Homemade Playdoh!

The kids are going CRAZY with how hot it has been. Playing outside isn't even an option, unless it is swimming which we do A LOT of at the subdivision pool.

I thought it would be fun to do a little craft today after summer camp!

So, here comes the homemade play-doh!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup warm water

2 teaspoons cream of tarter

1 teaspoon oil

1/4 cup salt

food coloring

Here are the directions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except food coloring) in a medium-sized saucepan...

2. Stir over medium heat until smooth

3. Stir continuously until the dough balls (about 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat.

4. When dough is cool enough to handle, knead until smooth.

5. Form into a ball.

6. Divide into as many colors as you'd like to make. A single batch makes a good amount for four colors.

7. Add food coloring to the divided dough. Gel food coloring works quite well, but mine was a little dried out, so I used liquid as well.

8. Knead the food coloring into the dough. To protect your hands, wear plastic or rubber gloves.

9. Put the dough in separate containers. Toddler-sized containers are a good size, and i have also wrapped the colors individually in wax paper and stored in zip-lock baggies.

The kids loved this activity, and had a blast making different creations. It was a nice project that they could be a part of from beginning to end!


Let me know if you try it out!!

XOXO,

Miller

August 1st...I have my life back!!

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned...It has been 2.5 months since my last blog!

*GASP*

I am devastated to think that the whole reason I do this blog is so I can have it made into books for my children, and they are going to think "What the hell happened in 2011?!" All I will be able to say to them is "I'm sorry dear children, mommy had some f'ed up, crazy months!" They are not going to care, as you probably don't either to hear the details of my techy/nerdy job that has caused me check out for a while....at least from the blogging scene. They will however, be happy to hear that at least I cut out blogging and not laundry, cooking, going to the park, putting them to bed...well, you get the picture.

All that matters is, I'm back and I survived.

So, because I realize you all have been out of the loop, here are 31 "What the hell we have been up to" updates for you...In no particular order.

. We have a roommate! As many of you remember reading, my mom (who used to live in St. Louis) moved to Arizona about a year and a half ago. Well, she is back and has been with us since late June. My brother and sister-in-law are making the move from AZ to KC. Once that move is final, she will be spending two months with us, two months with them, and back and forth for....tbd. It has definitely been nice having her around and the kids ADORE her.

2. Since Malakai is entering 1st grade, he will become a cub scout!! At the end of the school year, we attended the cub scout picnic. It was cold, rainy, and a ton of fun!! It is nice for him to have an activity that isn't "Sport" related.

3. We hosted the 2nd annual Miller Memorial Day BBQ...our air conditioner DID NOT break this year so that in itself made it better than the year before ;) Complete with washers, water gun fights, and great friends. The little ones would cool off inside with a little Wii time...

4. We showed an outdoor movie, which was a HUGE hit!

My camera didn't do my "Screen" justice! You really couldn't see the design in the sheet...

5. My bestie of 20+ years came in town for the festivities....LOVE HER!

6. Leila has thrown her American Girl doll to the side and now goes nowhere with out Suzie! I'm not even sure where we acquired Suzie from, but she is like a rag doll and we had to duck-tape her body due to Bella torturing her.

7. I posted previously about Malakai and his Bandits Baseball team. Well, we also had a great season with the St. Paul Panthers. Lots of baseball around this house, which we LOVE!

8. Do you notice anything in the above picture? Malakai FINALLY lost his first tooth! Whoo hoo! We are at a total count of 2 so far this summer :)

9. Leilicious had her very first dance recital!! OMG! She was HILARIOUS! Those that know me know I have dreams of her being a competitive dancer/cheer girl. Mostly because my life was full of sports, sports, and more sports. I'm not sure how achievable this dream is. She doesn't take direction very well, but she definitely is the cutest one up there ;) I'm not biased at all!!

Getting a pre-game chat from dad...

I had to post this picture because it is a CLASSIC Malakai face anytime he is at Leila's dance classes!! LOL!

Yelled at him to actually SMILE!

Thanks to everyone who was able to join in the festivities of her first time on stage!

