Toddler Activites: Playdough

Playdough is a very popular toddler and preschool activity.  I have tried various playdough recipes over the years and I think I may have discovered my favorite.  I kept a batch in a ziploc bag in the fridge and it was still soft and pliable a year later.  Also the kool-aid makes nice colours and adds a nice scent.

Kool-Aid Playdough

2 1/2 cups floor

2 small pkg. unsweetened kool-aid

1/2 cup salt

1 tbsp cream of tarter

3 tbsp oil

2 cups boiling water

First mix the dry ingredients together and then cut in the oil.

Then carefully add the boiling water.  Watch the bubbles and then mix it all together.

Knead until it is nice smooth ball and then let the kiddos go to town.

Making cookies is a favorite activity to do with playdough.

If you are lucky you may be able to finish the dishes while he plays. Or he may insist you play with him which is okay too.  Playdough is fun for adults as well.

Yarn Along: Mystery Afghan

I am joining Ginny again this week for her Yarn Along.  I have not been reading much this week.  I think I have a bit of readers ADD as I have been reading bits and pieces from a variety of books. I am currently working my way through a parenting book (Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley), a religious book (Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI), and a dog training book (Dog Training for Kids by Carol Lea Benjamin).

I have finally finished all the motifs for the Bernat Mystery Afghan that I am working on.  I have been having a lot fun doing this mystery afghan crochet-a-long.  I am a little disappointed in the final project as it is really not my style.  However, when it is a mystery you never know what you will get and that is a big part of the fun of it.  Now comes my favorite part (not!) seaming it all together.  I have been playing with a few different layouts.  Which one do you like best?  (Sorry the pictures are not the best and some don't show the whole thing but hopefully you get the gist of it)

Layout #1

This is the official layout given us by the Bernat designers.

Layout #1 with squares switched.

This is the same layout just with the dark green bobble squares moved to the outside to break up some of the white.

Layout #2

This is a more square layout, that someone came up with at the Bernat forums.  I really like this one.

Layout #3

This one is pretty too.

So which one would you pick Layout 1, 2, or 3?

Meet Jax

I'd like to introduce the newest addition to our farm, our new puppy Jax.  (Well, there are new calves coming daily and even a new foal at Grandpa's but I believe he is the newest animal at our place.)

He is a 3 month old border collie cross (crossed with what? we really don't know).  We adopted him from the Humane Society (with the help of my sister, Thanks L.)  He is very friendly and the older girls love him.  Star is using her umbrella here to shade him from the sun because she thought his black fur was getting really hot (and also just because she likes to play with the umbrella).

Isn't he a cutie?  He seems to enjoy life on the farm and has been exploring the entire yard.

LK wasn't too sure about him at first but they seem to have struck a truce.

We are hoping Jax enjoys life here and that the kids have a lot of fun with him. (We are also hoping he doesn't eat our chickens and keeps away the foxes that do eat our chickens.)

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . .the sun in shining and it it a beautiful day.  It is pretty windy though but we will take it and try to enjoy this nice weather since there is snow in the forecast for the weekend.

I am thinking . . . about the upcoming Easter weekend and what plans we have for the holiday.

I am thankful . . .that we are starting to feel better here and can enjoy these nice days.  (We had a nasty cold/bug go through the house in the last week and a half).

LT enjoying being outside.

In the kitchen . . . today I am going to make bread.  We had to buy some bread last week because I was sick and so didn't make any.  It will be good to have homemade bread again.

I am creating . . . I am slowly continuing to work on the Bernat Mystery Afghan.

I am wearing . . .Navy sweatpants, an old ball t-shirt and a light blue sweater.

I am going . . . to the stations of the cross with the older girls after school today.

I am wondering . . .when we will get our puppy.  Yes, we are getting a puppy from the humane society.  The girls are super excited for Easter because we hope to have our puppy then.

I am reading . . . The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel and Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley.

I m hoping . . .that we are all done with this sickness and everyone is feeling good for the holiday weekend.

I am looking forward to . . .visiting with family this Easter weekend (and also getting our new puppy).

Around the house . . .after being sick for a week and half things are looking a little rough around here.  Time to clean and tidy before company arrives.

I am pondering . . .the death and resurrection of our Lord.

One of my favorite things . . .feeling the warm sunshine on my face on a warm spring day.

A few plans for the rest of the week: clean the house, stations of the cross tonight, gym night at the school, grocery shopping, and then decorating Easter Eggs on Friday.

A peek into my day . . .

LK loves to throw rocks in the water.