One Year Later

 Thanksgiving week marked one year since we moved into our house.  We still have small projects left to do (like a mantel above that fireplace) but I can finally say the big projects have been completed.  So here is a look back at what the house looked like when we bought it to today.

Art in the Genes

Some families have soccer games or dance recitals.  We make stuff.

Markers on the floor.  Scrapes of paper everywhere.  This is what they do.  And the tape... don't get me started on the tape.

My mom knits nearly every day and my dad is an architect and a painter so I'm pretty sure my genes play a roll in this.  Right now it is a free-for-all but I'd like to plan some structured art activities and get some of their awesome artwork up on the wall.

Pictures of the craft room coming soon.

Eggs and Easter Bunnies

Saturday we prepped for Easter by coloring eggs.  After looking through all the wonderful possibilities on the internet the girls opted for the good old color with crayons and dunk method.

My favorite part of the whole activity was that they shared a chair.  Without a word the two snuggled up on the same seat, side by side, and decorated eggs.

We had a mix of brown and white eggs.  They came out speckled and beautiful, almost too pretty to eat.

Sunday we had two little Easter Bunnies hopping around the house collecting eggs.

I like to keep Easter simple.  I pull out the same ears, baskets and plastic eggs every year.  The girls get excited about their chocolate bunnies and a few pieces of candy and that's it.  We spent the day together making brunch, planning the garden, taking a walk to the park.  Quiet, family time is the best.

Although it is a little early to start planting outside we did put together a terraium for the living room.  The girls were so into it.

Their animals liked it too.

A Change of Plans

 We are seven days into our spring break with no exciting pictures to share.  I purposefully planned on doing nothing.  Well, cleaning out closets and stocking the freezer isn't nothing, but it does't make for  interesting pictures to post.  I thought the girls might be bored but they have been very happy to have time to just play.

Yesterday I thought it would be fun to get out and go somewhere so we headed to the zoo.  The problem was everyone else in Denver was thinking the same thing.  After we parked over a mile away the girls and I opted for the playground instend.  When we talked about what to do next they wanted to go home to make something (are they my kids or what?).

Baking Soda "Play Clay"

2 cups baking soda
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cup cold water

Heat on the stove for 10-15 minutes, add food coloring and cool.

They spent a few hours making little sweets and toys for their Pet Shops.  It was so much fun I'm thinking it might be a good activity for Erin's birthday party coming up.

Part of me feels guilty for not doing anything "big" with our time off but then I see pictures like these and I remember that "little" memories are important too.

Like Tuesday when I made mini pancakes for their American Girl dolls.

The girls are so into small things these days.  It reminds me so much of when I was their age.

The craft room is almost organized.  The girls have been in there so much that I really haven't had time to find a home for everything yet.  I think Erin is having a craft party for her birthday so I need to get serious about planning so activities.  These cans I started collecting may come in handy.

Oooh the possibilities.