Making Play Dough

Little Man and I finally tried making play dough.  It was so easy and fun, we should have done this a long time ago!  We did a stove top method because I've read that it will last longer.  When it was cool enough to knead, I let him go at it.  His very favorite part of the process was shaking glitter onto the dough and kneading it in.  He sat at the table for over an hour and did not want to stop when it was time to get C at school.

It was so much fun we made a pink batch when C got home from school.  She has always loved glitter but I don't love the mess.  Glitter on play dough is fantastic because it doesn't fly all over the place.

We used tools from the kitchen and some plastic scissors that don't cut paper, but are great for play dough and they played for another hour.

This was so much fun we are going to do it again at the toddler play group in a few weeks.

Paper Dolls

I mentioned before how, when I've really got things together, I'll have some after school projects already set up for C.  Here's one that has often been requested, mostly by her Thursday play date pal, so we've had lots of fun with it.  The project was posted on This Mama Makes Stuff.  I've tried using fabric scraps as she described but found that for four-year olds, it's best to use paper.  They especially like it if I've pre-cut some dresses, shorts, etc but I don't always do that.

Here's a hodge podge of decorating bits ready to go.

And some finished dolls.

C's friend loves these so much that for her recent birthday I purchased a small three drawer container from Target and filled it with pre-cut dolls, clothes, new markers, scissors, glue, googly eyes, etc.  It was one of the last birthday gifts opened at the party, and I was afraid she'd not be sure what it was and just toss it aside.  You know how the gift giver--C--waits so long to see the birthday girl's reaction and I was afraid after the plethora of Barbies and Little Petshop that perhaps I'd made a bad choice, but the birthday girl was so excited.

Vegetarian Eating

I don't like to cook meat. We're not vegetarian, but if I'm in charge of the meal (as is the case most weeknights), it's not likely going to include meat.  Also, if I'm in charge of the meal, I'm going to make enough for more than one night.  These burritos are a perfect fit.  My sister-in-law gave me the recipe years ago, and I still use the basic idea.  I don't bother measuring quantities, rather just cut up one each of every vegetable I'd like to include, add LOTS of cumin (the kids enjoy it) and two cans of beans.  I was so inspired by all of the beautiful colors that I took a photo during the cooking process.

This batch contains most of a butternut squash, three small zucchinis, one onion, lots of garlic and one each of red, yellow and green bell peppers.  C helps assemble (don't forget fresh cilantro--my favorite part!) and we always have enough left to wrap individually in foil and place in the freezer for baking on another day.  The kids truly love these and I love that they are a meal all in one.  Yummy!

We love glue!

One of the kids' favorite activities is gluing.  I stocked up when school supplies were on sale, and Little Man has definitely made a dent in the stash.  Here's an example of his work:

Truthfully, many of his projects get thrown away because the giant mound of glue makes the paper quite soggy (I've since learned to use cardboard whenever possible).

 C, on the other hand, is more methodical.  Googly eyes always add to the fun.

One day, I cut paper into several small shapes and we made collages.  I even made two (top left and bottom right).  I like how C stacked the triangles from largest to smallest so made a flower in a similar manner.

Meanwhile, S practiced his cutting skills and made a million bits of paper.  Sorry, no photo to share.  He loves scissors, though.  It took quite awhile for him to learn how to use them (6 months???) but now he is so good that the other day he cut his hair. I can't even say that he was stealth about it--I was sitting right next to him!  I leaned down to pick up paper from the floor, sat back up and he had a giant pile of white hair on his shoulder.  As one of my mom friends said (after her daughter and C both went through similar hair cutting episodes last winter) "I guess you just aren't living life without a messed up hair cut". I know I've had a few at the hands of my sister! :)

Walking to School

Since I'm not computer savvy, all I have is a link, but check out this photo from Walk to School Day.

I can see the future

My little man and his closest cousin are a year apart.  She loves giving him kisses and hugs and he loves receiving them.  I am so looking forward to watching their friendship develop.  Their personalities seems to be a perfect yin and yang.  I could watch them for hours.  What are they thinking right here?