Homemade Play Dough

It took me a long time to build up the desire and courage to make play dough. I don't like to make things if I'm not sure how they will turn out. But since I've begun baking, I'm a lot more willing to try and see and just live with the results. So I searched the web and found an excellent recipe for play dough and it works wonderfully. The kids has a fun time with this. Plus their uncle had already given them a big box of cutters and tools from play-doh. Walker actually helped me make a batch, just because he wanted a taste most likely. He did not like it at all. The girls helped clean up at the end. A perfect activity for three.

Snowflake and Honey

We're suckers for hamsters!

We read that dwarf Robo hamsters do better with a partner, but one that is from the same litter or they have already bonded to in the cage. Of course, Poppy left two Robo's behind at the petstore, Snowflake's two sisters. So the day after Christmas we ran to the petstore and picked up the remaining Robo, we named her Honey. The small animal section was cleaned out on Christmas but Honey was left behind, waiting for us.

Once we got her home, she and Snowflake were super happy to be reunited. Honey immediately jumped on the wheel and began exploring her new cage. Snowflake also perked up and was really more alert after Honey came home.

Now we have two hamster balls running around the basement but each of the girls now has their own "personal" hamster (their words not ours). We are actually all happy about the new additions, except maybe Kittikens. I think she's just glad it was not a kitten.

We are trying to get them used to us, which is a feat with 10 hands and excited little children voices. So we are not taking pictures up close yet. I'm hopeful we'll get some good ones soon.

Snowman

Carys wanted to build a snowman. It's hard to get me to leave my warm home, even though I love my children dearly. I managed to get all of us dressed and out the door for our second attempt at the snowman. We had tried the day before but the snow was not sticky enough. Even thought this snow was more cooperative, it was still a challenge to build the snowman. Especially with Walker kicking it. But we managed to layer the snow on and Poppy showed up just in time to finish the head and arms and add hair. What a great treat to the end of the day.

Christmas Crafts!

A friend of mine introduced me to cardboard crafts. These ornaments were made by cutting cardboard, wrapping in aluminum, and attaching the string. The rest is glitter glue by kids and the decorating possibilities are endless.


I know this is an old craft but new to us this year. This wreath is made from all the kids hands. It turned out so well, I want to do it again with felt for a wreath we can pull out many Christmases from now.


These are spiced hang ups, another craft from a homemaker blog. What a fun thing these are and great smelling too.

A New Friend!

We got a new friend! Christmas Eve, Poppy brought a little dwarf hamster home to live with us. She's super cute and when she is less shy, I'll post more pics. She's explored a bit in her ball but mostly likes her cage and the few treats we've introduced (apples and grapes so far). The kids LOVE the hamster. They were quiet and did not disturb the cage too much. Carys really wanted to pet her but the hamster is shy. We don't have a name yet, so you'll have to check back later to find out what they choose.

Christmas Baking

The whole gang participated in baking and cooking our holiday morsels. I've been cooking pumpkin and banana bread for church so I decided to give gingerbread a try. The recipe I used worked out, I think my cookies were a bit thicker. But I think with practice in a few years, I'll be pretty good with gingerbread and hopefully able to put together a homemade gingerbread house with the girls.

Sledding

The sledding hill was fun on Christmas Eve. We took a walk to the local coffee shop for a coffee and hot chocolate while he snow lightly fell. The sledding hill was fairly empty and Poppy decided to take the kids sledding. It made my heart skip a beat to see my little ones careening down the hill but they were all smiles and little Walker wanted "more sled"! We need to get another sled for next year, the girls are not afraid to go it alone now.

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas, Love us.