art with children / crafting with children / family

tooth fairy revisited

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The tooth fairy paid a visit to our house this weekend–for the second time. She leaves teeny-tiny hand-written notes wrapped up in thread with a dollar tucked inside. I had to upload this picture in secret because I was worried Emma would start asking questions. With all the scrutiny I got about Santa this year, I was worried she’d be suspicious of my picture of the tooth fairy note.

Apparently I made some rookie mistakes this year at Christmas, like wrapping a gift from santa in paper I had used on other gifts. We really push how santa and his elves make all the presents so she really questioned how Santa knew how to make a "perfect box for a Breyer Horse, just like in the store". And thank goodness she hasn’t noticed the Old Navy tag on the slipper socks she’s been wearing around the house. Rookie mistake. Rookie mistake!
P1010012P1010011

Emma’s tooth was pretty loose to begin with, but playing a game of wild animals and biting down on your sister’s shirt only to have it ripped out of your mouth, can sometimes move things along a little more quickly. There was lots of blood, which everyone found fascinating and to which her sister replied, "Do you have another tooth you want me to take out, Emma?"  What a girl.

This weekend I had a losing my mind, too much clutter, cleaning spree. I always start at one end of the house and work my way around–a tip my mother taught me. I made it about half way around and ran out of time…and now today, I’m out of motivation. But at least part of the house is looking very fine. I think I’ll just pretend the other three rooms are clean, too.

And did you notice a familiar name in your issue of Wondertime Magazine this month, besides miss twostraightlines‘ wonderful craft? My three or four sentences on blogging made it in the "Readers Panel" response to how you keep in touch with far-flung friends and family. I meant every word….

And for those that have been asking, I’m starting to put some brainpower into Mini-Swap III, so be watching for more details. Very soon, I hope! Grace, I may take you up on your offer…

Happy Monday!
artwork provided by emma. Her bird drawings have changed recently. I love them and had to post here for posterity.

P1010007_2
The tooth fairy paid a visit to our house this weekend–for the second time. She leaves teeny-tiny hand-written notes wrapped up in thread with a dollar tucked inside. I had to upload this picture in secret because I was worried Emma would start asking questions. With all the scrutiny I got about Santa this year, I was worried she’d be suspicious of my picture of the tooth fairy note.

Apparently I made some rookie mistakes this year at Christmas, like wrapping a gift from santa in paper I had used on other gifts. We really push how santa and his elves make all the presents so she really questioned how Santa knew how to make a "perfect box for a Breyer Horse, just like in the store". And thank goodness she hasn’t noticed the Old Navy tag on the slipper socks she’s been wearing around the house. Rookie mistake. Rookie mistake!
P1010012P1010011

Emma’s tooth was pretty loose to begin with, but playing a game of wild animals and biting down on your sister’s shirt only to have it ripped out of your mouth, can sometimes move things along a little more quickly. There was lots of blood, which everyone found fascinating and to which her sister replied, "Do you have another tooth you want me to take out, Emma?"  What a girl.

This weekend I had a losing my mind, too much clutter, cleaning spree. I always start at one end of the house and work my way around–a tip my mother taught me. I made it about half way around and ran out of time…and now today, I’m out of motivation. But at least part of the house is looking very fine. I think I’ll just pretend the other three rooms are clean, too.

And did you notice a familiar name in your issue of Wondertime Magazine this month, besides miss twostraightlines‘ wonderful craft? My three or four sentences on blogging made it in the "Readers Panel" response to how you keep in touch with far-flung friends and family. I meant every word….

And for those that have been asking, I’m starting to put some brainpower into Mini-Swap III, so be watching for more details. Very soon, I hope! Grace, I may take you up on your offer…

Happy Monday!
artwork provided by emma. Her bird drawings have changed recently. I love them and had to post here for posterity.

16 Comments
children and nature / crafting with children / home

a box of treasures

Mushroom_handle

I’ve been meaning to share one of my favorite Christmas gifts that we gave to Mary this year. I was starting to think that you’d all be bored with a holiday recap, but this one could really be given at any time of the year. And it was such a success, I had to share. (And if you haven’t read Courtney’s post about her holiday giving this year, it is worth the look.)

Before Christmas, I began asking my children what kinds of things they were hoping to receive under the tree. Time and time again, Mary said things like, "A new refrigerator for you. A drill for Daddy. A broom for the kitchen floor." No matter how much I probed, or shoved catalogs in her face, I couldn’t get her to give me anything to work with, (though I did appreciate her simple, generous spirit). Finally, one day she settled on "a box of marbles". And that was the present idea that she stuck with for the rest of the holiday pre-season.
P1010013

So I decided to take the idea and expand on it a bit. Of course, I couldn’t think of anything worse or more dangerous to have rolling around the floors of my house. With a newborn scooting all over the place trying out anything from mud to dryer lint in her little mouth, it sounded like potential disaster. I figured I better review my choking baby techniques!

I decided to improvise and make a few additions to her request. Dan built her a large wood box with a lid that slides off easily. The handle is fashioned from one of the mushrooms I ordered and one of these days I’ll add some detail to it. He made the box deep enough that nothing is in danger of spilling out and she can really rifle through it without risking anything flying out of the box.
P1010016
I knew I wanted to fill the box with marbles and treasures–things to sort and count, arrange and examine. I opted for the flat-sided glass marbles in the florist section of the craft store because I knew they wouldn’t roll away and get lost as easily as round marbles. I also knew how much she loved shells and since we sadly, don’t have a local source for collecting, I settled on a $2 bag of them at the craft store.

