"D" is for (Play) Doh!

I got a great homemade play doh recipe from Rachel's Kindergarten teacher last year. Abbie and I made some this morning as part of our "D" week! Just wanted to share the recipe with you! (I made a half recipe for each color.)

Homemade Play Doh

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages unsweetened Kool Aid
2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons cooking oil

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl. Mix liquid ingredients in another bowl. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients; stir until it forms a ball. This may take a while. As the mixture cools, it becomes less sticky. When completely cool, knead until smooth.

Now, could someone tell me how to explain to a four-year-old that "N" is not for "knead" - "K" is! So then, what's that animal in Australia with the pouch - a Nangeroo???

My friend, Lisa, did this interview with her children on her blog. I thought it was so cute, I had to do it myself!
Hannah's Answers

1. What is something your mom always says to you?

Hannah, clean up the Little People!

2. What makes mom happy?

Doing what she tells you to do.

3. What makes mom sad?

Not listening to her.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Being funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child?

She had very long hair and got contact lenses when she was 8. (Well, actually, I was 16...)
6. How old is your mom?

44 (Only off by one year!)
7. How tall is your mom?

I don't know the answer to that.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Knit.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

She teaches Abbie homeschool.
10. What is your mom really good at?

Making dish cloths and egg white cookies and homemade food!

11. What is your mom not very good at?

She's not very flexible.
12. What does your mom do for her job?

She plays in the orchestra and sings in church.

13. What is your mom's favorite food?

Lettuce with dressing. (Obviously she doesn't see me eat lobster very often!)

14. What makes you proud of your mom?

That she makes great homemade food and her food always turns out great. (Now if I could just get everyone to actually eat it...)
15. What do you and your mom do together?

Sometimes she helps me with homework.

16. How are you and your mom different?

I'm more flexible than she is, and my feet aren't ticklish.
17. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because sometimes she makes my favorite food and I don't even notice it.

Rachel's Answers

1. What is something your mom always says to you?

I love you!

2. What makes mom happy?

When I clean up.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I fool around.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

By tickling me, or telling some jokes.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

She was very happy and cheerful.

6. How old is your mom?

I can't remember. (Good girl!)

7. How tall is your mom?

25?
8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Take long walks with me!

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Pay bills?
10. What is your mom really good at?

Loving. And singing. And licking a lollipop.
11. What is your mom not very good at?

Swimming.
12. What does your mom do for her job?

Go to choir practice.

13. What is your mom's favorite food?

Chicken!
14. What makes you proud of your mom?

When she gives me a kiss.

15. What do you and your mom do together?

Go on dates.
16. How are you and your mom different?

We don't have the same color hair, and we don't have the same voice, and she's bigger than me.

17. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because she always says she loves me!

Abbie's Answers

1. What is something your mom always says to you?

I love you! And it's time for school.

2. What makes mom happy?

When I hug her.
3. What makes mom sad?

When Daddy's in Detroit.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Tickling me under my chin.
5. What was your mom like as a child?

She had long, dark hair.
6. How old is your mom?

20
7. How tall is your mom?

This tall. (Holding her hand way up high)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Rest. (She's kidding, right?)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Clean up.

10. What is your mom really good at?

Typing.
11. What is your mom not very good at?

Gymnastics.

12. What does your mom do for her job?

She cleans up the house, she makes food, she does her computer...
13. What is your mom's favorite food?

Spaghetti.
14. What makes you proud of your mom?

When she works for me.

15. What do you and your mom do together?

School.
16. How are you and your mom different?

I play and she works. (You got that right, little girl!)
17. How do you know your mom loves you?

She always kisses me!

First Day of School, 2008 Edition

I suppose I ought to post our First Day of School photos before first semester report cards go out, huh?

A couple of days before the First Day, our school held its supply drop-off/meet the teacher afternoon.

Rachel loves her first grade teacher, Miss Verner. She was thrilled to learn that Miss V swam competitively in college! They'll have a lot to talk about this year!

Mrs. Weaver is Hannah's third grade teacher. She has two high-school-age sons of her own, and seems very tuned in to her students.

Hannah on the first morning, in her cute new outfit (don't tell anyone how tight I had to pull the adjustable waist on that skirt!).

I think Rachel looks like such a darling little school girl in that outfit!

It makes me feel good to know that Hannah is right there, keeping an eye out for her little sister!

The sisters share a big Sister Love hug before saying goodbye in the schoolyard.

If you look really closely, you can see my eyes are a little puffy and red from crying! It's always hard for me to say goodbye to my girls on the first day.

Since Abbie and I were missing the big girls that day, we decided to make ourselves feel better with a batch of brownies - from scratch! Abbie's a great little helper in the kitchen. She and I even have coordinating aprons!

Just because Abbie is homeschooling this year, doesn't mean she doesn't get a First Day picture, too! Here she is, ready to get started!

I love blog entries that give me a little peek into other moms' homes and lives! Here's a peek into mine! For more, see The Simple Woman...

For Today...

Outside my Window...cool, damp and cloudy. Fall is in the air!

