Does your toddler have cabin fever?

It seems like the past few weeks between the winter weather keeping us indoors, and trying to stretch the family dollar I find my kids, especially my three year old bouncing off the walls! He's going crazy not being able to play outside, and we are all looking forward to Spring.

So, in an effort to find fun, educational, and budget friendly indoor activities to keep my sanity here is what I found....it's funny how even the simplest activities give hours of fun imaginative play! Here is a fun activity that I know your toddler is sure to love...

Edible Peanut Butter Playdough

1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Cup Nonfat Dry Milk Powder
2/3 Cup Honey

Combine ingredients and knead well on waxed paper. Add more dry milk powder as needed until desired consistency is reached.
Roll out and let kids cut out with cookie cutters, then they can decorate with chocolate chips, raisins, M&M's, etc.

Then when they're done playing they can EAT!



Enjoy and have fun!

Bringing Home Baby

How do you prepare your first child to bring home your new baby?

How do you prepare your child for the arrival of a new brother or sister? Heidi Murkoff, best selling author of the popular "What to Expect" series of books, shares her tips to help address your child's questions and concerns about this mysterious newcomer.

Here's what Heidi has to say in her book,

Excerpted from What to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home, by Heidi Murkoff

In preparing a soon-to-be older sibling, try to paint as true a picture of what life with a new baby will and won’t be like. Avoid unrealistic projections: that a new baby will be someone to play with (newborns can’t play); that a new baby will be fun to have around (newborns don’t do much more than eat, sleep, and cry); that life with a new baby will be the same as before (there will be times when the needs of a colicky baby will supersede those of an older sibling).

Even the most thoroughly prepared child won’t necessarily welcome the new baby with open arms. Virtually every older sibling experiences some feelings of jealousy, resentment, and even animosity, not just toward the new arrival, but also toward Mommy and Daddy (who spend so much time with the new baby). All of these feelings (whether they surface right away or in the months to come) are as normal as they are inevitable. They’re also completely understandable. Encouraging your child to express these feelings (through words, dramatic play, pictures) rather than repress them will help resolve them faster.

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Giveaway Week #1

This is our first week of the Re-Grand Opening Giveaway! This week's prize is a $20. Gift Certificate from Watkins redeemable online through Watkins.



Here are the rules to enter- leave a comment on this post to be entered into the Watkins $20. gift certificate giveaway. Blog about this giveaway and get a second entry when you link back to us!

You will also receive one entry for our Grand Prize drawing at the end of our 4 giveaways! Our grand prize is a pouch sling from Snuggle Lambs! You won't want to miss this prize!

Have fun!!

Welcome!

I'm glad you stopped by. Mommy Loves Home is a brand new blog for moms who just love being home! There will be tons of information here for the moms who would like to start working from home, and fun articles and fellowship for moms who might not have any close friends near home. Occasionally there will be contests and giveaways to participate in. It is my hope that this will be a fun and encouraging place that you will frequent often.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Calling all hopeless romantics! This is your special day. What will you be doing? Spending time with that special someone or hanging out at home with the kiddos? Myself, I have been informed that I will be sleeping in for Valentine's Day. (No twisting my arm to get me to do this one!) I suspect I will be served breakfast in bed by my three super little Valentine's!

Here is an oldie, but goodie recipe I'll be making for my kiddos.

I am going to make homemade rice crispy treats & cut them out in heart shapes. Then, I am going to melt white chocolate, add a little red food coloring to make pink drizzles on them! Woo-la! I spend 15 minutes in the kitchen, add a huge helping of love to the mix & they are happy!

If you want the original rice crispy recipe here it is:

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 6 cups KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in vanilla. Stir in KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal until well coated. Using lightly buttered spatula, press into buttered 3.5 L (13x9-inch) pan.
3. Allow mixture to cool. Cut into bars. Best if served same day.

FOOTNOTES

• Microwave Directions:
• 1. In a large microwave safe bowl, heat margarine and marshmallows at HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes.
• 2. Stir in vanilla. Stir in KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal until well coated. Using lightly buttered spatula, press into buttered 3.5 L (13 x 9-inch) pan.
• 3. Allow mixture to cool slightly.
• For chewier bars, use an extra cup of miniature marshmallows or about 8 regular marshmallows.
• In keeping with good allergy practices, we remind you to be aware of allergens and to check labels on any packaged goods used. This recipe has been tested using Kellogg's* products. Results with other products may vary.

Re-Grand Opening Give Aways!

Who here likes free stuff?!? To celebrate the Re-Grand Opening of MommyLovesHome.com, we will be giving away four great gifts in the coming month! Here's how it'll work - Each Monday we will post that week's giveaway. Leave a comment in the appropriate post to be entered in the drawing. Names will be drawn and the winner contacted on the following Saturday. On the last week a FIFTH drawing will be held for a grand prize!! For the grand prize drawing we will pull ALL of the names from ALL four weekly drawings. Excited?!? Well, so am I!