Painting

The kids painted tonight-- there is a LOT of artwork strewn around the living room to dry.

Also, the construction crew was back today! They put up a bunch of beams under the house. It's pretty exciting to have things starting up again.

Busy, Busy

Between baseball, softball, volleyball, and church, we're unusually busy in the evenings lately so posting may continue to be spotty.

The kids had fun with art supplies last night. The baby cut green paper into tiny little pieces that are now all over the living room rug.

The little guy was the neat one for a change. He colored in his coloring book!

The kids and I all fell asleep around 8pm. ;-)

Weekend!

We are all so happy to have arrived at the weekend! Eric and I had busy weeks with work and stuff, and then I got sick. Ugh. Everyone was happy and relaxed today, though, and the kids spend a ton of time painting.

We also watched the US Olympic marathon trials. The little guy sprinted around the house tomorrow preparing for the trials in 2032.

Evening Activities

The baby has jumped on board the "standing desk" trend. She's busily drawing pictures of our family. They're very cute, and most of them have an accompanying song.

Meanwhile, the little dude has been assembling lego kits with instructions for Eric and me to put together. They come in bags with instructions and all the needed pieces!

The instructions can be a bit confusing-- I'm not sure he's ready to publish these. (I love the written out "Put all this together" as the overarching instruction.)

Pride

The little guy did a cute snow globe craft at school. I read the interview, and I couldn't be prouder that this piece of absurdity is hanging in the hall at his school. 

Little builder

Goose has been doing a lot of building lately. We woke up Saturday morning.... well after he got up at 5:30 and then had something to tell us every 15 minutes for the next hour and a half.... and found some really cool "tree houses" made (appropriately) from construction paper. He then did a seminar on how to make them. Unfortunately I was doing something else while class was in session. The next one is scheduled for this Saturday at 8:30am. I'm not sure if I'm going to be up in time to make that one either. Doesn't he know that 8:30 is early on a Saturday?

Here is another of his projects. This one was from just before Christmas. Emily was out for some reason so Sweet Pea, Goose, and I played with the blocks. The boy made an awesome church!

I mean, complete with green tissue paper grass, a road of books, and a parking lot. Looks like there already a service going on. Amen!

Crafting!

I bought the kids these cute little wooden gingerbread house kits the other day. Real gingerbread houses gross me out-- they are such roach magnets! Yuck. These, though, are super cute!

The kids had a great time making them.

The little dude even put together a backdrop made out of construction paper for the houses to sit on.

Art Project

Nana sent the baby the cutest art kit for her birthday. It's a set of instructions and supplies for handprint art. Each kid made one this evening (because the baby wanted to do homework like her brother, and then he wanted to do art like his sister).

A bunny and an alien.

How cute are those pictures! And Nana, if we remember, they'll be on their way to you this weekend.

Craft Overload

We were running low on art supplies, so the kids and I dropped by Michael's this afternoon. They each got a little fall wreath kit-- felt leaves to glue on a cardboard circle. I didn't read the instructions at the store, but each kit makes four! Whoops! 

They had a great time putting them together, though.

Now, what to do with all of these wreaths?

Painting!

Eric HATES it when the kids paint (or do art, generally) because it's so messy. I love it when they paint because they have so much fun! And it's all washable! Anyway, the kids painted today. I even put the baby in a smock!

Of course, I let them squeeze out their own paint. The baby ended up with a "painting" that was an inch-thick puddle of purple and blue paint half on and half off her paper. Yay for creativity!

Homework!

We had to do a "memory collage" for the little guy's "senior week" at Pre-K. I'm a little skeptical of this whole situation, and I procrastinated for way too long on the collage. BUT-- I got it done on time. Here it is!

Only say nice things-- there's no time for any changes.

Vaguely insulting?

The little dude made me a very sweet card while I was down for the count over the weekend. It says "Dear Mom, I love you" and then has a drawing of Eric and then a drawing of me. Want to see it?

Honestly, I'm a little insulted. Eric gets glasses, real eyes, a colored mouth, a nose, and a beard? And I'm a generic happy face? I think the little guy ran out of steam or got bored with it, but I'm trying to pretend that it's a compliment on my generally sunny disposition. Grrrr.

Artist!

The baby keeps asking to paint at inopportune times. Last night she finally asked when there was still time to do it!

She's so funny-- she's very particular about her art. (Also, that's a piece of chocolate on her nose, not a freckle.)

Snow Day?

We had a surprise snow day today-- neither of us had a clue it was supposed to snow! To be fair, I think the weather people on the news were also surprised. Anyway, it was fun-- nice to be with them all day yet again!

The kids put on a show for us this morning.

They played with the piano for a bit before lunch.

And at dinner, the little guy made himself a chef's hat out of construction paper.

He's so creative!

Little Artists

The baby got a bunch of finger paints for Christmas from one of her aunts, so the kids both got to do some painting last week. The little guy is starting to actually paint things (e.g., a house, a car, etc.). The baby just asks for whatever colors her brother is using and says "I made art!"

It's pretty cute!

Artistry

The kiddos have painted pictures the past two evenings. Tonight, the little guy wore his baseball pants and cleats to paint (as one should, I guess).

The baby kept rubbing paint all over her hands and then heading to the sink to wash up. (She's so demanding: "Hands!" "Soap!" "Water!" "Mommy!")

Our little artist

I had a softball game after work today. I'm playing for my office team now that my regular league is on break before the playoffs next week. I've gotta stay sharp, right?

Emily picked the kids up from daycare and then came over to our game. As soon as they came around the corner I heard (from my position on the hot corner) my boy's little booming voice, "Hey Dad!!! Mom, the game is over here!!!" Then he smiled really big and waved. The baby girl ran over to the fence and just shouted "Daddy! Daddy!" over and over. They melt my heart without even trying.

As soon as our half inning was over I ran over and said hey and was promptly handed this:

The boy drew it at school today. In case you can't tell this is the field at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. See the "C" behind home plate? There's Joey Votto at first and Brandon Phillips at second.

I'm not sure what all is going on as he was very excited to explain it and, I'm sad to say, I was a little preoccupied with trying to win a softball game. But I love his attention to detail. Sometimes I am amazed at what he notices. The "C" and then the little walk-up paths from the dugouts are perfect examples of how he doesn't miss anything.

Here's the back:

I guess I spoke to soon. These, apparently, are baseball players from the Cincinnati REDS.

Oooo La La

I busted out an old Valentine's Day craft last night while Eric was playing volleyball. The baby took it pretty seriously, and ended up entirely purple (hands, face, tongue).

The little guy enjoyed himself, too. He was pretty entertained by the fact that we used an empty toilet paper roll for a stamp!

Messy Monday?

Well, I think the baby likes chicken tortilla soup.

The little guy wanted to paint after dinner. Because the baby high-tails it for the stairs any time you turn your back, I figured she could paint, too. The little guy painted a house that was on fire but was put out and is now upside-down.

The baby made some dots, rubbed paint on her face, and then tried to eat the paintbrush.

All in all, it was a successful evening!

Mmmm...Curry

I made this salad tonight, and it was delicious! The little guy just ate grapes, almonds, and an oreo, but the baby enjoyed some chicken curry and chickpeas (but no cookies).

The boy made a kite at school today, so here's a picture of him, his chocolate covered face, and his kite. He's treating it like a flag instead of a kite, but that's ok.