Kitchen Helpers

I love meals that allow for lots of help.  Many of the meals we eat, of course, do not - as they must be prepared on the stove or require lots of sharp-knife cutting.  Sometimes, though, we hit upon some perfect helper jobs like cutting tofu with a butter knife or peeling potatoes.

Hair Fun

 Do you know what's fun?

 Having lots of hair accessories is fun.

 Having a big brother to "do your hair" is fun.

 Having a little sister who is a perfect doll is fun.

 Having a mom and dad that humor and encourage this nonsense is fun.

 Getting your picture taken is fun.

  I love our family.  It's fun.

Secret Word

Can you see it hidden in the scramble of magnetic letters?  

I sure did!

So Happy Together (but not always)

This summer has been a real challenge in our house in many ways.  Some days it feels as though the bickering will never stop.  It feels as though these two have absolutely nothing nice or of value to say to one another.  But that's only how it feels, it's not the reality.  In reality, my two little treasures are figuring out how to co-exist as outspoken, independent individuals sharing one small house.  In reality, although they have very different ideas about what should be happening from moment to moment, they still have a very deep bond of love that keeps bringing them back to each other, even if we have imposed time apart as a consequence.  I love these two.

Art Affectionados

One of the more challenging aspects for me teaching children's art during the summer is coming home from a long day of work and finding these two waiting for me.  Sometimes on the porch, sometimes in the living room.

They demand art.  They demand projects.  They demand painting.  And if they know about a particularly cool project that I've done with my camp groups, they demand to replicate it.

Do my kids love art because that's what I teach?  Or do I teach it because my kids love it?