Thursday, June 19, 2014: Rainy Day # 2

The last couple of days have been wet and rainy, and good days to stay home.  I've had several people tell me that they hate rainy days at home with their small child, but I honestly enjoy them.  Most people don't like them because their kids get bored and make a huge mess.

I look at it as good time for Babygirl and I to have some creative time.  Yesterday Babygirl played with her toys for a while, and then did a lot of cutting.  She loves to do cutting and insisted on hanging her "grass" on the refrigerator to show Hubby when he got home.  She also did some coloring.  Babygirl knows that she needs to pick up everything from the last session before I will let her move on to the next activity, so I really don't have a disaster even if she does several different activities throughout the day.

Today, we finished painting the fairy house for our fairy garden.  (I am hoping that it will be dry enough to seal tomorrow and they it can go outside and we can finish putting the fairy garden together.)  Then Babygirl wanted to paint on her "weasel".  I don't drag the easel out very often, because it is a lot of set up and take down, and I have to find somewhere for *several* masterpieces to dry (usually for a few hours.)  It ties up a lot of space.  That makes the time that Babygirl does get to paint on her easel extra special and therefore an excellent activity for the second rainy day in a row!

We got the "weasel" out after breakfast, and it kept her occupied until I made her stop at lunch (about three hours.)  I do frequently have to change paper, admire :), and give her more paint.  The mess stays at a minimum thanks to easy to clean supplies like a plastic shade floor mat, a paint pallet (an old Chinese food container) that can go in the dishwasher and a bib/smock over her clothes.  We also have a rule that the paint and brush have to stay at the easel.

All in all, it was a good way to keep her thrilled and occupied for a good part of the morning!  Now I just need to find somewhere to hang the "masterpieces"! :)

Babygirl loves painting on her "weasel'!

An old container from the local Chinese restaurant makes a
great paint pallet.

A plastic roller shade keeps the floor clean.