Lookie Lookie, We made Cookie!

This Idea Came From: Trader Joes had this cute box of cookies and today was the day we made 'em.

Our Experience: Why can I not just lay on the couch when I am under the weather... no, no... I must make a craft or clean or sort or wash or shop or whatever else I do to keep myself from just sitting! We are a bit under the weather... so these probably should only be consumed by this household.  Cootie cookies might not be all that appetizing to friends and family.



Emma put all the ingredients in the big bowl- and said the word ingredients a ga-ba-zillion times as she did so. What a big word for an almost 4 year old. She rolled all the dough and together we maneuvered the "aminals" to the cookie sheet.  I really do not have to say our experience probably was not too much different from anyone's mother/daughter make cookies because we-need-to-get-out-of-this-house-but-can't cooking morning.

SPRING!!!!  I know you are out there... I see you trying to melt this ice and snow. But please work faster.


The Lesson: Okay I did my cool mom thing for the morning.. now it is really time to go lay down and rest.

The Great Crayola Experiment

This Idea Came From: What a cool idea!  http://grinandbakeit.com/valentines-crayon-hearts-craft

Our Experience:  Oh my word... I do not know what I was thinking!  These crayolas are still in that letter muffin cast iron thingy.Weeks later... still trying to figure out how to get them out!

The Lesson: Do Not use anything other than silicone, flexible bake wear... unless you like the challenge. As for me.. I would love to hear any ideas how to get this out of my muffin cast iron tin. So far... I tried somewhat remelting, flash freezing in snow, a knife and also... standing over it swearing directly at it... that didn't work either.

It's a pillow, it's a... pillow.

This Idea Came From: My child is constantly prompted by Nick Jr to make these crafts... and I have to say they are exciting to see done. http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/tolee-heart-shape-pillow.jhtml?path=/crafts/ni-hao-kai-lan/all-themes/all-ages/index.jhtml We did Ho Ho... but there are loads of characters.


Our Experience: Watching this craft "with the guy and the two kids, Mom!!"on television prompted a mother daughter pow-wow at the computer to seek the templates on "Nick Jr dot com , Mom".  We printed them on paper, searched through felt scraps and yarn and cotton balls. One thing I do know from past experience.. is forget about the fabric glue.. just sew it.. Fabric glue is a real pain and it makes a mess. The face of Ho Ho- we used an iron on adhesive. These things make easy and fast happen... I am a fan of that.  Attention spans are super fast around here. Emma cut the templates with a little clean up help and ironed everything down with an extra hand shadowing her every move. Sewing the outer edge- me.. but she sat next to me and counted 40 cotton balls to put in the little hole on the side before I sewed it all the way up. She was thrilled. Wha Lah... a Nick Jr Pillow of Ho Ho.

The Lesson: Nearing 4 years old, Emma has her own ideas and wants to do everything.  These crafts make her feel like she is accomplishing huge feats. Soon she will be sewing by herself. The more she can do on her own means less meltdowns. This is good to teach asking for help, listening to instructions... and understanding there are boundaries to keep safe. Oye!