Purple Parasol

Bella spotted this at a booth at the Lama Fest, and had to have it. she was perfectly happy twirling that thing around all afternoon.




and one of Cocoa, apparently this drink was on the cold side!

my dolls!

We took a family walk and Bella collected a few "treasures" such as a pine cone, an apple, some leaves, a big chunk of asphalt, etc. so I decided to take a few pictures of her with her favorite of them all! this one was a happy accident, I thought it looked so cool, I had to post two pics of it.







I love these feet and especially the dimples in her hands!

Almost done

The Bridge Academy of Art is almost ready to open! Ben has been working nonstop on the building for the past 3 weeks. It opens on Monday August 4th and we are so excited, everything has happened so fast! Here is Ben up on the boom truck, painting the sign.

Pioneer Day

There are a few great things about living in Utah, and Pioneer Day is one of them! we pretty much get to re-live independence Day, with Barbe-Q's, friends and family time, and fireworks.
We started the day off with tickles and giggles as our bed was taken over by the girls! then spent the afternoon at a beautiful ranch in Mount Pleasant with a big artist group hosted by the Stewarts, then spent the evening in Levan where my parents live, to enjoy the festivities of the town. The day was full of sunshine, live bands, scrumptious food, and awesome fireworks! Boy, am I grateful for those pioneers, (the strongest people to ever live)! they endured so much for us!!!l

Bestest Friends

This is sitting on the couch snugglin, eating yo-go's, after a long day at the pool!

Thirsty?

Cocoa loves to drink out of anything except for her sippy cup. She also likes to play with the honey bees that collect at the spout! she hasn't got stung yet, but one just might end up in her mouth and give her a surprise!

IMAGINE NATION

There is no place I know that compares to Bella's imagination!! o.k. so I got that line from watching the "old" Willy Wonka movie over and over lately but its true!! the other day I was sitting outside holding Bella as we were watching the sunset....
Me: isn't that sunset beautiful?
Bella: ya, this is Heavenly Fathers Tattoo
Me: what is?
Bella: This is!
Me: what?
Bella: all this space around us!!
Me: oh ????????? o.k
I love this little girls mind! she makes me see the world in a whole new way!!
photo, compliments of Uncle Paul

Repentance

For those of you asking to see Ben's painting of the Nun entitled "Repentance" here it is. The model for the Nun is my mom, and the boy is a neighbor (Kiera's oldest). I Love this painting!!! reminds me of a Norman Rockwell, who I think was one of the greatest painters ever! and I guess because my Mom is the Nun, and because it is beautifully painted!!

Uncle Danny

Gabby and her Daddy!

It's so fun when Danny comes home! he twirls, and flips, and throws them in the air, hasn't missed them yet, hope he never does!
I don't know why I don't have a picture of Bella, hmmmm.... I think she was busy playing with some rollie pollie's

Tagged!

o.k., I've been tagged... again, but this time I decided to participate! Thanks Jan!

I am.. a dreamer

I think.. there are alot of good people in the world

I know.. I am blessed

I want.. 2 more kids, and to paint again some day

I have.. 2 beautiful girls, and a sweet man

I wish.. for land for my kids to roam on

I hate.. evil, war, and January!

I miss.. being a kid with no worries, oh... and Italy!

I fear.. losing one of my children or husband!!

I feel.. peace... most of the time

I hear.. my girls giggling, the sound of a distant jet, waves crashing (I wish)

I smell.. lilacs

I search.. for new spots to take photographs, and beautiful islands to visit

I wonder.. why there are people that choose to not believe in God

I regret.. nothing! I believe we learn and gain from everything we do in life

I love.. sunshine!

I care.. for the people that are suffering in 3rd world countries

I always.. eat breakfast , and wear lip gloss!,
I am not.. a working momma, I am a hard working mother! which I love!

I believe.. the pioneers were the strongest people that ever lived

I dance.. when I want to make my husband and kids laugh

I sing.. only in the car, or nighttime lullabies to my babies

I don't always.. like to socialize

I write.. short, because I am not very good at it

I win.. my man's smile when I decide to cook dinner

I lose.. myself in Photography and Art! or should I say find myself

I never.. want to die before I see my kid's kids!

I listen.. to beautiful scores from movies (soundtracks) when I need to be uplifted and inspired

I can usually be found.. with Olea on my hip

I'm scared of.. losing one of my kids, and being in war.

I read.. fashion, Art, home and garden magazines whenever I can

I am happy about.. having fulfilled so many dreams!

I tag Rachel, Leah F, Leah W, Kiera, and Jessica

Backyard bumpkins

Here are just a few shots I took yesterday as we spent the day in the backyard. They make me smile!

Hare Krishna

This is inside where the service took place. Bella found her spot.


Ben making peace with the Lamas!

There was a huge bird cage, and they were all talking to us, saying hello, hi, come back, and we got them to say Bella. It was a trip!

Sunday we went for a drive and came across the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork. We decided to go inside. Ben had taken Bella there before so she was very comfortable and knew exactly what to do. She took her shoes off, went upstairs and sat down to listen to the music. She knew her way around the whole place. It was a neat experience and a beautiful temple. Ben spotted some old ornate doors sitting on the top deck. The next day he went back and smooth talked the owners and bought them for the Bridge academy building.

Red, White and Blue

I thought I should post some pictures from the 4th of July before July is over! The pics of Bella and Gabby are from our little Provo Parade. The Primary had the kids bring their bikes and decorate them before the parade. They were so excited to actually be IN a parade!! Popsicles followed.
I missed not having Bella on the 4th while we were in Sante Fe. But she had a girl party with Aunt leah, and her cousins Chloe, and Ellie, so we just had coke to chase, and boy did I chase her around the town. I got so tyred after a while, I took some balloons off of a (closed) shop's door and gave them to her so I knew where to find her in the crowd.

Searching

This is Ben's latest painting titled "Searching" to view the video go here ...his words below

I have always been conflicted between painting and film, painting it what I do, and film is what I have always wanted to do. So this project entitled searching is my attempt at both. The idea is to paint 4 near complete paintings celebrating four world religions. I met a young man in Orem Ut. who was a practicing Hassidic Jew. He had no obvious Jewish heritage beyond the trappings of his wispy beard and yamika. He timidly stocked groceries behind the towering boxes hiding from my inescapable gaze, as if he new I was on the model hunt. He never did model, no way he was going to shave his beard, but none the less he inspired the idea. The final piece is framed in a cathedral style about 6 inches deep with a drawer in the side containing an LCD monitor, thus allowing the narrative to play next to the final piece.

BEN

At the Show

Ben reminiscing with Sean D.

Tammy Garcia (Owner of Gallery), Sean D., Ben, Justin T., Leroy Garcia (Owner of Gallery)

Cracking up with the hilarious Owners of Blue Rain Gallery

Justin with his Grandpa in front of one of his amazing paintings!!

a very Bllurry family pic, hey when its all you got, you use it right!

The STARS themselves!
Ben did great! He sold the Nun painting "Repentance", and "Navajo Woman" painting before the show even started.

A bit of Sante Fe

Ben took this last shot...we drove past the largest old school junk yard... pretty much in existence, on our way home.

Sante Fe is one of the most interesting places I have ever been! it is the 3rd largest Artist district in the U.S. and they are not kidding! I have never seen so many Art galleries in one place. It was a dream, a pleasant dream, I just didn't get to see it all, but that's o.k. because Ben has another show in October!