Fun Things To Do At Home

We are going to be at home until January 6th with no school so I dug out some fun things to do at home during the break-some of them I found on-line.

Homemade Play Dough

Traditional Play Dough

* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup warm water
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon oil
* 1/4 cup salt
* food coloring

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.


Uncooked Playdough

* Bowl
* 1 cup cold water
* 1 cup salt
* 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
* Tempera paint or food coloring
* 3 cups flour
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:
1. In bowl, mix water, salt, oil, and enough tempera paint or food coloring to make a bright color.
2. Gradually add flour and cornstarch until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough.
3. Store covered.

Oatmeal Playdough

* 1 part flour
* 1 part water
* 2 parts oatmeal
* Bowl

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl; mix well and knead until smooth.
2. This playdough is not intended to be eaten, but it will not hurt a child who decides to taste it.
3. Store covered in refrigerator.
4. Your child can make this playdough without help; however, it doesn't last as long as cooked playdough.



Edible Finger Paint

Required: 3 Tbs. Sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water

Mix sugar and cornstarch. Add 2 cups of cold water. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Add food coloring.


Goop

Required: Cornstarch, large bowl and water

Mix one box of cornstarch and l cup of water in a large bowl. Explore with hands, spoons, utensils, etc.


Have a bunch of old or broken crayons? Try this to reuse those crayon pieces.

Required: Oven, muffin tins, muffin liners (foil) and broken crayons

For a colorful affect, crush up broken crayons. Place small pieces of crayon in a lined muffin tins. Place in oven at 250 degrees until pieces are completely melted. Cool and use as a crayon. Best done when the windows of the house can be opened.

I guess I am a blogger wanna be, ha! I haven't posted in a long time. Granted we did have a baby and have been adjusting to life ever since. I never did expect it to be so hard going from 1 kid to 2. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I never thought of it being quite this hard. It's just challenging. We had a little bit of the terrible two's-we are experiencing the wretched three's. I don't know how families do it with 3 or more kids. Not so much with the every day tasks but just trying to pour into those little lives equally. Some days I feel so emotionally spent. I would think that someone would be left out or their feelings hurt. I am totally content with our sweet family of 4. That gives me a enough laundry to do, toys to clean up, and schedules to maintain.

I hope that 4 years old is the year of change & great attitudes. I wonder when that phase is. I feel like our son is so spoiled. How do you get them to grasp that life could be much worse? How do you teach a 3 year old to be grateful for this things he has and not take it for granted? What kid should complain if he gets to go out to eat for a fun treat whether we get to go to Chick-Fil-A or McDonalds? I remember when we got to go to McDonalds as a kid-it was a big deal and fun! Gabe whines & complains if we don't go to his choice place. I am struggling with knowing how to teach them gratefulness at such a young age. Lately, if he doesn't take care of his toys & doesn't clean them up when he needs to we have been taking them away for a period of time so that he understands that we need to take care of the things he has and if not than he doesn't need to have it.

Why is it that when Gabe is one on one with me all day...playing, doing our routine of activites that he is great and as soon as Daddy comes home and we are both here he turns into this miserable, temper tantrum, whiny kid. It mades me wonder where the sweet boy I have been playing with all day went to.

I just don't know if this behavior is normal or not...