Gingerbread Houses. Again!

The last two years the girls and I made gingerbread houses as a craft. I didn't expect it to be any easier than it was last year. I was right. I started off by making the houses while the older girl, Aubrey, was at school. That was so it could set. Brynna, the youngest, really wanted to help but there wasn't much for her to do. She tried though. That's what counts. Well she tried to eat the graham crackers. Which is basically the same thing. 

I only used graham crackers and frosting. A lot of people mix things in their frosting to make it stay but I've never had to. It hardens if you let them set for a few hours. Considering the girls didn't break theirs, it works just fine. If there isn't enough time for that, that's a whole different story.

We made three houses. One we all helped with and then the girls got to make their own. I cheated and bought a kit for the decorating. It was cheaper and they had light shaped hard candies.

These are the girls' houses that they made themselves.

The hardest part about making these houses are trying to get the kids to stop eating the candy and licking the frosting. They weren't happy when I threw everything away. The candy was everywhere! I don't think this is something I'm going to be doing again for a long time.

It took about an hour and the girls sat through the whole thing but they seemed to enjoy it. 

Valentine's Day Treats

It's been a while since I last been on here. I've been writing and I've been keeping a separate blog for that. I don't update very often, I'll tell you that. So, I decided that I'm going to try to get back into blogging again since some of the things I have planned for the year involves being creative. And I want to start crafting with the girls more again. I've been slacking...a lot.

Wednesday, the girls and I made out Valentine's Day craft but I was on a budget so it was something simple, cheap, and somewhat easy. I made Rice Krispies Treats that we molded into hearts ourselves. We didn't have a cookie cutter and I love molding things with my hands. The girls didn't mind getting messy.

We took Wilton Candy Melts and coated the Rice Krispies Treats. It was different for every child. I also had to keep them from eating everything. It was hard. The oldest one really doesn't like to listen when I tell her not to eat something.

Here are a few of them. We gave some my friend who works just a few door down from my own work place and they were very excited to have them. It was actually rather cute how excited the oldest boy was.

Puppet Shows and Water Wars

It was a hot and rainy week so our activities were limited to the indoors on the days I worked. There was one dry hot day, thank goodness.

Tuesday was our rainy day. The girl across the street came over to play. If anyone follows me on Twitter, you will know how that day went. There was whining and minor fighting but overall, it wasn't a bad day. Aubrey was a bit sassy at times but she was good. It was the day we did the puppet shows. Some if them were hilarious.

We also made stories for random people that we drew. This is Ella Elaine. One of our characters.

Wednesday, Brynna and I spent a lot of time, just the two of us. Aubrey had golf so Brynna and I played a lot of one on one games...like story cubes. Have you ever heard of them? You roll the dice and  tell a story. Brynna spent most of the time listening to the stories I made up. That's usually what happens when I play with children.

During nap time, Aubrey and I made this eggless cookie dough. She and I have made this before but this batch was probably our best batch yet. She and I both agreed on that.

We spent the last half of the day outside. I sprayed them with the hose since we didn't have time to get the pool out before it was dinner time but we did have fun...okay, I had fun spraying them down. They had me chasing them around the house in the humid weather so I had to get them back.

Books, Shrinky Dinks, and Banners

This week was the second week of summer vacation and we've already ran into some issues. I was expecting it, I just wasn't really prepared for it, I think. Sometimes Aubrey, the oldest girl, can be a bit unwilling to do what others want to do...but her neighbor, her best friend, is the same way. Lots of bickering going on in the house but I tried to curb it as best as I could.

Tuesday morning, I ran out and bought these kits because I had a lot to do for our big project, that we won't be doing until next week. It was hard enough to get what I have done now in the days I had. So, we made these little books instead. It's a pop up book and I was helping Aubrey make it because Brynna doesn't have the patience for it...she's only two.

So, we drew this. It was all very quick for me because I was trying to help Brynna with her craft and doing about ten different things at once. I really enjoy how these girls can sit through a craft from beginning to end. It's not something I'm used to at all. 

All three girls (Aubrey, Brynna, and the neighbor girl), worked on Shrinky Dinks. This was the first time we've tried these. I was a bit curious about how these worked and it was pretty cool...but is there a way you can just get the paper/plastic stuff? I haven't really looked into it but...I can think of a ton of different things I can do with it.

On Wednesday, it was just Brynna and me. We made a banner thing for her room with her name on it and tied it to the top bunk of her bed. I made sure it was easy to come off so her parents could decide whether or not they wanted it up. Brynna just wanted me to put it up there so I did. It's rather cute. I kind of wish I had more colors than the ones I had.

Brynna and I had a blast and some of it I'll write about next week when I post our craft. It's a funny story, actually. The two of us always have a fun time together. She's simple and only wants to play things she can see. She loves going outside, and since it was a beautiful day Wednesday, we spent all day outside.

