Toddler Activities - Box Fort!

My toddler has so much fun at school during the day, sometimes I think he gets home and is wondering what happened to all the fun?  He needs to wind down in the evening and we have to eat dinner and all that, but we still have time for some activities and I think he does better when I have something planned and he isn't just running all over the house playing with toys. 

But I also need something REALLY easy because the last thing I have the energy for in the evening is lots of cleanup and complex games.

He loves playing with boxes but we always had boxes that were pretty small so he had to squeeze in and also he had a hard time getting in and out of them on his own.  But he loves to play with them, as I know  most kids do!

Yesterday he was out of school so I took the day to get him some new shoes (what a feat with his adorably chubby feet!) and I also stopped by the office supply store for a big box.  Unfortunately the biggest they had was 24 inches tall but I got it anyway, it would have to do.

Last night after dinner I taped the box up completely and then used a razor to cut a door and a window in the box.  We had lots of fun turning the box different ways, letting him climb in and out and open the door and close it.  I'm sure there will be many embellishments as time goes on but the simple box was good for him.  He had a blast and it entertained him and us right up until bedtime!

It's really fun to see them learn and experience new things. 

Motherhood - One thing I can't live without

There is one thing that, as a mother, I can't live without.  I bought it as a suggestion from a book or a friend, I can't remember now, and I've had it with me 24/7 ever since I gave birth 15 months ago.  It is...

This Timex watch!

 

It shows the day of the week, the date, the time (with seconds) and glows in the dark with one button push.

It has a ton of other great features and sometimes I use the timer or alarm but mostly the features I mentioned.  It's been my lifeline ever since I got it.  I used it all through night wakings and breast feeding and naptime and anyone who's had a kid knows you have to track everything! 

Not to mention it keeps you sane when you wake up in the middle of night without contacts and can't see the clock on the bookshelf.

Some people say, why have a watch when you have a phone?  But the phone is not right there every time you really need it!

The really cute thing is that my son loves it too.  He senses it there, he holds on to it, when the watch is there he knows it's my arm.  He even likes to wear it sometimes.

Anyone else have this same revelation after they had a baby?

Here's to a wonderful weekend, hopefully without the use of the watch for 2am wakings!

How to be a girl - exfolator and dry shampoo!

There are a few things I missed growing up like, how to be a girl!  Makeup, hair, clothes, cleaning, organizing, those types of things...just didn't get the foundation.  I was a tomboy, I guess, and have never put my focus on girly things.  But that's changing!  There is so much I want to know now.  So I'd like to learn.

First on my agenda, exfoliation!  I need to do it and I'd like to find a product or process that works best for me.  I did try a chemical and it seemed to work although I didn't find it to be the miracle that others made it out to be.  I did a little digging today and found this pineapple exfoliator:

It should be coming in the mail and I will let you all know how it goes!  I am very excited about it.  In addition to that I ordered a dry shampoo that's supposed to be fantastic.  Reviews to come!