Yesterday my plans for the day got completely redirected. Instead of yard work after school we ended up across the street at a neighbor’s dock fishing with borrowed poles and cut up raw chicken as bait. We didn’t catch a thing but we made some awesome memories.
Today we were supposed to do yard work and meet up with some friends at a local pool. My youngest got sick and due to a fever we were forced to stay home. We were all bummed. Then I remembered the following video. I called the kids together and we watched. Then the best day ever happened. We sat down, all 4 of us and crafted and created our little hearts out. We seriously only got up to eat lunch. When it was time for dinner we packed up the mess. #1 vacuumed all the scraps, fuzz and stuff and we then showed my man the fruits of our labor. He was so super impressed.
I loved today. I loved seeing my kids experiment. I loved seeing the excitement as they cheered and affirmed each others work. I loved how my #2 yelled out loud, “I’ve made 4 AWESOME pieces of ART!!!” I loved their pride and got teary eyed as they showed off their masterpieces to their dad. I even love that I sat down and let the dishes pile up, the laundry stay scattered on the floor and did art with my kids. : )
The boys in the house were gone for the night so we made the most of our time alone. First: A good book. While the girls finished their dinner, I read aloud the first 2 chapters in one of their American Girl books. Second: Crafts! #2 was digging through a block of something to find dinosaur fossils. #3 wanted to make lip balm, which is a craft straight from the devil himself. By the end that waxy substance was all over the table, our hands and in our hair and everything we touched from the dining room to the shower. OH, that stuff is so waterproof. I thought I would never get it off. Third and last: Silly Photo Shoot. They were so totally up for it. They came up with EVERY outfit and EVERY pose. It was a blast. I think the boys should get out of the house more and let the girls stay in!
Well, it’s done. I really wasn’t certain I was going to like it, but I am very pleased. We bought the tree at Lowe’s but everything else is stuff we picked and collected. I even had time to carve a nativity set from fallen branches we found in our yard (HA! Just kidding!!!!) No, seriously I used my hot glue gun and some spray mount to keep my berries on the wreath from falling off and or course the lights on the mantle and tree are not “natural” but everything else is fresh.
I would like to take a moment to thank our local park for the pine cones, fresh pine sprigs and holly berries. Also, thank you to the little girl scout troop for allowing the me steal a few nandina berries from their bushes that surround their little scout house. Thanks to our relatives who allowed us to pick as many fruits from their trees that we could possibly fit in our car. Special thanks to my friend for allowing us to borrow her dehydrator. Last but not least, thanks to my kids and hubby for putting up with the mess of pine sprigs, smushed berries, the horrible stench of bleached pine cones baking in the oven and not putting up a fuss for taking Christmas decorating in a different direction this year.
So, here’s where I stand. I have all my citrus dried, I have pine cones drying in the oven that soaked in bleach all night (Note to self, don’t bother to bleach – it’s not worth the trouble) and I have made a wreath from leftover scraps of Frasier Fur tree branches. Oh, and we bought a small tree yesterday at Lowe’s which is up and half way cover in lights. The kids and I went to a local park and cut fresh red berries from bushes, collected pine cones and fresh green bunches of pine needles. I am almost ready to begin to decorate the tree. I am still not sure if it’s going to turn out as “pretty” as it looks in my head, but we’re pressing on and giving it a good try.
Here’s the fruit. Orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lime and lemon. (lime and lemons don’t dry so well, they get real brown and yucky looking)
For the past three years I have planned to make scarecrows with the kids using old clothes that they can no longer wear. Finally this year, we did it. It took a very long time (thanks aunt Bree for your help) but they are done and hung!
My kids love to make art and give it away. Today my 5 year old drew 3 of her friends in costume. We’ve never seen them in these costumes. I guess she figured these outfits would just look fabulous on them.
The first is Sara as a yellow bunny.
The second is Hanna as a pink butterfly.
The third is Camille as a candy cane : )
The kids did their first sewing project this afternoon. (Sadly we got these crafts at Christmas and here it is May.) Anywhoo … the expert sewer in the group was #2. She reminded us all of that fact only about a dozen times. She enjoyed the craft so much I gave her the one I was working on, she felt extra special that she was able to do 2. She needed to feel extra good at something (like we all do) and it pleased me to she her shine at this today.
Siblings … #1 is thinking, “Who really cares” … #2 is thinking “I am so great at making crafts” … #3 is saying, “No you not! I better than you!”
