DRAWING

The girls have really enjoyed drawing lately. Mali pointed out to me yesterday that Greta has started drawing "pictures" (by this she means not scribbling). It's true. She still scribbles, but she now draws detailed faces and clearly is mapping out what is in her imagination. Mali has turned a corner and has really experimented with putting what is in her mind on the paper. She comes up with such interesting things to draw or paint: A mermaid jumping out of the sea, ready to dive back in, catching a fish on the way; A tall barn with a tiny chicken in a high up window that is sitting on her nest. For me, it has been an enlightening glimpse into her mind.

They have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful easel. I highly recommend it -- from IKEA. It's a dry erase board on one side, chalk board on the other, and has a roll of paper that can be arranged for painting. Also, it's cheap (of course). The girls have enjoyed coloring pictures together. Here they drew an octopus in a rainbow sea. Mali drew the octopus (carefully counting out the legs), Greta drew the rainbow sea around it. Mali drew a few colorful fish, and Greta drew the shark (on the right).




They also enjoy each having a side, and then switching.




It is such a thrill for me to see them bouncing back and forth like this, and then coming together to work on something cooperatively. I find myself clinging on to this, hoping that we will all be able to hold on to this peace through the years, hoping that their relationship will be this much like a partnership for years to come.