Monday, February 21, 2011

Saturday with Papa & Elodie's Birthday Presents!

(Mark's post...)

Saturday Dad was in charge while Elodie attended a church event.  I had a full agenda for the day.

First, give the boys a bath.  But bath time with Dad is FUN!  After flattening all the bubble bath, Antoine wanted to "paint."  We've done this a couple of times now.  It involves shaving cream with finger paints mixed in for color, with small sponge paint brushes for painting on the bathtub's tile walls.    After multiple strokes, they announced their work with outstretched arms: Adam's was "the biggest building in the whole world" and Antoine's was "the biggest temple in all the world."  Then the "firemen" arrived to do clean up with their fire hoses.  Finally, after drying off they hid in their "caves."  But Antoine frequently peeked out of his!


After the extended bath and a battle to get them dressed, I gave them each a one dollar coin, and we went to the dollar store.  I told the boys to go in and pick out a present for their mother, one that each thought she would like.  Adam announced immediately that Elodie would like red roses.  And as if by luck, there were several silk flower rose bouquets to choose from.  He also spent another dollar of his own money to buy her a Tinkerbell balloon.

Antoine didn't take long to find his gift either.  Less than two minutes into the store and he walked up with a Disney coloring book with a pink cover.  That was his gift, he was sure she would like it. 

The point was to begin to teach the boys the joy of giving, and it was a success!  Each choose the wrapping (from pre-selected choices, of course) for his gift, and was so excited to give it to Elodie as soon as she came home. 

I gave her a pearl bracelet, a Williams Sonoma Muffin recipe book, a book about the women in Christ's life, and a black wrap that can serve as a shawl or a scarf.