Keeping Preschooler's Busy.....it is easier then you might think

Today was one of those days where Sutton kept me busy all morning. Not really allowing me to do much else but tend to her needs. This does not go over well with my 2 preschooler's. When Jacquelynn and Brooklyn are left unattended for any length of time, they tend to lose their little minds and do as many destructive things they can fit into the time they are unattended. A preshcooler is always curious, full of energy, very stubborn (in a good way), and always up for adventure. To quote my 4 year old, "Adventure is out there". While they do tend to get into trouble, they don't need the constant monitoring that they once did while they were toddlers. They have found a little bit of Independence. There are ways that a Domestic Engineer can keep her little preschooler entertained while at home. There a lots of ways. You just have to get a bit creative.

Today was a day I had to engage the two girls in something fun and creative. My girls love getting into the bathroom sinks and playing in the water. So, playing off that joy, I cleared off the kitchen counters, put a beach towel on the floor right under the sink, set the kitchen table bench up for them to stand on and put another towel on the bench. I filled both sides of the sink with warm sudsy water and gave them some plastic cups, spoons, straws, bowls and other fun things I could find and just let them have at it. After all, it is just water. Well, the end result was about an hour of good clean (wet) fun. I only let them go an hour because we had to pick up Madison from school, otherwise the could have gone longer. This was awesome! They had a blast and I was able to ttend to Sutton while watching them have a great time.

Sometimes we let these fun years of our kids lives pass us by with out stopping to enjoy the things that make preschoolers unique. I am choosing to stop each and every day to have a little fun with my crazy, lovable preschoolers.

If I had my child to raise over again

If I had my child to raise over again,
I'd fingerpaint more and point fingers less.
I'd do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I'd run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I would be firm less often and affirm much more.
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd teach less about love of power, and more about the power of love.
-Diane Loomans-

If they can do it....I can too

Hey look at these....I made hair bows today. Not too shabby for a mom with no time to do anything. I just figured, if those lovely women on Etsy can do it.....I can too. You be the judge...

Baby steps

Well, with tiny baby steps, I have completed the next step of my project. I took some spray adhesive and went to town on both the board and the back of the scrapbook paper. FYI, the board cut up cost me all of $2.00 and the scrapbook paper cost a total of $3.00, I already had a few in my personal stash that I wanted to use in this project. The spray adhesive cost $3.00 and the spray paint cost me $3.75. So $11.75, not bad for a nice wall project. Anyway after spraying the adhesive, I stuck the paper to the boards. The next step will be to take my blade and cut the paper to size of the boards. I hope to get that done tonight.

UPDATE!!!
I have finished 5 of my 8 pieces of wall art....yay me! SO I took a box cutter blade and I cut the scrapbook paper along the sides of the board. So now all of my boards are all 11 X 11. The I took brackets and nailed them to the back of each board. This is such a fun creative release for me. I love it. I need to find 3 more scrapbook pages that I love to finish the project. But here are some pictures of the outcome.


The best part about this project is that if I change my decor or change my mind then I can just change out the scrapbook pages. I love it and I did it myself!!

Distractions don't help....

I began my first DIY project yesterday. Yay me! I am creating wall art for my bedroom wall. Since we are renting and charges to repaint the apartment when we move out are insanely high, I am adding color a different way. Wall art, with loads of color! The first step was going to Lows and buying particle board. Then I had to stand and wait to have the board cut into 8 pieces measuring 11 X 11. This would normally be easy to do, but I wanted a challenge so I took all 4 of my little girls with me. I think Jacquelynn managed to touch everything in the store, even the things way up high. How the heck did she do that, I have no idea! Anyway, when we got to the cutting part of our trip, the girls were totally enthralled with the sawing action. That kept their attention long enough for me to get the cutting part done. So I had my board all cut up and my spray paint and we went home. I purchased the board on a Saturday, but I had to let it sit in the garage until Tuesday because of all of the things a family of 7 has to do. It gets busy over here. Tuesday morning when Eddie left for work, my girls were occupied with a movie and Sutton was sleeping, I went into the garage and begin the spray painting process of the project. I used chocolate brown on my project because that is one of the accent colors of our room. I sprayed the edges and sides of the board with just 2 coats. then let it dry. I had intended to go back and do another step in the project, but alas.....my kids would not let me. LOL. So I am hoping that today I will be able to do step 3 in my DIY project.

My favorite thing of the day!

I thought I would start adding some of my favorite Domestic Engineer, can't live with out LOVES! Lets face it, when you have more then one child, things get crazy and it is the small things that make BIG differences.

So today I want to thank PUREX for creating the Complete 3 in 1 laundry sheets! They make it so easy to do laundry that I have given the job to my kids. And there is no mess for me to clean up after they do it. Trust me, you might say to yourself, mess?? with laundry?? YES, there is always a mess, no matter what it is they are doing. So thank you PUREX!!! They are not expensive at all. There is always a coupon online of in the paper so go get yourself some and give the laundry chore to your kids!!


Directly from the website, http://www.purex.com/purex-3-in-1

Product Description

Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets come in three scents and are available in two package types – a Starter Kit (1 Dispenser + 20 Laundry Sheets) and a value Refill Pouch (24 Laundry Sheets).

The Starter Kit includes a refillable Dispenser that makes it simple to protect and access Purex Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets. Once you have the Dispenser, simply purchase the money-saving Refill Pouch to fill the convenient Dispenser.

Toddler Bandit foiled!!!

This is my 2 1/2 year old Brooklyn. She is a little ball of mischief! I have to seriously keep an eye on her every second. Except right now while I am sitting here blogging this. Anyway, as you can see she is stuck! She has always rebelled against the idea of me blocking off the kitchen, but after finding all of my bread dumped out of the bag and onto the kitchen table Sunday afternoon, I had to lay down the law and establish SERIOUS rules with the kitchen. Oh, and tightly secure the gate. Well, this morning, while I was feeding the baby, Brooklyn cried out for help. When I cam to her rescue, this is what I found. My baby girl stuck under the gate with big tears in her beautiful eyes. Hey kid, don't do the crime if you can't do the time!