Here's what my three year old got into at the family campout about a month ago (when mom wasn't around)...

Thanks to Melody for capturing these memories for Erika's scrapbook!

Here she's crying because Michael threw mud in her face...
 

With her cousin Randall, laughing about all the dirtiness...
 

Her classic smile...


It was all "cleanable" and salvageable!  Now we can laugh about the memories and the cuteness!

I picked up a neat little book at the library yesterday called "The Preschooler's Busy Book".  It's cute and little.  By that I mean that it's easy to hold in your hand and look at, even with a very clingy, weepy one year old in your other arm.  It's small enough to tuck into the diaper bag for road trips.  It's filled with fun and easy ideas for games and activities for preschoolers.

Here are some excerpts I read in the introduction this morning that I want to remember: 

If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again 

If I had my child to raise over again,
I'd fingerpaint more and point the finger less.
I'd do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I'd run through the fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.
-Diane Loomans

I needed that reminder this morning.  Being a mom of preschoolers is a constant challenge.  Most days I fall far short of my ideals.  They need things to do.  They need new experiences.  Their minds need to be stretched.  They need to feel useful. 

Another quote:
"To be a good housewife and mother, you have to be more self-generated.  You have to create your own playground of the imagination, and the mind.  To be a really good, creative mother you have to be an extraordinary woman (sigh).  You have to keep yourself involved with your child during great periods of the day when it's just the two (or three) of you and you feel that at any moment you may literally go out of your mind."  -Meryl Streep

(I can certainly identify with the feeling of losing my mind at any moment!)

Anyway, today Evelyn picked an activity out of the book and we did it together.  It was very easy, didn't take much of my time, and seemed to satisfy her need of time with mom.  Besides all that, it gave her a very cheap, new toy.  She and Erika played the whole rest of the morning... without fighting!!

Here's what we did:

Chinese Lanterns

The girls thought it was so cool!!  All you need to make one is a piece of colored construction paper, a scissors, and a stapler or some glue.  To make it a pretty decoration in their room, I put a simple window light on the inside (making sure that it's not touching the sides of the paper, of course).



This is the closet they played house in the rest of the morning.  I remember when my little sister and I played "house" just like this for hours and hours.



We are ready for SPRING WEATHER around here.  It's been so chilly and rainy lately.  I'm not usually the type of person who complains about cold weather, but it's APRIL now, for crying out loud!!  The girls are looking forward to playing outside more-- blowing bubbles, riding bike, bouncing balls, chalking on the driveway, etc. etc.  Me too...