Making Penguin Puppets

This is a craft we did one day. We made these penguins after watching the Good Night Show on Sprout. I highly recommend watching it, if you allow your little ones to watch tv. It is perfect for little ones. That channel and Noggin.
We had lots of fun. Mommy did most of the work. While the kids colored on construction paper, but if you ask them they will tell you they made them! We used toilet paper rolls, black construction paper, white construction paper, and a black marker. I taped them together because glue takes to long to dry. I used packing tape. I taped over the entire thing (making it sort of water proof). The kids have been playing with them (off and on) for over a month now!

Make your own laundry soap!

I have seen many recipes lately on the Internet, but they were all basically the same. This is the way I made mine!

Heat 4 cups of water on the stove to almost boil
Add 1 bar of soap shredded I use Dove
Heat until bar is dissolved
I use a 5 gallon bucket (with a lid)
Add 3 gallons of hot water to bucket
stir in soapy water from stove top
stir in 1 cup of arm and hammer washing soda
stir in 1 cup of borax
Let it sit overnight to cool. I usually wait 2 days.

I bought a large pack of soap, borax, the washing soda, metal shredder, and bucket. All of it cost me under 15$. I don't know how much money I have saved but it is a lot!

I reuse the jug from the last bottle of detergent I bought, and just refill it from the bucket. I will have to keep track this time to see how many times I refill the jug. I know the jug cost me around 5 dollars. I have already saved more than enough to pay for the supplies listed above.

I have not noticed any difference using my detergent versus the store bought. (I still have problems with stains, I have 2 toddlers! I don't know if I will ever get rid of all their stains!) If you have any hints on that let me know! If you like scented stuff you can add oils to the mix, but I don't know how much since I haven't done that yet. I am thinking about using lavender! I love the way it smells.

I have no idea why I didn't start doing this before. I still have tons left to make more! This is so easy and fun! Evie helped me this time. She was so happy to help cook! I measured the water then put it into a large bowl. I gave her a measuring cup and she put the water into the pan before I cooked it! Then she helped stir at the end!

Oatmeal box!

This activity is great for days when you are stuck inside. Plus, it is totally safe, even for your tot who has to eat everything, or at least taste it! Yep, it is oatmeal and my kids play with it instead of eating it! The kids have so much fun with it! Mommy loves it because it is cleaner and safer than sand! I have yet to hear someone cry because of oatmeal in their eyes!

Concentrating hard here!

I try to make sure the floor and table are clean before they play, that way I can recycle the oatmeal. For playing another day, not eating. The kids do eat it while they play so I make sure they have water to. Each kids gets a baking pan and measuring cups, spoons, and little toys to play with as well. Then they play. Yeah, they make a mess, but the vacuum sucks it all up. It keeps them busy for so long, it is well worth the mess! It really only takes a few minutes to clean up!

P.s. I have no idea how or why this post is underlined and in a different color! I am really tired, but can't sleep!

Is it time yet?

For the first time in probably 10 years I can not wait for Christmas. My step mom sent presents the first of the month and they have been driving me nuts. Not for me, but for the kids. I can't wait to see them open them. Especially since Evie is older, and once she realizes what they are she will have so much fun. Christopher will copy her and it will be so cute. I am so excited. I can hardly wait! I've been counting down the days since the first.

The only bummer is that with all the expenses of two kids we don't have money to get the rest of the family gifts. We usually buy our parents, brothers, and sisters something. This will be the first year we aren't and it kind of sucks. We are chipping in $50 towards rock band 2 for my little brother and sisters. It is hard when they are so young ages 7, 9, and 11. You really want to get them something. Most of them believe in Santa so it's all the more fun. I would like to get our older brother and sisters something they need, but adults are more expensive.

The tree has been up since after Thanksgiving. The bottom half has slowly lost ornaments. They have been removed from small hands and placed higher up, out of reach. The fear of electric shocks forever haunt my thoughts, due to my son's constant attempts at eating the light bulbs.

We took my daughter to see Santa, at the Bass Pro Shop. She was excited until she sat on Santa's lap then the screams began. The picture was horrible, but I love it anyways. I want to take them both this weekend, and get a pic. I'm sure it will be a smiling Santa and two screaming kids, but if I don't at least get that I will be sad. Evie keeps asking to go see Santa, so maybe she won't cry this time. I'm not getting my hopes up.

All in all I know it will be a great Christmas. I just hope it gets here soon. I don't know how much longer I can keep from giving the kids their presents!

I want to ride the pony!

The other day I was crawling around on all fours picking up toys. When it occurred to me that my daughter has never had a pony ride. So I scooped her up on my back and carried her around while I finished cleaning. She had so much fun. In fact to much fun.

Now I can't get down on the floor or she crawls onto my back. Thankfully she has a short attention span and gets bored or distracted quickly. That's not the worst part though. Yesterday, her brother the scooter was minding his own business when he got an unexpected passenger. Yep, she sat down on his back, more like his bum.

Oh, Yeah I freaked. Before I could get to them he just slowly stretched out his neck and turned his head back to see what was going on. He looked like a turtle! It was so funny, and the look on his face said, "What the heck are you doing?" But then he smiled at her and turned his head back to what ever he was focused on before the interruption. Despite his indifference to his new passenger I removed his sister. Then I said, "Evie, we don't go for pony rides on baby brother!"

Thankfully she is tiny and he's kind of big. She only weighs 20lbs 13oz and he weighs 17lbs. At least they both get along, for now anyways!!