More Pin Projects

I'm trying to catch up on some past projects before posting about our current goings on.  Just putting up a list of what we've done is tempting, but not really the point of a blog with the name Pinterest in the title.  Of course, there are pins we've done that were not photographed, but those will have to live in my memory :)

Since I wasn't as good at pinning when I first joined Pinterest I can't remember where these all came from, so for pics you see that you recognize, please comment on where they came from so I can update & link to the original post.

Wooden frames hung at child eye level with rotating art- usually Ada's school creations- can't remember where this came from, not on my board but someone else did this before me.  Got unfinished wood frames- cheap.  Don't have a back.  She had gotten all fancy.  I just duct taped a piece of a cereal box to the back to make a slot to drop in a picture.  Then attached a little picture hanging thing.  Presto!

Also, can't remember this one.  Basically we cut tissue paper stuck it between clear contact paper and glued it to a pumpkin shape.  Then I gave Ada some eye and mouth shapes to glue on.  

This was the original vision, but we decided to use the dabbo instead.  Faster, no glue to dry and we made these mostly to send to someone who we has a deep appreciation of the dabbo!

Just a collection of collage items for the fall.  Learned how to color rice for this one.

This song jar is from one of my favorite blogs (although she hasn't been posting for a while).  Ada and I first wrote a list of songs we know.  Then she would decorate popsicle sticks that I had written on.  She usually would "write" on them too and then add stamps and foam stickers.  We put them all in a tall plastic container (empty baby puffs container), and she decorated that too.  It sits on top of the piano for when we need inspiration :)

Emma is firmly in the "I'm a baby and I like to put things into other things" stage.  I had dreams of crafting some elaborate and beautifully decorated container, but alas... this as on hand and it's DONE.

Shaving cream fun. I've seen this as a sensory activity on several sites, but I remember the preschool where Ada & Emma used to go to school doing this.  The girls LOVED it.  Ada simply called it "messy work".  We all were covered by the end and all three of us needed a hose down (shower) afterwords.  A mess to clean up, but totally worth it!

Our Christmas Tree.  I saw this and thought we could make a large version of it as our "tree" this year.  But it just never came together and one day we were downstairs and I wanted to get our stockings hung up so we could start talking about and thinking about the holiday.  I had been looking at felt boards and realized I had these materials on hand.  I cut  some shapes quickly and hot glue gunned the tree shape to some foam board.  I hung it to the wall with those command picture hanging strips and let the girls "decorate" with the colored shapes.  Worked out great!

SNOW INSIDE!!  When it's too cold to really explore the snow outside, but we want to play :) This is another activity that came from watching what the daycare in Massachusetts used to do with the girls.  But this is also all over the web.

That's all for now.  There will be more current stuff to come this week.

What's in a name?

So, the posts so far haven't really explained why I chose the name I did for this blog.  The truth is I've been dragging my feet about doing this for months and I finally just decided that like much in life if you don't just do it, it's not going to happen.  For me perpetual procrastination frequently spawns out of the desire not to start until I know it can be perfect.  Despite my strong Virgo tendencies I am trying to get over that.  Tony is especially good at just doing stuff.  I am trying to let his good instinct rub off.  

For those of you who currently do not "pin" please be warned that it is addictive.  I am a visual learner and to have a way to weed through loads of information with only a snapshot is dreamy.  To be able to organize my own "things to remember" in a visual way as opposed to a list of text is equally awesome.  It's kind of like a whole site of just scanning a magazine and then you can go back and read the articles you are really interested in.  For me that's usually some DIY craft, an article about parenting, or a recipe. 

And that brings me to why I'm finally doing this blog.  As those close to me know, this year has not been the greatest... to...say...the...least.  I am ready for June to roll around, look back, take stock, and move on.  But as hellish as the summer felt, things have been much better lately.  Maybe it's because the snow came and the winter has been just like a New England winter- and certainly not as bad as last year.  

Notice the snow up to Tony's knees

January 2011- Massachusetts

Maybe it's because I've been going to the gym more often.  Maybe it's because I finally feel like I have at least one girlfriend here that I can really (or at least mostly) be myself around.  Maybe it's because Ada is really settling in to living here and making friends.  Maybe it's because Emma is thriving and making me laugh so hard I howl.  Maybe it's because Tony and I have finally figured out how to adapt and adapt and adapt to a crazy schedule that seems to get even more nuts as weeks and months go by.  Maybe it's just time.  

Whatever the reason, things are better. 

Today I was lamenting about this time last year.  Tony was finishing up interviews, and the snow just kept on coming- and it seemed to come hardest when he was away.  Emma was still an infant and Ada was in school half an hour away from home which meant 2 hours of driving a day.  It was worth it as Emma wasn't the best sleeper and as a nursing mom I was trying to sleep with her during the day so I could get up with her at night and not go too nuts with sleep deprivation.  I was pumping and trying to store milk and figure out lessons for when I went back to work.  Tony was away a bunch during the first couple months of Emma and at times it felt impossible.  I remember trying to dwell on the fact that single parents do this all the time and don't get to talk to their partner in parenthood on the phone and have an emotional support.  That I should be happy for what I have.  But in the moment, I was not a fan.

