Reading and Talking

I'm not sure who was more thrilled about either the books or the conversation.  Witness the little love affair:

The above book, Harry the Dirty Dog, was much-requested during the visit.  (Also one of Mummy's childhood favorites.)  Auntie Janet, do you have it memorized yet?

More Art

Hardly unexpected, considering the surroundings, I suppose.

Sculpture:

Watercolor:

And, of course, the current favorite medium: glitter fingerpaint with a brush.

With a new twist: self decoration.  See the very fast-moving, hence very blurry, paintbrush?  Fortunately, red is a pretty good color on him...

Helpful Boy

I appreciate the instinct to help us clean the house.  It's really quite nice that he wants to sweep.  It does occur to me, however, that a little hand-held brush would probably be a safer bet.  Broom is good; broom handle is dangerous.

Sledding!

Even better: sledding with uncles.

The walk to the park - more exercise for some than for others.


It was colder than we expected, so there was only one run down the hill per adult before we went in to have cocoa.

Photo credit to Uncle James, who took this one before diving out of the way as we hurtled straight towards him.

Even Uncle Jeremie had a go - his first time on a sled since he was... ten?  Hard to resist the lure of a beloved little boy.

Boy Meets Cat

Two males.  Four females.  One house.  Ya gotta stick together.

Jem isn't Oliver, certainly, but there is some affection and a lot of tolerance here.

Valentine's Day 2011

or, "Experiments in Mixed Media."

Fingerpaint, with fingers and brushes.  Crayon, marker, sticker.  (He can stick a sticker almost as well as an adult.  I mean, seriously - when did that happen?)

Glitter fingerpaint is awesome.  Washable glitter fingerpaint, even more so.  Until you don't wipe up fast enough.

And suddenly your 18-month-old son looks like he got into a bad brawl with Tinkerbell.

(And when the laundry's done, I'll tell you the pros and cons of throwing the washcloth - with which one cleaned up the washable glitter fingerpaint - into the washer with the diapers.  Fairy poo, anyone?)

Cabin Fever

When the snow is too deep to go outside to play, sometimes you have to bring the outside in.



Complete with static electricity.