his name is thomas, yes thomas the turtle.
he spends 95% of his time in the water but i caught him today basking in the UV rays of his lamp. and check out the reflection in the water!! i had no idea i caught that...BONUS!
and wow...
it is a lot of work to entertain the downey masses everyday, i came up with a summertime solution last week and we started work on it today.
we had this pine/unfinished coffee table in the attic for 5 years, we got it when we moved into our first apartment together and we kept it when we bought the house because it was a perfectly good table, but just didn't have a place for it.
so with the kids itchy and antsy all day, i got an idea.
we always do crafts...any crafts. never fails they always want to gather around the coffee table in the living room on their step-stools. As many of you well know, children doing crafts and coloring in another room is so much better than children doing crafts under your nose in the room your in.
that may sound mean but lets face it, a little bit of sanity is a good thing at the end of the day.
i had 1/2 gallon of primer left over from redoing the dining room, so i asked bill to pull down the table out from the attic. our project this weekend is to paint and personalize their own craft table for their room upstairs.
today was primer day!
and do you see the cooperation?!!
look at that...flippin' genius!!
and just in case there was any doubt that THIS IS A FABULOUS ACTIVITY check out the little man...at 2.5 years old, he is fully entertained. notice i gave him the smallest brush...lol.
so my message to you today is if you have any old furniture, find it, and let the kids paint it, just let the kids have at it! and if you don't, check the goodwill or your neighbors garage. in the end they will feel so proud that they are working together to make something of their very own.
tomorrow we are going to paint it white over the primer and then take a field trip to michaels for them to pick out some acrylic paint colors. each one will get a section of the tabletop to paint in whatever design they wish and as for the rest of the table they can just paint away!
i'll finish it with a clear coat of varnish when it is all said and done.
i will post more pictures as we progress!!
so in closing today, i leave you with this!
You are a freakin' genius! Great activity -- and you know the best part? Those little kiddles will remember it ALWAYS... such a great time! Go you!
Posted by: Lynne | July 28, 2006 at 05:40 PM
total CUTE idea! boy does he look like you! lol can't wait to see the end result! :>
Posted by: AmyW. | July 28, 2006 at 05:41 PM
Do you ever run out of ideas???
We're sort of doing something similar, except I'm doing all the work, lol. I'm converting a seldom used formal library to an art studio/scraproom...totally meant for me and my budding artist. I got us a big new work table from Pier 1, a stool a piece to sit on. She'll have her own spot for art supplies and an easel that stays up all the time. A room devoted to creativity! Been lots of work, but it's fun. Love the idea about the table...if I had room for a table such as that, I'd do it in a heart beat. Maybe someday when we get a bigger house.
Posted by: amy j | July 28, 2006 at 05:43 PM
You rock Donna Mom! Your kids will love you forever!
Posted by: paper rocks | July 28, 2006 at 05:55 PM
Very cute. Don't think I quite trust my little ones with paint yet -I'm pretty sure the youngest would eat it and her older sister would be painting the little one. Anyway, if I may take the liberty of "borrowing" your Thomas the turtle photo, I will photoshop the heck out of it and send it back to you with some color tweaks.
Posted by: ann | July 28, 2006 at 05:58 PM
GENIUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Suzelle | July 28, 2006 at 06:25 PM
And again my friend, that is why you ROCK! I know how hard it can be to keep 'em entertained... Good job!!
I have a little request. Will you post a little description of the four classes you're teaching in december in Tampa? I'm having a hard time deciding which ones to take and a little info would be great.
Can't wait to meet you and Ali!!! WOOHOO!!!!
Ana.
Posted by: Ana Magloire | July 28, 2006 at 06:54 PM
how cool is that!!!! I love it! Can't wait to see the progression!
Posted by: joy | July 28, 2006 at 07:01 PM
cool project for your adorable kiddos.
Posted by: Francy | July 28, 2006 at 07:06 PM
You have no idea how weird it was to see a turtle picture on your blog today of all days...I wrote about why on my blog...
http://creativespirit.typepad.com/cs/2006/07/what_the_shell.html
Freaky!
Posted by: Lisa | July 28, 2006 at 07:21 PM
How cute!! My kids so need this activity...with school looming quickly over our heads...the kids are sooooo...bored and resless....so....I may be going to the salvation army tomarro! Great idea...and fun too!!
Posted by: Debbie V. | July 28, 2006 at 07:29 PM
LOL! What a great idea to keep them busy AND make them extreemly happy at the same time. Great job Donna! http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jolene George | July 28, 2006 at 07:31 PM
too CUTE
Posted by: Shawnna / flipflopmom | July 28, 2006 at 08:57 PM
hehe...you are ure brilliance! seriously a great idea!
Posted by: island jen | July 28, 2006 at 09:06 PM
soo COOL
thomas is cute and green! :)
Posted by: Vee | July 28, 2006 at 09:10 PM
That turtle is way too cute!!
Posted by: Joanna | July 28, 2006 at 09:52 PM
I love Thomas!!
Looks like your kids had a ball. What a good mum!
Posted by: Kelly Rodgers | July 28, 2006 at 10:25 PM
Your kids are just the cutest!
