Playdough and Annie and Other Shenanigans

Our friends invited us over early in the week to make playdough. It has been a hit all week. We’ve had the cookie cutters and rolling pins and toothpicks out creating all sorts of fun stuff in our “kid kitchen.” I’m amazed at their creativity, no matter the medium.

Speaking of creativity, our Charis filled a plastic grocery bag with a blanket today and tied the top. Then she climbed up onto the highest part of the swingset and yelled to Zoe, “Tell Mom I’m leaving but I’ll be back. I’m going to fly with the birds. The wind will take me.” Only in Oklahoma do we have wind that will carry little 4 year olds away for a short time and carry them back safely to their mommy’s via parachute. Or only in Charis’ creative little head.

Meet Annie. He’s a boy with a girl’s name. He now belongs to Nehemiah, who not only named him, but drew him. I am amazed by this boy, and when I saw this picture of his, I knew this would be his next custom doll. Fantabulous. Nehemiah was lifting up Annie’s legs wiping his bum today, changing his diaper and even feeding him while I fed Luther. “He’s my bird baby, Mommy.” You might imagine how his love for this doll melts my heart.

First doll I’ve made with stuffed legs. I love these little skinny legs.

Pay no attention to the dent under his right wing. I may or may not have mastered the hidden stitch yet. HA!

I didn’t cut out a pattern this time. I just drew with chalk on the felt. Eyeballed it. It worked out well, considering I didn’t have the patience for a pattern and precision. Who has time for all that?

My favorite part so far about these dolls? Finishing them at nite after the kids are in bed and leaving them in the same special place in our living room. I hope it’s magical to them to wake up and check the special spot to see if any little stuffed person from their imagination has come off the paper and come to life.

We spent some time this week counting. We made sets of stuff for the numbers 1-10. Yes, Zoe is in her bathing suit. Some battles are not worth fighting.

After a little bit of practice, Zoe did manage to write all of her numbers correctly this week and was amazed when I told her she could now write any number in the whole world. Even thirty-seven fifty-hundred, she asked? Yep. Even that one babe.

This was the number 8 pile. Red ball added at last minute when we realized we only had 7 piggy banks and not 8. Oops.

I think this was pile 10, but it’s hard to make out the number through all the fur and hair.

Nehemiah was working on creating a tower of blocks for number 7.

I think their favorite part was that they got to get out a bunch of stuff and I promised to help them put it away.

These two have been buds lately, which is wonderful considering I remember a time I wondered if they’d ever even speak to each other. Ever since we had a tornado scare here (our first of many I’m told) Nehemiah has been clingy, and he sleeps with Charis at nite now. They call it having a slumber party. Charis has been surprisingly mothering towards him during bedtime…in a good way. Reading him books. Tucking him in. Loving, caring, affectionate, protective. You know, the kind of mom I always am.

I don’t know what she was playing with him, but he kept smiling, so I just left them be.

Speaking of Luther, he has actually taken a nap in his crib a couple times now. (That blanket was handmade by family special for Luther. Deep sigh.)

And even though I know we’re not supposed to lay a baby on his tummy to sleep, he seems to be loving it. Anyone know until what age that rule is in affect? See his little bald spot on the back of his head where he’s rubbed the hair away? All my kids have had that. It’s a good place for kisses. (That baby quilt was mine as a baby. It brings me great joy. Thanks Mom.)

Hope you all have a great weekend. We’re looking forward to hanging out as a family and having no agenda.