Summer of artists

This past month or so, Reni has developed a sudden ability to draw things other than scribbles. And he is actually interested in drawing and coloring, and is diligently practicing his own name. A few weeks ago, he and Anika spent about an hour in their prospective rooms, fervently filling up the pages of sketchbooks Armando had brought home for them.

He drew a panda, a lion, and lots of snowmen. I commented on the letter I inside his snowman and he said, no mama, that's his bones! Of course, buddy, of course you would depict a skeleton. Because Olaf is totally REAL.

A few days ago, I got him a composition book because BACK TO SCHOOL SALES, YOU GUYS! Here is the first thing he drew:

It's a bird on a ladder climbing next to the tree and here is his house, mama! he explained. And the sun too! I was pretty impressed. His artistic ability has already matched mine, and will soon be like Anika's (that is to say, galaxies apart from my own ability).

And then I found this in his room tonight:

Then of course there's Anika, our resident artist. I love her enthusiasm and her talent for depicting things in her own way (and her backwards writing, and creative spelling).