Learning to Draw Larry Boy

My Meticulous Matthew.


The Fib from Outer Space, by Matthew

Saturday, late afternoon, our DVD player was acting up. The boys really wanted to watch movies, so I suggested they get out their personal DVD players, choose separate couches and snuggle up and watch the movies. They did, and it was silence for about an hour in our house. So nice. Then, Matthew found a choice on the menu of Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space that shows an animator giving step by step directions for drawing the Larrymobile and the Fib. Matthew LOVES to draw. He is always getting paper and cutting out pictures, coloring them, and then putting them in his treasure box. He took his DVD player to the kitchen table, along with a pencil and some paper, and very methodically began to draw. He followed right along with the animator on the movie. Matthew's picture turned out awesome!
The LarryMobile by Matthew.

Matthew is a very step by step person, always wanting to know what comes next. He "begins with the end in mind", a concept they've been taught at school this year. I wish he would be as meticulous about his homework. I'm so proud of him for sitting there-it took about 15-20 mins-and not giving up to make a drawing that looks like he traced it out of a book.

Lucas also got into the drawing. But his technique was a bit different. He watched the whole clip of how to draw, before he even got some paper. After it was over, he got his paper and pencil, and joined Matthew in the drawing fun. Lucas's Fib from Outer Space.
Lucas has great pencil wielding skills-his homework is neat, and he has more patience to sit and draw or write than Matthew. His Larry and Fib turned out awesome. They also look like he traced them out of a book.Larry Mobile by Lucas

Maybe I need to find them an art class?

Nerf Wars

NERF guns for everyone in the Hurst house.


Since we gained two Nerf guns at Christmas-the BIG ones with clips that hold about 12 NERF darts-there have been some wars happening in our house. Now we have accumulated 6 or so NERF guns, so everyone gets one. Even Natalie. She has to be in on the action, you know. It gets loud, and the boys (Derrick included) are running all over the place. Matthew in his full battle gear. The Halloween masks I bought on clearance last year sure come in handy for defense against NERF darts.

They hide in the basement from Derrick, and he waits at the door for them to come up, then shoots at them as they're coming up the steps. He's just as into it as they are. And Natalie laughs at all of them, while I sit and take pictures of the fun.

Natalie At Fifteen Months

Natalie has turned into a toddler-literally! She's fifteen months, and full of fun, energy, and mischief. Here's what she's been doing:

*Sitting down and reading her books. She also brings a book to us and backs herself up into our laps to be read to. So cute!
*Showing she's excited to see us when we get home from work or when we pick her up from the sitter's.
*Saying "by-by" and blowing kisses. She also adds a "mwah" when she blows kisses.
*Giving a squeeze-aka, putting her arms around our neck and squeezing us.
*Her pointer finger is getting a workout. She will point to something that catches her eye and say "oooh".
*Using words like "nana" for banana, "bah" for bottle, mommy, and daddy are very pronounced, too.
*Following directions. When we ask her to go get her shoe, or find a baby, or get her pacifier, she will go and get it, and bring it back to us.
*She's so funny-when Matthew and Lucas are laughing about something, she giggles and laughs with them. Like she gets the joke :)
*Eating so well. She likes almost anything we give her. I'm so thankful for that. Her FAVORITE food right now is bananas. She eats at least one a day.
*Drinking out of a straw.
*She will unload a cabinet, toybox, or open drawer in a matter of seconds. I put this skill to good work by having her unload the dryer for me while I fold clothes in the laundry room. Such a mommy's helper.
*She loves music, and will dance to anything-especially Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (our vacation is going to be SO fun this year if her love of Mickey keeps up), and music in church.