Four Year Old Fun

OK...I'm awake and my first waking thought goes towards what are my children doing while I'm away. Seeing as how I am 7 hours ahead of them, they are ASLEEP :)

I'm hoping that my big girls are treating my little guys OK. They are the ones who really know what my preschooler and toddler enjoy doing around the house. I'm sure they are doing a good job.

My thoughts of my children drove me to my photo program to just look at them. I smiled at the photos below.

These are some shots that caught my Sumo having a good time just being four. Simple fun is the best! Lazy summer days mean time for lingering over those sheer joys that only belong to childhood. These were good times for Sumo' because I let him play until he told ME he was finished...

Our high chair is way too small for Sumo now, but it's been his spot for fingerpainting since around 18 mths. Although it is Kano's spot for eating now, Sumo still loves to sit her for some of his play, especially artsy stuff.

Today he told me he didn't want to be brown anymore. He was determined to be red...

all the way down to the toes...

Once he had gotten as dirty colorful as he possibly could, he was ready for me to clean him up and make him brown again.

On this day, little Sumo had been begging for playdough (for awhile) and I kept forgetting to grab some when I went to the store. Finally, I just looked up a recipe on the internet and made some.

Here's the recipe I used:

COOKED PLAYDOUGH

1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. water
2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. food coloring

Combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in 1 cup water mixed with 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon food coloring. Cook over medium to high heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat, cool and knead until smooth on wax paper. Store in an airtight container. Children will enjoy playing with the playdough!

Making pancakes from scratch one morning (using fresh ground flour) gave Sumo the idea of pretending his car (hidden under the flour) was speeding on the beach. At least, it sounded like he was pretending something along those lines. A little flour on a cookie sheet kept him busy while I made breakfast and cleaned up from cooking.


I hope this inspires some mommies to let your kiddos get dirty! They will love you for it. Take lots of pictures and then slap them in a photo album, or better yet scrapbook them (I'll get around to it one day). They love to look at themselves and reminisce.