Recipe for Fun!

So many think that the baby of the family is always spoiled. I don't know about that. In our family, the only allowance that I can see that Abigail has gained is a later bedtime than the other children had at her age. Most of the time, that is because of necessity. When you're running different places with older children, the younger ones have to tag along, which makes them stay up later.

From where I sit, I think that the baby of our family has suffered, if you could call it that, more than she has been coddled. I had three children in three and one half years. I was in the baby mode. Nursery rhymes, songs, toddler crafts, and trips to the park or playground abounded.
There's a four year gap between Collin and Abigail. Mac was 7 by the time she came along. Not a huge gap, as some families have, but enough to make a big difference. We moved when Abigail was 10 months old, and started homeschooling that year. She got pushed aside because the older children needed my constant attention. Oh no, she was never neglected. She got to glue Cheerios and dried beans to paper as we schooled. She filled in blank crossword puzzles with small doodles for hours on end. But somehow, we didn't sing as many nursery rhymes, or take the time to do some of the special things that I had done with the older children.

I've been thinking about this lately, and decided to dig out a favorite recipe. It struck me that Abigail has never experienced homemade Play Dough. How sad. Well, she's deprived no longer! I made three batches of play dough this afternoon, because Autumn and Collin weren't about to be left out. It was a hit! As much with the older children as with Abigail.

Here's what you'll need to make your own fun!

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup water
2 Tbls. oil
food coloring



Mix all ingredients, with the exception of the food coloring, together in a saucepan.












Stir over medium heat. The mixture will become thick. Keep stirring and scraping the sides.














The mixture will be glossy...












until it is done. Then the dough will easily form a ball, and will not appear wet at all.










Add a few drops of food coloring. Mix with your hands to incorporate it well. The color becomes more vibrant as the dough cools.

Abigail's first homemade play dough.

Yes, even the big kids enjoyed themselves.

And I don't feel guilty any longer.