July Pictures

Swimming

Castle Island

Castle Island

Waiting for the fireworks

Eva Rose petting the baby chick at Tendercrop Farm

Michael petting the baby chick at Tendercrop Farm

Thomas petting the baby chick at Tendercrop Farm

Homemade crockpot soap

Our first 5K finish

Crafty projects; doll bed, mattress, pillow, quilt, and rag rug

Spending Saturdays at the farmer's market in town

cucumbers from our garden

Our garden!

Just a couple of pictures from our days during July!

Amy

Newest Doll Project

I have had this old clementine crate for the longest time (probably not that long, it just feels that way) and I finally decided to do something with it.  I had heard that you can make a small doll bed from the crates so that they are recycled and have a new use.  I looked online to get some ideas, but I finally decided to jut use some wide popsicle sticks to make a headboard and a footboard and then paint the whole thing.  I then attempted to make a mattress, but measured wrong and pretty much totally screwed up, but I added a pillow and I think it looks ok.  I love the tufting of the mattress.  I am really liking how creative I am being.  For my own mental health, I think it is important for me to find some sort of creative outlet, plus, it's so much fun making things for the kids! I now need to make a doll quilt for the bed!

I think it may be time to work on some boy projects once I am finished with the doll quilt!!  The poor boys seem to get lost in the shuffle of making cute things.  There are so many cute girly things, I now need to find some cute boyish things!

I also think that I really like sewing!  I'm not a huge fan of sewing clothing (though I would like to learn how to better)!  I love sewing craft things.  I really need to figure out what I like and spend some time perfecting my craft.  Oh, and a Facebook friend from high school mentioned that this bed would be great for small dogs and I should think about selling them for that reason.  It's a great idea!

Happy creating!
Amy

Muffin Tin Meals

For someone who likes to be creative, I certainly am not having much creative spark lately.  I can't figure out simple creative craft projects for my kids to do.  I asked my twins group and got a good amount of suggestions on things to do with the kids (thankfully).  Then, I was reading another twin mom's blog at http://www.reanbean.com/ and got the idea for muffin tin meals.  I certainly can use any ideas when it comes to getting my kids to eat their meals better and this seems like it is worth a try.  Maybe my kids are too young, maybe it won't make a difference, or maybe just maybe they'll find it fun and they will eat better.  Maybe they won't throw their plate on the floor after dumping their food on their high chair tray.  I'm not sure anything will help, but this looks like a fun way to try even snacks.  I will be checking out fun muffin tins and silicone miffin cups.  I may try the muffin cups first and see how that goes over.

With regards to getting the kids involved in crafts, I got a few great ideas from some other twin moms.  I have some what of a plan on attempting to get the kids involved in doing things that will be creative and help to work on their motor skills.  Maybe it will keep them busy so that I can also do something creative along with them.

What I find to be the toughest part about finding creative things to do with the kids, other than actually coming up with the ideas, is figuring out how to get all 3 kids involved.  I think some of the ideas that I have in mind will work well and I can do an adult version of what they are doing.  I do need to get a few supplies for some of the ideas, but I also have some supplies that will work in the interim.  Maybe, I can even tie the craft projects into their EI work/goals?!

Look for future pictures of the kids creative craft projects!

Amy

Father's Day

So, I have been thinking about what to do for father's day and I had thought that I would do some sort of mug and I still may.  I have been looking at clay stores to do this.  But, now, my twins group posted about father's day gifts and I love their idea.  They took pictures of their kids with letters spelling out DAD.  Since I have 3 kids, spelling out DAD will be perfect.  So I may end up doing 2 gifts.  the best part is that I get to do something creative for father's day.  The other thing that I am planning on trying is a cement stepping stone with hand prints of the kids and let them decorate it.  I bought a kit last year, but never used it.  I guess having a 15 month old and 5 month old twins was just too much last year.  This year, the kids are so much more independent.  We have a garden and I think it may be the perfect thing to make.  Well, Dad is going to get plenty of gifts this year, and I can't wait to make them!

I'll post pictures when I'm done!

Amy

Playing with Pictures

I've been playing with photoshop.  I still need to practice and learn more, but I am loving photoshop!

Not necessarily the best but lots of fun trying!

Amy

Getting Crafty

For years before I had kids, and pretty much all while growing up (except for my teen years) I was pretty into arts and crafts.  Before I had kids, my favorite stores to go into were AC Moore and Michaels.  I loved to learn new crafts and if you saw all my craft supplies and most of my books, you'd think I owned a store.  Now that I have kids, I don't have any where near the time or the energy to work on the multiple unfinished projects that I have already started.  I have the desire to work on things, but just can't seem to get myself moving to create.  I'm sure that once the kids get older, I will get back into being the creative person that I love to be.  Because I love to be creative, I use any excuse to do so.  Since I often have to send out cards, usually thank you's, I try to make them myself.  It's a good excuse to make sure that I do something I love an d not put it off.

Now that my son is 2 and the twins are 13.5 months, I am starting to think about getting the kiddos involved in arts and crafts projects.  I am trying to find something that i think is age appropriate, but I'm just not sure where to begin.  I know that the twins are probably a little young, but I would love to find something that would get the ball rolling.  I know that Michael could do a few things and I would love to put together a craft kit for kids.

Given that I love crafting and doing anything creative and that my husband is a shop teacher/woodworker, I really hope that our kids have an interest in doing something creative.  I would love to start offering things to them and expose them to creativity at a young age.  So, any of my readers, if you have any suggestions, please let me know.  If and when I get things rolling I will be sure to post what we are doing and how it is going!

Amy