I know the kids love to paint.   But, it is one of the few activities that I just don't encourage at home.  Rationally, I do understand that paint is 99.9% washable and cleanable.  But, I can't get over feeling that I am watching a train wreck about to happen.  The globs of paint, the water, the mixing, the application of paint to the point that the paper is saturated where if it was allowed to dry it would become permanently adhered to the kitchen counter.  It makes my heart rate go up just thinking about it.

I've tried to get over it, because they love it.  I probably allowed them to paint 4-5 times last year (at home).  That's probably a 100% increase from the year before.  This year, however, I hope to do better.  I hope meaning that I will try.  But, my heart rate is going up as I am typing this.

Yesterday, Cole's school sent home their curriculum checklist/evaluation.  They wrote Cole really enjoys painting as an art activity, though he does end up with some everywhere.  

Exactly.

Fortunately, the alternative and solution is the wonderful My Masterpiece Studio.  They provide an incredible selection of art materials, and they deal with all the mess.  It was our week to pick a place for playgroup, so I picked this place just for Cole.  He loved it.  And, my heart rate remained steady.  His art is definitely his own.  He doesn't paint pictures, but he does put a lot of passion in his painting, and it's fun to watch him in action.

He did come home with paint on his shirt, pants, as well as in his hair.  But, that I can deal with.

I don't know if this really counts as a try, but it sure was a good time.  And, I do love what he created.

Joy and pain.  Fire and ice.  Laughter and tears.  Franny and Delaney.  Sisterhood can be so complex.  I never thought that sisters age 6 and 2 could have such a dynamic relationship.  Franny and Cole have always been much more consistent--they've had their moments, but for the most part have just gotten along and had a good time.  Maybe Franny and Delaney are too much alike; maybe Franny's instinct to nurture is at odds with Delaney's desire to be independent; or maybe there is just an inherent tension between sisters.  

Or maybe they're just crazy.

Regardless, it's fascinating to watch the different relationships emerge between the three kids.  They are all so different.  Franny and Delaney already fight like teenagers.  I can't even begin to imagine what we are in store for when they actually become teenagers!  [shudder]  But, they do love each other just as intensely.  They love to chant S-O Sisters!  I don't know what this means.  They don't know what this means (I've asked).  but, Franny made it up, so now it is their mantra.

Did I mention the possibility that they are crazy?

I suppose that is really terrible for me to suggest.  Too often crazy is the default for different or passionate or anything else that we don't try hard enough to understand. Or, that which we can't accept that we will never understand. Franny and Delaney's relationship is their's alone to define.  I can't wait to see what they make of it.

I just hope it doesn't require a peace treaty in the process.

After much anticipation, the kids headed back to Mt. Hood to resume their ski lessons.  Both Franny and Cole had great experiences, despite extremely windy and snowy conditions.  Cole spent his day working on basic skills, in addition to a few runs on the rope tow; after a brief refresher, Franny spent the day doing runs off the chair lift.  And, this year Delaney had her own skis, as well!  Unfortunately, due to the weather, she didn't spend much time using them.  She scooted around for a bit, but I think the wind and snow took a lot of the joy out of it for her.  Not to mention that she was quite disgruntled that she didn't have ski goggles like Franny and Cole, although we did rent her a helmet that she was quite proud of.   But, despite the weather, it was still a great day.  Both kids came off the snow smiling and looking forward to the next time.  Hopefully that next time will be soon!

I love doing jigsaw puzzles, so I don't doubt that this has influenced the kids.  Both Franny and Delaney love to do puzzles.  Cole has done his fair share, but it has never been his first choice for an activity.  This horse puzzle is Delaney's absolute favorite.  I bet she has put it together close to 100 times.  It's not extremely difficult, but it is fairly large with a lot of different things to sort out.  With 36 pieces, it's definitely a step above the puzzles that are made for kids Delaney's age.  I used to make little piles of each horse section for her, but now I don't have to do that--she does it on her own.  It's fascinates me how quickly Delaney learns new things, especially ahead of the timeline that Franny and Cole learned similar things.  I know part of it is that she has two older siblings, but I think there is part of it that is just Delaney.    She is extremely observant, adaptive, and quick to learn.  I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for her--or rather, what she has in store for it!

Today Delaney and Cole joined their playgroup friends for a morning ice skating.  I knew this would be a challenge, as Delaney has never skated and Cole skated once over a year ago.  But, sometimes it is good to stretch beyond our comfort zone and just go for it.  Thankfully, one of the playgroup moms helped a lot trying to teach Cole some basics as I held on to Delaney.  Cole was amazing!  He tried his very best, and never gave up.  He must of fallen over 50 times, but each time he got up and started skating again.  He never complained and insisted on trying on his own without help.  I was very proud of him.  We made it around the rink two times--this took just over an hour--although the second time around was much quicker than the first.  Delaney, however, wasn't as adventurous and was ready to be done early on.  In the end, I was so glad we went.  Cole impresses me every day on so many levels, but I think today Cole impressed himself.  And, that makes me very happy.   Needless to say, there are no action shots of today's adventure, as I was holding onto Delaney with two hands the entire time, but I did get this one picture before we headed out onto the ice.

The snow finally came, much to the delight of the kids.  Although there was a two hour delay announced for Franny at 5:30 am, we continued to watch the snow fall, waiting  so very patiently until they announced her school’s closure at 8:30.  After that, we immediately put on our warmest and went outside for what they dubbed our ‘snow party’ of making a snowman and snow angels.  And, unlike most snow days in Portland, it is still snowing!

 

December was a challenging month for blogging.  I had a dysfunctional camera (the worst), life was just super busy, and it was about then that my blogging burnout started to set in.  Amidst all of that we had some fun things that were missed in the Trio blog.