A Painting Kind of Day

The kids had a day off from school last month. Teacher in-service day.  "Mommy, what should we do today?" The question came while my eyes were still closed as I lay snug in my bed reveling in the idea of a morning to sleep in a bit longer than usual.

Except that my kids are not so good with the sleeping in idea.  If anything, they seem to wake up earlier on non-school days.  Someone please explain to me why this is.

But, it was another beautiful day out and it seemed a shame to be stuck inside when we didn't really have to be.

So, we headed out!  Right outside the front door.

To paint.

Still counts as outside, doesn't it?  At least no one here objected.

Duck lip alert.

"Mommy, can you take a picture of me with my painting?" Happy to oblige.

He took inspiration from the plant behind him. Very refreshing change from the alien battles he normally paints.

My instructions to dip only once into one color before painting seems to have been understood by him to dip once into each color before painting. And look, it only took me four kids to not be bothered by this!

Of course that meant his masterpieces all looked kinda like this.

Artists at work.

Love this girl.

Intent eyes.

Her first (see the 1 in the top left corner there?) of many masterpieces inspired by "Frozen".

Love this girl.

His first time painting like the big kids. He loved it. Aside from mommy making him wear this smock.

The feet of an artiste.

Hmm, maybe I could get them to paint their playroom walls next.

Siblings conferring.

My sweet baby hard at work.

On this. I think we shall call this one, "Rage Against the Machine".

"Thanks for letting me paint, Mom!"

There was definitely a "Frozen" theme here. Along with alien invasion battle scenes.

An altogether delightful way to spend an afternoon at home. I love days like this. Aside from the setting up/cleaning up/putting away required of me.

The Class Parties

And then it was the last day of school before winter break.  Thankfully, Phil's vacation had started that day, so he was able to come see the kids do their class parties, too.

Lauren's class was our first stop.

Then we dropped by Mikey's class as just as they were doing their gift book exchange.  Careful deliberation...

Before settling on the chevron striped one.

And then we popped over to Allie's class just as they were finishing cookie decorating.

Little brother looooves visiting the kids' classrooms.  Why?  Because he only comes to visit on class party days so he thinks this is what they do every day they're at school.  I foresee a bit of a letdown in his future...

Plus he gets all the extra leftover goodies.

Getting ready for their gift book exchange.  (I had run back over to Mikey's class to see him again, but they were watching Charlie Brown's Christmas and he was fine with me leaving again when I asked him).

They played a fun little game first where they had to pass their gift to the left every time the teacher said "Santa" as she read aloud.

Meanwhile, Phil had gone over to see the rest of Lauren's party and bring her and her cute lil reindeer over once her party was done.

From her class book exchange.

She got what ended up being the most wanted book in her class.  Her classmates kept asking her if she wanted to trade but she held on tight to that one.

Oddly enough?  My usually-always-into-crafts-and-making-things girl is not at all interested in making rainbow loom bracelets.  Odder still?  Mikey totally is.  Go figure.  Cuz this one's got me stumped.


And then, VACATION WAS UPON US!  WOO HOO!!!

The Fountain

It was really hot the first few weeks of school.  So hot that Allie would have a sweaty head by the time I picked her up.  Poor girl.  She is Daddy's girl in more ways than one.

So one afternoon, I dressed Jonah in swim clothes and packed the other kids' swim stuff to take with us when we went to pick everyone up from school.

The swimming pool might be your first guess, and a good guess it would be.  But not this day.  Four kids, two non-swimmers, plus myself being required to go in the pool with them to make sure no one drowns doesn't sound completely fun or relaxing.  At least to me.  That's more of a two-man job and we do it when the Daddy can join us.

So on this day, we ended up here...

Our little neighborhood mall which has an outdoor water fountain built right in to the ground.  The kids are always asking if they can go run in it, but the answer is always no because it's always too cold and the kids are always too dressed (with real shoes on) to just let 'em get soaking wet.

But on this day, the answer was a big ol' surprise YES.

Plus Mommy got to stay mostly dry, no one was in danger of drowning, and they had a grand time splashing and playing around.

JOY FOR ALL.

He mostly liked to slap the water around.

My boy who wears his heart on his sleeve.  It's never too difficult to guess how he's feeling at any given moment.  I love this about him.

This one cracks me up.

The younger two were getting cold and were ready to wrap up in towels and warm themselves in the sun.

Big sis helping little bro wipe water drops off his face.

See?  Mommy can be fun... once in a while.  :p