painting contest

the kids have been wanting to do something special most nights after dinner.... hey it's summer so why not. It usually rotates between, swimming (which we also usually do before dinner), dessert, watching home videos, playing cards...etc.

one night Ella said "I know... lets have a painting contest after dinner". without even waiting for a response she whipped out all the painting supplies and got going on her painting. after a few minutes she decided we would have an award for the best painting.

so...my creative little five year old then decided to make a medal for the winner. she quickly started on it....cutting its shape, painting it, punched a hole in the top, cut ribbon ("long enough to fit around someone's neck"), and asked me to tie it.

then, she decided there would be a 2nd and 3rd place so she made two more.

Here are the medals...

and here are the finished paintings...

John wouldn't stand still, so this was the best shot I could get.

I wish I could say the ceremony in which Chris announced the winners ended with as much positive enthusiasm as when the contest began....but we won't focus on that - when kids are tired and it's time for bed things don't always end well no matter how fun the evening was!