Jason-Proofing

Is there such a thing? I'm not sure it can be done.

One of his favorite past-times - throwing things over the baby gate and down the stairs.

Why we don't check out books from the library:

Luckily this one was ours.

I started with the ornaments about half-way up, but kept having to move them up higher and higher!

Tree Music, Sand Music...

This is so so awesome. And frankly, astounding.

NPR interviewed Italian-born, Diego Stucco, who makes music from trees, sand, dry cleaners, and who knows what else. That description alone may not have piqued your interest, but if you listen to it, you'll be floored. Here's the link to listen to it at NPR's site (from minute 12:30 to 18).

The interview is interesting and there's a funny story behind his music background, but if you'd rather watch how he does it, here's a youtube link, where you'll also be able to listen to / watch his other instruments, like sand, etc.

Let me know what you think!

Paint-Swirled Ornaments

For our recent Activity Day, we had the girls make ornaments (an idea from Sherry at Young House Love found here to be exact). They each made one for themselves and one to deliver w/ a candy cane and some caroling to the nearby KOA trailer homes. They really had fun making them and they turned out awesome!
To keep:

Some of the girls took theirs home to dry.

Blue and purple were a popular combo, if you couldn't tell. I really like the middle one above that's blue w/ silver glitter.

To give:

Two pink w/ gold glitter, one pink w/ silver glitter, lots of blue & purple (although I convinced one girl to add a light purple too), LOVE the berry and gold glitter one, a christmasy one, and a yellow one.

Mine?
This:

to keep

and this:

to give

I really love the one I made to give. It originally had more negative space, but as the paint continued to spread, it ended up having a lot less. Bummer. Oh well, I still think it turned out pretty cool.
Can you see the cool swirl effect inside?! Awesome!! Most of them had LOTS of extra paint sitting in the bottom, which I've had to let drip out so they'll dry faster. But I wish I had had a blank canvas for them to drip onto because the drippings w/ all the color swirls looked SO COOL! It would've made a stellar abstract painting.