Rainy day fun ö

Today was a "yucky blucky" (stole that term from Junie B. Jones--all you moms of young ones are with me aren't ya?!) day outside. It was rainy and wet, so we decided to make our own fun inside. I stretched old wrapping paper across the length of our kitchen wall and we painted a spring mural. They painted for about an hour......which is the equivalent of a full day for a toddler! The experience really captured, and kept, their attention.

Do you see how intent and focused they all are?

Caroline is such a little artist.

Jacker is a very messy painter.....but had a great time nonetheless. He is much like Caroline--very artistically inclined.

.....and then there was Willie. Willie wanted to be the boss of who painted what, and direct the whole operation. But when it came to the actual painting, he did a lot of asking for help and saying that he "couldn't do it bery good." By the end he had gained some confidence and was taking some artistic risks!

I ♥ this picture. It captures just how serious she is about painting.....and I love, love, love the profile. I could just eat her up!!!

TA DA.....The finished product

Odds and Ends

Warning: This post is kinda all over the place. But hey, I feel like a lot of the time my life is a bit like that!

Tim is out of town for a long weekend getaway. He went with my brothers and all my guy cousins to my uncle's cabin on the river. They go every year, and it is something he really looks forward to. I'm glad he got to escape for a while and have a good time. But.....we terribly miss him--or at least I do! I don't always let him know how much I appreciate him. I just take for granted what a great parent and husband he is. Then I realize just how lucky I am to have to have him around!....especially when I have to do this parenting thing alone!!!

My house has been like a war zone for the past 2 weeks or so. I think maybe the cold cold weather has finally taken a toll on us, because we can't go out and play and burn off energy like we need to. The kids are fighting like cats and dogs! They are griping, yelling, and screaming at each other all the time. Which in turn, makes for a very cranky momma! I know that my kiddos are not at the developmental stage yet where they fully understand sharing and taking turns......but I am running out of patience and energy to model it for them. I just want to scream!!!....and sometimes do!

On a more positive note, Caroline got her report card last week. She is doing great in school, and seems to enjoy it. This is her report card:

Did you know that Caroline and Jack are obsessed with "crafts". They are constantly asking to do a craft. Will does not like crafty things one bit, but doesn't want to be left out when the other two get so excited. Tonight they were begging for a craft project. So, we colored Valentine pictures and then glittered them. I remember glitter projects as a child and I always thought glitter was just magical. Well, so do my kids. They had a big time, and you can tell it by looking at the traces of glitter glistening all over my kitchen!

I'm off to get everyone ready for bedtime routine. Since daddy's out of town, Caroline gets to sleep in the bed with mommy. It's a MAJOR treat for her (and me too), because it doesn't happen very often!

A much needed day with the kiddos

I'm off work today and I have spent the day playing with my kids. I have been so busy lately that we have been just going through the motions of family life. Today has been different. We took the day to enjoy each other and have fun.

We did some fun crafts this morning, and then headed outside to play some games. They are getting old enough to enjoy games like duck duck goose, simon says, red light green light, etc. We had a great time together, and now everyone has settled down for a nap. Speaking of nap, I'm not far behind them!

Making macaroni necklaces
Caroline had so much fun, and was giddy when she saw her finished product.

Jack preferred mostly yellow macaroni.

This activity was hard work for Willie. But Mr. independent finished without help. Yay!

So proud!

The look of accomplishment!

Miss priss!

This was a turkey craft everyone enjoyed. Especially Caroline!!

CRAFTY

Yep, that's me. I unboxed my sewing machine, and there's no stopping me now. I got a sewing machine for Christmas a year or two ago (thanks mom!) and unboxed it a few weeks ago out of pure necessity.

I wanted cute Halloween costumes for the kids, but couldn't afford them. So........I got the bright idea I would make them. So, out came the sewing machine. I've never used one before in my life, so it has been quite the learning experience. I am definitely a novice, and still can't sew a straight stitch, but the kids had precious costumes nonetheless.

I don't intend to sew for "real", but using it for crafty things is so much fun! This week at my school we are having 50's math night, and I made myself a poodle skirt. After some design (and sewing) challenges (thanks Sue!), I think it turned out cute. Now Caroline has demanded one too. Good thing I have some fabric left!

Pumpkin painting

The kids painted pumpkins this morning. They had a great time, but the cleanup was a big job. As you can see from the pictures, things progressively got messier and messier! Oh well, it was fun anyway. The kids are very proud of their masterpieces!

Caroline was very careful and meticulous!
Will was just so happy to be painting!
Jack couldn't slow down enough to even enjoy the painting. He was in high gear!
And then it got messy!
Yep, messy!
Yes, that's right, paint in the hair!
Caroline's finished product!
Will (left) and Jack's finished product!

Little Miss Picasso

Tonight Caroline was lying on the floor coloring, and this is what she drew. Maybe I'm biased--but--I think she is VERY talented, especially for a four year old. She never ceases to amaze me!
The red things are clouds. She informed me that red clouds are pretty, and that she couldn't draw white clouds because the white crayon won't work on white paper. She has a point!