How to Draw Elsa

So part of Madison's summer will also be her continued practice with the pencil.  Today Daddy put together this collection of step-by-step images into one larger image, all so I could print it and share it with Madison - who wanted to try drawing it right away.  She was concerned with the hair at first, explaining how much there was.  But Daddy was apparently helpful when he told her to take it like her music, where it's just one note at a time.  In this case, it's one line at a time.  When she looked at it that way, suddenly things became a little easier.  She actually did pretty well for her first attempt.

She's reading and reading and reading, too.  Lots of books are under her belt already, for the summer reading program.  Despite the busy schedule for Mommy and Daddy, Madison is managing to squeeze in a lot of activity in a forward direction.  Sure, there are also the times where she sits back on the couch and uses her Kindle to play games.  But she's earned a break this week, and will be back to a more rigorous schedule next week - that's for sure.

We did do a little more filming this morning, and more of the same with a deranged fireman hosing everyone down.  But after that, it was time for plenty of chores - grocery shopping, and a car tag to deal with as well.  And an emissions test, of course.  There was a little worry about that one.

This morning the power was out at the church, which made for an interesting exploration in the KidPak area, which is mainly underground and the office area and auditorium windowless.  It was pitch black, with no visibility at all.  Daddy used a small flashlight to navigate around and look for props, but the whole experience was somewhat like a POV horror movie.  Not that we watch that sort of thing!

So Madison and Daddy finished our run with Lego Lord of the Rings this afternoon.  It was started way back last year some time, but we came back to it for one purpose:  to finish the quest.  And it wasn't necessarily about getting the ring into Mt. Doom.  It was more about getting that blacksmith as a playable character.  Which... we did.  Yay, us!  We also visited Disney Infinity some more, checking out a new Maleficent-themed toy box.  That movie comes out Friday, and we might be going out to see it soon, as it is one of the few movies we can all see together as a family (despite the apparently darker tones).  Madison is old enough though, and I think she'll enjoy it.

We all went to bed early tonight - everyone was a bit tired.  Lots more work to do towards Summer Xtreme - and in just a week, it will nearly be over again.  That'll be nice, won't it?  But Madison will enjoy the week quite a bit, so hopefully we'll be able to be there alongside with her - not staying up as late as we usually have to in order to make it all come together.  We'll see, but for now, things seem to be going well.