Posted by: Jeanne | July 28, 2006 at 10:55 PM
you've got the cutest litte "toe heads" I've ever seen! :)
Posted by: Traci | July 28, 2006 at 11:23 PM
Love the paint spatter on his ear. lol! What a great Mom you are, Donna!
Posted by: Linda A. (elendae) | July 28, 2006 at 11:25 PM
Love the photo of the turtle...he's so darned cute :) And WTG on creatively keeping your kids busy, can't imagine my 2yr old painting just yet! LOL!
Posted by: Ann | July 29, 2006 at 12:01 AM
u have a book of comments Donna. but hey thanks for sharing that! makes me feel like i definitely need to do this! i will eventually.
Posted by: Deanna | July 29, 2006 at 02:24 AM
What cute workers! So awesome you let them go at it! I really like the turtle too . . . my daughter has two turtles . . . since daddy is very allergic to anything with fur. Fun stuff!
Posted by: Cheryl | July 29, 2006 at 03:11 AM
I've been hanging-out in the eaves reading your blog (stalking just didn't sound good) for a while now and I just finally have to comment. That was such a great idea. I'm going to try and find something like that for my kids. Can't wait to see the finished product. You seem like such an awesome person and I can't wait to meet you at Get Croppin' Feb 07.
Posted by: Denise M. | July 29, 2006 at 04:15 AM
...and now we really know why DONNA ROCKS! You have a creative mind like no other.
That's a fabulous idea. Looks like they were having a great time too. Those are the memories they will remember and cherish always.
TFS...hugs-Peg
Posted by: Peg Graham | July 29, 2006 at 08:38 AM
you really are a flippin genius!
I think this would keep mine entertained for about 1/2 an hour. They are bigger. they would paint faster! :)
Posted by: suetreiber | July 29, 2006 at 08:39 AM
So neat to see you got a turtle! We have had two red eared sliders - Bert and Ernie - for almost three years now. They started out so tiny and now they're the size of dessert plates. And trust me, turtles really do have personalities... :) Enjoy!
Posted by: Rebecca | July 29, 2006 at 08:45 AM
gee rebecca sure does know her turtles...LOL.. awesome idea for the kids..nothing like a can of paint, brushes and kids.. vio'la an instant party
Posted by: scrapfreak1 | July 29, 2006 at 08:53 AM
hello!
what an excellent idea!!!
they must be very proud of themselves!
what a good memories they will have for future!
they're so cute!
Posted by: PROLIX | July 29, 2006 at 12:04 PM
I am completely inspired! Digging out my old furniture and putting them to work! Thanks for being **simply You**!
Posted by: Tammy Heckel | July 29, 2006 at 12:27 PM
We do crafts too! My nearly three year old painted some wooden transportation shapes; car, train and plane for his room! They are hanging up and he is so proud and shows everyone. Totally entertained him for an hour one rainy afternoon!
Posted by: Wendy | July 29, 2006 at 01:36 PM
How incredibly cute and what an amazing idea! Looks like tons of fun!
Posted by: Tammy | July 29, 2006 at 02:21 PM
what a fabulous project!
love how they are
all working together!
can't wait to see
the finished project.
welcome to, thomas!
Posted by: melissa deakin (momteacherwriter) | July 29, 2006 at 02:47 PM
love the new "centered" blog layout! :D
hugs,
r.
Posted by: renee | July 29, 2006 at 05:23 PM
OMG!!!Your Kids are soooo adorable!!!Awesome idea!!!
Posted by: Lynda M | July 29, 2006 at 11:31 PM
cute idea and the kids look like they are enjoying themselves - bonus!!
Posted by: debbie | July 30, 2006 at 12:59 PM
Laughing, laughing, laughing. My sons saved a box turtle from our inground pool last weekend and named him Thomas the Turtle. We kept him for a day, making sure the chlorine didn't adversely affect him before releasing him back into the wild to find his family! LOL And of course, I took pix! Thanks for the laugh! Have a good day!
Posted by: Lisa Smoot | July 30, 2006 at 01:00 PM
another painting activity for sanity:
let them paint a large (think appliance) box outside...you can cut holes in it, it can be a house, a train, whatever, but they can paint away...best part is when you are sick of it it goes to the recycle bin :)Many times you can find these large boxes flattened out in the vacinity of stores, costco, etc.
Posted by: Shelly in the NW | July 30, 2006 at 07:51 PM
My daughter saw me looking at your website and says . . . "Oh how cute . . . a red ear slider (the kind of turtles she has). She asks "Is he for sale? We need a baby turtle." I told her "No, that's someone else's pet." Her response, "Why did they put that cute picture up . . . it's making me jealous." She likes Thomas. TFS.
Posted by: Cheryl | July 30, 2006 at 11:40 PM
What a great idea with the paint, Donna!
OH...and I saw this and thought of you, haha!
Oatmeal shirt:
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/oatmeal/-/pv_design_prod/p_tshirtdotcom.41820729/pNo_41820729/id_10246308/fpt_/opt_/c_0/pg_
Jennifer :)
Posted by: Jennifer Stewart | July 31, 2006 at 01:58 AM
Donna, that photo ROCKS!! Where does he live? We were thinking of getting one for our pond. He is darn cute.
As for the painting, great idea, but dont tell my kids, i dont want them painting their rooms, we are about to start!!
Posted by: Dee | July 31, 2006 at 06:56 AM