which Kate was SO proud of herself for. Kate approached me (Sat am) holding her red crayon and excitedly said “I draw on the wall for you”. I seriously shreiked… not something I could be proud of her for and it became something I screamed at her for… Kate took her little red crayon and drew on the window sill and the sage green wall in the dining room. I was so mad (although I think my lack of patience was perpetuated by me being home alone with the kids for two days – Shad had an adventure race in VT). I immediately sent her to the naughty step and finished getting ready for his classmates birthday party which was to start ten minutes from the current time. It was really a whole morning of issues…. anyway about two minutes later I had taken my deep breaths and went to retrieve Kate from the stair. Oddly, she was not there… I called her and she told me she was in the bathroom getting bath toys. I remarked in a sharp tone, “you come back and sit on the step.” She whimpered yet complied.

On Sunday morning we were downstairs together – she looked up at me and said “No draw on walls, only paper”. I picked her up and hugged her and asked if she would like some paper. Kids can be so cute… it’s a killer.

NOTE: Magic Eraser takes crayon off sills and off painted walls. Thanks Cole.