Fruity Playdough

This week is suppose to be rainy, that's right for the entire week! So, I planned to do this little activity with my kids when they got home today. They are hot to the touch after you make them, so I am putting them in the refrigerator and tomorrow we will get out the cookie cutters and play with the playdough. It really does smell fruity! The colors are so vibrant compared to the playdough you buy at the store too. I first saw this recipe on MomAdvise and then at Day By Day. I used the suggestion from Day By Day to use 1 tbs. flour instead of the 1 tbs cream of tarter because cream of tarter is expensive and guess what it works just fine without the cream of tarter. We will definitely be using this recipe again!

Here's the recipe!
Fruity Play Dough (courtesy of Recipezaar.com)
1 cup flour
1 package Kool-Aid (any flavor)
1 tablespoon cream of tartar or 1 Tbs flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup salt
3/4 cup boiling water (the original recipe called for one cup of boiling water, but I found it made the dough too loose- aim for 3/4 cup and add more if needed)
Mix all dry ingredients in bowl then oil, then pour boiling water in and mix thoroughly. Wrap in cellophane or air tight container and store in fridge. The play dough should last a few months.

Our visit to Granny's and Granddaddy's

We spent last week with my family. they live about 3 hours away from us and we really do not visit much. I went bymyself with the kids. I took them to my brother's house to swim. It was the twins first swimming experience in a pool over there head. My oldest got to work on swimming better too. I should really take them swimming more, but it is just so hard to do by myself with all four kids! Here are some pictures from the week.

The kids playing in Granny's pool with cousin.

Neil after eating Bluberry Pancakes!

Neil loved being driven around in this car!

Katie Sue!

Nathan!

My kids

It is rare that I get a picture of them all together!

Playing in the Snow!

The kids got up today and were so excited to go outside and play in the new fallen snow! Yes this is our first measurable snow. So, we got dressed and bundled up real good and while Neil was taking a nap, we went out for about 20 minutes. The kids got to try out their new snow boots they got for Christmas. It was 19 degrees and they screamed because they wanted to stay out longer! Then we came in and had Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was so cold! Here are a few pictures!

Just Before we went out.

Katie Sue

Nathan

Nathan

<>

Nicholas

This is what they both looked like when we came back in.

Christmas 2007

Well, I guess I have not posted for awhile. I wanted to post some Christmas pictures and tell you a little bit about our holiday. My parents live about 3 hours away and they sent us money for gas to go and visit them. So, we set off on Sunday morning. We got about 35 minutes from home, when the car I was driving just died on me. So we spent the day getting the car towed back home and then my mom came and picked us up. We ate at Crackel Barrell, my favorite restaurant, my kids were starving and ate pancakes and sausage at 7 pm. We then spent the night with my parents and we got up the next morning and exchanged presents. My parents got all the kids some really nice gifts. Neil got this animal train and he loves it! They sell other parts to it so he may get some of those for his birthday. Nicholas got some military men and some boxers and a diary and sketch book with a special pen. Nicholas had been asking for a diary. Nathan got a remote control car and Katie Sue got a cash register. My parents also got them all a new outfit. They bought clothes for David and me too. They brought us home late the next night. We found out that our car that broke down, which by the way is not the one that a tree fell on, needs a new timing belt. I guess that when it rain's it pours and also, we for some reason did not get a rental on our policy so we can't get the other car fixed because it will be two weeks to get it fixed. But that is a whole nother story. Anyways, we got up on Christmas day and opened gifts with the kids. Nathan got up before we got in there, the little stinker and I had a hard time finding everything that had been laid out. Then we had a rushed breakfast and my dh's mother came and picked us up. We did not even get to light our fireplace. :( We got home late on Christmas night and to tell you the truth I am still tired! DH got me an mp3 player and I really like it. All in all, except for the car breaking, we had a wonderful Christmas and are so blessed! Here are some pictures, this was Neil's first Christmas!

Neil's gift from "Santa"

Nathan took over Neil's gift!lol

Nicholas's MP3 player

"Santa" brought Nicholas and the twins Scooters. The twins are my first scooters.

Katie Sue opening her talking Dora backpack.

Nathan and his Diego rescue pack.

Nathan's face was priceless when he opened his own computer! Katie Sue got one too.

Nathan tries out his new boots, Katie Sue got some pink ones but she did not want to try them on.

Neil and his baby computer.

Neil and his Elmo driving toy.

Nicholas and his Transformer Changing voice helmet.

Katie Sue and her doll.

Neil enjoying his computer.

Here Comes Santa!

Neil started waving and talking to everyone taking pictures. It was so cute!

Neil and Santa


Katie Sue and Santa. Granny got her up there she really did not want to go up there.

Nathan and Santa. Nathan would not quit talking to Santa.

Nicholas and Santa. He told Santa that he was too big to sit on Santa's lap, but Santa told him no way!

Family Bake Night

Last night we had Family Home Evening. We usually have this one night a week and do something fun together. Last night we told the story of The Legend of the Candy Cane (we have an ornament on the tree with this story on it) and then we made Candy Cane Cookies. They were really hard to make but the kids had a fun time sifting, using the mixer, and rolling the dough into snakes. Above this post are pictures of the night and the recipe that we used follows:
~
Here is the recipe:

Candy Cane Cookies

~

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sifted confectioners sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp almond flavoring

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

~

Mix well the shortening and butter, sugar, egg, almond, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt and add to shortening mixture. Divide dough in half.

Blend red food coloring into one half. Roll one teaspoon of the red dough and one teaspoon of the white dough on a lightly floured board into 4 inch strips. Place strips side by side and press lightly together and twist like a rope. Curve the top of rope down to look like the handle of a candy cane.

Note: Make one complete cookie at a time. If the dough of one color is shaped first, the little rolls become too dry to twist.

Bake 9 minutes at 350 degrees F or until lightly browned. Remove while still warm. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed peppermint stick candy and 1/2 cup sugar.

~

Note my kids are in their pull-ups. They usually stay this way while we are home working on potty training.

Cat Fights!

Sometimes I feel like I live with a bunch of cats and I do not even own one. lol! Yesterday, all 3 of my older children decided that they wanted to fight yesterday and they decided to use weapons! They clawed each other! All three of them have scatch marks on their chest. Nate's looks so bad! I do not know what I am going to do with them! Neil also scratches you. I know he can't help it, but it hurts and leaves marks! What am I going to do with all of the cat fights going on in my house?

Trick-or-Treat Night Pictures

Trick-or-Treat Night at Granny's

All of my kids, (this was a HARD picture to take!)

Neil very tired!


Nicholas as a soilder

Neil another happy smile!

Nathan and Katie Sue with the glasses Granny gave them.

Halloween Party Pictures

Halloween Party 2007

Nicholas as a Soldier

Katie Sue as "Elmo"

Elmo's world

Neil as "Blue"

Another one of Neil as Blue

"Elmo" eating

Nathan as "The Cookie monster" doing what The Cookie Monster does best...EAT!

Nathan as "The Cookie Monster"

"Blue" on all fours