Daddy Daughter Dance

The night had finally arrived.

A night for a little girl...

and her Daddy...

To spend an evening together, dancing, crafting and bouncing balloons...

My daughter and her Daddy, heading out to their first Daddy Daughter Dance.

Birthday Outing ~ I Made This Pottery

We started a new tradition this year ~ the birthday child gets to choose a fun family outing for us to go on. When ds turned 8 a couple months ago, he chose bowling. Dd6 chose for us to go to a "paint your own pottery" place.

When we arrived, the first thing the kiddos had to do was choose which piece of pottery they wanted to paint ~ there were cups, bowls, plates, plaques, animals, eggs...so many to choose from.

Then we proceeded to the color wall ~ here's where they got to see all of the paint colors available and decide which color/colors they wanted to use.

After the kiddos had their pottery and their paint colors picked out, they got to choose paint brushes, stencils, sponges, a palette to squeeze their paint onto...this place offered a myriad of supplies.

Once they had everything selected, the kiddos settled down to work.

Dd6 surprised me with her patience ~ she painted her dog's eyes, nose, tongue and color (all were very small)...and she waited patiently for the paint to dry on each spot before putting on a 2nd (and 3rd coat).

Ds8 also worked diligently on his painting project ~ carefully painting the inside of the mug first (just like the "pottery lady" recommended).

Ds3 just had a blast mixing all of his paint colors on his plate ~ he also experimented with a couple different sponges...and he really wanted to try out some stencils, too :)

I can't wait to see what ds3 chooses to do when his birthday rolls around :)

Taking time out for some family fun is definitely a finer thing!

To see what finer things others are celebrating, check out Amy's blog.

Baby Birds

My kiddos made a surprising discovery under our deck a few weeks ago...

A robin family had built its nest on one of the support beams under our deck, and then filled the nest with eggs.

A few days ago, my kiddos came running up to me excitedly shouting, "Mom, the eggs have hatched!" My ds7 had to get down on his hands and knees and place the camera lens between the deck boards to get these pics. If you look very carefully, you may just see the little baby birds in the nest.

It's definitely a finer thing to have such an up-close view of God's handiwork!

Read about more finer things over at Finer Things Friday

A rainy day

Today I asked my 7yo and my 5yo if they would like to get the mail for me. We have a community mailbox that is about 3 houses down from us, and just recently I have been brave enough to allow them to make the short trek there and back ALONE (with me watching from the porch).

Today's walk to the mailbox was extra special because it was raining. My kids love to play in the rain ~ must be something about the cool rain boots :) So they donned their raincoats, rainboots and grabbed an umbrella and excitedly headed out.

They both took their job very seriously. Big brother was very vigilant in his duty to make sure his little sister was covered with the umbrella. And little sis made sure that the mail was protected from the rain.

The two-year old REALLY wanted to go too, but I convinced him that hanging out on the porch with mama could be just as much fun. He quickly discovered how to get rained on too ~ well, just his little hands got rained on.

And he loved it...

He hollered from the porch to his brother and sister "yook, I get rained on!"

I love it when such a simple thing as a walk in the rain can bring such joy to my kiddos.

Finer Things ~ Celebrating Springtime

Is there anything finer than beautiful spring weather (except maybe crisp fall weather)? It seems that spring has finally arrived here in our neck of the woods, and we have been outside enjoying our favorite springtime activities...

bubbles

basketball

drawing with chalk

more chalk art

and soaking up the rays during lunch :)


To see what finer things others are celebrating, check out Amy's blog.

Finer Things ~ The best of friends

One of my most favorite finer things...hearing my two-year old say to his brother and sister: "Wyan (two-year old speak for Ryan) and Abby you're my best fwends".

To see what finer things others are celebrating, head over to Amy's blog.

Finer Things ~ Flowers from her daddy

My husband began a tradition a few years ago, he presents our daughter with flowers on her birthday.

She recently celebrated her fifth birthday. When her daddy walked in the door with a large bouquet of flowers on her "birthday day" her face lit up and she immediately asked "who are the flowers for Daddy?" He replied, "they're for you!"

She is a true "girly girl" ~ she loves tea parties, ballerinas, and dressing up. And she loves it when her Daddy brings her flowers.

This is the first bouquet of flowers he brought her, on her 2nd birthday.

A Daddy who makes his little girl feel special by bringing her flowers, definitely a finer thing.

Stop by Amy's blog to read about more finer things.

Finer Things - Overheard

This little one singing "Holy, Holy, Holy". This is the hymn that we've been learning and singing together during our family worship times. His little voice singing this precious song just warms my heart!

This post was originally published in February 2009.

For more finer things, visit Finer Things Friday.

Fun for all three

Sometimes it's hard to come up with an activity that all three of my kids can enjoy. The 2-year old loves to play with cars and trucks, but not the same way as the 7-year old. The 7-year old and the 5-year old love to build with legos and the 2-year old loves to take their creations apart.

But when I pull out the playdough, all three come running - and they can play together happily - at least long enough for me to get dinner prepared - to me that's definitely a finer thing!

For more finer things, be sure to visit Amy's Blog!