DIY Hammocks

Joy can be very inventive.  Her latest project is . . .

. . . a blanket hammock.

Anna decided to give it a try, too, and found it very comfortable.  If Daniel looks bored, it's probably because he was tired of being a vital structural component of Joy's hammock design.  You see, whenever he got out of that chair while someone was in the hammock, the chair tipped over on the hammock occupant.

Joy's Hammock 2.0 was secured to two heavier and more stationary objects: the bunk bed and Todd's big crib.  Daniel will be the first to tell you that that worked out much better for everyone.

Joy tried to persuade us to let her sleep in the hammock at night, but I nixed that idea.  The hammock unexpectedly comes untied now and then, and I didn't want to deal with the fallout if that happened at 2am.

Daniel, Monet, and Jonas

I volunteered to help with an art project in Daniel's kindergarten class today.

For the middle third of the school year, the school has an artist come into each class once a week and lead them in making an art project.  She gives them a little history about an artist or technique (the focus was on Monet today) then she instructs the kids how to make an art project step-by-step.

I don't know about you, but I'm impressed that my kindergartner produced this with his own two hands.

After art class, the kids paired up with their fourth-grade reading buddies.  I snapped a picture of Daniel reading with his buddy Jonas.  I think it's cool that the big kids at school get a chance to mentor the younger ones.  The little kids really enjoy it, and I'm sure Joy will like being a mentor after she starts third grade next year.

Birthday Perks

Extended family gathered at our home this evening to celebrate Daniel's birthday.  Remember that chocolate sheet cake from the last post?  It's my Grandma's recipe (very similar to this one), and Daniel requested it again tonight.  Yeah--we're fans.  If I can figure out to how to make a vanilla version, I may never need another cake recipe in my life.

Daniel is getting old enough to appreciate (and read) the birthday cards in addition to his gifts.

Anna had fun dressing up with the ribbons.

We gave Daniel a scooter for his birthday, and he and Anna have enjoyed riding their scooters together outside (though Anna often becomes upset when Daniel passes her).  If I feel really adventurous later this week, I may let them ride their scooters when we walk to and from school.

For now, I'll just let them tool around the courtyard.

King Birthday Boy

Guess what?!?

It's Daniel's 6th birthday!

We sang him the Super-Long Happy Birthday Song . . .

. . . he blew out the candles, we ate some delicious chocolate sheet cake . . .

. . . then the Birthday Boy played Tic Tac Toe with Anna.

(Birthday crown courtesy of his kindergarten teacher. :)

Fun with Creepers and Milk Jugs

Three random pictures from the last few weeks:

Why spend money on expensive toddler toys when Todd's favorite playthings are empty milk jugs and orange juice cartons?

Joy loves her stuffed Creeper and Enderman.  She even made some paper clothes for them recently.

Anna and Daniel like them, too, In fact, they included them in a round of Engine Engine Number Nine this afternoon.

Little Big Park

This afternoon . . .

. . . we took a family walk . . .

. . . and ride . . .

. . . to a nearby park.  The kids played tag with Daddy (get him, Anna!) . . .

. . . Anna practiced the cathartic art of filling a bucket with sand . . .

. . . Todd snuggled with his favorite guy . . .

. . . and Joy did an impression of a victorious character from Little Big Planet, a video game the big kids are currently fond of.  Good times. :)

Daniel's 100 Day Star and Dragon Art Appreciation

Tomorrow will be the 100th day of this school year, and Daniel's kindergarten class is making art projects with 100 items on them.  I've seen posters with 100 stickers, or pennies, or paper Minecraft swords.  You name it.

We chose to make a star with points composed of 100 colorful pieces of pipe cleaner.

After the star was done, Daniel decided to decorate the frame.

Done!

Meanwhile, Joy did a writing assignment describing a painting of her choice.  She selected the big picture of Smaug in our copy of The Hobbit.