Daily Activity: My Name

Items Needed:
Paper
Pen or permanent marker
Clear contact paper or sheet protector
Crayon or dry erase marker
Damp cloth

Help your child learn to print their name. Print your child's name and place in a sheet protector. D wrote over it with a dry erase maker and wiped it off with a damp cloth.

Every time he'd finish tracing a letter, he'd say "YES"! It was so cute!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Motivational Monday

Some things that always get me moving...

Soccer Practice

Soccer Practice!

What I Love About You D

1. I love how you're so sweet
2. I love when you come up to me and say, "I want a kiss" with your lips already to go. :]
3. I love that you are Mommy's little helper
4. I love your contagious laugh, the one that's truly laughter. I also love to hear it from another room, it puts a smile on my face.
5. I love your crinkle face
6. I love when you say pirate slang. Like Ahoy Matey! Yo Ho Ho, and call me Cap't Mom
7. I love how when you finish tracing a letter of your name you say, YES!
8. I love when you say, "I'm going to miss him" when we drop Daddy S off to work, or if he goes to bed earlier than us.
9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your imagination
10. I love when you think T has gotten hurt you'll come running from wherever you are in a panic to kiss him better and say, "D to the rescue!"
11. I love how you run up to me after a day at preschool, scream, "MOOOM" and wrap your arms around my legs
12. I love collecting your artwork masterpieces (to me)
13. I love seeing you learn something new
14. I love that you've taken on the role of Big Brother with such pride, enthusiasm, and excitement.
15. I love the things you bring to my life. Without you, I don't know where my life would have gone. But because of you my life has deepened, become enriched, worth meaning, and lively. I thought I'd be the one teaching you the importance of life, however you're the one teaching me. I'm truly grateful to be your Mom and I love you beyond measure. <3

Cleaning Stove Burners

Have nasty grimy stove burners? So did I and I've always hating cleaning them! I still hate cleaning them this way but it is SOO much easier. I just cannot stand the smell of Ammonia! ICK!

I took one burner and put it into a large Ziploc bag and poured A LITTLE bit of Ammonia into it. I left it outside to soak on a baking sheet for 12 hours or more. I'd then just rinse it off. EASY. Warning though, expect STRONG fumes!

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Mopping Floors

I used to just use Lysol to mop our floors but I've recently decided to be more green about our living. I wanted to go back to simpler things and things with less chemicals. Now I mostly clean with a squirt of dish soap, and a little vinegar (about 1/4 C) in hot water. Once a month I'll add 1/4 C baking soda. THIS CLEANS SO WELL!

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Earring Holder

I originally had my earrings hanging from my hair tie/headband basket but I came across this idea..

Found the frame at a thrift store, the mesh backing at Home Depot and the flowers at a craft store.

The inspiration...

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P.S. I Love You

 My Husband and I leave one another notes on this. We'll then move it to their side of the bed. I LOVE my Husband's sweet thoughts. He's seriously the best! I couldn't ask for anything better. <3

Easy to make, frame, and a lined piece of paper. I've always loved handwritten notes and letters so the lined paper brings that feel to it.

Other versions:

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Our Week Frame

Here's Our Week Frame.

Right now nothing is written on it except for breakfast! I stopped writing what was for dinner on it because I made a Menu board. I usually write down schedule of TV shows that the adults watch (we hardly watch TV and we (I) always forget what day the shows I've been waiting all year for are on) like Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. I also write down doctor appointments, dentist appointments, birthdays, play dates, etc. The only downfall is not actually having enough space for a full length calendar. I always forget what day it is. So sometimes I even write the numbers of what that week has under the weekday. For example, Sunday is the 12th, Monday is the 13th etc. I purchased the frame at Walmart along with the scrap paper. I had the week stickers already on hand.

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Daily Activity: Salt Dough Handprints and Footprints

I made one of these when D turned one and I wanted to make one for T as well. I like this version better. With D's I bought a plaster kit from the store. It was a royal pain. Dried too quickly. With this recipe I also plan to make play dough. It was a fun consistency to play with.

Salt dough recipe:

1 cup salt

1 cup plain flour

Half a cup of warm water

Mix together into a large bowl and knead it until smooth and stretchy. This last part is important otherwise the dough remains sticky and quite granular from the salt. If it is still too sticky add a bit more flour, if too dry and crumbly then add a tiny touch more water. A little bit of trial and error is all that is needed and it really is so easy!

I then placed the dough into a round aluminum pan with wax paper. Baked it for 3 hours at 100 degrees.

Here's another recipe for plaster hand and footprints:

Items Needed:

Patch plaster or plaster of Paris

1 1/4 C water

Tin can

Mixing spoon

Paper plates

Picture hook (optional)

To make the plaster mix, stir 2 C of patch plaster or plaster of Paris and one and a quarter C water in a tin can. The mixture should be as thick as pea soup so it can cast without air bubbles. Plaster of Paris dries in about 10-20 min, while patch plaster takes 20-40 min. I'd recommend patch plaster.  

To make a cast of your child's hand or footprint, pour one inch of plaster mix onto a paper plate. Wait 2 min for plaster of paris, 6 min for patch plaster. Have your child press her hand or foot gently into the plaster and make sure not to go to the bottom of the plate. Hold for a min or two and remove. Hopefully the little one will hold still long enough. D didn't and that's why it was a pain. Let the imprint sit overnight, then peel the plate from the print. If you want, glue a picture hook the the back to hang.