GREEN CLOUD DOUGH

This was a fun idea I found on many websites, and thought that it would make a very interesting sensory activity. When you take a handful of cloud dough you can press it in to ball, but when you touch cloud dough it goes back to a flour consistency! It was super easy to make, and the boys were so quite when they played with it. The ingredients are so simple, most of us have it at home already. Flour and oil...that's it. I used 4 cups of four to 2 cups of vegetable oil, but I have read that you can make it with any kind of oil. I saw people use baby oil, olive oil, and coconut oil to name a few. If want to add color just finely crush chalk. I used a grater which turned the chalk into power. This made it very easy to mix in. 

They studied the cloud dough, and enjoyed making shapes with ice tube trays.  Here is where we got ours! They're only .99 each, and can be used for many different projects such as pretend cooking or homemade crayons. To see how we made crayons look HERE!

 Auntie was having a good time too, and the boys played with it for over and hour! I placed a cheap plastic shower curtain on he floor so clean was a breeze. Just picked it up, threw it away, quickly swept, and project done.

This was definitely kid tested mother approved! 

LEMON LIME JELLO SENSORY ACTIVITY

This was a fun last minute thought. I wanted to do a green activity, and found a box of lemon lime Jello. I made the Jello according to the directions, and place other green items in the containers like beads, pom-pom's, and a handmade clover out of pipe cleaners. The boys had fun. They really were not sure of the texture, and could not figure out why they could not pour the Jello out. Sometimes the boys don't like when their hands are dirty (especially Noah), and this was no different. They both took a while to really squish into the Jello, but when they did it was nice to see them having fun with the funky texture.   

This project was a little messy and I thought that having some help would be nice. Auntie Allison quickly excepted our invitation to get messy! I love doing projects with my sister she's so good with the boys, and they really enjoy experiencing new things with her. 

Next time I do this I will made at least 6 boxes so they can have bigger bins, but for a last minute thought it was well worth. 

MORE ART USING TEXTURE

The boys had so much fun with the tissue paper textured art project. (Click here to see) So I decided to break out some green glitter glue and green pom-pom balls. They loved squeezing the glue out of the tubes which is good for fine motor skills. Then they smeared it all over the paper with their hands, and began applying the pom-pom's to the glued paper. Quick, simple, and fun art activity!

Noah having some texture fun!

Caleb sticking his pom-pom's on :)

ART USING TEXTURE

 I wanted to let the boys explore with texture! They had a great time ripping green tissue paper into little pieces and gluing them onto white paper along with green pom pom balls ;)

Noah ripping little pieces.

Caleb was making lines.

SHAMROCK PICTURE

This year for 

St. Patrick's Day 

I decided to celebrate all week.

The first thing we did was make these 

shamrock pictures using toilet paper rolls as circle shaped stampers! 

What you will need:

Green Paper

Shamrock Cut Out

Glue

Green Paint

Toilet Paper Roll

Paper Plate

Paint Brush

I found this cut out online. Click ---> HERE to get yours!

Print, cut out, and glue onto green paper.

These are the paints I had on hand. Since I only had a little of each color I used them all!

As you can see here I cut my plate so the boys didn't have to share, 

and used the brush to get the paint on the plate. AlsoI didn't mix the colors because I thought it would be fun to see different shades of green circles!

Noah trying it out! He found it easier to hold his plate.

Caleb having fun!

VALENTINE'S DAY

This year I wanted to create healthy and fun 

Valentine's Day 

for our boys. 

So he hunt was on...

I found these boxes and glasses I had stashed away, 

and thought hmm what can I do with these.

I figured "I'm Wild About You" was cute, 

and I filled it with raisins!

Then I found this great printable from

I took a zip top sandwich bag and fill with Goldfish. 

Then I tied the ribbon around.

After that I just cut off the zip top part.

I found this cute idea on Pinterest.

We already had some apple banana "Go Go Squeez" 

which just sweetened the deal.

This is what the boys had for breakfast...

Heart shaped whole wheat pancakes, and strawberries...Yummy! 

Lunch was fun too!

Heart shaped grill cheese on whole wheat bread,

Annie's crackers, 

and their "Go Go Squeez!"

Mommy's little animals. 

Mommy's Valentine...Caleb!

Mommy's Valentine...Noah!

