Mini Matisse

While I have been on a week long sabbatical from activity to allow a shin splint to heal, and to battle a nasty RA flare, I have been enjoying house time with Smaller Child.  We have been spending our days building (he mostly knocking down) with blocks, vrooming cars across the floor, and catching up on our riveting tales from the Street (that's Sesame Street for you all not in the "know").  But today, after meandering in the backyard for an hour or so, looking at flowers, bugs, leaves, and grass, and swinging from the tree for a while, we came in and I (and by proxy he) was restless.

I have found an incredible outlet for me when I feel this way is to be creative in some way... usually in the crafting realm.  I thought this might be something fun to venture in with Smaller Child today.  He has "colored" some in the past, and has even made his marks with sidewalk chalk, but today I thought it might be fun to leap our way in to the magical world of PAINTS.

This is when I was faced with the HORROR that our house, our house that contains two children under the age of 10 does not possess a single pot of finger paints!!  GAAASP!! So, I decided what harm could it REALLY do if I let him use the washable non toxic variety usually pigeonholed for the older children.  

We started off by stripping the baby.  This is essential.  If you try this at home, do NOT forget this vital step!

Then I placed a piece of paper in front of him, plopped a glob of paint on it, expecting him to go to town the way he did for his birthday cake (who's remnants were still on the drop cloth we were sitting on,) This did not happen, even after my coaxing... so I handed him the brush.

He quickly learned it was much more fun to paint himself than the paper...

So, we ditched the brush for the fingers.

The fact that his hands were covered with goop was both fascinating and alarming to SC.  He kept showing them to me and saying, "huh?!?" as if to ask, "Are you sure this is okay, Mama??"

That's when I opted to pain his entire hands (and feet) to make prints...

I think our Mini Matisse has an eye for aesthetics!

And Smaller Child says, "Muah! PERFECTION!"