Flash forward to this year.  Emma is much more self reliant and most nights I can sleep uninterrupted so I don't feel so fragile.  Ada is super helpful and awesome, and while she tests me to the point of ridiculousness she is doing great.  I feel like if necessary, I could conquer the world... most days.  The point?  The tests I have been through this year have indeed made me a stronger woman.  

Enter Pinterest.

So, since I love crafts, this is where I derive loads of inspiration for things to do with the girls: art projects, science experiments, games.  The problem is you can get sucked into just gathering all these ideas and that becomes the hobby instead of just creating.  Jonah Lisa wrote an awesome article explaining the syndrome.   

Her article inspired me to start making some of my "pins" and here I will share them with you.  I sort of want a color code feature on Pinterest where I can mark the things I've made since I don't want to take them off my board, but I want to quickly and visually see what I have/ have not done.  Here are a few of the "Pinterest-inspired" things we've done over here.  If I can remember where I originally got the idea, the title is a link... but I admit that sometimes I just look at a bunch of similar things and through inspiration and what's on hand kind of go with it.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Numbers written on foam in egg carton- can't remember where I got this one.


I spy Green tub

Rainbow fruit kebab

Cookie monster cookies- we added the blue food coloring for Cookie Monster :)

Leaf rubbing

Ice Garland

Baking soda and vinegar

Lettuce print wrapping paper

I'll post more soon- I need more time to find pictures and links.

So while Pinterest is not the reason I'm doing so much better in Minnesota, it does help me feel more productive and is a nice way to stay connected to some like-minded folks.  

Thanks for reading.

Three year old Ada

Ada is three years old.  She goes to Montessori school and we try our best to use some of those principles at home so we try to talk about her birthday in terms of the times the Earth has been around the Sun with Ada on it.  Somehow it makes her existence even more amazing when put in those terms. 

That's a long way to go!

And indeed, our little Ada has gone far and done many things in her relatively short life, and she has taught me more in that time about myself than any shrink, and about living/ learning than any school could have.  She literally changed my life.  I think we are the luckiest parents in the world most times, but that doesn't mean I don't get out of my head crazy mad at some of the things she does.  She is 3 after all!!

I would like to point out one little glorious moment that happened the other day after we got home from school.  She took off her boots and hung up her coat only to exclaim, "Mama, pee pee!"  So I told her to run into the bathroom and go.  On her way out she said, "Mama tank* you cleaning the potty.  That was so nice."  Yes- she noticed that I had cleaned the bathroom when she was at school, and she thanked me for it.  Are you kidding me?  I love that kid.  

*tank is spelled according to how Ada speaks these days.  I try to do the right thing and not dwell on how cute some of the things sound when said incorrectly, but man is it cute!!

Emma Giggles

I was tickling her under the chair just to document the best sound in the world.  There are moments in all of our days when hearing the sound of a little person experiencing happiness will melt away all the lousy stuff- which we all have too.  Hope this little Emma moment can bring joy to you!

So, Emma is 14 months now and really wanting to show the world her personality.  While she has a limited vocabulary in the traditional sense, she is extremely non-verbally communicative and is able to get her point across almost all of the time.  She also has the ability to make me laugh like very few people can.  Her sense of humor is amazing.  With one little sideways look and a crooked smile she gets me rolling.  I am still just totally in love with her.

That said, the reality of having two girls only 22 months apart is starting to rear its head.  The other day when Ada had done something to get me super angry (I'm told 3yo are especially good at this), Emma moved in got between us cocked her head to the side and gave me this little smile that could only just melt my heart.  I'm sure some "protect your sister from that mean mama person" kicked in, and while it was cute, and effective as I quickly was able to calm down and talk to Ada without yelling, I was also terrified at their ability to take each other's side to protect each other.

I'm pretty tough, but I think I'm going to have to get even tougher by the time these girls are teenagers!!

Dinner with the girls

Dinner at our house can take a number of turns.  When I'm organized that will mean I got something in the crockpot in the morning so I can just play between 4:00 and 5:00 or that I get things together for the kids to help with food preparations.  Last night was one of those beautiful times when the stars aligned and we all made dinner together.  Emma is just starting to use the learning tower to practice cutting, mixing, pouring and cleaning up at the counter.  Luckily big sister Ada was willing to work on a chair without a fuss.

We had fun and our pizza turned out beautiful as well as delicious!

Pepperoni and Olive- Made by Ada
Artichoke Heart and Roasted Red Pepper- Made by Emma (with some help from Mama)

Starting a blog...

So, now that I'm working as a mom at home full time I've found myself doing loads of things inspired by Pinterest and other spots on the web.  Here is were I'll share that with the world.  Be warned that most things will revolve around the two wonderful girls I share my days with.  Enjoy!