Back to School

It's mid August - about that time where we start getting ready for the new school year. It's easy to transition from days at the Aquarium, the Zoo, the water parks, beaches, and parks, to getting lost in Staples, Wal-Mart, and Target - buried up to your eyes in supply lists, binders, notebooks, and pencils. 

But the hard part is going from seeing your child all day, everyday to seeing them in the afternoon, when they get home, through until bedtime (which may be only a few hours). It's also hard knowing that for 6 to 7 hours out of the day someone else is going to be taking care of your child. There's also nothing more heartbreaking than trying to drop off your little one at school and having them cling to your leg, begging you not to leave them.

So, here's a fun little idea that I found to make that sad parting feeling a little easier. Maybe only daughters will want to wear it. For sons, try matching keychains. This lets them know that you're thinking of them just as much as they're thinking of you while their at school. 

Also, try explaining that you have to work, just like they have to go to school. Reassure them that you'll be there after school to pick them up and you'll see them tonight and offer to have them help you make dinner or play a game, so that way they don't feel like they're completely losing their quality time with you.

I bleck, you bleck, we all bleck for Oobleck!

Yesterday was pretty gloomy. The clouds were low and by last night around 8 o'clock it was raining. There was no keeping the kids busy last night. It was like our house had its own full moon! After dinner I went into the kitchen, looking for something to keep them occupied. I was thinking maybe baking some cookies or maybe we could make some Jello Play Doh. However, when I saw the familiar yellow container that read Argo cornstarch on the front, I had an even better idea! We were going to make Oobleck*.

There are plenty of fun things to do with Oobleck, but first, here's what you'll need:

Newspapers

2 Cups. Cornstarch

1 Cup. Tap water

2 Drops of food coloring (optional)

Bowl

Start by covering your work area with newspapers. Whether you're preparing it by yourself, or you have little hands helping you, this is guaranteed to make a bit of a mess. Next, poor the water into the bowl. Add the food coloring. Gradually add the cornstarch to the colored water. Feel free to use your hands to mix this. Knead it like dough until it's all mixed together. 

Oobleck is fun because it's a liquid, but can act like a solid and there are some simple things you can do with it. It's great for hands on time with the kids and it's also great for sensory purposes. It's smooth, almost slimy.

Your Oobleck can be rolled into a ball. Once you've rolled it into a ball (you must rub it together quickly), let it sit in your hand with your hand flat out and watch it go from solid to liquid. It will begin to run through your fingers. While it's in the bowl, hit the Oobleck. It will harden with the force from your hand, but then if you rest your hand on it, it will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Lay it flat on the table and then you can drag your finger through it quickly. If you have some exposed speakers, use some plastic wrap to cover them, poor your Oobleck into it and turn the music up! Watch the Oobleck dance around (videos can be found on YouTube). 

When finished, Oobleck can be stored in an air tight container for later fun!

Until next time!

A

*Keep in mind that Oobleck will be mess, but remember that mess is all part of the creative process! 

New-Parent Survival Kit

There are a lot of things that you're going to want to have in the car as a new parent. You're not going to remember everything for yourself, especially, when you're worrying about getting the baby out the door. This could also make a great baby shower gift!

1. Baby Lotion: This will make soft skin for baby and parent.
2. Diapers/Travel Baby Wipes/Desitin:  For on the go diaper changes.
3. Hand Sanitizer: For after those diaper changes, pumping gas, or a quick, temporary wash after the park.
4. Onesies/Back Up Outfit: As a new parent, you're going to quickly learn that accidents happen. Spilled milk or juice, vomit, and poop.
5. Burping Cloths: Protect your clothes because that back up outfit isn't for you.
6. Gripe Water: Great for babies with colic, gas and upset stomach, hiccups, and pain from teething.
7. Extra Toys: When you're stuck in traffic, there's nothing worse than a bored baby or toddler when you're stuck in traffic.
8. Blanket: Good for the one you forgot at home when you were on our way to your in-law's or when they get sleepy in the car and need something to cuddle up with.
9. Extra Pacifiers:  These will be your life saver when he/she doesn't want to sleep or play and just wants to cry.
10. Tylenol: To ease your headaches from the day.
11. Altoids/Wisps: For when you don't have time to brush your teeth before running out the door to drop your child off and get to work on time.
12. Hairbrush/Hairspray: This is for when you forgot to brush your hair or all you had time to do was rake your fingers through it. The best time to fix your hair will be you're sitting in 8AM traffic.
13. Facial Tissues: For the smudged make up that's still on your face from the day before or the stress tears you cried when you were rushing trying to get out the door.

Any new parent can use this! And check out the checklist, too! That'll come in handy!

Play Doh: Fun to Play with, Not to Eat

Play Doh is something we all grew up with: that iconic yellow can with the red logo on the label. Anyone, no matter how old they are, will always enjoy squishing their fingers through the colorful, malleable dough. But, Play Doh is expensive. Especially when the kids leave it out, don't put the cover on tight enough, or it just gets old enough that it starts to dry and crack.

So, instead of paying $18.00 every couple of months for a 24 pack of Play Doh at Toys R Us (never mind how much you spend on the different accessories), spend some time with your child, making your own Play Doh, that at least when it gets left out, you don't feel like you've dumped $20 down the drain! Making Play Doh is fun and easy for little hands!

All you need is:
1 Cup of All-Purpose White Flour
1/2 Cup of Table Salt
2 Tablespoons of Cream of Tartar
2 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
1 3 ounce package of Jello (individual Kool Aid packets also work)
, flavor of your choice. (Keep in mind that the flavor that you choose will be the end result color and scent. For example, if you choose green, it will be lime scented and green colored).
Plastic cookie cutters for hours of fun after it's finished (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Additional Food Coloring (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This will be great for your little one to help with. Once mixed, pour the contents of the bowl into a non-stick sauce pan and heat over a MEDIUM flame. This burns easily, so don't use high heat. Stir continuously - a rubber spatula will work the best. It will become lumpy, clumpy, and then finally smooth out, ending in a ball that looks exactly like Play Doh in your pan.

Let cool for 20-30 minutes outside of the pan before letting little hands dig into it. Once cooled, allow your child to knead it. It will probably be sticky, so mix in a little more flour - no more than half a cup - just until the stickiness is gone. If you wish for bolder colors, at this point you can feel free to add a few drops of food coloring to help. Also, feel free to mix in a little glitter to make it sparkle!

Now, let them have at it! They'll get hours of entertainment out of this simple recipe and your wallet will get a huge break! Not to mention the time that you spent with them! When they're all done, store the dough in separate Tupperware containers for later use!

Enjoy!

Vacation Week!

Don't let yourself get too stressed out this week. When you're home and the kids are home, there are plenty of things to do.

Bake some cookies with them. Kids love the hands-on experience of baking. Cooking is no longer something that only Mom and Dad do in the kitchen and they're told to stay out because the stove is too hot. And they get the proud feeling, knowing that the end product is something that they made.

Print out some coloring pages and break out the crayons, colored pencils, markers, and if you're feeling brave, glitter glue. 

Grab some old cola bottles and make a mini tornado or go outside and make it a science lesson with the different animals and insects that you see. 

No matter what you do, you're child is just going to be happy to spend time with you. So remember: quality over quantity. 

You may end up feeling like this at the end of each day, but it's from spending time with your child and that's the best kind of worn out and tired feeling there is.