Toothbrush Painting

Toothbrushes and Painting

Today we got out a new toothbrush and decided to use it as a paintbrush.  Michael was very excited and dipped it immediately into the paint.  He brushed his page and laughed as he circled it about.

We looked at the different designs the bristles made that were different from when we use a paintbrush.

 He spent a lot of time brushing the page until the paint was all off the brush.

Then he decided to get a new sheet and paint with a brush from his collection.

He chose a long paintbrush and dipped right into purple. He spent a lot of time painting lines.

I asked him what he thought would happen if we placed a clean sheet of paper over his design.  Right away he
took one and placed it over his painting.  He rubbed his hands all over the top and then
he grinned in anticipation.

I love his eagerness to discover new things.
He loves to share his experiences with me.
He is so sweet.

Here he has discovered the print now goes onto the other paper.  He was so pleased he held them up.
He then proceeded to paint another picture so he could make another copy print onto a fresh page.


I like his joy in life, he has such a simple, wonderful, beautiful way of living in the moment and enjoying it.        
As I come up with new ways to share life with him I am constantly caught up in his excitement and it grows in me as well.  I wonder what new experiences we will share this week...hmm....life's colors can be spectacular when shared.  Thanks Michael.

Puzzles, Puddles, and Mr. Toad

Puzzles, Puddles, and Mr. Toad

Puzzles are a good rainy day activity and Michael and I went to town putting some together.  Jim even got in on the fun and helped.  Michael was very focused and really excited to build.

He wanted to put them all together and probably would have kept on putting them together if
I didn't have to go to work.

His focus on an activity shows on his face, his concentration and determination to finish is
growing as he continues to solve.

We spread out and worked in the quiet of the day.  Michael turned pieces around, fit them in while
the rain outside came down.

Rain seems like a standard part of the days lately but something else comes out with the rain.  Michael put on his slicker and we went out to the back patio.  What should we find hopping about but....Mr.  Toad.

Michael loves the Frog and Toad series and we had a discussion about why this must be Mr. Toad and not Mr. Frog.  He was cautious at first and just observed him.

Then his hand went out to just touch it for a second...see what Mr. Toad would do.

Mr. Toad then went on the ground and Michael watched him hop.  Michael could not keep his eyes
off  him.  He followed him as he hopped.

Soon he just couldn't contain himself and he scooped up Mr. Toad and held him close.  He grinned as he
held the toad and examined his arms and legs.

He was so careful and gentle and told me right away that he wanted to keep him.  I told him Mr. Toad
already had a home and we needed to let him go soon.  "Just 5 more minutes."  Michael said 3 times.
Here...

 And here again...

 And here again...

He was so excited to hold Mr. Toad, and he wanted me to share in his joy.  He held him up close to me and I snapped a picture.  After Michael asked if he could bring it inside and went to put him in his pocket!  I explained  several times that creatures from outside do not come into the house!  I hope I am not in for any surprises creeping around in the house because of you know who!

He placed Mr. Toad in the grass and followed him off into the Dandelions.  Mr. Toad quickly escaped and hid under some bushes.  Michael spun about and then went off to discover by his swing set.

The sun didn't come out today but the light of the day was captured and shone in Michael's exploring.  The

joy of discovery, the happiness in being in the moment fills our world with sunshine.  He is a lesson for me to "bloom where you're planted."  He certainly does.  Do you?

Car Wash

Car Wash


 Michael likes to get inside his fire truck tent and have an activity to do.  He wanted to clean his match box cars so I helped him create a car wash for them.  Eagerly he jumped inside his tent and went right to work selecting a car to dip and then to scrub.



Here he is choosing a car.











Look at the concentration, the focus he has as he scrubs the bubbles all over the car.  So cute.










I watched him for a good while.  He was content to sit there, focused on his activity, scrubbing the cars, rinsing them in another bucket.  He hummed as he worked.

 Again and again he dipped, scrubbed, and washed the cars.  He is developing good focus.

I think I am most amazed at the contentment Michael possesses.  He truly knows how to live in the moment.  His world interests him and he is eager to explore and try new experiences.  I like that he is comfortable being by himself as well as with people.  I love his joy found even on normal routine days.  He is amazing.

Pleasant Valley

Nap Time at Pleasant Valley

 

While Michael slept we drove through Pleasant Valley. 

