Making Magical Memories

Amid the endless loads of laundry that need folded and the dishes that are done for 5 minutes before there are more I see two tiny people that I am in charge of each and every day. Maybe it is the fact that we have been at home for almost two weeks sick, or maybe its the new year and thoughts of goals and hopes for the year dominate ones thoughts. Or maybe it is the fact that the holidays just ended and the holidays are magical for every age. But it has made me think about how my time is spent each day. 

I know there are tasks and chores that must be done. Laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and meal preparations. But, with that never ending list in mind and my to do list in the back of my head what do our days look like to my kids? As we make yet another trip to Walmart or Target and they try to sit patiently in the cart while I bribe them with treats are they having fun? Maybe. Maybe not. While I put on another pointless cartoon so I can clean up the house and do the dishes are their brains slowly turning to mush as they are trained to become the couch potatoes and video game junkies that I swore my kids would never be? 

Life happens. Life cannot always be fun or entertaining. As parents we can't bounce from one fun activity to the next without teaching our children about the other equally important parts of life. But, I feel life is full of much more than I am showing them at the moment and for that I feel truly guilty. I am tired. Exhausted really. I have not slept more than a few hours at a time in nearly 4 years. I'm also a perfectionist and tend to bite off more than I can chew. I want to be everything for everyone. I need to be better at finding balance and I need to be better and making magic for my kids. 

We are all children only once. We experienced everything as children with wonderment and enthusiasm. That seems to change the older you get. Until you have children. Then you get a chance to experience it again. Snow. The first flowers or spring. Baby animals. Baby siblings. Fireworks on the 4th of July. The changing of the seasons. Carving pumpkins. The magic or Christmas. All of these things and everything in between. 

I want my children to remember their childhood being full of not just memories but magical memories.  The big holidays as well as little things in their day to day life. Things that to me may not be magical but to them hopefully will be. That is my resolution for the new year. Making magical days, times, memories with my kids because as everyone says...."It goes too fast." "You'll wish for these days back." "Enjoy it while you can." I will listen to those phrases because it does go too fast, and I WILL enjoy every single minute of it. Hopefully, so will they.

Little Princess Baby Shower

What is a baby shower without an actual shower? Uneventful. My sister, mom, and I threw a baby shower for my sister last week and as we set up the decor and food we watched as the sky to the north became darker and darker. Not a drop of rain fell until the shower started and all of the guests had arrived.

The skies then opened and dumped the heaviest rain I have seen in quite some time. Our quickly drenched guests were quick to grab food, presents, and decor, and run for the shelter of the house. Of course it only rained for 10 or 15 minutes but it was more than enough rain to soak EVERYTHING.

Still a fun night spent with friends, and a fun couple of weeks planning the shower. If you are in the process of planning a shower or may have to in the future. Scroll through the pictures for ideas... you never know when you'll need them. Any of these could be adapted for any kind of party.

Decor

Use what you have before purchasing anything!

• Before purchasing any decor items take a look around your home to see what you already have that can be used as decor. Here the vase of faux flowers, tied bedroom quilt, chalkboard and table where already in the home. Pulled out of their individual rooms and placed together it created decor.

• Twine and clothes pins were used to hang onesies, socks, and little pants that were being given as gifts. The mom to be also brought pieces that she had already purchased and they became part of the decor as well.

• Once you have done an inventory of what you can already use then head to the store for the extras. 
• Tissue paper poofs can be made quite easily with any color of tissue paper you like. The pink banner strung in the top few pictures was purchased at Target for $4. You can add words, make your own, or leave it plain. They had similar banners in a variety of colors on the party aisle.

Little Details

• Add a message to a chalkboard of any size. Greet guests, do a countdown, make a Happy Birthday sign for the birthday child. The sky is the limit. Get creative. You can find quotes that go with your party on the internet.

Food

• Party planning is complicated enough without trying to be too detailed with the food. Stay as simple as you can and you'll be glad you did. I am still learning this lesson and more often than not try to make some unique thing for a party and it rarely turns out and I'm left with some strange thing.

• We simple put fresh fruit, m&ms and nuts, cupcakes, brownies, veggies, and chips and salsa all on different kinds of white plates and dishes. It looked great on the table and it didn't take hours to prepare. Still time consuming but not near what it could have been. And most importantly people will eat it when they know what it is. Simple foods for groups are best because you don't have to worry about differing tastes.

