A few weeks ago we had a day where no one could really come up with anything fun to do, despite great effort.  It was a Sunday, and we mostly lazed around the house, but it wasn't the good, complacent kind of laziness; we were bored.

Finally, in the evening, I got busy in a project of my own, repainting an old pegboard of my Mom's.  About that time, Elliot came up with the idea to build a bird house, and to my surprise, my husband obliged.  Not that he isn't the type of Dad to do those things, but it was Sunday evening, and they hadn't planned it, or purchased any special supplies for it.

After quickly looking over our bin of scrap lumber, they found some wood that would work just fine, and I guided them to the hardware bin where they found a hinge.  The internet instructed them on the basic size for finches (I believe it is 6" x 6") and within an hour, they had knocked out this little house.

I pictured it staying the lovely wood color, but Elliot had other ideas, he thought it should be camouflaged into the surroundings.  While he was at day camp the next morning, I headed to Michael's, where I picked up an Apple Barrel brand Paint a Birdhouse kit.  This kit included 2 base colors, 9 smaller pots of paint for accent, and Mod Podge for outdoor use.  Elliot got quickly to work when he returned home, and by dinner, the house was dry enough to be hung in our yard.

Lucie was pretty unhappy that Elliot had special paints that she wasn't able to use, so I told her I'd pick up a birdhouse at the craft store for her to paint.  I headed back that night after she went to bed and got her one, and the next morning she was more than thrilled to paint hers.  I think it looks like a giant cupcake with that thick paint, gooey and sweet like icing.