 We rolled through the hills beside the  mountain covered in wispy clouds.

We winded with the river beside us, both of us letting the current of the day take us.

The road curved toward the mountain,  reminded me of entering into another time. 

We passed an empty farmhouse sitting  by the side of the road.,  amazing hills just beyond the back door.
A longing for serenity escaped me and with a sigh I let a lifestyle not mine leave my thoughts.  I left them with
the sagging steps, the wild fields, and the whispering breeze.

I made Jim stop so I could take this photo.  The dandelions creeping up to the barn
reminded me of another hill with kids.
 I recalled my own youth with grass in my hair, eyes squeezed shut ,hands
up against my chest, rolling down hills like this.  Sensations of
ground and air and grass a part of me, log rolling through the flowers.
 Life living
in the moment.
I snapped the photo.

 

 Still present the mountain closed in the valley,
made me wonder what wild life was up there just beyond the tree line.  Bears?  Cubs?  A Catamount?









We drove on in a quiet moment while Michael slept in peace.

If you ever get a chance to take the trip, Pleasant Valley is beautiful, it will take you back to another time.

Simply surrounded by nature, it's rhythm will stir you, captivate you,  move you to live in that moment.  It is as refreshing as a good nap.

Embracing the days we live

 Embracing the days we live in
Michael makes the moments memorable.  He has an enthusiasm for living, a wonder-filled excitement to experience right where he is in his day.

Look at  his face right here, he is happy in the sensation of the wind, and the music, and the momentum of the merriment he experiences.
I concentrated on not feeling ill as we spun around and around.  Jim watched from the ground, eating a fried dough and grinning at me between bites!






On the real horse he lifted his hat and said,
"Yeehaw!  Look Mom, I'm a real cowboy now!"
I walked with him in the circle path of his happiness, watching his hand reach out and pat the horse while he giggled.

 He squealed with delight when the parade started.  He caught candy from the Shriners and clowns that passed by and waved to the firemen in the big truck.
His wonder was contagious, I relived the sensations, the sights of being at a first parade.  We sat on the curb and clapped and cheered.











He went bike riding to the end of the road, he is getting so much stronger!
  Look at this smile as he rides, it is so beautiful.

             Michael shows many how to live.  He embraces the moments that make up his day.
                               It is a blessing to watch and a reminder to follow his lead.

Walk by the Winooski River

The trails by the Winooski River

We looked way down at the river from the side of the bridge.  Michael peeked through the holes of the wall and watched the water go by.

Happily we spent time watching the water, looking out at all the trees that surrounded us and listening for the sounds of nature.







We heard Woodpeckers and saw trees that might be homes for birds.  Michael was reminded of
Owl from Winnie the Pooh and wondered if maybe he was up in this tree.

We waited in nature's music, listened to the birds call to each other, the scratching of trees together, the rustle of leaves on the ground but Owl must have  been sleeping.  We walked on.

Michael skipped down the trail, hopped over roots and jumped onto the fence, ever watchful and curious.

He spotted trees and went right over to some to touch the bark and look way up to the top of the tree.
We noticed that different trees had different  bark and felt different as well.

We put our hands on this tree to discover the sensation of the bark.  We put our feet on the roots and stood still beside the tree.  We raised our heads and looked at the leaves coming out.  And we were quiet and let our senses speak to us.


  Vermont has much beauty in many hidden spots.   Look at this birch, a stark brightness amid the evergreen , tucked away on a quiet hill.

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The river was ever present as we walked the trails. Push aside the branches and there it was, a winding thirsty view, making me want to fall back into it and savor the sensation of floating with the current.

But we continued on for Michael had much to
take in.

The sky was layered with blue and whites, almost a ladder-like view to climb with eyes.

The greens were a mixture in every shade, we touched the leaves and needles as we walked by.









We took one last look at the river, watched the current carry sticks, watched the swirls of waves
wash on by.  I wondered what Michael thought as he stared at the water.  What did he make of the trees and the wonders of the Winooski River so close to our home?

I hope he remembers the moments.  I hope he recalls the feel of the bark, the dirt trail on his feet, the smell of pine sap, and the callings of the birds.  For in those moments we were part of more than the normalcy of a routine day, we were part of God's nature.