10. Poppy, Tutu, and Kiera

11. TT and Dada

12. Grandma

13. Melissa and I are selling Pure Romance!! If you aren't sure what that is...google it, then, if you are female, call me and book a party! We have been doing this since about April and it has been super successful. Especially considering how we both work our "Real" jobs together, so the craziness has effected both of us! It's fun, it gives us a girls night out, and it is making our Plastic Surgery Bank Account grow MUCH faster...Holla!

15. Back to Baseball...the Kirkwood Bandits were selected Channel 11 Team of the week!!! If you missed the video I posted, you can go to my facebook page to see...can't figure out how to put it on here. Josh did an AWESOME job!!

Malakai's Biggest Fan!!

Albert Pujols stance...

Well, I think this is enough for one post. Stay tuned for our July vacation, then that will be it for my catching up. It's all about the present!

XOXO,

Miller

$#%*(@

I never would have thought that before we had kids, I would be the one always "slipping" with the foul language in front of the kids! I mean seriously, I was Queen of not-slipping! I am 30 years old and can probably count on 1 hand how many curse words my dad has heard come out of my mouth!! Half of those were probably me quoting someone!

However, as a parent, I just gave up! Wanna know why?! Words that don't even count as curses are suddenly off limits too.

Like "stupid." And "crap."

This wasn't really an issue with Malakai. We told him not to say certain words and he didn't say them...EVER! In fact, he will let someone know when they do say a word that is on the off-limits list. Hence him telling my dad just last night..."Oh Poppie! You just said the 'SH' word!!" It took my dad a minute to realize he was referring to "Shut Up!"

Now Leila...she is like a freaking mocking bird!! And...it doesn't matter if we tell her not to say it, if she hears us saying it, she will repeat it! ESPECIALLY if she knows it is on the "naughty" word list. The other day, I was having a conversation with Josh and referred to something as "stupid crap". We were in the car at the time, the kids strapped safely into their car seats behind us. Leila was playing with her V-Reader – seemingly oblivious to our conversation – and Malakai had his nose stuck in his DS.

As I said it I actually gave myself a little mental pat on the back for cleaning up my language and not swearing.

And then I heard the tiny little voice from behind me:

"Stupid crap."

Josh, who was driving, gave me his when-will-you-ever-learn look and choked back a laugh.

"Leila, we don't say that" he said sternly.

Come on, seriously?? Is nothing sacred? I refuse to change my whole vocabulary to include "oh fudge," and "Honest to Pete" and "Gosh Golly Gee" when I'm really pissed off?

I want to be a good parent, but I don't want to turn into Ned Flanders or find some secret hideaway to run to when I really need to curse. Especially when there is no secret hideaway available when I am driving and my road-rage releases itself.

At the same time I don't want my kids to be the ones cursing their little friends out on the playground.

What do you do? Do you curse in front of your kids? Have you changed your entire vocabulary? Do you spell naughty words? Please, enlighten me :)

XOXO,
Miller

Bandits Baseball...Holla!

Baseball is in the air! This family is LOVIN it and we can't get enough! Malakai is playing on 2 teams this summer. One that Josh is coaching...The Kirkwood Bandits (machine pitch) and he is also playing in the CYC league for St. Paul. The Bandits have been meeting at the batting cages every Sunday for practice since Octoberish. Those sweet little 6yo boys have put their hearts and souls into it as they learn the All-American Sport of baseball. The amount of growth I have seen in them is just amazing! If Josh could support his family by coaching little league baseball, it would definitely be his full-time job. He loves it! Not to mention the fact that he is AMAZING at it! I can't go with out saying that the other coaches on the team, Paul and John complete the coaching staff and are also fabulous! All of their hard work paid off last night as they had their first game of the season. Thanks to Chuck's Boots they are sporting some pretty awesome uniforms! Good thing they had the skills to fit the professional look :) The won 12-2!! We are really looking forward to see what the rest of the season has in store for us. It is a great group of boys and a fabulous group of parents! I can't think of a better way to spend the wonderful Summer evenings than at the ballpark with great friends and great fun!

Leila is also playing ball this year. She doesn't start till next week, but I can't wait to fill you in on her! The girl has some mad skill!

Till next time...

XOXO,

How cute...

Are these shoes??!!! OMG! And they have FINALLY went on sale @ one of my favorite stores Anthropologie!! Even though I have to dress up for work, they are pretty flexible on the shoes as long as they are "dressy" I REALLY want these! What do you think? Should I cave?

XOXO,