Coffee scented play dough

Yum?

This is not a muffin. 

This is coffee scented play dough and it is super easy to make. I followed the instructions here. Compared to the play dough I made last time, this one turned out better. The difference this time is, I added a spoonful of coffee powder into the dough. The end product was so fragrant!

Next time, I plan to add in cinnamon, vanilla and glitter to make it much more fun!

Treasure basket - musical instruments

Just like any parents, we sometimes over indulge our kids with toys. Even then, there are some principles that I hold fast when buying toys. Firstly, toy guns/weapons and toys which promote violence will never enter my home. Secondly, the toys should preferably do as little as possible. Let me give you an example, toy trains that blink and woot and move on its track is not a good toy for me (but we have at least 5 train sets at home. Talking about ideals vs reality). The toys that I would happily dig deep into my pocket are those simple toys that promote creativity and imagination like building blocks, play dough, paint etc. If the toy is gender neutral, so much the better!

So the picture above is one of my "Mommy-approved" toys. Musical instruments.

The vibrant colours make me so happy! My baby took them out one by one, shook them, banged them on the floor, tasted them and listened to the different sounds they made. We sang songs accompanied with different instruments and had a great time!

I always love music. And I thank my parents for sending me to piano classes. Even though I'm not a musician (faaaaaaar from it), I learn to express myself through this creative means. Likewise for my children, I hope that surrounding them with music and making musical instruments available will encourage them to appreciate this art form.

Busy bags

Busy bags are simply children friendly activities fitted in a ziploc bag. As its name denotes, these activities are used to keep a child busy, while you gobble up the lukewarm meal. There are so many busy bags ideas online and I have so little time! How I wish that there are mothers who will swap busy bags with me.

I spent some time browsing through the internet for ideas, and below is a few that I tried or am planning to do:

a) I Spy

This game will keep a child busy for a long time. For my son, he keeps going back to the train on the upper right corner. Did I mention how chugger crazy he is?

You may download the I Spy game here, its original website. The author has also uploaded numerous other ideas and projects to be used with children. The best thing is, they are FREE. Check it out now - JustSomethingIMade.com.

b) Cupcake busy bag

(Photo from http://moneysavingmom.com)

My boy is very interested in baking. This activity requires him to create cupcakes from the liners, frostings and toppings I will cut out from colour papers. It is perfect for him. You can read about the how-to and download free cupcake busy bag template here. 

c) Flashcards

(Picture from the internet)

There are many free downloadable flashcards online. Here is one that I especially like. A friend (Hi, Roland!) also recommended a professional print shop to print these flash cards.Oh, I'm so excited and will definitely visit the store soon!

If you are interested to have more busy bag ideas, Tried & true is a good site to visit. It links you to many other sites that offer SO many beautiful crafts and ideas!

Just go to sleep!

A mom is the happiest when her children are asleep. Do I hear any "Amen"?

At my home, sleep is a constant battle. After feeding, changing, playing, singing, reading, bargaining, negotiating the umpteenth time with them, finally nap/bed time arrives. Ahh, just thinking about what I can accomplish in that short time gives me an adrenalin high.

Read some books. Complete my church assignment. Blogging. Re-arranging the play room. Organizing the toys. Tidying the kitchen cabinet.

Oh, the wonderful possibilities. I'm giddy with excitement.

Nap time came. Baby milk drunk and asleep. One down, another one to go. Boy still up playing with his tablet. Boy said he wanted to poo. Ok, no problem. Mommy will wait for you. He made a week's worth of poo (that explained the time he took). I cleaned him up and shooed him to bed. He tossed and turned, said he was hungry. Gave a piece of biscuit and ordered him to sleep. Mommy started to get resentful. Go to sleep! I watched the clock ticking. There goes my precious personal time. The boy sang and kicked and sucked his toes. I constantly shushed him fearing he would wake up the baby. Murphy's Law is true. Baby woke up. Played with both kids until baby decided to take another short nap. Boy didn't nap at all. Boy cranky. Mommy snappy (and guilty for being a bad mom). Daddy came home to a house full of lunatics. Daddy got stressed up. Nobody's happy.


How often does it happen to you?

Please, kids, do your poor mom a favour and go to sleep!

(Source: Picture from the internet)

The little photographer

My son is learning the joy of photo taking lately. He would point his camera phone (my old phone, he claimed it's his after I have a new one) at anything of interest to him and look through the photos later of the day.

In this photo he is snapping a photo of soil. He said the fresh soil was "beautiful". Yes, it is, my son.

I like him to be free to explore and create since young. I want to encourage him to discover and think about the beauty in things around us. But most of all, I wish him to fill his mind with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Mirror play

Children simply love mirrors.

Baby wakes up when you are doing craft with the big brother? No problem, mirror will save the day.

Cultivating the love of reading

I constantly strive to encourage my children to read. As a child, I always enjoyed reading. I still remember the sweet hours I spent immersing in books my mother lovingly prepared. During holidays, I would forgo meals, lay in my bed and read the days away. I want my children to discover the joy of reading too.

A few days ago, I received an email informing me of a used books fair. The used books sold at a fraction of what they would cost at retail shops. Having no library in the place we live, cheap used books are the next best thing. I packed my two kids in the car and rode there the next day. Carrying R in my trusty Ergo and holding my son's hand, we browsed through many different titles.

And here are the books we bought. 7 books for only about RM50!

Z read his books from cover to cover many times. He insisted to sleep with Thomas the Tank Engine that night. (Did I mention that he's crazy about trains now?)

This is what they did today morning. Now, isn't that a beautiful sight?