Drawing - Skyla age 5

I'm so excited that Skyla has started drawing more. One of my plans for the new year is to have art materials even more accessible to the kids so they can work on a picture when ever they would like. Skyla has shown an interest in looking at illustrations and trying to draw them. Here are a few pictures she drew following the steps from an Ed Emberley book.

Decorating

Today we went to Grammy and Grandpa's to visit with GG and get out some Christmas decorations. The girls had a dentist appointment this afternoon so we didn't have as much time as we needed. Six kids and a short window of time = chaos, laughter, fun, tears and I'm sure a few crumbs here or there.



























Finn doesn't need any toys for Christmas he already has a Jude.

The Elf

Les and I love the idea of creating traditions for the kids to remember and perhaps continue with their own families one day. This cute little guy begins to hide every night starting on December 1st. We take turns hiding him and the girls have to find him in the morning. I love to hear them walking around looking for him and then scream with delight when they find him. We have just as much fun trying to come up with new hiding places. After Christmas he will be packed up with the rest of the Christmas decorations until next year when he will come out to play again.

Chiropractic Care

August does pretty well entertaining her self during the time that Skyla and I work on her home school lessons. She usually likes to color, cut, glue or some thing that feels like she is also "doing school." She loves these counting bears and recently lined them all up in rows. Skyla asked her what the bears were doing and she said, "Getting their backs checked."

Skyla's First Poem - Age 5

This book was a gift from Grammy last Christmas and we have been reading it a lot lately. One morning Skyla came in my room and said she had a poem for Jude. I was so happy to hear this and offered to write it down for her. Here it is:

The Poem

I love my baby brother so much that I want to make him in a poem

I love my baby brother so much that I want to kiss him all the time

And that little baby I love him so much

Oh yes, I love Jude

He is only a little bitty baby

I love Jude, the poem

Around The House

Sometimes I see things around the house that make me smile. Lately Skyla has been drawing smiley faces all over any notes or pieces of paper I have left out. August likes to leave the last bite of whatever she was eating in random places. I want to occasionally post pictures of some of these things. If only I could find such light in the HUGE messes that occur through out the day in their creative play.

Chalkboard in the kitchen:

A little bed for a loved one in the box of books.

I'm not sure who shared their baby with Jude but that definitely made me smile.

Pumpkin Bread

The girls and I love to make pumpkin bread this time of year. This time we decided to alter our tried- and- true recipe to make it a little healthier. We substituted the sugar for honey and used whole wheat pastry flour in place of white flour. We all agree it is quite yummy! Of course how can you go wrong when you add chocolate chips!