The kids enjoyed the day and there wasn't any 

candy or junk food!

PARTIAL FOCAL SEIZURE - CHILD / TODDLER

I made this video to help parents going through the same thing we did. Noah's partial seizures were so short at first we couldn't get them on tape like his neurologist asked. Thanks to other parents who posted video's of their children, and the videos we could capture we were able to show his doctor his symptoms, and finally get the diagnoses of partial (focal) seizure. Hope this helps!

This is an extended clip of a bad seizure Noah had before his 48 hour EEG.


Playlist of similar videos

Some websites I found helpful:
Epilepsy Foundation

Epilepsy.com

Web MD

Duke Health - Childhood Seizures

About Kids Health

LIFE AS A TWIN MOM

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, YOUTUBE, TWITTER

We now have a Facebook fan page!!! 

Check it out here!

Also take a look at our YouTube channel

Subscribe, like, & comment here!

You can also follow us on Twitter here

Be on the lookout! I'm working on an educational video teaching shapes, farm & safari animals, numbers, colors, fruits, vegetables, and different modes of transportation!

I want to thank everyone for the out pouring of support. I hope that you will be encouraged to try some of the activities with a child in your life. Also we hit a record for visitors to the site yesterday! I also want to thank all our international visitors for stopping by. It is so nice to see the love from all around the globe.

THE BOYS FROM BIRTH TO THEIR 1ST BIRTHDAY

A video of my preemie identical twin boys from birth to their 1st birthday!

HOW TO MAKE AN EASY DINOSAUR MASK

MAGNETIC FELT FISH

I love the dollar store. I get most of the boys craft items there, and the last time I went I found felt. I've had it while, and today I thought I have to make something. I'm sure most of you have promotional magnets you've cumulated. Here is a great way to put them to use. I took mine, and made the boys magnetic felt fish!

BROWN BEAR HEADS & TAILS

I found a great link on where else but Pinterest.com! Check out the link! Download and print the PDF. These are great to bring to restaurants, doctor offices, or to use at grandma's. They will fit in any diaper bag, or almost any purse. Here is a video you can play before introducing the cards!

Here's what you will need:

The printout (above link)

Clear Contact Paper

Scissors

Ruler

Tape

Here is what I started with. Cut out the cards and the card holder. 

Then measure how much clear contact paper you will need. Make sure you leave room around the cards. 

Once you have taken the backing off the contact paper arrange the cards. Then cut a second piece of contact paper and place on top. Use a ruler (I used a spatula) to rub out any tiny air bubbles. It is also recommended that you have an extra hand. You might need help so the contact paper doesn't stick together when you peal the backing off. Also when you place the second sheet on top it would be much easier with to two people. If you have to do it alone I suggest making one card at a time. 

You will need to leave a border of contact paper around the cards when you cut them out. This helps to keep the contact paper sealed.

Once you have cut out the animals you can assemble the card holder and secure with tape, because of the contact paper I chose to use the thick tape as shown above.

Here's the finished product! 

Brown Bear heads and tails cards complete with card holder. So cute!

DISCOVERY BOTTLES

I have seen these before and knew I could recreate them for the boys. It wasn't that hard and the bottles are very durable. Since the pompom box was such a success I had the time to test it out. Feel free to fill with small plastic fish, animals, or glitter. 

What you will need:

Water Bottles

Pompoms 

Colored Beads

Glue Gun & Glue

Water

  

1. Fill the empty water bottle with the beads and pompoms.

2. Fill with water leaving a little room on the top.

3. Place a few dots of hot glue around the thread of the bottle top. 

5. Screw the top on quickly and securely, and voila a discovery bottle. 

Caleb shaking the bottle.

Noah watching everything fall through the water.

"Bubbles" said Caleb.

He liked to see what would float, and what would sink.

POMPOM BOX

So we were off to the farm today when we realize we had been going in the wrong direction. Opps! By the time we would have rerouted, and arrived at the farm, it would have been closing. Feeling bad we didn't make it to our designation I came up with this simple activity. I used a left over tissue box, and a bag of pompoms. It kept them entertained for about an hour :)

What you will need:

Tissue Box

Pompoms

Noah pouring them out.

Let's put them back in.

They would put every last one in before they would dump them out. Haha!