Paint and Pudding

So lately we have been dealing with the "terrible threes."  Or, to be more accurate, defiant, maniac, jumping on and off everything in sight, tormenting the cat, refusing to eat dinner, threes.  We have tried calm interventions, time outs, threats (like that ever works!), quiet time in room, book readings - but nothing seems to work.  I thought perhaps Em was feeling a little put out with Ev, feeling left out.  We have tried one on one time, going to the grocery store or the library.  But it seems so long that we have had a good day, all the way through.  We start out great, but come 2pm, we start losing it.

So it was a very happy turn of events that this weekend turned out to be so nice!  You have to understand, I'm not a good long weekender.  At least by Alan's standards.  I tend to see the long weekends as super long work project opportunities.  Alan tends to see them as relaxing times.  Not a good combo.  But this weekend?  Fantastic.  Saturday Alan fixed the dishwasher (or mostly fixed it) while the kids and I played/moved dirt in the back yard.  Then while Evan was sleeping (yay for consistent naps!) Emma and I went on a hunt for a remote probe thermometer.  No luck, but a good couple hours with my big girl.  I then dropped Em off at Nana's for a "playdate" and I got to go shopping by myself!  Came home, played with Evan for a good long while and then had a nice dinner at the in-laws.   Sunday, after church, we introduced Emma to Rummykub.  It went a little long for her, but she enjoyed it, and it's really helping her with the double digit numbers.  But sure enough, 2pm rolled around and Emma started to get crazy!  Since it was raining outside, I didn't want to send her out.  So we decided to paint.

And what an adventure that was!  My little girl has become quite the artist - and the story teller!  She had a story for every picture she painted.

The little artist

Emma Surfing (with Belle, her stuffed dog)

Family Portrait

And of course, Mr. Bubba needed to get in on the action.  I wasn't too keen on him actually painting inside (we have tried it outside), so he got to paint with pudding.

Mr. Cheesy Grin

Emma decided she needed an artist hat.  This was the closest we could find.

And the resulting much-needed sink bath.