The best coloring book ever

Have you ever seen one of Taro Gomi's coloring books?  I bought the Scribbles one for Sir O for Christmas and it is quickly proving to be one of my favorite things.  Each page has the beginning of a picture and a prompt, and practically insists that the color-er take the assignment seriously and create something awesome.



Even more importantly, it keeps Sir O quiet and engaged for really luxurious stretches of time.  As long as I'm handy to read the prompts to him, we're golden.  It doesn't hurt that the whole thing is well designed and almost 2 inches thick.  If you know a kid who's even remotely into coloring, drawing, and creating, then these are a perfect, perfect gift.  Which is precisely why there may be a few more appearing in our Easter Baskets this year.

party planning must be in the genes

Sir O got it in his head to throw a birthday party last night.  And he does not do things halfway.  So after church he dug into my craftroom and unearthed the "party box".  Banners and balloons and crepe paper later, he had planned an entire party, start to finish, all my himself.  And you know what, we had a great time!  He may have a future in this!



First we sang to the birthday kids (puppies) and Sir O gave them "cupcakes" and the gifts he had wrapped for them (cars).



Then we played Sir O's game of pin the candles on the cake.  Sir O was a huge cheat, but I was still proud of him for creating the game all by himself.



Mr Renn favored us with some baked Pink Lady Apples, a perfect January dessert.



Then the boys wrapped up the "party" by created yet another ornate city/railroad track/zoo.  They get fancier all the time.

And why not?

I got a bee in my bonnet last month and began craving a new set of glasses.  I do wear them nearly every waking moment, constant companion-like, and so a person like me does occasionally crave a speck of variety.

I decided to be brave and utilize the "try on at home" option from Warby Parker.  The try on pairs didn't have any anti-glare coat, but it was a fun way to get an idea of what I was looking for.  Only trying them on didn't actually help me decide anything.  If you were me, what would you choose?

Everything's Coming up Carnations

I was asked by my friend Terra at Magnifique Photography to come up with bouquets for a "Fire and Ice" bridal shoot.  Total creative free reign.  I'm excited to get some sparkly, perfect pictures from the shoot amidst ice sculptures.  I had as much fun as I could afford with that one, and planning and executing it has eaten up most of my spare moments in the last week or two.  But isn't it nice (as a mom) to create something so concrete and tangible?  Every so often, having something to show for all your work is really a nice change.

Speaking of which - nobody come over until I get my house put back together.

 

Will you be my?

 I got all kamikaze recently and decided to let my kids make their own valentines this year.  Oh my holy mess-ness.  But you know what, Sir O is getting to the age where he gets into "the zone" when he starts creating something.  He makes a maniac's mess, but he himself is perfectly contained.  It's like he channels all his wildest energy into making something and the craziness erupts around him while he, for a moment, is perfectly calm and content.  It makes me smile.  Until it's time to clean up.