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.

Spring is Here!

What better way to celebrate the arrival of Spring than a Spring Equinox Tea Party? We had so much fun over the weekend celebrating the sunny [and hopefully healthy] season ahead.

Fruit, cookies, tea, cakes and friends= the perfect combo! I spent the week leading up to the stitching the embroidered tea coasters. I think they were the perfect touch for the day, even the boys liked theirs.

I think we may have to add this to our annual events list.

Snow Day

Another Snow Day here today, well I guess it should be called an ice day. A thick layer of ice covered everything here last night. Looks like we will spend the day crafting some Valentine's, and staying warm.

These pictures were taken last week when we went sledding-for the FIRST time. Having grown up in Cleveland, it may seem insane to family that they have never been. It's just something you do with your kids back home! If you are old enough to stand, someone will take you sledding!

Our sledding adventure lasted all of about 10 minutes. Miss {M} was the first to be "over it", quickly followed by Mr. {D} and then Little {L}. The baby was over it before it started. I think he protested the moment I tried to put his hat & coat on. Maybe you can play with the kids next year, baby J!

I can't believe you put me in this foolish hat Mama!

Out-takes

Some fun outtakes from our Kunklebaby photoshoot today. I've had a huge PILE of stuff sitting here for 2 months waiting to be photographed so I could add it to my shop. We had a few spare minutes today so I decided to try and get some shots... and add Baby {J} to the Kunklebaby model mix. {haha}. He's 8 months old today! Can you believe it? He's so cute I can't even stand it!

Seriously? How many pics are you going to take Mama??

Biggest Brother feeling left out.

Almost done when who should show up? Batman! Little {L} was all dressed in his Batman gear, even sporting the Batman scowl. {did you all know Batman never smiles? I do now}

You can check out what made the "cut" in the shop. I'll be adding some new bibs through the weekend. Lots of girlie one's too. Take a peek at the CUTE shots!

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.

It's Official

We've been to the pumpkin patch-fall has officially arrived for us. The irony of it was the weather-in the 80's today. This was the warmest it's ever been for us on a trip to the patch over the years. We are usually in sweatshirts, when it's "warm" and wool coats & hats on cold years. We also had friends to share the day with, which made it extra fun for the kids.

Ohhh, how I love the pumpkin patch and fall. So happy you've arrived.

A day of homeschooling

Our day of learning included some singing, dancing, playing with ducks, playing with friends, honking swans and a cute baby [haha]. Mr. {D} has started his second year of homeschooling. We are currently studying habitats, specifically forest animals. A trip to the zoo was in order to see a few of these animals first hand. Did you know a timber wolf [averaging 175 pounds] is more than twice the size of the smaller Mexican Wolves?

I love the freedom to learn "how" we want with homeschooling. I just finished a whole lesson plan for a year with a focus of photography for {D}. He would never have been able to take photography lessons in first grade in a traditional school. It allows him to flourish, be creative and incorporate letters, text, reading, science, art & design all at the same time. Lots of fun projects in the works-so perfect for him. So be prepared to see a few of his pics throughout the next year.

The only little hitch with homeschooling this year, is having Miss {M} enrolled in a traditional elementary school. We lose 1.5 hours a day to travel. In the car, outta the car, to pick up and drop off with 4 kids takes quite a bit of time [and a few meltdown from our resident toddler]. -sigh- Just the lunch making and shoe finding in the morning is exhausting. I'm tired and it's day 3...4? Of well, I guess it will work itself into a rhythm over time. I'm just excited to still share my day with my oldest son. A piece of my heart leaves every morning with my daughter, as she bounces into her school. I don't think it gets easier, you just get used to it.

One more time

Swimming, one more time, before the summer is over. Live in the moment,and enjoy life!

Over the Weekend

Over the weekend, Miss {M} went to her very first sleepover! What's more fun than a plain, old sleepover? Mama, with little nursling, Baby {J} tagging along. We stayed at my college roommate's [and long-lost friend] home. The little girls watched movies, ate pizza & cookies and giggled. The mom's watched movies, ate pizza & cookies, reminisced about college while giggling. A great mix of old & new friends-fun times for all.

Indoor picnic

We had big plans for a fun picnic day earlier this week. Rain clouds and mud decided that our plans were best for another day. A few sad faced children, and we were all prepared for an indoor picnic! Corn on the cobb, apple mash, colorful peppers and some noodles=perfect & fun.

You won't stop us rain! If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Enjoy the day!

Nature Walk

We spent the day on a nature walk with friends! It was really nice to get some fresh air and sunshine. Although I can't say a day at the park with six kids is actually "relaxing", it was super fun! While we only spotted a few birds and spiders, the kids were on the lookout for wolves & deer. [and Little {L} was desperate to avoid any snakes]. A quick trip around the playground and a little picnic capped off the afternoon.

Team Edward vs. Team Jacob-grrrr! haha just kidding!

This cool tree reminded me of a giant octopus coming to the sea surface to snatch up ships.

New friends-best friends!

Flashback Friday

This is right about the time every year that I start lusting for Fall. When it's 100 degree's and the sun is beating down on me, I think, fall is so so lovely! So for Flashback Friday this week, I'm thinking of fall. We take a trip each year to Reznik's pumpkin patch in southern Ohio. They have as many pumpkins as you can carry for a set price. Each year the kids try and get their Daddy to carry more than the year before. [Pretty soon his arms are going to break on a trip-haha]

This was Little {L}'s first year to the patch. He enjoyed chewing on pumpkin vines most of all [yeah, gross!]. We've been going since {D} & {M} were babies. It's on the the fall activities that I look forward to most of all. Just a fun day hanging out at the farm. They always have some bluegrass band playing, scarecrow making booth, lots of yummy goodies in their shop also.

So I'm ready for you, Fall! Bring it on.

The Ohio State Fair

We spent the weekend at the Ohio State Fair. Going to the fair is one of my favorite summer activities. I look forward to it every spring, in eager anticipation. I loved the fair before I had kids, dragged along hubby[who was only boyfriend at the time] several times each year. Now that we have kids, I have a few more people, chanting with me, YAY the fair! While Daddy rolls his eyes and groans. Just like my little brother hates the zoo, Daddy hates going to the fair. He quotes the same reasons, the heat, the walking... I just don't understand! Who hates these thing? Every year we win and go 1-3 times, despite his protest for just ONCE this year. Look at all the fun we had! How could you not want to go back, say today? Hmmm, Dad?

A friendly 7 day old cow wanting to play! He was so cute!

Feeding Goats and a yak [yay] at the petting zoo. Look, they are both smiling!

The happiest baby is the world!

The kids--we fill out the whole board this year with the kids only.


Yellow submarine...nothing to do with the "fair" but so fun!

Baby Unicorn hanging out in the Moby wrap with mama-he slept most of the trip. This year marks his first year at the fair. [and yes, I may enjoy feeding the animals more than my kids-haha]