And now... ve do the dance of joy!

I confess, the last week has been a bit trying.

"Mom, can you tell him to stop LOOKING at me?!"

"She was lookin' at ME FIRST!"

Etc.  Ad nauseum.

By last night at 6pm I was seriously gritting my teeth.

I decided to get a little bit lost in my art journal and let the whining and complaining swirl around me but not actually get into my ear-holes.  Also I plunked them in front of the tv with cheese and crackers; that works sometimes too.  I call it "parenting by neglect."

On pinterest recently I spotted an art journal technique using canvas and Golden acrylics, and it looked really fun, so I started with the sun and then went from there.  It's not the fanciest page I've ever done but I still like it.

And guess what??

I MADE IT!!  They are on the bus on their way to school even as we speak.

Let fall begin!  I'm ready - so very, very ready.

Love Shelley!