit all the exhibits that we meant to see before the beginning of the year and use up all of our coupons that expire at the end of the year-all in the next week!

Today the kids had a  stilt dancing performance at The Conservatory. They did awesome-as usual! I am so proud of them that each time they perform I have a hard time holding back the tears! They will be ringing in the new year downtown at First Night again this year too!!

Circus Practice

I took lots of photos at Circus today!

Among the many things they learn at Circus is poi.  It looks easy…but it takes a bit of work.  It is really relaxing and it is a great exercise, especially if your looking for something that passes the mid-line; like Brain Gym exercises do.

Ginger is anxiously awaiting the day she can join Jake and Molly in the Grimaldi Circus.  Today she decided she needed her own set of poi at home.  So we found 2 socks (cool stripey ones would have been more fun!) and we stole a couple of our dog’s tennis balls.  If you don’t have tennis balls you could use-rice, beans, another pair of socks…Stuff whatever you use into the toes of the socks.

Then tie some decorative ribbon  around the socks- I tied them low down but my kids moved them up a bit so the sock was more saggy.  You can google poi and come up with several sites with shopping opportunities, poi instructions and even classes.

Ginger has been practicing all night!

Art al Fresco

We live in a really active arts community.  With a OSU and CCAD in our city, along with  The Short North down, High St.,  there are many opportunities to not only enjoy art but participate in it also.  Last night The Short North introduced a new concept, Art al Fresco.  Most galleries stayed open late, hosting performances in their windows and on their sidewalks.  Artists, including my kids Grimaldi Circus, roamed the main drag.

This is just a small sampling of the fun!  Hopefully this will become a regularly scheduled event!

And on another hopeful note-I have fingers crossed that Ginger’s puking and high fever this morning at 5 AM will be quick to pass.  She has a very important Birthday to attend later this afternoon.  And I already made the potato salad dag nab  it!

Success

KidzArtz was a huge success! Fun was had by all!!

And this piece of Molly’s even sold. It really was a wonderful day.

More soon-now off to a baseball game.

It’s a Wrap

..or is it “That’s a Wrap?”  Either way, the first week of circus camp is over. Five days of 9-3:30 worth of intensive circus work has everyone worn out.  If it wasn’t for my barking dog I would be still be asleep also.  Next week the class meets later in the evening, so we can all sleep in a bit.   Jake really attended this week more as a helper to the younger and newer kids.  A role he seems to be good at-but don’t tell him I said that, it may ruin his tough image!   But he  participated a good bit also.  To close the week the group had a small performance for families today.  And as always they learned lots of new skills and their confidence has grown.  A good show as always!

getting taped into their stilts

up and moving

Look, she moved up to  the taller stilts this week!!!

Jake took the time on lower stilts this week to try out some new tricks.

They also worked on trapeze, poi, juggling, tumbling and hula hooping this week.  Ginger and I stayed and did their morning warm up a few days this week and let me tell you-it was NOT easy.  This is some hard work.  Back to sleep!

Tired and titleless

Life has been busy around here even with out the daily crafty activities.  My big kids are at Circus Camp this week from 9-3:30.  Being anywhere by 9 AM is really early in this family.  We are all dragging around -partly from the early rising, the long days,  swimming at the pool,the driving around and the heat and humidity.   Jake will continue Circus next week too, but during evening hours, thank goodness.  Maybe some energy will return!

Molly has been busy getting ready to sell and exhibit at KidzArtz .  She has several projects in need of finishing touches all over the house.  If you are local, there is still time to sign up to participate!   Ginger and I have had a few playdates at the pool and I have gotten nothing done in the house.  Oh well, there is always tomorrow!  Here is a what some of the past few days have looked like…

Jake spray painted his bike -the whole bike-with chrome spray paint.

My daredevil son-

You have to notice that she was sticking her tongue out at me to fully appreciate this one!

Here they are stretching out at the end of the day.

Wet and Muddy Comfest

The Grimaldi Circus took the stage a bit later than scheduled.  They made it about 10 minutes into their performance when the winds kicked into high gear and they were told to cut the show as a bad storm was a comin’.  And boy did it come.  The skies opened up and pounded festival goers with a steady hard rain.  It didn’t take long for someone in the crowd to slide down the muddy bowl.  And it took even less time for about 60 other people to follow.

Jake joined in the mud sledding too.  But he had to take it a step further.

Ahhh youth!

Happy Comfest!