This week I am...

...enjoying the sights and smells of my recently gifted tulips. 

...smiling to remember the little girl tea party, and ornament exchange, that accompanied them.

...happy to have friends who are willing to prolong the holidays a bit instead of squeezing in everything according to the calendar.

...bidding the holidays an official adieu. All is (finally) packed up and put away for next year.

...celebrating the putting away of the holidays by beginning some long-awaited sewing.

...loving these patterns together. Can a household ever contain too much Dear Stella fabric? I'm thinking not.

...regretting not being able to justify buying the charming double-decker bus fabric. I've not been able to find the perfect place for it... yet.

...thrilled to have white flurries visiting again. They're good company on freezing days!

To make your snow paint, mix equal amounts shaving cream and glue. I just eyeballed the amounts, then enlisted some little hands to help with the mixing. 

And then it's time to paint! It's such a nice, slimy texture- perfect for painting and exploring. Billy wanted to taste it too, so I made sure to stay extra-close on hand. He still wants to put everything in his mouth, which makes for interesting creative times together. We painted a few on cardboard and a few on black construction paper. They've all held up nicely, but I do especially like the contrast of the paint on the black paper. It reminds me of snow falling at night.

Once you're done painting hang them up and let them dry. For us it was a couple days of, "Can we touch it yet? Can we touch it yet?" Then take them down and let the poking and prodding begin. Be prepared to be amazed... and to be asked to make more (wink).

I'm dedicating today's post to my growing little man. Last week we visited the doctor for a check-up and realized that, at 16 months, Billy weighs 28 pounds. He's gained three pounds in the past two months, and is just five pounds away from over-taking his 25-month-older big sister. He's so tall though, that he carries it well. At least I think so, although I am admittedly biased (wink). This weekend, like everyday, is a blur of motion with him as he runs to open the cabinets, then runs to jump on the couch, then (once shooed off the couch) runs to go play on the piano. I've heard somewhere in the world there are children that talk quietly and walk wherever they wish to go; those children do not live in my house. And it's especially funny, friends, because I did talk quietly and walk everywhere as a child. I have outgrown these traits though, and I think our children have followed suit! Although sometimes, once Mr. Piano Man is tucked into bed, it is nice to revisit that quiet once more. 

Wishing you a peaceful end to your weekend!

(words and inspiration via Soulemama.com)

What projects are you dreaming about?

I prepared this for Isia ahead of time, cutting out part of the picture and gluing it in the middle of the page. When I gave it to her, she was very hesitant about drawing on it. She wanted to know all about the picture first, then she decided she was ready to add her own story to it. 

It was at this point that I had to keep refraining myself from interfering. Because in my mind, I saw the possibility of continuing the image onto the canvas. Adding more trees, an extra tower or two to the castle, a river... and so on. But in Isia's mind, the setting was already there- it just needed a story. 

So she created one. I don't remember the details, but it did involve a snowman and a kitty and perhaps some birthday cake too. It was a great story...

...one she enjoyed creating so much that she wanted to work on it again the next day. Even after her little brother had "altered" the castle. (He's been working especially hard at being the little brother lately.) This time she used crayons and stickers to tell the rest of the story. For today, at least (smile).