I think I have the messiest craftiest children ever!  This is a good thing, I know, because their brains are active, but so are the scissors, tape, and scraps!

They are currently working on a 3D paper railway, much like his paper race cars and paper airline. I can’t find a link so apparently I haven’t blogged about his paper airlines yet.  He has two separate paper airlines and an airport!

Lex is nice enough to help Eve draw these “blown out” trains as well. They draw the outline, color them in, cut them apart, and then tape the edges together, resulting in a 3D object.

Lex’s first train and coal car, on the tracks. Lex likes to be in the pictures these days. :)

Now they are working on trains.  He made a few trains over the weekend and some tracks connected with metal fasteners.  Today I found some empty Lipton tea boxes (I drink it by the GALLON!) and they both decided to use them for stations. 

Lex’s train station, complete with clock (on top) and ticket counter (inside). It’s actually cool the way he connected the tracks with fasteners so when it’s time to clean up they all fold together and tuck underneath the station.

Eve has a habit of cutting tiny pieces of paper and then taping them to things. While she could use a large piece and tape it once, she much prefers lots of cutting, lots of pieces, and lots of tape. Despite, or perhaps because of, my repeated requests to the contrary. For her it’s more about the ongoing story as she constructs and less about the finished product. In fact, she rarely ever finishes a project, they just continue until I make her stop!

When it was time to clean up she switched games and announced, “Let’s pretend I’m your maid!”  Um, ok!  Turns out she is a very good maid!  She cleaned up all the scraps (with marginal help from Lex), swept the entire kitchen/dining room floor, and helped Lex clean up his mess in the living room.  Then she wanted to vacuum!  I told her it was dinner time and invited her to join us “since my daughter is at a sleep over party tonight and won’t be joining us for dinner.”   The game continued through dinner and afterwards she jumped up and headed for the vacuum cleaner!  While Lex took a bath, Eve vacuumed the office and half of the living room!  She did a pretty decent job of it too.  The game ended when she wet her pants and I made her get in the bath. :)

She swept with the broom and then she Swiffered!

One benefit of their extended crafty periods is it gives me time to make yummy dinners! Tonight was spinach basil pasta with cheesy roasted tomatoes, salad, and cheesy garlic bread. Much of it fresh from today’s CSA pick-up! I like having the kids nearby while I’m in the kitchen. They make me happy. :)

Vacuuming after dinner. She really worked hard!

The freshly clean maid decided she should spend the night here, in my daughter’s princess bed, so she could finish vacuuming in the morning.  Sweet!  The best part is she doesn’t even ask for payment!  I do love my daughter but I sure hope this maid sticks around for awhile!  :)