Project 52, Weeks 20 and 21

Its getting easier and easier to photograph the children in the same frame.

They are starting to play TOGETHER.

They are starting to take turns, to follow directions for a project for two, to pay attention to each other and feed off the other's ideas.

They are growing together!

This is such a cool thing for our family.

Its like we have two kids now, instead of a first born and a new baby.

Up until about a month ago, I had to place the children close by each other to create a photo for this photo project or run around to a strange angle to get both of them in the shot.

Or, if by some chance they were nearby each other, it was like RUN FOR THE CAMERA THIS WILL WORK FOR PROJECT 52!

I predict we'll have way more unrehearsed, spontaneous photo scenes like the following two in coming weeks.  

Its so fun to sort through the photos from the week and then have to choose between multiple shots from multiple activities to edit and post!  This is just so different than how it was at the beginning of the project.

I am happy I am doing this project because I think it will make one heckuva photo memory book!

DHH was making bubbles in the pool with his breath.  

EK copied him, leaning down in the water and making those same bubble noises that she uses for driving toy trucks. 

 DHH thought it was hilarious that she could play the same Bubble Game he was playing!

EK has been begging with her whines and extended arms to be picked up and see what we do when we are working in the kitchen.
She's so limited from her position on my hip that I decided to pull out the helping tower, adjust it back to the highest setting, and let her stand and view for herself.
DHH has been using the tower for over a year and did not seem to mind sharing his space with his sister.
She was eager to "help", especially when she realized she had easy access to samples!

Cloud Dough, aka Soft Sand, aka Best Digging Sensory Bin So Far!

If you or someone you love enjoys digging, building roads with tiny construction tractors, or tracing lines in sand, you need to do yourself a favor and make some cloud dough.

I think this recipe has saved us from buying a sand box this year because no sand can compare to this silky soft sand.  Its just a bottle of baby oil and a bag of flour.   

(I used left over wheat flour and some self rising flour I doubted would still rise because of its age.  We probably used slightly more flour than one bag's worth, and we used the larger sized bottle of baby oil.  I think the measurements are approximate.)

Though our daughter totally shoved it in her mouth the second she was put down next to the bin, and she doesn't do that with the rice box or beans or playdough.  This must look mighty tasty to her.  We started playing with this when she was eleven months old, and now two months later, its still something she hasn't learned not to do, so we just put it up on a high surface when she's around.

 I think its best to keep this material in a tub, not on trays on a table or on the ground.   We had some friends play with theirs on their patio in late April, and the residue has just NOW washed off the bricks and has slightly stained them.  Dan wasn't pleased about this, so we just never play with it on the bricks anymore. Its worthwhile to note that our friends' cloud dough was made from flour and vegetable oil, and it seemed a bit different than the baby oil version, but still perfectly playable. I don't think the baby oil version stains.

 I brought a variety of materials out for DHH to use when playing , like old Hot Wheels that didn't need to stay in mint condition, some construction vehicles, various scoops and spoons, and different sized containers to press the sand into.  He prefers the digger toys and several different spoons and spatulas, ignoring the rest.

He still isn't interested in pretend cooking, but if he was, I think he'd enjoy the kitchen utensils and plates and make some cool wedding cakes or something.

 Its not often that a two year old's attention can be kept for an HOUR twice per day.  This is just something that engages him for a long time, given that we use it once per week or so.  Its a big treat to get it out, but its not a big hassle to get it out.

Here is how we solved the problem of keeping it off the patio and out of his sister's mouth.  Its a makeshift sand table, with sides to keep his sister's hands away!

You should know that DDH climbs into the box to do his work more often than not.  I haven't noticed any staining, which is important, since he is wearing some classy Thomas apparel these days. :)

 And here's another photo that tells my heart he loves the fun I help him make during the days.

So in conclusion, if you spend any time around a child two or older, you should make this.   Actually, you should seek out a child to make this for because its so fun to play in for yourself!

Still Trouble Sleeping.

Late nights are the most un-fun in the morning.

There's no way I can match my children's energy and enthusiasm when I've had half as much sleep as them the previous night.

Am I right or what?

I think I'll go back to the sleeping pills at 8 PM deal and to bed with Dan at the very same time and promise not to get out and read or check my messages or blog or be alone with my thoughts, because when I am, I get like I need to distract myself to soothe myself, and then its 1 AM, and shoot, the children are awake at 6 AM and I am not a college student who is able to sleep only five hours.

Overwhelmed with Craft and Preschool Clutter

PS, this is not one of those photo heavy before and after blog posts, or one that I challenge you to clean along with me! Its more of a lament.  And an honest post.

It took me an hour to find the "workybooky with arrows and lines" that DHH requested.

And then I found six color books, mostly Mickey and Curious George, that are barely used.
An assortment of craft paper for buntings and projects that haven't been started or even thought about lately.
Loads of felt I planned to make into felt food, but then the kids didn't really taker to playing with pretend food, so I decided to wait until that part of their play seemed to require that craft.

And more and more and more.
I felt so overwhelmed by the STUFF I have.
I feel overwhelmed for not having the time and focus to care for these things properly, for having so many things that are unused because I cannot locate them at the precise time we need them so I make do or do differently, for not having the proper places or system for storing these things.

I need some routine and organization in my life and I cannot seem to make it come from within me.

When I feel this way, I just want to toss it all in another room, close the door, and go do train sets or some other more fun activity.  Or even an activity with a clear beginning and end, like clearing out the fridge of leftovers we won't eat and need to compost.

Our preschooling time has been pretty unstructured since Samuel's birth/death and any organizational mojo I ever kind of had is squashed.

Most of the goodies I have are really goodies, but there is probably some trash or waste that can be tossed.
Most of the things are craft related - for me or for us together as a learning activity- and they are utterly disorganized.

I do some kind of decluttering every week - going through too-small clothes or age-inappropriate toys and the like - but I'm not getting rid of things.  Everything I sort has to have a new place because I imagine we'll need it again, like when EK is two and needs those more basic puzzles than nearly-three DHH needs or if we have a girl baby who is size nine months and needs a cardigan and collection of leggings.


How can I fix this craft clutter?
Seriously, do you have any ideas?

I feel like if I start into decluttering, I get distracted by children who need my attention. Or I get distracted by emotions (so sad about putting away those tiny clothes that no longer fit! wonder if we'll have a baby for it again?) that I make very little headway.

We are also so limitted in space.
I know we have more than we have room for.
Most of the rooms in the house can use a thorough reorganization and rediscovering of their purpose, but its hard to be in one particular room since someone always seems to be napping in there or to put it away properly, I need to go into a different room that has a different child napping in it.

I am wavering between just accepting that this is my station in life right now - two little mess makers and putting out fires all over unless I plug the kid into a DVD and really get into cleaning up and clearing out - OR I get down to business and make this house simple, very livable, and free from hobbies I enjoy but cannot manage.

OR I put DHH in preschool and let them handle the pots of glitter and crayons and contact paper and yarn.

OR maybe this chaotic house is sort of a metaphor for the grief turmoil I am still in.
The avoidance of dealing with messy things, the gathering stuff to fill a void, the replacing of things that I cannot find right now but want so then I have double of, distracting myself with partially finished projects.

I don't know.  Maybe this is a venting post?
Or maybe you actually have good ideas to help me out here?
Please comment if so.