Our New Normal

So, today was like all of our other winter afternoons.  We played in the playroom with the train table and some other toys.  Zach wanted to use the easel but he just wants to draw on the walls these days, so I'm limiting them to chalk for a while.  Zach drew on the wall last week.  Ordinarily, I'd feel stressed by the mess, but I was proud of myself for being so laid back.  I tried to clean if off with Green Works spray.  When that didn't work, I figured that I'd tackle it later (with some Clorox).  Turns out, we might be cutting out part of that wall (right where he drew), due to the water damage.  So, no worries for now. 

Gabe was talking about a "burning heart" this afternoon.  He asked if his heart was burning and then he asked if one of the (vintage) Little People had a burning heart (this little person has a big heart painted on his/her belly).  Not sure what the burning heart is all about..........maybe he'll explain later.

Gabe didn't share much about school.  He said that he played with Brandon again and that he had crackers for snack.  He came home with a cute penguin project (pictured below) and talked about making a heart (although the heart didn't make it home). 

Here are some pictures from our afternoon:

Train table again (with glasses)

How do I love this train table?  Let me count the ways...

Gabe was practicing his faces.  This is angry.

This is sad

This is sadder (doesn't he look grown up in this shot?)

This is angry again

This is really angry.  Notice my hands.

Oh, the incessant poking

Back to angry - is there a theme here?

Still angry

Here's surprised

Trying to get a shot of Zach playing the flute before it was ripped out of his pudgy hands

Gabe's penguin from school

Let's see that again.  Doesn't he look sad??  There's the theme again...

Here's the Little Person who Gabe thinks has a burning heart!?  And he asked if that curlicue of hair was a boo boo.