I also knew I wanted little wooden objects, too, so I  filled it with all kinds of things from this online source. And of course, Amanda’s post about her acorns added some inspiration to include those as well. I added wooden items like robin’s eggs, buttons, tree shapes, mushrooms, bowls, ladybugs and egg carriers. I also got a small flat tray with compartments for her to sort some of her "treasures".
P1010024

It turned out to be a really nice collection of things and one of the most inexpensive gifts under the Christmas tree. It is such a good feeling, seeing that it still gets attention every day. Mary and Emma sit over it and sort and share and ‘shop’ with the various treasures inside.

And a little girl who wanted to do something special for everyone else this Christmas, received something very special for herself.

Mushroom_handle

I’ve been meaning to share one of my favorite Christmas gifts that we gave to Mary this year. I was starting to think that you’d all be bored with a holiday recap, but this one could really be given at any time of the year. And it was such a success, I had to share. (And if you haven’t read Courtney’s post about her holiday giving this year, it is worth the look.)

Before Christmas, I began asking my children what kinds of things they were hoping to receive under the tree. Time and time again, Mary said things like, "A new refrigerator for you. A drill for Daddy. A broom for the kitchen floor." No matter how much I probed, or shoved catalogs in her face, I couldn’t get her to give me anything to work with, (though I did appreciate her simple, generous spirit). Finally, one day she settled on "a box of marbles". And that was the present idea that she stuck with for the rest of the holiday pre-season.
P1010013

So I decided to take the idea and expand on it a bit. Of course, I couldn’t think of anything worse or more dangerous to have rolling around the floors of my house. With a newborn scooting all over the place trying out anything from mud to dryer lint in her little mouth, it sounded like potential disaster. I figured I better review my choking baby techniques!

I decided to improvise and make a few additions to her request. Dan built her a large wood box with a lid that slides off easily. The handle is fashioned from one of the mushrooms I ordered and one of these days I’ll add some detail to it. He made the box deep enough that nothing is in danger of spilling out and she can really rifle through it without risking anything flying out of the box.
P1010016
I knew I wanted to fill the box with marbles and treasures–things to sort and count, arrange and examine. I opted for the flat-sided glass marbles in the florist section of the craft store because I knew they wouldn’t roll away and get lost as easily as round marbles. I also knew how much she loved shells and since we sadly, don’t have a local source for collecting, I settled on a $2 bag of them at the craft store.

I also knew I wanted little wooden objects, too, so I  filled it with all kinds of things from this online source. And of course, Amanda’s post about her acorns added some inspiration to include those as well. I added wooden items like robin’s eggs, buttons, tree shapes, mushrooms, bowls, ladybugs and egg carriers. I also got a small flat tray with compartments for her to sort some of her "treasures".
P1010024

It turned out to be a really nice collection of things and one of the most inexpensive gifts under the Christmas tree. It is such a good feeling, seeing that it still gets attention every day. Mary and Emma sit over it and sort and share and ‘shop’ with the various treasures inside.

And a little girl who wanted to do something special for everyone else this Christmas, received something very special for herself.

21 Comments
celebrations / family / MOTHERHOOD

3 + 2 + 1 =

six. Emma is six today.
Emma_silhouette P1010025

P1010046

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These are a few of my favorite things:
–when I get mad, you get mad. But if my feelings get hurt, it really upsets you.
–you take your field guides and journal on every walk.
–everything has "horse" potential and all topics eventually wind their way back to horses.
–for your special birthday activity, you chose having lunch with your daddy
–you still suck your thumb and rub your toes against your heel–it’s why you won’t wear sleepers with feet.
–you know more about what’s going on around the farm than I do and I always ask you for the details
–you sit and read a chapter book for an hour, even though you can’t read them. You even put in a bookmark in the place you left off and come back to it later. You meticulously read through Charlotte’s Web for two weeks. Now you’re reading Misty of Chincoteague.
–you are a fool-proof mood-lifter for Elizabeth. You can pull her out of any crying  fit. And you watch out for her–taking paper out of her hands, dragging her away from the bowl of cat food, wiping unmentionables from her nose. It doesn’t even gross you out.
–you still get in bed with me every morning and ask to slip in to the warm spot where I have been sleeping.
–you are as tough as nails and as fragile as a baby bird, all on the same day.

happy six years sweet love of mine. you were my first baby love. you changed my world.

six. Emma is six today.
Emma_silhouette P1010025

P1010046

P1010006P1010009P1010062

These are a few of my favorite things:
–when I get mad, you get mad. But if my feelings get hurt, it really upsets you.
–you take your field guides and journal on every walk.
–everything has "horse" potential and all topics eventually wind their way back to horses.
–for your special birthday activity, you chose having lunch with your daddy
–you still suck your thumb and rub your toes against your heel–it’s why you won’t wear sleepers with feet.
–you know more about what’s going on around the farm than I do and I always ask you for the details
–you sit and read a chapter book for an hour, even though you can’t read them. You even put in a bookmark in the place you left off and come back to it later. You meticulously read through Charlotte’s Web for two weeks. Now you’re reading Misty of Chincoteague.
–you are a fool-proof mood-lifter for Elizabeth. You can pull her out of any crying  fit. And you watch out for her–taking paper out of her hands, dragging her away from the bowl of cat food, wiping unmentionables from her nose. It doesn’t even gross you out.
–you still get in bed with me every morning and ask to slip in to the warm spot where I have been sleeping.
–you are as tough as nails and as fragile as a baby bird, all on the same day.

happy six years sweet love of mine. you were my first baby love. you changed my world.

29 Comments