gag-gle noun \ˈga-gəl\ : a group, aggregation, or cluster lacking organization, which is exactly how I feel about my family every day.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Reese's Last Day of Preschool



Getting so big!

\



Update:  I want to keep a record of her school progress, but I am not one for storing bunches of paper.  We'll probably keep her end of year assessment, but I wanted to put up some samples of her work, just for the record.



 Part of her end of year assessment:













Fix Your Dry Play Dough!

Reese makes a play-doh sneaky snake drinking root beer
I feel like this might be universal knowledge, but in the event that you don't know, dried up play clay can be fixed.  You don't need to throw it out and spend money on new stuff (unless you need more colors)

If your play dough is hard, don't throw it away!  It's easy to turn it back into malleable fun.


First, determine if it's just stiff or hard as a rock. 

 If you can't move it at all (rock hard), just put some water with it in the container and let it sit over night. Not a lot of water is needed to soften it enough to bring it back to life.

When you go to check it, it will be nice and soft.  Sometimes it will even be too gooey.  If this happens, keep kneading it until it's not so sticky, or add some more stiff clay to balance it out, or let it sit out for a couple hours to dry up.


If your clay isn't hard as rock but still stiff, hold it in your hand and run tap water over it.

Knead the dough (I do this with both hands over the sink to catch the drips- it will be gooey) until all the water is worked in.  If the dough is still stiffer than you like, keep adding water and working it in until the dough is just right. 

Then play!




If you go overboard and make it too slimy, just let it sit out to dry a while and then knead it again.  I swear you can keep this stuff forever.

First Soccer

Reese had the choice between dance and soccer.  She chose soccer because she wants to be like her Aunt Kenzie.
 I'm coaching.  For the pre-k league the coaches also serve as the refs, which makes subbing the players so that everyone gets equal playing time nearly impossible.  Enter Mr. Coach, my assistant. 
Will was told by a co-worker that if your wife is the coach, that automatically makes you assistant coach. At this age, at least, he's right.  None of the other parents volunteered to help me out when I asked.
 The team, and Reese, really do get better and better each game.  And now that I'm over my initial fear of trying to handle a bunch of tiny people full of crazy energy, I'm enjoying myself, too.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Wonder Woman

The kids have been checking out super hero books from the library.  Reese attached right to Wonder Woman as the only female super hero we've come across so far. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Foster Care

I Just thought that my friends and family would like to know that Will and I have begun the process of becoming liscensed foster parents.

 Today we went to a training class that suggested we let people know that we have to keep the kid's cases confidential before any child is placed in our home to avoid  some awkward conversations, especially in front of the kids.

In our capacity as foster parents, we've also been asked that, when a distinction is necessary, we put the label on ourselves ("I'm her foster mother" vs "She's my foster kid) or avoid the label all together ("She's in the foster program") so it's a situation, rather than a characteristic.

Because labels do matter and the kids do care.  And so do I. Sometimes I do wonder what people will think of me, a mother of two small children, still in her childbearing years, choosing to pick up someone else's slack rather than keep trying to add to my gaggle DIY style.

I am confident that this is the right choice for our family.