Set-up

• Decide how much time you will need to set up and then double it. Setting up will always, always, always take longer than you think if you want it done right. If for some odd reason it doesn't you'll have plenty of time to be ready and there is nothing wrong with that.

Easy Eats- Frozen Yogurt

You may find yourself looking at this picture and wondering what in the world this is. It is simply frozen yogurt. If you have a little one that is a picky eater…. or if you are trying to eat healthy and looking for healthy snacks that are actually good you should give this a try. 

All you need is your favorite kind of yogurt. Sprinkles are optional. Kids love them!

HOW TO:

Find a tray of any kind that will fit in your freezer. I used a plastic lid to one of my casserole dishes.

Fill a plastic lunch bag with yogurt.

Cut the end off

Squeeze little yogurt dots onto the sheet in rows. They don't have to be perfect mine were all different sizes.

If you want to have sprinkles sprinkle them on or have your little one help with this step and sprinkle away!

Put them in the freezer for an hour or so. Check them to see when they are frozen. Time will vary based on yogurt consistency and the size of your dots.

Scrape them off the sheet and eat them or place them in individual freezable containers to eat later as you wish.

Rice and Beans Sensory Bin

Yes it is a mess. Yes you have to clean it up. BUT yes it is fun, and Yes they love it.

                       

Large plastic containers can make for some great fun for little ones. While it was not intended for this little one to end up in the bin he certainly had a good time. Purchase a few bags of white rice (and beans) if you like and dump them into a bin of your choice. Add cars, trucks, or small rakes and shovels. 

Let little hands feel the texture of the rice and beans. They may just love running it through their hands. If you leave the room for any amount of time be prepared to walk back in to this. Kids in the bin throwing rice all over. Luckily it can be vacuumed up if you are done or swept up and put back in the bin for later.

Indoor Fun With Plastic Balls

Most of you most likely have a pack and play or a crib. If you have little ones see if you can get your hands on some of these plastic balls. I have seen them at Walmart. If you don't have balls see what else you can find that would work. Foam blocks or anything somewhat soft. Fill the pack and play or crib with the items of your choosing and let your little ones (one at a time for safety) play, dive, jump, and have a blast in the balls. 

They will love it I promise!

Best Baby Ointment

I stumbled upon this gem right before Christmas while shopping online. I needed to add an item to my cart to get free shipping and was trying to think of items I currently needed. Diaper rash creme/ointment was on my list. I have used Burt's Bees diaper ointment before but had never tried this multipurpose ointment. 

I love that their products are mostly natural and do not contain dozens of chemicals. So I thought I would try it and I am so glad I did. It is wonderful. So far I have mainly used it for diaper rash. It goes on smooth, does not sting, or stink, it comes off your hands quickly, and it moisturizes the little bottoms you are putting it on without turning into a pasty mess. I have also used it on my hands as I was them so much during the day from changing diapers and other tasks. Works great. 

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/burt's-bees-baby-bee-multipurpose-ointment/ID=prod6144038-product

I'm not sure what it is going for in the stores… I purchased mine online at Walgreens. It is normally $8.99 but is currently on sale for $6.99. I assume that is an in store price as well but I could be wrong.

If you have the need give it a try. I have loved mine.

Simple Family Home Evening With Toddlers and Bible Stories: Creation

I have been wanting to start teaching my little one the Bible stories but have not been sure of how to do it as he is still small. So in an effort to do something here is what I came up with for this weeks activity. You could do a variation of this for all small aged children. 

I traced and then cut out 7 circles onto a card stock paper. Wrote the numbers 1-7 on each circle. Then went through my random bag of stickers and note paper to find items that corresponded to what God created on each day. 

I used mainly stickers as my little one cannot draw yet and is just getting the hang of coloring. If you have older children you could let them draw their own pictures to go with each day.

We read over the bible story in Genesis 1 (see below for scriptures) and then placed the stickers on the circle they went with. I'm going to punch a hole in the top of each circle and put them together on a ring to make a simple book. Then my little one can look at it/play with it during church. We may try the activity again when he is older and he can add to it or make another. 

