may 1

"We need glue and paper for a nature art project," Laci said to me this morning through the back screen. 

The girls were outside, gathering leaves and sticks and dirt. Noah and I were inside doing dishes, making breakfast, slurping coffee. Well, at least one of us was. 

My first instinct was to say "No." Unsupervised glue isn't usually the best idea. But I was trying to get a few things done, so I handed over a bottle of Elmer's and two sheets of paper. 

Several times I heard, "Mia is putting glue on her hand!" And, "Mia is putting glue on the ground." And "Don't Mia!" And "It's my turn!" 

Laci came in once for tape when the glue wouldn't hold a large branch. And I went out once with a washcloth to remove glue from Mia's hand. But, for the most part, they worked on their own, even helping each other (when I forced them to).

And they created these:

(The first one is Laci's - neat and organized. The second one is Mia's - a bit less orderly).

And I was, am, a proud momma. 

Even when I had to comb glue out of Mia's hair.