Marking Your Journey

It's that time of year again BBQ,fresh fruit of all kinds, the heat, swimming and sleeping in a bit. Also the 'I'm booorrreedd" where I am trying to lure my kids away from the electronics, get out side and experience what is out there...beyond those screens!Maybe your like us,we do not have big travel plans scheduled this year. Just things around our area, a church camp with my triplets to VA -I'm a chaperone- and my HD to Canada with the oldest for scouts- during the same week. Or maybe you are headed to the beach, family reunion or another great adventure.
Journaling in all forms is a great way to keep everyone experiencing the surroundings whether big or small adventures.
This year we started one journal for the summer. We all are writing,drawing, clipping and pasting in it. (kids need to practice their 'putting thoughts on paper' the teacher said too.) It is about what we are doing most days, our goals for the summer are in it,bits and bobs from travels and restaurants, anything and of course-drawings. I hope it to be a great keepsake of the summer too. Mis-spellings and all.
We are keeping ours in a basket on the table so it is convenient to grab. I also have some markers and a glue stick.  We we run somewhere we usually just grab the journal and add color later.I already keep a glue stick with me and we are fans of tearing things out and so we don't even take scissors.

MATERIALS: Any acid free items you use will just last longer than we live they claim. :/
Journal of your choice. I recommend smaller than bigger. Easy to take with you and not so big you feel as if it is to much to fill up.
favorite writing pen ( I have so many it can be hard to decide for me.)
Glue stick
Optional: markers, Twistables or colored pencils, ( No crayons if you will be leaving it in the hot car)
scissors

All is fair in record keeping and memory making...so have fun and enjoy!

A few sketchbook pages in pen and ink

A few sketches I made while traveling or waiting somewhere.

This is Zachary's Monkey he took with us to the hospital.

This is the  marina at Putt-n-Bat OH as we waited for the ferry to go back to the mainland.

Kids keeping busy with a sketch book on vacation

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"Harbour town Light House" and "Bridge at Lagoon with alligator and Turtle" by Jacob
(this lagoon was behind our townhouse)

"Caught by Lizard" and "Little "Hermit Crab and Snail" by Jacob


"Lizard Catching Fly with little Crab"" and "Pirate Ship" by Jacob by Jacob

I bought 2 packs of moleskin Craft brown covered sketching books for the kids. These too fit in my bag I carried around on vacation with my sketchbook. I was delighted by the hit they were.

"House at Lagoon with Alligator and Turtle" and "Harbour Town Light House"by Taylor

"Mouse", "Balloon Art" inspired by Cappy Clown under the oak tree creating balloon art. "Heart person in Color" by Taylor

I pulled them out at a restaurant when we had a wait. I told them I got them to draw or write about our trip.Well to my amazement they jumped right in and got to drawing and recording the events and sights so far with the crayons from the restaurant. I later picked up crayola twist pencils (regular crayons would melt in the heat) to for my daughters finer desire for color assortment...I know shes only 7 but I can relate to this to well!

All artwork published with permission.

More art to follow from Zachary and Colton. stop back soon!