Pablo Picasso's Got Nothing On My Kids...

Or on me for that matter. Of course, that isn't saying much cuz I think Picasso is TERRIBLE! Seriously! I mean, look at that...it's ugly! I think my painting today could give Picasso's Dora Maar here(one of many paintings he did of one of his many mistresses) a run for it's money.

I call it Ladybugs in a Field of Flowers. Nice eh? (Ha ha!) I guess I shouldn't bag on Picasso too much, he actually could paint beautiful things, he just chose not to.

Grace and Grant are creating beautiful things. I like to watch them work and imagine what it is they are trying to represent. Are they just experimenting with color or do they see something with their mind's eye that needs expression? I don't know, but it's important to let them try.

Grace made the ocean. There are purple and blue fish in there.

Grace says that Grant has painted mountains. I'm going to go with that answer.

We try to create something everyday in our house. I like the looks on the children's faces when they are in the throes of artistic genesis...they are happy. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment." I see that in my children and feel it in myself.

I'm not the craftiest person around (far from it) but it's not hard to find things to do. We paint, color pictures, bake treats, use glue and scissors and craft paper, make books, play with jell-o play-doh, draw, dance, make up silly songs, think up new games, cut out snowflakes, and on and on. When we do this together I feel the bonds of love between my children and myself strengthened. These are the ties that bind. I'm counting on these everyday experiences to make a difference when they are older. I hope they will still want to create things with their mother.

Speaking of creating things...
I made these. They were super yummy! I decided that my visiting teaching ladies needed Easter treats...don't we all? They are called Raspberry Jam Bars are they are filled with almond-y cookie and sweet raspberry goodness. I wrapped them à la Jaime the Sophistimom and put them in baskets along with a copy of the children's song Did Jesus Really Live Again?. They were pretty cute, and could have been done better by someone else with more flair, but I was happy with them and pleased to give them out as Easter gifts.
I like to create.