Family Drawing Time

We do art projects pretty regularly around here, but after reading a post at WhipUp about Family Drawing Time, I'm trying to make this a more regular thing. I've expanded it a little bit for now. We draw at the beginning in our sketch books, then I break out another project. Yesterday we did oil pastels with watercolors (which is a beautiful effect and children can make some pretty frameworthy art with this) and today we made trees out of circles. I found some lids around the house that we stamped in paint. Emma of course, takes it the extra mile and glues glitter "ornaments and snowflakes" on everything. After talking with a friend who is a mother/artist about art with children, I'm trying to keep things as open as I can--giving direction on how to use the supplies, without any pressure about what the finished product looks like.
I'm enjoying this regular relaxing time of coming around the kitchen table to create. I save my cup of coffee for this time in the morning. I work in my idea journal, we put on some good music....I may not always have a big project planned, but being together, pulling out all of our supplies with endless possibilities is relaxing and inspiring.
(I think this is why Mary enjoys Family Drawing Time--the washing of hands afterwards).