Can’t we just DOOOOOOO something?

Saturday the kids and I decided we wanted to get out of the house and do something. If you have children you can easily imagine three kids pleading, “Can’t we just GOOOOO somewhere. Can’t we just DOOOOOOO something?”

As luck would have it, Bethany did some research on my behalf a while back and found a pottery painting place called U Paint It in a town only an hour away from us. Fortunately, my aunt and uncle live in that town and we could visit them (and retrieve all our hang-up clothes we accidentally left at Grandpa’s house last week) after we painted.

The kids were in good spirits on the drive up; the girls busy chatting on their DS’s and Kenny playing on his Leapster. I got lost in the bluegrass sounds of Allison Krauss in her CD, A Hundred Miles Or More. Before we knew it, we were all there.

Once we sat down to paint I knew I should have foregone my own attempts to paint anything at all, because the kids really needed me to help them get started, find their paints, decide on stamps or other decorative tools, and of course, calm them while I ‘fixed’ their mistakes here and there.

Of the three, Kenny was certainly the most perplexed.

He finished his mug in 0.5 seconds. Okay fine, so it took longer, but all the while he complained that girls painted toooooo slow and later demonstrated this fact to his Uncle Don (who, by the way, came and rescued him there at the end) complete with interesting sound effects.

The girls took considerably longer on their pieces.

Emelie chose to paint a mug for her hot tea and coffee milk (I know, I know…I shouldn’t let her.). Her signature colors are blue and green, and she tossed in a bit of brown too with some cool new stamp that was flexible enough to wrap around the mug. She had lots of ideas, but realized early on she needed to focus, because space was minimal. I was proud of her – she took her time, was quick to ask questions, relaxed into the process – touching up her work as she went along.

Meredith chose to do a food dish for Rachel, her kitty. Though it looks pink in the image, it will fire up a brilliant red. She painted it white inside the bowl and spelled out Rachel’s name in brown letters surrounded by white polka dots.

Meredith started out very patient with her work, but quickly just wanted it DONE. She finished before both me and Emelie and quickly made a nuisance of herself cleaning everything up. Mine and Emelie’s paint brushes, sponges, water, papertowels, and even our paints were being picked up, cleaned-up and put away every time we turned around. After a few frustrated attempts at subtlety, we outright told her to QUIT because we needed our tools if she wanted us to finish anytime soon. Not exactly happy with us, she huffed-off to another table muttering how unappreciative we were or something of that nature.

I worked on napkin rings for everyone; something I assumed would be quick, simple and easy-to-interrupt (boy did I get that right).

There was only one “Oops” while there – Kenny decided to place a piece of pottery on Meredith’s head (a tarantula, no less) and she promptly swatted it off so that it shattered across the linoleum floor. The owner quickly swept it away, not charging us for it – of which we were grateful. After all, that WAS FAR from a cheap craft if you add up gas and the expense of the actual pottery pieces, studio fees, etc…

The girls are already planning our next trip back to paint. I’ve pointed out that they need to save their allowance. That’s right, I am officially a mother now…”Save your allowance!”

I’ll have to make plans with Uncle Don to “rescue” Kenny a little earlier next time.

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I thought I would return to my blogging sabbatical by telling you all about the Memorial Service for my Grandpa, specifically how wonderful and terrible it was all at once. Wonderful because everything was just as he would have wanted it. Terrible because when they closed that casket I knew I’d never see him (in this life) again. But I’m weary from crying and right now I’m just reveling in the memories that leave me with smiles and not tears.

Thank you again for the slew of comments and emails. I realize this is an online community, but this virtual world reached out in a powerful way and I can’t thank you enough. I haven’t responded to comments like I wanted to, but I’ve read them once, twice, maybe even three times.

Bless you.