I'm writing down my favorite playdough recipe because I know there are mom's out there that will appreciate it as much as my family does. It comes out so nice and soft.

Shade's Playdough
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. cream of tartar
Food Coloring & scents~*see note

Mix all ingredients together in a pot, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it makes a ball. This happens faster than you'd think, it will start to chunk up and it gets a tiny bit darker. When it gets to this point, turn it out onto a floured counter and knead it for a minute or two. Careful it will be warm. Let it cool and then let the kids at it.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge to make it last several weeks, or I've found that if I keep it in it's own ziploc bag it will keep indefinately.

* If using liquid color be sure to add before cooking, you can also use one package of any kind of koolaid, or for brighter more vibrant colors you can use gel colors used to color cake frostings.

I like it to be a total sensory activity for my little ones so we also use oils... any aroma therapy oil will work or candle scent work well too... and don't forget to add the glitter!! Any kind will do, and the more sparkles the better! :) Have fun!!

Does winter have to come?

It's cold today... but nothing compared to lastnight. I'm not sure what the temps were but hey it's Minnesota so that's really all ya need to know. I bundled the boys up this morning for school.. scarves and hats. I'm gonna have to buy them new gloves again.. it seem like they get new gloves every year and still by the middle of winter they have no idea where they go. I think there must be some kind of black hole or hungry monster or something. Seems to favor tupperware lids, library books, socks...but only one, and winter gloves.

We're in the 3rd & 2nd grade this year with the older two boys. (Tristen & Zach) It's tough, we have our good days and our bad days like everyone else. Tristen is ADHD, and it makes having successful days a little more work, but he's doing well and improving. Zach, is ADD and so far we're doing great too... just needs reminders to stay focused, and breaks now and then so that he doesn't get frustrated. He has a tendency towards anxiety, he just wants everything to be perfect. Little does my sweet boy know, he IS perfect.

Darian my youngest son, is a kindergartener this year. He just turned 6 the end of October. He loves school and has his most favorite cousin in the same class, which of course makes it all the better.

My babygirl (Ali) turned 3 at the end of the summer, and some people are telling me that I should put her into Headstart (preschool), but I just can't. I love spending time with her she is my pride and joy. Of course, don't get me wrong my kids are my life. A girl.. my only girl... somehow it's just different. I don't love her more... I just love her differently. Anyone with both boys and girls will know just what I'm talking about.

Today, the big boys had already left for school, and Darian was asking me if he could play with some playdough he had gotten for his birthday. I've been telling him no for so long now, because of the mess I'd been trying to avoid, but I told him that if they were good after school, I'd let them play with it. Well, Ali asked him," Can I too Darian"? and he told her, "No, it's mine". Little bully... and she pouted, so I told her baby don't worry about it, mama will make you your own, any color you want...and we can put sparkles in it... and even make it smell pretty! .... and we did. It was pink, ( her fav color) with sparkles, and smelled like lavander. She told me she loved it so much and kissed it, and started singing a song about mama said it's only for me...and not the boys....! hehe... I love that kid. :)

Creativity Itch I Gotta Scratch

I need to get my hands on some more clay. Sculpey clay, even just the plain white stuff. So many different little creatures have been running through my mind in the last few days.

I've been browsing through my neighbors at Elfwood, some of them really inspire me.

Now I need to create something, anything! If anyone is interested, my own work, or some of it anyway, is posted there too.. I think I may do some kind of little sketches tonight or something. Maybe just carry my book around with me for the next few days and see what comes of it.

The Procrastinator finally finishes something.

Believe it or not, I finished my daughter's costume in a record two days. Hand-stitched everything myself (since my mom borrowed my sewing machine the day before I finally decided to start). It did turn out good though. The party went off without a hitch too. Well kinda, if you can call one semi fight, a couple of kids running off crying..and a puker in a pair tree ...fine. Ahh well, we got through it. :) *Also, just a note never eat pomegranates at your keyboard ...your "w" might go wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwonky! .