Bubble Party

I like to do fun things with Clara and I've decided to invite other kids over to play along with us. It started with a Valentine's Day Party where we made Valentine's for daddies. I was busy playing hostess and forgot to take pictures at that one, but this time I was ready!

To celebrate the first day of Spring (and our amazing weather lately) I threw a Bubble Party. It was scheduled over Spring Break. I thought that meant more people could attend, but as it turns out, it means more people are out of town! Who knew? Anyway, it was a small gathering, but lots of fun for the kiddos, and the mamas, who got to have some real, adult conversations.

One of the lovely mamas who attended is a photographer who, lucky for me, wanted decent pictures of the party! Here are some of her shots:





Isn't Val BEAUTIFUL?!




















I will be planning more play dates, especially as summer hits and we can no longer be outside with the kids. I'll be sure to share what we do. I know I am inspired by other blogs and what those mamas do with their children!

Sensory Play - Gardening

Since I’m planting a garden, I thought Clara should too.



The people who lived in our house before us had a veritable Garden of Eden in the backyard. There were vines with beautiful purple blooms. Big, lush trees. Perfectly sculpted shrubs. Giant stone pots overflowing with the most vibrant, beautiful flowers you’ve ever seen. It’s one of the reasons we bought the house.

Then we moved in.

And I found out they watered Eden by hand.

Eden died.

I’ve been left with crispy remnants of plants past and empty flower pots for years but since we decided to put in a garden, I thought it was time to fill those pots with flowers. I’m sure they will get scorched in the hot Arizona sun, but they will be pretty while they last.

We were able to run watering lines (bubblers) into all the pots save one, and since it was such a low pot, I decided to let it be Clara’s pot.


We took a trip down to Home Depot where we perused all the cheap-o flowers in the six-pack containers. I told Clara to pick out the flowers she liked best. I can’t tell you the excitement she showed. Not yet two years old but going on 16 for all the independence she’s showing!


She chose a pink/purple mixture of petunias. We took them home, she helped me pour soil into the pot and she started burying her flowers. She dug in that pot for about an hour, putting the flowers in, pulling them out. She planted a couple of them upside down and the whole time I encouraged her.


“Yes, Clara. You are doing a good job.”

“Yes. You may bury that flower.”

“You are so good.”


When she had finished, we filled up her water can (Dollar Store) and she dumped her water out on one flower. And I told her she did good. And we went inside.


Later, I went back outside and turned the flowers right-side up and watered the rest of them so she could learn to tend to them. Every day she waters her Petunias and she’s starting to get better about watering them all. Occasionally she pulls out her shovel and digs in the soil. Sometimes she pulls flowers out entirely and that is all okay. They are her flowers. Her pot. If they die, we will buy new ones. But so far, two weeks in, they are thriving.

Sensory Play: Water Beads

Before I had Clara, I stumbled upon a site dedicated to playing with your kids called Play At Home Mom. I knew I was going to be staying home with Clara but since she's my first child, I didn't really know what I was supposed to do with her. I know people who let television raise their kids, who never let their kids touch books, who never let their kids get messy, and I didn't want to be that mom. I knew from the start I wanted to be a hands-on mom so I researched and pinned and incorporated mess into the raising of Miss Maze.

I've gotten some questions about what I do with Clara and how I have time for everything. And the answer is simple: I don't have time for everything. Clara Mae is my priority. I'm a Stay-at-Home-Mom before I'm a Stay-at-Home-Maid or a Stay-at-Home-Quilter. Yesterday, I had planned to vacuum and mop my floors, but instead we had a fun little impromptu play date with Alyssa (Pile O'Fabric) and her kids. This morning, there are billowing tumbleweeds of dog hair roaming across my kitchen floors and the remnants of crushed Cheerios in my living room. I am meticulous about my home being organized and clean, but I've learned to loosen my grip on those reigns, just refuse to be stressed, so I can live a fulfilling life with my child.

I don't know how often I'll post about what Clara and I do or how involved of a set-up it will be, but I would love to inspire other moms to get hands-on with their kids if they aren't already. Let them be messy. Let them be independent. Let them be kids.

I would also like to say here that I am not an expert in child rearing. I don't have training in occupational therapy or pediatric anything. I would also like to say that my parenting style is not necessarily the best and I am by no means attempting to degrade anyone, especially based off their parenting. I think we all have different gifts and qualities that form us into the people we have become, so whether parenting or in a leading role at work, we know what woks for us. I happen to be ridiculously patient with children and have not a shred of patience for incompetent business associates. I know who I am. I know what I can handle as a mom. We make messes.

So here is the content of my first post.

Water beads.

These were created for use in flower vases, to give the vases color and help store water. They are non-toxic, so if they land in the yard they won't kill my very tiny patch of green grass, which is good, because I like my little spot of grass.


I bought these beads at the Dollar Tree down the street from my house. You can buy them already hydrated, like I did, or you can buy them in little packages that look like seeds. That kind will need to be soaked in water over night to completely hydrate, but the directions are on the package for you to follow.


For the sensory "table", we are using one of mommy's quilt project bins. I bought it at Wal-Mart for about $7. It has a lid and can be stored under the patio table outside. I would eventually like to get/make a sensory table for my yard where Miss Maze can stand and play, but that's just not in the budget right now. I improvised and she still loves it. Toddlers are easy to please. I imagine something like this for the future:


My AMAZING friend, Nancy from Owen's Olivia, put this piece together for Creating With The Stars hosted by EC3. You can check out the link here to see some other pictures of her sandbox/sensory table and to learn more about the Creating With The Stars contest going on now.


Clara had a blast, but I can't show you the rest of the pictures because she decided she wanted to play naked.

I'm trying to be a 'yes' mom.

Yes, you may use mommy's measuring spoons in your sensory box.
Yes, you may put rocks and dirt in the sensory box with your water beads.
Yes, you may take off your diaper and run around naked with the dogs.

One of my main concerns, as followers of my blog may already know, is our budget. I want to have fun and I want Clara to learn, but we need to do it on the cheap. Sensory tables are great for that and I will be sure to let you know where I get my supplies for each set-up. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.