An artist discovers a new medium

Tuesday night I worked late at the office. Coming home on the train, Eric calls me and says "Where can you get Baby Orajel toothpaste at this hour?"

Oh, Lord. The fact that we have 3 tubes of it already is not a good sign.

"Why, what happened?"

"Well, I went upstairs because I heard little footsteps running around and was greeted by 'It's ok, daddy. I'm going to sleep now.' " Anything prefaced by "It's okay" is never ok.

Eric goes on: "Nevermind that he had already been tucked in 1/2 hour ago. I walk in his room, the lights are all on, and I am overwhelmed by this smell...'What is that smell Jakie?'

'It's toothpaste, daddy.'

'Where is the toothpaste, Jakie?'

'It's on my trucks.'"

Turns out, he had smeared toothpaste--tons of clear, sticky fruit-flavored orajel all over these little wooden truck-shaped cutouts that were previously painted and magic markered.

He stuck some beads to the toothpaste to make a whole new and different art project! Nevermind the mess. His room smells great.