Reading Night

We have been trying to promote more reading in our home especially now that Matt has become a true reader. The other night the kids had very light homework, so we told them that after dinner they would take showers and then it was "reading time" for 30 minutes. To be good examples, Dave and I both did our own reading. Here is a picture of our reading materials....I think you can tell who read what. :)

The kids are also reading for school in order to get tickets for Six Flags.....it is a good incentive.

After reading, we did some Bible trivia with Emily and Matt. The part they both loved most was the Bible jokes. Here is one for you, "Why on the ark did Noah not catch fish for dinner for his family? Because he only had two worms."

A Little Paint Makes a Big Change

I love how a little paint can make a big change for me. We had quite a bit of this brown paint left over from painting the walls that flank our fireplace and I just didn't want it to be wasted, so my brain went into overdrive.

The walls of the stairs heading down to the basement did not get painted when we did the remodel and remained the dingy white color they have been for years. Let me tell you I was tired of cleaning those walls from grubby hands touching them. Lightbulb moment!!! A darker paint would hide the mess and I could use the the extra paint.

Normally I would do the painting but seeing Dave is home.....I put it on his "honey do" list. He did an excellent job and the outcome is superb.

Kitchen "Art"

The one thing that I am being drawn to lately are quotes and subway art. On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby (the closest store is an hour+ from my house), I found this amazing piece entitled "Kitchen" which lists food related words. When I saw it, I knew exactly where it would go in the kitchen.....the best part is it cost only $20. As much as I love "art", I am not the one who hangs the "art". So, I placed that task on Dave's "Honey Do" list and it was completed. I think it adds a little bit of flavor to the kitchen!! :)

Where is Matt?

Lately we've had moments where we have been looking for Matt and couldn't find him. Well, we found his "perch". Do you see it? Do you see the feet at the bottom of the curtain. Yes, that is Matt. He has been spending moments on his perch looking outside. We all need a place of our own and I guess this is Matt's. The good thing is that his room is on the first floor or I think I would have had a heart attack the first time I found him in the window. Not that I really want him to fall out but if he insists on climbing into his perch at least it isn't a big drop.

It was funny because the day I took these pictures it reminded me of the time when I was little and climbed up on the radiator in our bedroom to look out the high window at the Monte's house. Well, that little climb cost me a trip to the ER and I believe my first stitches. I told that story to Matt and guess what......he still climbs into his perch.

A Hundred Dresses

This school term Emily was required to read the book "A Hundred Dresses" complete two study guides and a book report. One of the book report requirements was to make a picture cover for the report and draw a picture of the setting. Well, if you know Emily, you know this part was her favorite.

She loved making her cover of dresses.....yes, she drew each one. The setting picture is of the classroom where most of the story takes place.

When I see drawings like these, it makes me want to enroll Emily is some form of art class. After all she wants to live in Paris, France and what better career to have in Paris but that of an artist. :)