Well, I guess that's all until next week's crafts. I really can't wait to share it.

Nanny Notes - Little One the Monster

Meet Atlas. One of my turtles from my collection.

Another day watching Little One. I watched her yesterday too but there really wasn't anything to talk about since she slept the whole time.

Today, she is a mischievous little child, constantly getting into trouble. She is still testing me to see how far I'll go. Little devil. Maybe that's what I should call her instead. The Little Devil and her sister could be the Drama Queen. Nah, I wouldn't call them that. They are sweet girls most of the time.

Anyway - I'm getting side tracked - she was a monster. She wasn't listening, she kept telling me no when I asked her to do something... I consider this normal behavior but it's not something I enjoy. She just got lucky that she didn't need to go to time out today.

Toys are just ridiculous these day. We had to use our imaginations.

Other than that today went well. She did my hair which was a painful experience but Little One was happy.  Can't go wrong there. She made me fix her hair dryer...the toy one. Whenever I look at this hair salon kit, I just shake my head. They certainly added a lot of things since I was a kid, that's for sure. I know we didn't have a flat iron in our kit. We did have a hair dryer that turned on. Oh, and we didn't have a hair washing station. That makes me laugh though it took me awhile to figure out what I was looking at. Man, toys have gotten elaborate since I was younger.  I guess that's just how things are these days.

He was hiding from her (playing hide and seek)

I guess you're probably wondering why I have a picture of my stuffed animal turtle. That's because Little One fell in love with him when she first saw him and wanted to keep him, so I told her that I would bring him today but she wasn't allowed to keep it. Usually, when I walk into the door, she asks me for my phone. Today, she asked me for my turtle (well, she called it a frog but I understood what she wanted). It was nice that she didn't ask for my phone. I think that child is obessed with my phone.

Speaking of that, does anyone know of any good apps for children? I would love to put a game on there that she would benefit from in the end.

Hmm...what else happened today?

Paris napping. Tomorrow, I'm going to post my favorite picture of her.

She went down for her nap without a problem. The Parents decided to give back her pacifiers. She isn't ready to let go of them but I'm sure they are going to try again soon-ish. The Older One came home and she was great. No whining, no arguing. We played school and she made us books and folders when she was at school today. Seriously, this girl was awesome today. The Older One was the teacher and she was trying to read a story to us, making it up as she went. Honestly, I think it is cute when kids to that. They look at the pictures and make up their own stories. Half the time they don't make sense but that is why I think it's cute. It's also a good creative exercise.

Little One didn't pay attention. I never expected her to but she was rather rude to everyone who got in her way. I had to talk to her, and told her that she was going to sit in time out if she didn't stop yelling at people.

Okay, now, I'm just rambling. I'll stop now and let you know that I finished my 2nd 100TC artwork done. I'll be posting it on Thursday.

I hope you have a good day!

~Tracey

* I decided to call these Nanny Notes. I only post these twice a week (unless I work more than twice a week) and they will be about my adventures working for this new family. I wish I did this with the other family I worked with...it would have been interesting.

Just Another Day as a Nanny

Yesterday, I was told Little One was with a pacifier for nap time. I wasn't certain how she would react but I had a feeling that it wouldn't be good. So when I put her down for her nap, she threw a little tantrum. You can't expect immediate acceptance from a child who loved her pacifier as much as Little One. Sh did eventually fall asleep thanks to her dad. She just needed some reassurance. Her pacifier was her safety blanket for a good part of her 2 years.

When I got into work today, she showed me her new baby doll that she got as a present for sleeping without her pacifier. Unfortunately, she didn't nap today. She isn't my child and I just started working here at the end of October (and only for 2 days a week). Give it time and I'll be very strict with her...well not very strict but strict enough. I already took her sucker away and she isn't happy about that but there is a rule with candy that I've used for the last 6.5 years. Kids have to earn it.

Well, now I have a grumpy child to deal with but that might have been because she was hungry. Little One can eat like a beast, that's for sure.

...nope. She is still grumpy.

Now, with her big sis thrown in, it has gotten...interesting. The Older One (5-years-old) has the tendency to want everything to go the way she wants them to. There are times when it gets out of hand but she can correct herself every now and then. She threw a little fit because I didn't want to get in the tent. It was a small tent and I told her no. She stormed to her room because of it. Man! What is with these kids today? They aren't always like this. Maybe my sleeping issue and the weird weather is causing us to go all crazy. Who knows? But today wasn't the best day at work...better than some of the days that I had in the past but not a good day at all.

It's clear that there are still some things that the girls and I need to work on. But I think right now I'll deal with that slowly. Little One is testing me to see how far she can go to get her way. I'm going to have to crack down on nap time so she won't pull that on me again.

*this was typed from my phone. Sorry if there are a lit of spelling mistakes.