Family Handprint Tree

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This is something I had been wanting to make since my husband started working outstation few years ago. Now, he moved back so I finally got a chance to make this tree with him and our three kids.

First, I outlined the tree trunk and the branches. It was not as easy as I thought. Anyway, I had my oldest daughter to color the tree trunk with her dark brown colored pencil, and made sure she didn't color the little heart.

I used acrylic paints to brush directly on our hands instead of using a paint tray. I found it works pretty well with the brush because I could control the amount of paints got on our hands. Make sure don't get too much paint on the hand because it will block the branches. Just a thin layer will do the work!

After added our family name and the phrase under the tree, a cute family hand print tree was done! I love it :)

Reward Charts

I know there are some people don't like the idea of using reward charts. They think children should not be trained like pets. However, reward charts are effective tools for me to teach my children the rules in the house.

My two daughters love to check their charts and count the stickers they have received every morning after breakfast. I especially enjoy watching my two year old daughter counting her bear stickers with excitement.
  

I made a very simple chart with Microsoft Word, and I had my daughters  decorate their own charts. When they complete a task ,such as cleaning the table or putting away the toys, I give them a sticker and have them stick on their charts by themselves. 

Using a reward chart, they not only learn to obey the rules, they also learn how to count and be patient until they fill the whole chart then they can get their treats. Yes, they do things for incentives with the reward charts now, but I believe it will eventually become habits for them as I continually give them positive feedbacks.

Last time, my daughters  asked for going to Molly fantasy (a kid's indoor entertainment center) as the reward, and they tried to be good and helpful so they could get all the bears. Finally, they managed to collect all the 40 bears in one week so my husband took they to the center as promised on one Saturday when he was off from work. This time, they are asking for a balloon party and party hats as the reward, and they are half way there already! Good job, my kids!

 

 

Good Morning World!

Every morning I woke up at around 6 a.m. to breastfeed my baby boy while my older kids are still sleeping. After feeding him, I put him back down in his crib so I can go to the kitchen to start my day. 

I enjoy each morning when I can have my breakfast alone, read the news quietly or do household chores before the kids woke up at around 9 a.m.. Life can't be better than this, I mean I really treasure my quiet moment! For those stay-at-home mom, you should know what I am trying to say! ;)

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Happy Cookie Cutter Day!

Last week, when I was reading my daughter's magazine Dora's Little Cooks Collection, I got an idea of making a wall hanging by using the cookie cutter that was given in this collection. It's very easy to make and it will surely keep your little ones busy for a while! This hanging is great for hanging on the wall or door to add some colors in your home! 

You Will Need:

• A cookie cutter
• Papers (preferably card stock)
• A black Sharpie
• Scissors or craft knife 
• Crayons or colored pencils
• String
• Sticky tack 
• Clothes pins

How To Make:

1. Draw around your cookie cutter (here I use a butterfly cookie cutter) on a sheet of paper.

2. Outline the patterns with a black sharpie and cut them out from the paper.

3. Have your kids to decorate these patterns. 

4. Hang them on your wall or door with some mini clothes pins (I purchased these cute mini clothes pins on eBay 100 pcs for US$5).  

Voila! Here is your cute cookie cutter hanging!

I also made some peanut butter sandwiches and cookies with the same cookie cutter to reward my daughters for their good works on coloring these butterflies. Enjoy!

Why Blog?

As a stay-at-home mom, who doesn't dare to drive on the road, the Internet is my best friend to communicate with the outside world! I got a smartphone from my husband a while ago so I can update my life anytime, any where just with a few moves with my fingers ;)

My favorite mobile apps now are Facebook (oh yeah! for those FB lovers) and then will be Pinterest. I wish I could have known how to use Pinterest earlier since I found that it's quite a handy app. With this app I can easily save and categorize the websites and blogs I love in no time for my future reference. And, be honest, all my recent craft ideas all come from Pinterest.
 
I enjoy sharing my crafting, baking and parenting ideas on the above two social networks, and I hope, by keeping this blog, I can get more inspirations and responses from you who also enjoy the same things just like me!   

 
Happy reading!

 

 

The start

Hi, we are the Tan family. We have three little kiddos namely Janeelyn the Big sister (left), Jonelle the good eater (right), and Jesse the little destroyer (middle). 
 
We started our family in Hawaii since 2008, where Ernest and I first met in college back in 2004. We moved back to Malaysia with our first child, and then two more additions joined us later. Our life is busy and full with these three little monkeys ;) but filled with laughs and love at our home. 

We believe that “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”
( Quoted from J. E. McCullough, Home: The Savior of Civilization [1924], 42; Conference Report, Apr. 1935, 116.)