"Nurture" Monday...and Tuesday...

We've had two pretty laid-back days here in our homeschool.  Both Taz and Junie B. have strep throat, so all other plans have taken a back seat to doctor visits, medicine and rest.

Surprisingly, though, both of the kids are in pretty good spirits, so in addition to favorite stories and videos, I decided to try a little craft with them (and Sunny-boy, too) to honor our Guardian Angels, on this, their feast day! (The idea comes from the Usborne Christmas Activities Book, which Scholastic put out a couple of years ago.  It might still be available here.)

I'll reserve judgment as to whether this was a mistaken calculation... :)

(Yes, both boys climbed right up on the table, and coated themselves in paint, from head to toe.  Taz very helpfully also ran to the counter to get the orange paint bottle.  Neither of their handprint angels survived.) :P

My thought (in case you are wondering, "What was she thinking?!") was that I would carefully put out the fingerpainting materials, so that the kids could paint to their hearts' content while I helped each of them individually to complete the handprints to make the angel's body and wings.  It all looked very organized and simple in my head, honest!

Paint to their hearts' content they certainly did!  And there was loads of laughter and silliness, and I'll bet the whole activity went miles toward making all three of them feel better.  My own Guardian Angel was certainly working overtime, since not only did I not get freaked out by this cleaning disaster in the making, but instead laughed with them.  (I'm the dummy who gave them the paint, after all!!)  It was straight to the tub afterward (which for the time being sports a bathtub ring in a very interesting shade of orange-ish brown), and then right into lunch.  I usually have lunch boxes prepared the night before, but last night I had thought  I'd probably be making soup or something else warm and comforting; but by the time baths were done and the mess quickly disposed of, Sunny-boy was longing for a nap, and a quick, easy lunch was the order of the day (and oh, how I wished for those lunch boxes!!)

I'm not good at thinking quickly when the baby is crying.

Fast!  I need Fast!  Cereal?  That might hurt their throats.  Crackers?  Same thing.  Mac & Cheese?  Takes too long.  Oh, what else?

I said a quick prayer, and immediately remembered the obvious:  Peanut butter.  I quickly spread a slice of bread with peanut butter, folded it in half, and handed it to Sunny-boy, who gratefully began to eat.  Then I pulled out two rectangular Tupperware containers, tossed in a slice of bread, a dollop of peanut butter, a handful of grapes and a spreading knife, and called the other two in to eat.  Voila!  One of their favorite lunches--"Make Your Own Foldovers!"  Instead of our usual table grace, we sang a rousing chorus of the Guardian Angel Prayer:

Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me, here:
Ever this day, be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.

Lunch was calm and happy, and Sunny-boy went quickly down for a nap.  Taz is enjoying his favorite "'Struction Video," , Junie is working on her Christmas list (birthday's over; a girl's gotta dream!) and all is calm and quiet.

Thank you, Guardian Angels.  Dear, indeed.

Oh, and we did end up making a pretty passable Bulletin Board display with their paintings after all!

Comments

[Meredith]

Beautiful, Happy Feasting!!

[Jessica Meza]

This sounds like sooo much fun! I can just imagine their guardian angels enjoying the fun and laughter as much as the kids did! This was a wonderful tribute to their ever faithful guardians!

[Leonie]

Oh, I love the bulletin board! Lovely artwork, gorgeous colours. :)