This weekend brought with it a cool change which was most welcome after the heat of the past few weeks. It was still hot and humid but there was a lovely breeze and even some rain on Sunday…i was beginning to forget what it felt like!
It was one of those weekends pottering at home trying to get a few jobs done while also keeping the toddler twosome busy and providing a chauffeur service and driving lessons to Miss Teen!
One of those weekends where i needed to look back over these photos to remind myself that we did actually get a few things done…it seemed to be a whirl of tantrums and whining…and the toddler twosome had some too !
Seriously though….I'm not sure what is going on with Ruby…everything is a drama at the moment, everything a moment to pick a fight with her twin, everything apparently JUST TOO MUCH!!! I'm not sure whether this is just one of those legendary toddler moments or she is feeling overloaded and exceptionally sensitive for some reason. I really hope the behaviour doesn't continue for too much longer as i am getting seriously worn out! I'm pretty sure Tara went through this phase too a few months ago so i am living in hope that it is just a developmental stage and not something to do with her sensory issues.
So i found myself spending the weekend trying to keep them both busy enough to overcome the whining!
While we tried to get a few things done in the vegie patch i set up some easy painting fun for the girls on their spool table in the shade………….
Simply some water paint (edicol dyes and water…you could also use food colouring), glitter shakers, paper and a few little gifts from nature to decorate!
They had a lot of fun making pretty ‘rainbows' and generally just creating….they also painted a few rocks and the cubby house!
As always the glitter was a winner and great for those little fine motor skills..it also seems to calm them whenever i bring it out…perhaps the vigorous shaking motion helps with frustration!
Kept them busy for quite a while thank goodness and took no time to set up!
They also helped me pick some goodies from the garden although the crops are beginning to suffer with this relentless heat….i won't be planting anything new now until it begins to cool off a bit….the heat and pests are just making it a little too difficult and time consuming at the moment!
Those tomatoes were yummy though!
We also have another hand of bananas ready to pick ……lucky they are ready as a few hours after taking this pic the branch nearly snapped off in the strong winds that arrived that afternoon.
There was some more landscaping work done in the backyard….old wattle trees that are dying have to be removed for safety….it is a huge job though and His Patient Self was beginning to wilt a little in the heat!
Oh dear….so much work to do….this area will become two terraced levels with gardens and another little vegie patch just for the girls.
I know…..you can just see it right? Hmmm….holding onto the dream my friends! Shame we started this part in the middle of Summer!
Some of these little logs are going to become natural blocks for the girls to play with!
There was a bed made for teddy from a cardboard box….which was carted very carefully everywhere!
And a little chill out time in the ‘reading tent' in the cool of the verandah!
I managed to get a little baking done too…these ham, cheese and vegetable muffins proved a very popular treat and they had no idea how many vegies they ate gleefully! Recipe to follow later in the week!
There were some toddler patties quickly made from leftovers….mashed vegies, lentils, rice and rolled in panko crumbs. A meal in a little patty really!
The toddler twosome also discovered the joy of licking the bowl after we made some chocolate chip cookies! Tara was channeling the rapper look!
Ruby was in heaven and it was fun to see her loving the cookie dough as previously it was a texture she wouldn't even touch!
Can never have too many spoons when licking the bowl!
Not the prettiest cookies we have made but they sure were yum and it kept the girls busy for a bit when tension had again been escalating!
They also enjoyed a little sticker and drawing fun while i cooked dinner. Stickers are fantastic for toddler fun. I like the little dots you can get in big rolls in a box…..easy enough for them to get the sticker off the backing paper but difficult enough for them to have to challenge their fine motor skills!
They love to use them as band aids too when we are having fun with ‘doctor play'! Only problem is i often find some on the back of my legs or elsewhere hours after the game has finished!
I have also learnt to provide their own little basket of pens and crayons for each twin when we are drawing…this saves many arguments and is working well!
All in all another busy weekend…..and to be honest one that left me a little emotionally drained as i tried to cope with Ruby's current behaviour…….hoping for a smoother week ahead and some more cool days.
Perhaps i can hide out in the garden like our wallaby friend! Have a great week everyone x
laraeckfeld says
Fantastic idea of covering the table with paper and the use of sticker dots. Going to try this this week. Where do you get the large sheets of paper from?
Great blog ๐
Jodie Clarke says
We often cover the kitchen table with that paper…it’s so easy to clean up afterwards too!
I buy it on a huge roll from our local newspaper office…they call it their ‘end roll’ which they can’t use so they sell it really cheaply to the public. It is fairly thin but still very usefull and so cheap!I’d try calling your local newspaper office and ask if they sell the end rolls or something similar!
Catherine says
It looks like you did have a really productive weekend, I think if I didn’t take photos I would forget what we got up to as well;) Ahh the memory isn’t as good as it used to be. lol You provided some really wonderful activities for your girls too Jode, the sticker activity sounds like a real winner. I hope your week goes well and that it’s not so draining on you. Take care. xx
dear molly says
We often have a weekend where it feels like not a lot was achieved but on reflecting was just as busy as yours was Jodie.
The girls are going to love having their own garden. I know it seems like a lot of work now but you will be so thankful once it’s complete.
Those bananas look amazing!
x
[email protected] says
Woah Jode, those bananas look awesome!! What did you do with it all? Also awesome is that progress by Ruby re: touching the dough. Yay!
Jodie Clarke says
This time around a few hands will be given to neighbours and people at work as so many spoiled so quickly last time in this heat…there is only so much i can freeze and so many banana cakes i can make!
i really did enjoy seeing Ruby touch and eat the dough!!
The Provincial Homemaker says
What a great harvest. I love all your ideas for toddler entertainment – we used stickers last week too, but I have never thought to buy the rolls. I will have to look into that.
In terms of tantrums – probably a long shot and most likely the issue is just a toddler stage thing, but just wondering if Ruby has any food sensitivities. We have just had Ginger diagnosed with Dairy and Soy intolerance. Honestly, it is a pain in the butt to try and feed her now (would not like to add in your sensory issues) but it has made a huge difference to her behaviour. In retrospect she was probably constantly sick with stomach pain.
Jodie Clarke says
The rolls are great and work out so much cheaper…i do end up with spots everywhere for days though lol!
Good idea re the food intolerances…i am usually pretty good at reading numbers and avoiding a lot of stuff but hadn’t thought about a few of the simpler things…will look into it further thanks!
Glad you got Ginger sorted the poor little thing!
Hinterland Mama says
Wow Jodie.
When you photograph everything, it’s incredible just how much is achieved over a weekend! I don’t think you gave yourself enough credit.
What paper do you use? Is it a roll or sheets of butcher paper from somewhere? I think my boys would have loads of fun with both those activities!
The outdoor art got me thinking about the kids perhaps dyeing a piece of fabric… might need to be wearing old clothes though!
Looking fwd to the muffin recipe ♥
Jodie Clarke says
It is an eye opener when you look at the pics…trouble is most of it wasn’t on my to do list!!
I get a huge roll of paper from the newspaper office…they are the end rolls and they only cost $5. pretty thin butcher’s type paper but great for big art projects and drawing etc!Just give your local paper a call and ask about their ‘end rolls’.
Jessica @ Play Trains! says
What a wonderful weekend. Ours was similarly busy, but so different, all indoors, away from home, and running in and out of the cold! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Twins Squared says
I actually CAN see the terraces and the garden! It will be beautiful!