More crafts and learning...

We have been busy!! I promise not to post every craft we ever do :) BUT I'm really trying hard to focus more on learning and fun with the girls at home (Um, can anyone tell I miss teaching!) and by blogging these things it keeps me focused! Besides how fun is it going to be to look back at these sweet girls and their creations years later.

Here's a bat craft we made last week which was a lot of fun. I got to trace their precious little hands and then we made a face and glued some other things on. Here's my sweet girls.



This week we had some of our good friends over to make pumpkin pie play dough. BUT When I went to the store for pumpkin spice they were all out. So strange that they were sold out in early October. Anyway, we decided to make "Fall play dough instead" with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. We colored the play dough orange. The kids were all were really good about waiting their turn to pour something in the pan or stir. We cooked in and then waited for it to cool while we ate lunch. The kids were excited to play with it and I got some Halloween cookie cutters to use as well. The play dough smelled SO good! We love hanging out with the Bowles clan! They love doing crafts as much as we do!!
Here's a few pictures of our play dough.






here are a few more...
pumpkin prints. (The girls thought cutting the tiny pumpkin and then digging the seeds out was so neat! We smelled it, talked about the pulp and then got messy!)





Then we painted pumpkins and made a little P is for pumpkin craft. Reese practiced making her P's on this one.

Oh the drama!

This is just plain mean. Saige was so mad that she was having to get ready for bed. She was so tired from her big weekend. My mom (AKA Momo) took the girls from 10am on Saturday until after lunch on Sunday. Aaron and I had a game night and it was easier for her to keep the girls. They had fun but Saige was very tired come Sunday evening. Poor baby! Not long after this I rocked her fast asleep! But this is the typical "Saige throwing a fit face" that I see a lot. Shes a drama mama!!

Crafts this week...

I have been trying very hard to not be distracted from what I should be doing as a mom. I often have a "plan" and then I get on facebook, make a "quick" phone call etc. I keep thinking that I want to remember playing, doing crafts and being ever so present in their lives as small children. I can hardly believe that my "baby" is potty trained and almost 2 1/2. Time goes by so so fast. I don't want to waste another precious minute of their time.

I'm probably being a little hard on myself but this week I have really focused on doing some more learning activities with the girls and some fun crafts with Halloween books. I love the fall!! We've also played outside a lot more this week. Its funny how something as small as a little painting and swinging at the park will lift your spirits and make you feel like a better mom. Almost none of them are my original ideas but basically all came from blogs! Gotta love that!!

Rock O Lanterns...from www.notimeforflashcards.com



I was bored the other day and decided we could paint leaves. Then I got an idea to punch a hole IN in the leaves and make fall garland with it. Love kid decorations!





This was super fun! We made puffy paint ghost. We used a thick bag (pappasitos to go bag LOL), glue, shaving cream (suppose to be white but blue looks nice too), googly eyes and a mouth from black construction paper. www.notimeforflashcards.com





We also made scarecrows out of shapes that we got from Erica's blog (not sure how to link blogs??) to help Saige learn her shapes and colors. She knows her colors but we still need a little work on some of those shapes. Good to know!! LOL
We have a craft or cooking activity planned for every day until Halloween! Its going to be a fun (and messy) month!

Happy Fall

We decided to let go of the housework and just play today! First we went outside and played in the backyard for an hour this morning. It felt so good out there how could I tell them no when they asked. Then we collected leaves and I got some paint, glue, and paper out.

We made fall trees and then painted leaves. The girls had a ball.





The phone rang and I got into a conversation with my dad that had me take my eyes off of Saige for a little bit too long. This is the result of that.


Its not even 11 and we've played, painted and taken a bath already! I sure do love days of staying home and just having fun! Nothing beats it.


And heres a few pictures of Saige playing outside in her halloween stuff the other day. I made the bow and was just itching to have her wear it.

More from our photo party

Four year check

Poor Reese had the dreaded four year check up today. I've heard over and over how bad they can be. Stories of children being held down by two people etc. I started preparing Reese a week ago for it by telling her what would happen. She seemed unfazed by the idea of getting shots. We get there today and I tell her again what will happen...the nurse will see her first, then the doctor, then the shots. She was FINE during the entire appointment but when our doctor left she got a little scared. I reminded her that it would only hurt for a second. Then I had to hold my sweet baby down and look at her scared little face for shots. (I quietly thanked God that my children aren't sick and getting shots, IVs, and things like this aren't in the norm for us) Then it was over. She didn't shed ONE tear. She was scared but didn't actually cry. Yay!! We celebrated with some strawberry ice cream.

On a different note, Reese is a totally different kid. Its amazing. She wouldn't stop talking the entire time at the doctor. She then stopped and talked to about two nurses telling them that she got her shots but was strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) LOL! Even our favorite nurse said "I know those girls and they don't usually talk this much." Its so cute to see her personality change over this last year.

I still can't believe I have a four year old. Sigh...


(and on to Saige...the is basicly potty trained. Yay! We have gone to the store, church, park, MOPS all in panties with no accidents. So excited that I am now done buying diapers. Not pull ups but diapers. WOO HOO!!)

Potty Training Tales

We've been trying to potty train Saige a little more. It was so easy with Reese because we didn't go as many places. We stayed home for a week and we did it. Done. But with Saige we have to go to dance, school, mops, church, etc. I feel like something is always coming up and we aren't getting to spend that time doing it. So little by little we're getting there.

At home she wears panties or nothing. Its so much easier because it helps her become more aware of what is happening. The other day she walked up to me completely naked and said "I think I'm going to poop on your floor" I quickly looked for poop on the floor (assuming she already pooped ON the floor) and put her on the potty. I could see (TMI Warning) that she was about to go and stopped herself (Go saige) but then she wouldn't go on the potty. I tried telling her to squeeze the nugget out (LOL) and she now walks around saying I think a nugget is going to come out. So glad I taught her that!


Today we spent the whole day in panties because shes done so great!! We went for a walk and she didn't have any panties on-just her dress. We stopped to chat and Aaron played basketball with the dad. Saige PEED in their yard. Lifted her dress and squatted and peed! OH MY WORD! She was so proud that she went. I was so embarrassed.

Oh the joys of being a mom!