Monday was a tough day. Jason stays late at work on Monday nights and the kids were at their finest that afternoon. Just see my Facebook status update if you have any questions:
So, we had to DO something. That probably meant I should back away from the computer and Facebook, but I'm no child development expert.
I am getting to be more of an expert on making something from nothing at our house, though, and had just read something that day about Flat Stanley. I decided we should make some lifesize Flat Children for fun.
Here's how you can get in on the action if you need an activity to save your children from being killed , beaten to a pulp , kindly and lovingly disciplined.
Oh, and it's a ton of fun to do, too!
* First, get out the newspaper from Sunday that you never read and lay several pieces on the floor and tape them together.
* Have the kiddos lay flat and still {ha} so you can trace them.
{Henry does not understand those 2 words, so he just helped with Ollie's.}
* Next, cut out the shape to make a Flat Ollie {disproportionate neck optional}.
* Be sure to keep an eye on 2 year old, because a massive tape wad incident could occur at any moment.
* Cut out pieces of construction paper to make face and let child act like Picasso and place them anywhere they'd like.
* Then make clothes for your flat child and have them decorate their wardrobe. {If they have trouble with this, show them their current drawn-on wardrobe and let them know they are actually allowed to do it, now.} 
* Let little brother in on the act since coloring is his favorite thing to do.
* Practice giving High 5s.
* Then enjoy your Flat Ollie!
Right now, Flat Ollie resides on the back of the door of Round Ollie's room. I keep thinking he's going to wake up screaming that Flat Ollie is coming to get him, but so far he hasn't been creepy. Hopefully he won't come to life like Kim Cattrall in Mannequin because he would be really weird looking!
After this, our Monday night got much better. Since I love it when that happens, this post is linked to Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries.
What is your go-to activity when things are getting crazy at your house?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Need to Steamroll Your Children?
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18 comments:
What a cool idea!! I often feel the need to kill my 3 year old who is so much like me when I was her age it's scary and I curse my parents for cursing me with a child like me (that sounds weird but you get me). Anyway I am going to try that next week! I'll let you know how it goes.
Very cute idea!!
This is a precious idea! Hahaha and YES Henry DOES LOVE TO COLOR...on cabinets! :) I know I kinda wondered about flat Ollie during the nighttime hours...eek!
Love the flat doll idea! Matthew's class read Flat Stanley last year, and then made their own flat dolls. Each child mailed their flat doll to someone, and they took the doll on a tour of their town, wrote about the town, included pictures, and then mailed it back. It was a lot of fun!
My daughter had to make a flat version of herself for school and send it somewhere to be photographed. She sent herself to her grandparents in florida...and we got pictures back of flat-girl at the pool, on a golf cart, and out to lunch.
:)
OK, so now my weirdness with your site is fixed apparently. Totally weird!
Um, HOW did I never know that was Kim in Mannequin?? I have seen the movie tons and never even realized it. I am going to rent it this weekend... if I can find it!
LOL!!!! Oh, I remember the times when I just wanted to shake my kids until their teeth rattled. Husband and I would look at each other and say "The judge would understand." For a long stretch of time, it seemed like we had way more kids than actually resided under our roof. That's the odd warping effect that happens when you don't space your children well. (BTW, I do NOT recommend having two children a year apart. Not only is it rough on the the old bod, it really messes with your mind.)
Anyhow, I digress. Our favorite "calm down before Mommy's head explodes" activity was to simply get out the crayons and the BIG roll of paper. I was a self employed engineer working from home when my kids were all very little; I had a plotter at home and access to these trememdous rolls of paper. When life got crazy - especially on rainy days - I'd just roll the paper across the floor, toss out the crayons and let the kids go to town.
There's just something incredibly fascinating to preschoolers about a piece of paper that is bigger than they are.
The second favorite thing was to go outside and run around the house until we all fell down in a pile.
What a great idea.
What a great idea! You KNOW I need ideas like this to keep my sanity. I think I may have to do this one after nap today.
I am doing this!! So cute : )
Cute! My mom has an art studio and has those giant rolls of white paper. She's done this with the boys several times and they've colored and/or painted them. I have a pair hanging on the wall in the garage because I couldn't throw them away! :)
You are so creative! You definitely get the "Fun Mommy" Award! To answer your question on my blog, it's the house we're living in.
Great idea, Hillary!
Hil, you're so much fun!
You're such a good Mom. :)
My first two kids were ANGELS and BAM! Grayson made up for them both.
:)
Steph
Love it!! We have done that in moments of desperation as well. Sadly my go to activity is..... TV. Dang I suck.
Hillary - What a great post and fun idea! I remember those days of dealing with small children... You will survive. But, now you know why your parents look so old!
Connie
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Hillary