Brothermade

The most charming part about this Christmas was watching all of the elving. Miles and Johannes in particular spent the whole month around corners and behind doors working on and wrapping projects for their brothers. I suggested and helped with a few activities, but they did so much by themselves. By the time Christmas arrived, I believe I may have been as excited as they were to see it all unwrapped. Here are  some ideas for your little elves (and here are some more from another year).

Willem (4) made fewer items than anyone else, but I believe he may have had a double helping of joy in the process as evidenced by his abundant grins giggles and belly chuckles. He used watercolors to paint a couple of pinewood trucks he picked out at an estate sale for Sijmon. For Miles he used glitter glue and pom-poms to make a tree. I made a simple cape for Johannes and Willem used potato stamps to decorate it with star and his first initial. The cape, by the way has barely left Johannes's neck since Christmas and he talks frequently about what a great gift it was that Willem made.

Johannes (6) kept busy with lots of secret projects including an apron and feather decorated vase for me and a poster for Miles. He also used porcelain paints to decorate a plate for Miles. I believe my favorites were the board books he made. Sijmon's is a nativity theme (note the pregnant stick figure Mary). Willem's is all about a digger truck. So cute. I picked up the books from Bare Books.

Together Miles and Johannes cut and decorated some over-sized shipping boxes to make a car and a house for their younger brothers. The details that went into the dashboard were wonderful, buttons to turn it into a boat or a plane and an ignition with a key.

Miles (9) made a rocket and bouncy ball for Johannes using this recipe. He also made a baby doll for Sijmon because Sijmon loves babies. Indeed he has loved the doll since he first opened it.