a is for ashlyn.

Remember how this year we are trying out the handmade sibling gift idea? We are starting small--just to test the waters with this idea--so each child drew one name to make a gift for. After starting our projects this week, we decided this new tradition is definitely a keeper! They are so young I don't really feel like they need to give each sibling a gift, but we did take them out "shopping" last night to Michaels with their money. It was an agonizing experience. I really don't like Christmas shopping with all my kids and Jimmy. Mostly because every time I look at Jimmy he has this glazed over look and is not supervising the growing stash of ceramic mugs, gawdy ornaments and paintable wooden projects his assigned kids are amassing. And then I get frustrated and start hissing to him to get in the Christmas spirit and to pay attention to what they're putting in the cart and help them and I've got a splitting headache and if I can put a smile on my face, you can too, sort of routine. It is not a pretty sight. Or sound.

But I did enjoy the crab wontons we ate before the shopping began.

I tell you this to undoubtedly embarrass myself and also to reinforce why I love handmade. It is a much more pleasant experience to me to be whispering with each child about their ideas for a handmade gift and then see the pride they have in their little creations, the new skills they learn and their increased appreciation for the things that are made for them.

And so here is what I was originally going to be writing on this post. Are you still here? I am thinking it must be universal that all five-year olds love to cut and glue, because we've been three for three at this household. So of course after discussing all the possible ideas Andy could make for Ashlyn, he decided he wanted to cover this wood A we had sitting in the art room closet. I put out a small assortment of fabric and paper and let him choose the one he thought she would like best. He chose this little flowered paper and took his cutting and modge podge-ing work very seriously. He was "getting kind of tired of painting" after the third layer of modge podge, so I did the last coat, but other than that he pretty much did it all on his own. The hardest part for him will be keeping it a surprise. He's notorious for giving lots and lots of "hints" for his presents--as in "Ashlyn, I'm going to give you a hint. Do you think your present is a letter A?"

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •