Hot Cocoa

I LOVE hot cocoa. 

Today it snowed.  Not just any snow.  Those big snow flakes that leave you staring out the window in wonder.  How are they SO big?  How do they make it to the ground in one fragile piece?

I guess it's almost like motherhood.  I flashed back to the workshop and the moment I saw my little man again after three intense days.  How did he get SO big?  How did this little fragile life make it into the world through my body?

So it was time to venture outside in the snow storm.  Soren had a blast!  And of course, when we came back in from the cold - it was time for some hot cocoa.  

With some Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa and Snowville Creamery milk - Soren and I made some cocoa with Noi Sirius dark chocolate shaved on top.  Happy Snow day!

Donations

When is it the right time?  You know, to go through all those clothes, toys and infant accessories that you stock piled for the last couple years?

There is a different answer for everyone.  For us - I do it every few months or so.  I have honestly kept and will continue to keep the onesies I can't stand to part with (his 'breastfed' and 'made in ohio' ones are priceless!), a pair of shoes, his knitted hat and mittens I made before he was born - you know, those things.  But everything else, as hard as it is to see it go - has to.  

With me going back to school and our futures being cast a bit into the wind by it - we aren't so sure if and when we would have another wee one around.  By that time, we may feel differently about parenting styles.  I know we both would be more persisitant with tummy times and Rick would probably wear the baby more (kept the sling, Bjorn and Ergo Baby Carrier...), and we have an extra toddler seat courtesy of a very generous friend - so with the Britax we would be set.  There isn't a reason to keep the other stuff.  So I thought.

Soren felt differently.  He has been going through the bags and has picked out two of his infant toys and a sippy cup he refuses to give up.  I think we can stand to keep just a couple more things, don't you?  That face...

How did you choose to have a second?  What sort of things did you do differently the next time around?

Play Dough!

Homemade play dough - SO COOL!!  This was fun for us to make and even more fun to play with.  And to top it off, lasts at least 3 months in the fridge.

I got the recipe from this site.  I used the very first cooking recipe since they last a bit longer.  Here is the recipe, just in case you're up for cooking!

3 cups flour

6 tsp tartar

1.5 cups salt (I accidentally left this out and it turned out just fine, but I am sure salt would help with the moisture)

3 tbsp oil

3 cups water

Combine in a pot over medium heat.  Stir constantly, scraping the dough from the sides until it resembles a ball of play dough (1-3 minutes).  Pour out and let cool.  I had to knead this for a little bit until it became play dough.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.  

*I let it cool at least 20 minutes before playing with it.

One thing I have learned about sensory play - is that it doesn't always go 'as planned'.  I got the cookie cutters out, rollers and all sorts of things.  Which worked - for awhile.  And then he went to collect his trucks.  I thought we were done with the play dough after a short 15 minutes, but I stood corrected.  

Play dough is great for trucks to run over, dump and be filled.  

We had a blast, for a couple hours.  Soren played with play dough until the Sun went down and it's sitting in the fridge for another day!