Making play doh

With two little sick boys this week and LOTS & LOTS of rain, we were pretty much stuck in the house. Needing something fun to do to ease the time, we made play doh the other day. Now, this is the first time I've done this with Lucian. I thought he'd be super excited when I mentioned it. Maybe giggling & acting all silly excited. Instead... he said, "Uhhh, Mama? .... We have play doh from the store.... right in the other room. Did YOU want to play with that? I get it". A little defeated, I just chuckled and said nevermind. Five minutes later, I had a little boy begging to make "special- fun" play dough with me. 


I  don't remember where I got this recipe {if you have a source please let me know}. It's super easy and quick! The best part is the kids can actually do everything but add the hot water. The simple act of actually using his very own hands to make this, has been enough to entertain him for about an hour a day. Unheard of for him! It is special playdoh. So grab your favorite kid & get cooking.

Homemade Play Doh:

2 cups water {Boiling hot}

2 cups of plain flour

1 cup salt

2 tablespoons oil 

4 tablespoons of cream of tartar 
food coloring
Add all ingredients in a bowl. Last step is add hot water. Stir. Allow to dry and get playing.

Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice! We spent the day baking cookies, laughing & enjoying each others company... and the bigger kids got to watch "Attack of the 50 ft Woman" from 1958. Fun times, hee-hee.

Looking forward to a warm, happy winter snuggled up with my children.

Zoo Lights

We visited the Columbus Zoo for our annual zoo lights trip over the weekend. The trip had a rough start this year! Our van has been running poorly for weeks, but we decided to take a chance and drive to the zoo [about 25 minutes away]. Everything seemed to be going fine until we got about 10 minutes from the zoo. The traffic was so bad that it took up over an hour to make it to the parking lot from this point. It was inch by inch driving, {L} was screaming and the bigger kids whining away! Then the van started running SUPER bad and I was sure it was going to break down right in the middle of traffic causing a riot among the cars trapped behind us. In my head I pictured people yelling at us with anything, but Christmas spirit.

Luckily, that scene only played out in my head and we arrived, a little frazzled, but there! The kids had the greatest time. The zoo had several brand new displays this year and it was like being a kid again for me. {L} was so excited to be able to walk around like a big boy with us[not buckled into the stroller] that he didn't even try to run away once-a first for him!

All three children decorated cookies with Mrs. Claus, the highlight of the trip. The cookies were actually pretty gross tasking, but the kids said they were DELICIOUS! Lots of sprinkles and globs of frosting always equals tasty to kids!

Places I've lived...

Great painting from Fauve Bohemian

I have moved around quite a bit in my life. I've been thinking about the different places lately and thought I'd share.

I grew up in a large, old, green house on the West side of Cleveland. We moved to the house when I was in first grade. It was the first house that my parents owned, and we were so excited! It was large and drafty in the morning and downright cold in the winter. My sister and I used to fight about who got to stand in front of the metal heather gratein our dining room, each morning. You had to be careful though, it got so hot that it would burn your legs if you touched it.

I consider this to be my childhood house. We moved out when I was in 8th grade and I was devastated. I missed my friends, my room and the comfort of the large, strange old house that had become my home.

from A Punkin Card Company