This weekend is my husband's bithday. He is super involved with our family life...he even glances at the calendar from time to time to see what we have planned. I really love this about him; that what we do together or when he is at work, is important to him! Knowing this, it is no easy task to plan things without him finding out! Geez, as it was, he already knew what we had planned to do for his actual birthday day, so when it came to his gifts, we had to be extra stealth!
I arranged for Mimi to watch Sophia for the afternoon last week so I could take Tobin to the pottery painting shop near where we live. I thought it would be fun to have him pick and paint something to give to daddy for his birthday. Our local county park system offers pottery painting as a class at a very affordable rate, however, for a gift we would need for this weekend, I was willing to pay more for the convenience of being able to walk right in! We picked our pottery, painted away, and left it to be fired in the kiln. Tobin and I had an amazing time! This was another one of those special one on one moments that I feel are so important. So often, life is so busy, the kiddos get into it with one another...you know how things go. It is so nice to be able to focus on a task, chat, really reconnect with the person you are spending that special time with...even if they are only 5 years old!
But what could we pull together for Sophia to give to daddy? I decided on a gift that we could all work on together...a painted canvas. Since my husband is a {really wonderful} surfer, I thought the ocean could be our inspiration! I prepared the canvas by painting it a sand color and selected paint colors that reminded me of the ocean. Once the base coat was dry, I put out the paint and let the kids go to town. I think that a little parental help with the choosing of colors really makes for a wonderful painting. Now daddy will will always have "ocean waves", regardless of the direction of the wind.
I had no idea how I would pull all of this off, preparing birthday gifts while getting ready for the craft show. Thanks for all of your support and kind words about what I have created. I can't wait to share the rest of what I prepared for the craft show and let you know how everything went on Saturday! Perhaps I'll see some of you there!
alison
a.
I love the painting. John is going to flip! Mind if I link this from my site sometime this week?
Posted by: by little hands | August 14, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Sounds good to me, link away! The only problem now is that I am dying to give it to him!
All set for tomorrow?
: )
Posted by: http://mysweetbabu.typepad.com | August 14, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Stunning.
Posted by: Emmalina | August 14, 2009 at 03:46 PM
The painting turned out so cute!
Posted by: Tammy | August 15, 2009 at 08:44 PM