From the learning rooms...Abbie and I are working on the letter "C" - we'll be baking lots of cookies this week, and learning our "C" verse: "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."

I am thankful for...the abundance of food in our pantry, refrigerator and freezer. There'll be lots of cooking, baking and freezing going on this week!



From the kitchen...ingredients for egg white cookies, chocolate chip cookies, homemade wheat bread, and a pot roast for the crock pot today!

I am wearing...sage green tee shirt (my favorite color), denim capris, bare feet, and my apron (I need to do a separate post on that)!

I am reading...The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun, in anticipation of his appearance at a local church.

I am hoping...we don't get rained out next Sunday for our annual picnic with Hannah's China group.

I am creating...knitted Christmas gifts, and a little order in my closets.

I am hearing...Curious George on TV in the other room, the washer and dryer both running (they're always running!), K-LOVE on my radio in the kitchen

Around the house...baskets of clean laundry to fold and put away, piles of dirty laundry to wash today (at least they're sorted!), a big bag of stuff to go to Goodwill, piles of library books to return

One of my favorite things...fall! I'm so ready for it!

A few plans for the rest of the week...baking, a trip to the library, Worship Team rehearsal, cleaning the house in anticipation of a visit from my best friend from college this weekend, more knitting and reading

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

More Vacation Memories

The girls and I had lots of fun while visiting Nana in Rhode Island!

We take the girls to the Providence Children's Museum every summer. Their favorite part is the water tables! Thank goodness for waterproof smocks!



We took a day trip to Boston and visited the Old North Church and Paul Revere's home.

And we ate delicious pizza at Pizzeria Regina's on the North End (I loved that place when I lived in Boston - oh, how I miss that pizza!).

One evening, Rachel was so tired from the day's activities, she fell asleep on Nana's couch in this position!

More Images of Summer

Lots of fun summer memories!

Keeping cool at the splash pad with Rachel's China group...

...and at the Warren Dunes in Michigan.

Backyard beauty...

Preserving summer's bounty...

...in the form of yummy peach jam!

Our little backyard garden yielded some tasty green beans!

Could This Be the Speed-Up We've Been Praying For?

I hopped on over to Rumor Queen this morning, and learned that dossiers logged in through February 9th have been matched with children and the families should be receiving their referrals any day now. The batch of referrals last month (August) contained only two LIDs, but this batch contains nine days! Praise God! I'm so afraid to get my hopes up that this is a sign of a speed-up. I've been praying so hard every month, and every month the batches have actually gotten smaller. The rumor is that things will speed up again after the Olympics. I see no logical explanation for that fact, yet here we are, just a week after the closing ceremonies, and with a larger-than-usual batch. Well, whatever the future holds, I am so grateful that the CCAA is nine days closer to matching our dossier with our Sarah! Please continue to pray for all waiting families that this batch is the beginning of a wonderful trend!

And if you'd like to read more inspirational stories of gratitude, drop on by Heavenly Homemakers every week for GratiTuesday!

Our Visit to Vermont

The girls got to spend a few days with their cousins in Vermont in July!

L-R: Christopher, Hannah, Abbie, Rachel, Mi'Shell, Naomi (Nico was off having a "moment"). Check out the background scenery!

L-R: Mi'Shell, Hannah, Rachel, Christopher, Naomi, Nico (Abbie's turn to have a "moment"!). More gorgeous background scenery!

Cousin Christopher, age 8

Cousin Mi'Shell (Misha), age 6

Cousin Naomi (Omi), age 3

Cousin Nicholas (Nico), age 2

Rachel and Mi'Shell are the best of friends!

So are Christopher and Hannah. This picture reminds me of the line in Forrest Gump: "Me and Jenny were like peas and carrots."

Abbie


Rachel

Hannah

Our cousins, after months of living in their dining room, finally have their beautiful new kitchen! (I understand the experience!) Look at all that wonderful counter and cabinet space! I'm so thrilled for them, especially Kathleen!

We visited with my aunt's 97-year-old mother, Ida May. The children just love her, and I could sit and listen to her stories for days! She's a terrific lady with a lot of wisdom!

So Many Pictures, So Little Time!

Some highlights of our summer in pictures!

We spent a morning at a wonderful wool shop called Esther's Place in Big Rock. Miss Natasha taught the children the process of turning raw wool into yarn.

Hannah trying her hand at carding wool.


Mmmmm... that feels wonderful!


Now Miss Natasha spins the wool into yarn.

We took a trip into Chicago with friends Lydia and Audrey (and their mom, Sara) for a city park picnic and a visit to the Chicago Historical Museum.

Fun in the sun with good friends.

The beautiful Chicago skyline provided a great backdrop for our picnic. (Note Audrey and Rachel making faces for the camera!)

The girls had fun sitting in a giant Chicago-style hot dog at the museum. (Maybe Audrey's mom won't notice that she's about to eat that giant stuffed tomato slice!)

The girls had a couple of riding lessons this summer, too!

Abbie taking Gracie out for a ride.


Now it's Rachel's turn!

And here's Hannah on Rosie.

Hannah's a real natural on a horse!