Arts and crafts (and little scraps of paper under the dining room table all the time)

The second half of 2009 was all about Phineas and Ferb. I freely admit I have no problem with this obsession. It's completely appropriate for first and third graders, and I don't have to worry about Leah singing about beer during school hours (The Simpsons) or saying "Hello, stupid" (any number of Charlie Brown specials). It's also pretty subversive. I've been known to laugh out loud when Agent P and Dr. Doofenschmirtz fight each other using infomercial products, and if I hear the song "S.I.M.P (Squirrels In My Pants)," the kids have to tolerate me singing along. Ever the photographer, if Leah manages to finagle a turn with the camera, she pauses a Phineas and Ferb episode and takes a picture of the TV screen:


Lauren, meanwhile, has been showing quite a flair for arts and crafts, and decided to do her own homage to the show. One afternoon, she made paper Fireside Girl hats and sashes (complete with crazy patches like the ones Isabella earns on the show) for herself, Maddie, and their friend Emma. She also made cutouts of Phineas, Ferb, and Perry:



Obviously, I think they're pretty cool, but I'm her mother. However, the fact that Leah kept trying to steal them was a pretty strong endorsement.

But talent like this does not develop in a vacuum. It takes practice and dedication. Lauren began her cutout career much closer to home, by making a cutout of Maddie as a toddler:

As you can see, she approached this project with the usual reverence we Hamiltons show our loved ones: