Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Messy is Best, I Guess

I'm finding that the things that are best for my kids to do all require a huge amount of clean up on my part. These things include playing outside, especially in the dirt and mud, cooking and working with food in the kitchen, and doing artwork. You have to agree that all three of those activities yield happy creative kids and also a big mess to clean up. As I'm typing this I'm realizing that one of my biggest faults in motherhood is not following up and having the kids help me with the clean up part. Sometimes it just seems easier to do it myself. Okay, I now pledge that I'm going to make them help me clean up from now on. Anyway.

Due to being ill and pregnant I have not been very valiant in getting the kids out of the house the past few weeks and they're starting to go nuts. I've been trying to supplement with a little artwork, but I have to say that those crappy little plastic cases of watercolor paints really bite. They're horrible. Stomper has been begging to use my watercolors - something I haven't done myself for months. Today I relented. We pulled out some old sheets of big paper I had tucked away and I let them loose on my paints. I cringed a bit as the paints got a little abused, but the kids had a ball. I then switched them to some old pastels I had in the back of the art drawer. The result?

Fun art and kids in the tub:

8 comments:

Windybrook Spinner said...

Look at your BEAUTIFUL new tub! I am so excited for you! Yea! Yea! The mess issue is a big one at my house. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with my children making messes. In fact, I love it. I just want them to clean up their own messes afterward. Is that so much to ask? I guess so, since a unfairly large percentage of adults don't do it.

Michelle said...

Your bathroom looks awesome! As much as I love my new kitchen, it'll be a great day around here when we lose the 1950's pink tile, tub and toilet.

ghd3 said...

great art. the bathroom looks great. and let me know how it goes getting them to help clean up. if you figure it out, I want in....

jefferies said...

Wow! Good artwork little people! And look at your bathroom!! It's looking awesome! Go Preslars!

luann said...

So impressive on all accounts!
I love the art and the bathroom and I am UBER impressed that you let your kids use your paints!

Wendy said...

I agree that the best kind of playing is the kind that uses some sort of creativity, and that usually means "big mess." Those are my favorite things to participate in as well.

Your bathroom does look so nice. Yay for you!

stephgardner said...

I have to point out that the dino appears to be dripping blood from the mouth.... good side thought, Stomper.

Jardinefamily said...

Love the bathroom and the bathroom art. When I look back at pictures from our old bathroom I cringe. Rust stained grout and yucky tub. Yeah Troy.