Play Dough

Natalie's teacher send home a recipe for play dough that they made in class the other day.  We tried it at home and it worked really well.  I like how simple the ingredients/directions are...the kids can help which always makes them happy ;)

 1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp cream of tartar

2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (I used cinnamon)

Mix these ingredients together in a large bowl. Add orange food coloring (or mix read and yellow) to 1/2 cup of water and slowly mix in the water until the dough is the consistency of regular play dough (for cinnamon you could use red coloring).

 Store your play dough in an air tight container or plastic bag and it will last for a long time.

:)

Nesting Mode

Ummm to say I am nesting might be an understatement...I didn't think I had any energy left but suddenly I have felt the need to download and actually TRY random pinterest projects, label baskets of toys and wipe down the inside of bathroom drawers...you get the idea.  Hey, I'll take all the energy I can get. 

So, today after my 37 week appointment I decided to get down to business and make a new hooter hider.  I made two...the first is a jersey nursing shawl...still not sure how I feel about it...but the second pattern was a slam dunk...just like the real thing.

Ok baby, now you can eat in public...you are welcome to join us anytime :)

Artist by Day, Jailbird by Night

The last few weeks have been quite interesting around here. Natalie's mischievous side has gone into overdrive and she has been finding all sorts of ways to make our days "exciting" :) She LOVES to color (especially since getting an easel I found for ten bucks in someone's fall garage sale a few weeks back)! Let me also mention that for now, all gates are down in our house so Natalie can roam up and downstairs to play as she pleases. Well, while Wes and I were enjoying a moment of peace over dinner the other day, Natalie was downstairs coloring like a good girl (so we thought!) :) She came upstairs to tell us something and I noticed that she made a quick little mark on the wall with her crayon. This resulted in an immediate "time out!" from me. I got up to make my point when I glanced down the stairwell and saw this...

Yeah, our little artist had left her mark up and down the stairs.
Let the punishment fit the crime :)...After time out, Natalie went to work.

Thank goodness for washable crayons!

The story continues...naptimes have been quite "colorful" too! Natalie is a pro at escaping her crib and for about a week we would find her playing downstairs like no one had ever put her to bed. On one particularly exciting day, I put her down for a nap and heard lots of chatter which I figured was just her reading to her stuffed animals in her crib (which is pretty standard!). I let this go on for quite a bit when I realized that there might be more going on. When I opened Natalie's door, I found her playing in the middle of a huge mess! She had literally taken down and out every little thing she could find. Even the picture on her wall was hanging by a thread! The funny part was that she acted totally shocked to have been discovered! HA!

Caught! Even her hair was messy! We tried to switch to the "big girl bed" in Natalie's room but that didn't seem to stick either. After a few days and some "time out" threats, Natalie has decided to stay put in her crib (at least for now). Every day is a new adventure :)

These are just some funny pictures I snapped of Natalie after coloring with her washable (thankfully!) markers. She is soooo into them right now. They get EVERYWHERE...shirt, face, hands....

But she doesn't seem to care! :) Gotta love this spirited little girl!!!!

Love you, Nat!

Contest

hayzie tot contest going on now. check out the site to enter :)

a new blog to check out

Make sure to check out the new blog "Inspired Nesting"....you can click the icon on the right hand side of this blog to take a peek! This is a new site where I will share a bunch of fun stuff...creative ideas, articles, trends....you name it! The Kent blog will continue as well for all of our fun family info. I promise to jazz up the posts on inspired nesting soon. I am working on a "create your own blog" resource that will be posted soon!

Promise Art

Growing up, Wes and I sang a song that went like this...." I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise, With a Capital "P", I am a great big bundle of Potentiality. And I am learning to hear God's voice and I am trying to make the right choice. And I'm a promise to be anything God wants us to be."
Now this is Natalie's song and she has a picture to remind her that she is a PROMISE :)

(PS... Easy to make with a store bought canvas, acrylic paint and an idea!)

Easy Beginner Knitting Project

As some of you know, I am a big fan of knitting...However, I am no pro! I do NOT like following patterns and can't really manage much after the basic knit and purl stitch. I found a super easy to make poncho idea online and although it is still a bit roomy on Natalie, she will grow into it in no time. Go to the link below and click on the "Video" portion of the "Toddler Poncho" on the right side of the webpage for instructions. (sorry not the best pics, Nat couldn't sit still!)http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/learn-to-knit

Farmer's Market

I went to the Fulton Street Farmer's Market for the first time this past weekend and FELL IN LOVE! This place/event is awesome...tons of homemade pastries, bread, home-grown fruits and veggies, amazing flowers and crafts. I even put in a personalized special order for a local artist to knit a little girl's winter cap. I came home with fresh basil, eggplant, 6 grain, whole wheat and jalapeno wheat pizza crusts and 2 beautiful bouquets...all for extremely reasonable prices. Check it out for an amazing weekend outing. I will post picks of the winter hat as soon as it arrives :)