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/1?span=1-3&lang=eng

Chapter 1

God creates this earth and its heaven and all forms of life in six days—The creative acts of each day are described—God creates man, both male and female, in His own image—Man is given dominion over all things and is commanded to multiply and fill the earth.

 1 In the ^abeginning ^bGod ^ccreated the ^dheaven and the ^eearth.

 2 And the earth was without ^aform, and void; and ^bdarkness wasupon the face of the deep. And the ^cSpirit of God ^dmoved upon the face of the waters.

 3 And God ^asaid, Let there be ^blight: and there was light.

 4 And God saw the light, that it was ^agood: and God divided the light from the darkness.

 5 And God called the light ^aDay, and the ^bdarkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the ^cfirst ^dday.

 6 ¶And God said, Let there be a ^afirmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the ^awaters whichwere under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

 8 And God called the firmament ^aHeaven. And the evening and the morning were the second ^bday.

 9 ¶And God said, Let the ^awaters under the heaven be gathered together unto ^bone place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

 10 And God called the dry land ^aEarth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it wasgood.

 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth ^agrass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

 12 And the earth ^abrought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his ^bkind: and God saw that it was good.

 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

 14 ¶And God said, Let there be ^alights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for^bsigns, and for ^cseasons, and for days, and years:

 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

 16 And God made two great lights; the ^agreater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the ^bstars also.

 17 And God set them in the ^afirmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

 18 And to rule over the ^aday and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

 20 And God said, Let the ^awaters ^bbring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and ^cfowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

 21 And God created ^agreat whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and ^amultiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

 24 ¶And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his ^akind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 26 ¶And God said, Let ^aus ^bmake ^cman in our ^dimage, after our^elikeness: and let them have ^fdominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 27 So God created man in his own ^aimage, in the image of God created he him; male and ^bfemale created he them.

 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be ^afruitful, and ^bmultiply, and ^creplenish the ^dearth, and subdue it: and have^edominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 29 ¶And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for^ameat.

 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there islife, I have given every green herb for ^ameat: and it was so.

 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very ^agood. And the evening and the morning were the ^bsixthday.

DIY Dinosaur Mobile

Little Dinos

There are so many cute baby mobiles out and about but they are SO expensive. Instead of spending major cash why not make your own. Sure it won't necessarily turn on its own but it will definitely do the trick for your little one.

DIY Dinosaur Mobile for Child's Room

Needed Supplies:

2 large paint sticks

Fish line

Paper of choice

String or ribbon

hot glue and glue gun

Command Hook 

Directions:

• Paint the paint sticks desired color and glue them together in a "t" shape.

• Using your paper find a stencil or print out of a shape you would like to use and trace as many as you'd like on your scapbook paper and cut out the shapes. 

• Take a long piece of fishing line and glue the shapes to the line with a little bit of space in between. 

• Make 5 strings of shapes. One for each end of the stick and one for the middle. Be sure and leave extra string at the top and bottom of your shapes. It is easier to cut off extra when you are done then to try and add more if needed.

• Once your strings are done secure them to your paint sticks.

• Add a ribbon to the top of your mobile to attach it to the hook on the ceiling. 

• Place your command hook on the ceiling where ever you would like it and hang your mobile. Command hooks are the best for this as they will not leave a hole in your ceiling and as soon as you are done with the mobile you can take the hook off and use it somewhere else. 

Good luck. I'd love to see your finished product if you attempt to make your own! Really easy and turned out great for what it is!

Boy Room Ideas

There are so many things that you can do with boys bedrooms. For the moment I'm more into more relaxed colors then bright reds, blues, and yellows so I loved this nursery decor. I also really like that it can grow with the boy and be changed a little bit to fit as he grows older rather than redoing the entire room. 

A sanded oar placed on the wall above the bulletin adds interest.

The bulletin board can be used to display baby shower letters, or anything you'd like for a young child and later be used to display art projects.

Baby feet were stamped in an ink pad and then placed in a frame to show how small little feet can be. First baby booties placed over the frame add visual interest and let you display them until little hands start to touch and destroy. :)

View from a child's eyes. Neutral colored walls and furniture allow you to do what you want to with other colors and accessories in the room as your child grows.