Wild things

For your viewing pleasure, here is an elephant that Phoebe created this morning: 

She used paint, markers, glue, and googly eyes.

Zoë created this lovely "fan art" of the cover of Wild Robot:

She used a collage technique, drawing certain segments on different papers, cutting them out, and assembling them on this big piece of paper. She did really well—putting her own touch on things, but paying close homage to the original artwork.

Phoebe wanted to draw Roz as well (that's the robot's name), so Zoë gave her a little lesson on how to draw the wild robot and that seemed to go very well as well:

*****

Unrelated to art, but related to interesting creatures, we went on a walk before bed this evening to get out some of our post-dinner...sillies. When we came home, I pointed out the shimmery trails left behind snails figure skating on the smooth concrete of our front porch. 

"Do you see those shimmering lines?" I asked Phoebe.

"Yeah," she said. "What are they?"

"They were left behind by snails."

*gag* Phoebe gagged. "Snails *gag* left those?"

"Yes..." I said. 

"Terrible animals," she said, shuddering. *gag*

So apparently she does not like snails. Who knew?

Or perhaps it's because she was imagining their slimy mucous-covered bodies. But I'm really not sure about that because the other day when we were on a walk, Rachel asked for a high five. Phoebe gave her a high five. Rachel asked for a fist bump. Phoebe gave her a fist bump. Rachel asked for a power point. Phoebe gave her a power point. 

"Now wipe your nose up and down your arm," I suggested.

"No, don't!" Rachel said...as Phoebe pretended to wipe her nose on her arm. 

"Now pick your nose and wipe it on Rachel!" Alexander cackled. 

"No, don't!" Rachel screeched...as Phoebe stuck her finger deep into her nose.

She dug around and dug around and we asked her to just stop, but she said, "Alexei said!!" and dug around until she struck gold. 

"Oh, Rachel," she said, waggling around her finger with that glistening booger on the end of it. 

"No!" Rachel said. "No way!"

"Then what do I do with it?" Phoebe wanted to know. 

"Aw, just flick it," I suggested.

"Okay..." Phoebe said, sticking her tongue out and licking that booger. 

"MOM SAID FLICK!" Rachel howled in agony. "Ffffffflick! Not lick!"

"Oh," Phoebe shrugged. "Too late."

So I don't think it could be the slimy mucous-covered bodies that bothers her about snails. I wonder what it is.

(And to preemptively assuage any family members who might feel inclined to point out that I was once an avid booger-eater...I'll admit it myself first. Isn't it wonderful that we get to grow up?)