Garage Fun

The past year or so, our neighborhood posse has continued to dwindle.  Many of the kids are getting too old to "play," have actual jobs during the summer, can drive now, and would rather be inside instead of playing with 5 and 6 year olds.  

I'm scrolling through old pictures and remembering the days when we had almost too many kids in the cul de sac wondering what to do on rainy days.  Every once in a while we'd haul out some random things and play in the garage together.

We painted box cities, made iron bead creations, designed a whole farmstead, colored on paper rolls and, of course, watercolored our summer away.

I miss those days, but I'm loving these new days, too.  

Watercolor Fun

I'm no art teacher, but I know what works for my kids.  And, let me tell you, watercolors WORK. 

They are completely foolproof - especially if you use this paper - and even the messiest paintings turn out beautiful.  Two year olds end up with abstract beauties and eight year olds add a sharpie to make something more detailed.  In the end, they all end up fridge-worthy.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again...  Using actual watercolor paper makes all the difference.  It's much more forgiving for younger kids who tend to add a little too much water, and makes every painting more rich and substantial, regardless of age.  (Versus wet and falling apart card stock...)

We use this paper most often, and cheap crayola watercolor paint from our local department stores!

Happy painting, friends!

Will's How To Train Your Dragon Party

Oh, Will...  You have grown up more this past year than any other year I can remember.  I think it had a lot to do with welcoming Wes into our family.  The very first day we brought him home from the hospital, you started talking deeper, putting your hands in your pockets more, mimicking your daddy more, acting like a big brother and protector...  AND, you grew four inches!  

You love to run and "play sports" with Daddy and "work" out in the garage.  Lately, you've been using your sister's baby stroller outside to "mow" too.  School has been a hard sell for you, but you're slowly warming up to it.  You look forward to recess so you can play dragons with your whole troupe of dudes, and you love rest time where you can just chill for a bit.

Your dad and I can't sneak ANYTHING past you anymore.  You have quickly caught on to all of our code-speak and spelling words.  You don't miss a thing.  You are highly aware of just about everything, but would still misplace your head if it wasn't attached.  You remind me of myself in that department... 

You ask big questions about God and the world, want to look up everything on Google and are highly curious.  You have great taste in music and have started your own playlist on Alexa, our Echo Dot.  

I just love who you are becoming.  You are so very sweet and so very cool.  We love you, Will-Bug!

Happy Birthday, Wes!

The first year of Wes's life has been marked by grace upon grace upon grace upon grace.  There are too many instances to list right now (especially when kids are tugging at my ankles), so I will just leave it to your imagination and my own memories when I reread this some day.  The Lord fulfilled so many of his promises to us throughout this year and has been so faithful.  

Wes is a delight.  He is cute and feisty and chill and naughty and sweet all at the same time.  Sometimes I have to grit my teeth when I snuggle him for fear I'll squeeze him too hard.  He is the best and just what our family needed.  Happy birthday, little bear.