Great Art Project for Kids

Here's a fun and pretty easy art project to do with your kids. It's called Paper Batik.

1. Take a small piece of computer paper (6'x6') and have your child color a design in crayon. (It's important to color the color areas really solid and to leave some white areas on purpose. i.e. leaving white borders in the design).

2. Crumple the paper up really well in to a ball, smashing it. The kids really like this part. Then flatten the paper all out.

3. Next make a tub of batik ink. It's about 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon black paint, and 1 tablespoon blue paint. Stir it up.

4. Dip the whole paper design into the the tub. The paper that's exposed will absorb the paint as well as the cracks in the wax crayon colored parts, but the solid crayon part will stay the same. Let them dry outside.

5. If the kids make four different designs they can be out together as a paper quilt. Very cool!

Jack's Track Meet

It was a COLD day for Jack's one and only track meet. It actually snowed on us! Jack did OK although the meet was pretty unorganized and therefore a little confusing. It was a good first season of running though and learning all about the different events.
This is Ellie's best fake smile complete with hot chocolate goatee.
Oh what fun!
100 meter

Room Service

Grace has been really into bringing us breakfast in bed lately. This was her latest breakfast and I just had to crack up! A piece of toast, a tootsie roll, and a caramel candy. Interesting. She is always thinking of ways to brighten our day.

A few days with the Hughes

The Hughes children spent a few days with us last week as their mom and dad sadly prepared for their Grandpa's funeral. As you can see from the pictures a good time was had by all. Kenna and Katy had a "weird hairdo" contest. Grace was the judge.
Ty slept in Katy's bed and received the royal treatment of book reading and back scratches each night!
Jackson and Jaxon battling during a game of Stratego.