As I sit here at 7am painting salt dough Christmas ornaments with my daughter, you’d be forgiven for thinking I’m some sort of earth mother who spends every spare moment of the day thinking up and doing educational craft projects with my children, so let’s just clear up a few things.
- I’d been up since 4am, Baby D woke up for a feed followed by Phoebe (4) at 5am – Baby D had not gone back to sleep.
- Decided to get up at 5.30 as sleep is looking like a distant memory
- Everyone breakfasted by 6.30 (William now up too)
- Baby D goes back to sleep. Wish I could join him.
- Phoebe asked to paint the salt dough we’d attempted the day before. I refuse stating it’s too early.
- 6.55 – agree to painting because what the hell else are we doing at this time of the morning!
- We have no paintbrushes left so I resort to cutting up a sponge I’d been (sporadically) using for removing wallpaper
So that’s how I found myself doing said painting. I hate her doing painting – too much paint gets used, she insists on all the colours being out and used, inevitably paint gets in places it’s not supposed to, and then there’s the results. They must be kept for as long as possible. Not too bad when it’s a painting, there are several options for displaying and keeping them, but there now seems to be quite a few ‘art’ projects, namely boxes, grape cartons, weird constructions made from Mcdonalds drink holders that clutter up the place before I surreptitiously bin them. This has to be done in stealth mode and often needs to be taken straight out to the main wheelie bin, otherwise when she puts something in the bin or recycling, she sees it and gets it back out again. “No, mummy, I still need this.”
Today we tried to make a gingerbread house. I had bought a pre-made kit, just needed to assemble it. First lot of icing I made – too runny. Second lot holding up ok, and the house nearly made. Then it became a victim of subsidence! I think I’ll stick to what I’m good at.
Pinterest fail! I won’t lose sleep over it – not on purpose anyway. We’re having a munch on it and it still tastes pretty good and we had fun attempting it all the same. There’s always next year! I hope you’re having more success than me…
Phoebe’s just come up to me with an empty Roses box saying, “I want to paint this Mummy.” *Head goes in hands.*
