I suspect this is a dilemma facing all parents.  What to do with the unending supply of papers that come home from school?

For papers, or flat items, there are endless ideas online.  However, 3D art seems trickier.  For one, its hard to capture it as well in a photo.  Second, its just plain hard to store.  Third, its often hard to display.  So what do you do?

I have the usual array of pinch pots, painted flower pots, and plates.  But, more recently I’ve started getting 3D cardboard and papermache structures – beyond the usual clay formations.  Some are to large for diaper boxes even.

I guess push will come to shove and some will definitely hit the trash.  For others – I’m thinking more durable, but smaller items – I will store them for a bit to see if the boys miss them.  If the papers are any guide they won’t.

I got word a few weeks back that one of these had appeared near us.  The box has actually been there since the fall, but I was under the mistaken impression that items needed to be in good condition to go in.  I’ve only recently determined that this is a textile recycling box, vs a donation box.

Anyway, I expect to fill up a bag to take over soon as we cycle from winter to summer clothes.  I’ve come across another batch of socks with holes.  It’s painfully apparent that there are many items that will not survive as hand-me-downs after this winter.  At this point I’m making a mental note while I let them wear the clothes to play outside, but I’m not going to store them.

Finally, my twin who prefers chinos had 4 pairs he was cycling through.  When I was getting ready for the memorial service I figured I had him covered for nice clothes.  But, no!  It turns out 3 of 4 pairs had holes in the knees – varying in significance but enough that all will come out of circulation immediately.  The 4^th was in my repair pile for some buttons that had come off.  As it is he is on the verge of moving to the next size, of which I already found him a few pairs of chinos.  So, first wearing was to the memorial service.

The boys are off this week and without thinking too hard we’ve got lots to do.

Monday was Patriots Day.  We were going to go to the parade, but it was canceled because of awful weather – very cold rain and high winds.  So, I took advantage of the cold (40s), wet spring day to make a big, oven heavy dinner.  It does not match my menu (link to 4/20).  We had ham, baked cauliflower, homemade egg bread, green beans, raisin sauce, and homemade cheese cake.  The boys did not like the cheesecake, but we made them all try some.  They’ve never had it before and the idea of cheese in cake was really throwing them all off.

Tuesday I took them bowling.  My 4y has been asking for this for a few weeks now.  I’d intended for us to play two games, but the 2y wasn’t really interested and the 9y lost the first game and therefore all interest.  So we came home.  The weather was beautiful so after lunch they went outside.  The trouble with outside this time of year is you get this:

I’ve told them they need to clean it off and not repeat that feat as it isn’t fair to those who don’t want to get dirty to have their play things covered with mud.

Today the older three have dentist appointments so we’ll all be along for that trip.  Tomorrow we have a memorial service to attend.  Friday we have nothing scheduled.  I’m hoping for nice weather so the boys can be outside all day before heading back to school next week.