Early in the month we were talking about making homemade playdough when I ran across a recipe for pumpkin scented dough. (actually this links to the basic recipe with a link to the scented) We had all the ingredients on hand so Alannah made up a batch for the littles one morning while I was working with the olders. Divide and conquer.
Yay-ah! <g> Seriously now, don't be a hater ok? 20 some yrs ago when I was teaching a five yo to read while my three year old was attempting to climb out the windows (not kidding, ask my neighbor) and my nursing one year old was beginning to toddle through the house I would probably have had some choice words for the woman with a built in extra pair or two of adult hands. But a) I had to be in your shoes to walk to where I am now and b) those extra adult hands don't linger long. They get jobs and go to school and move away all too soon. It is a teeny tiny window of wonderful collaboration. A grace God sometimes grants which helps to make year 25 of preschool as much fun as year one was.
Back to playdough. The post mentioned refrigerating the dough to boost its longevity. This recipe has lasted all month. In fact we had it out today and I am amazed at how pliable it still is.
We have made rolled out pumpkins with cookie cutters and added dry beans to make faces. We also made pumpkins from balls of dough and noodle stems. I want to point out though to any new teacher-moms that might see this that it is especially nice to organize a blog post around thematic colors and shapes. In real life though, it is the rare child who feels compelled to restrict his/her play to preselected, holiday appropriate themes. Hence, we have also had orange apple pie and pumpkin scented snowmen with the dry beans becoming snowman wigs. Which actually went sorta well with the Christmas story book from the library. In October.
You should know this happens. It's ok. : )
Starry Sky Journal 
Oh, fun! Yes, I often tell folks they should have a teenager first if they can possibly manage it…but mine will graduate in three years and then I will have a rather autistic elementary aged child and a bunch of littles…yikes!
Hey, I think it’s awesome that you have those extra hands to help out. It’s a reward for all of the hard work that was put into raising them up to be the generous helpers they are now. My oldest are 14 and 13 and it is such a blessing for the entire family. Thanks for the post, Kim. You made me smile. 🙂
The whole workload definitely ebbs and flows! When you have teens/extra driver/babysitter in the house you have a small window of time when they get proficient at the above. Then they are gone and you have that gap again til another grow up some. And so it goes. And I am sure everyone has heard all the cliche’s about little people, little problems, bigger people… That is true too. First you are up at night with colic. Then you are up when your new driver is out at night alone. So its goes. : )