Painting Class

When we came back to America last year I decided that I wanted to do lots of arts and crafts with the boys while we had easy access to resources.  I envisioned going to Michaels every week and finding projects and supplies and then doing lots of art!

Well, that didn't happen.

We traveled a lot instead, which was always the plan, but it turns out that traveling and time for art do not mix well.

BUT, we were so blessed to discover a local art studio that offers kid painting classes.  The teacher offers classes every weekend at her studio, plus does classes at a nature center once a month.  So we signed up Caleb and Kai as much as possible and started filling the lakehouse with their artwork.  We have quite a collection now.  Here is just a sampling:

They had their last class last weekend (and painted the lions above).  And I've agonized over what to do with their masterpieces because I hate the thought of them sitting in boxes in the basement while we're in Kenya.  But alas, that's what most of them will do.  I promised the boys they could each bring one of their paintings to Kenya, and each Grandma is keeping one as well, but the rest will sit in a box unenjoyed for a long time.

But that's the way it goes.  I'm bringing some blank canvases to Kenya so they can paint some there since they love it so much.  I love that our boys love art, but what does one do with so much art?

Thank you, My Wine Art Studios, for offering these kid classes and encouraging our boys' love of painting!

Snow Crocodile

March is always a questionable month.  Is it winter?  Is it spring?  A bit of both?

Tomorrow is our 13th anniversary, and there wasn't any snow on the ground for our wedding in Minnesota.  This year, there's feet of snow sitting around there, with more on the way.

There's snow here in Michigan too, although not nearly as much.

But enough to get outside and play in it.

Which is what we did yesterday with the boys.  They simply haven't been able to play in the snow enough this year.  Mostly because it's been so cold when we have had snow.  But also because our life of "here and there and everywhere" has made it hard to do some of the simple things like playing in the snow.

So we bundled them up and went down to the lake.  The boys helped Eli shovel off a section with a dividing wall for opposing teams of a snowball fight.  (Read: everyone against Eli).  The snow wasn't great for packing, but snow was flying and boys were laughing.

Then I realized that the dividing wall would make a great base for a snow creature.  I envisioned a crocodile sitting in the water.  And so we got to work.

This was the result:

Our crocodile can in no way compare to my dad's recent creation (see kraken below), but the boys were pretty excited.  I realized that we hadn't even made a snowman yet this year, let alone anything else.  We're headed back to Kenya later this month and we couldn't even say we'd made any snow creations yet???

#parentfail

So hopefully the crocodile makes up for all the snow creations we never did.  Hopefully.

It's supposed to be rather wintry this week.  Maybe there'll be a chance for a snowman, if the temps are agreeable.  We might as well enjoy winter while we can.  In just over three weeks we'll be wearing shorts and walking in the Kenyan sunshine :)