The Toy Box Years: Painting With Household Items

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Painting With Household Items

>> Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Yesterday, Nani had the day off from school. It was a teacher's in-service day. So we spent the morning visiting daddy at the base and then after some lunch and quiet time, spent the afternoon painting.

A few weeks back, I found these in various dollar bins - shower mitts, heart-shaped nail brushes/pumice stones, and dish scrubbers. This afternoon, I pulled them out, gave the girls some paint and let them go to town! It was so fun to see what they created!

6 comments:

Christy Killoran February 23, 2011 at 7:34 AM: My kids love to paint with nontraditional items too. We found some flower shaped fly swatters that they used to paint on large paper at the easel. That was a big hit!
MaryAnne February 23, 2011 at 8:07 AM: Looks like they both had a blast! I love the huge painting t-shirts =)
MMAR February 23, 2011 at 8:07 AM: Dollar Bins are the best when doing crafts and stuff : )
~Melissa
Susie B. Homemaker February 24, 2011 at 11:21 AM: Looks like lots of fun! Great way to let your kids be creative. Thanks for stopping by my blog for Wordless Wednesday. :)
Crazy Mom February 25, 2011 at 8:38 AM: Congrats! I chose you for the Stylish Blogger award! Check out the details here:
http://thomps0126.blogspot.com/2011/02/foodie-friday-out-window-just-for-this.html
Helene February 28, 2011 at 11:24 AM: And I'll say it again...you such a fun and creative mom!!!!

If I turned my kids loose with those same items and some paint, it would be pure disaster.