Easy Octopus Craft From Paper Towel Holder

Little Buddy still doesn't talk a lot.  One word he does know is, "FOOTBALL!!!"  He yells this approximately 205 times per night, and then immediately tries to tackle someone.  That someone is usually Munchkin Girl, and sometimes she plays, but the other night, she wasn't in the mood for his antics and was getting very agitated.  In other words, she kept screaming in a high-pitched voice, "Mommmmmy!!!!  He won't stop wrestling me!!!  Make him Stooooooopppp!!"

Although Hubby is an orthopedic surgery resident, I didn't want to put his talents to use at home, so we opted for a very quick and easy craft: A Painted Octopus from Paper Towel Holders.  I got out our paints and first they painted the tubes:


Once they were done painting, I cut long slits and made them into an Octopus.  This was especially popular since Munchkin Girls still lives for anything that involves Ariel:


Again, I love crafts that are cheap, easy a fun and this one definitely qualifies!!  What some people don't realize, is that directing energy to something positive and fun can change the whole mood for the night.  Instead of constant fighting and whining, you might get smiles.  Kids are very proud of creations.

If you enjoyed this post, you will love my book!  It was released in July, 2012 and was co-written by me and Susan Case.  In this unique book, which was written by both a Mom and a former Kindergarten Teacher, you will find ways to keep your little kids busy, out of trouble, and motivated to learn.  If you have ever tried to cook dinner while your kid clings to your leg and cries, this is the book for you!  Kids behave better when they are given challenging projects to work on, which will in turn give you more free time to do the things you really need to do, like washing dishes, paying bills, and relaxing so that you can be a better Mom!

Looking Back at Life Before Kids

I lived in France in college but after two kids, two dogs, Medical School and Residency, sometimes it feels so long ago that I can barely remember it.  However, my three year old found my old journal from France in a box in the basement and has been carrying it around ever since. 


I opened it up and was amazed at how much I'd forgotten and how easy life was back then.  You would think it would've been hard.  I lived with a family that didn't speak a word of English, my bathroom at my host parents house was OUTSIDE so I had to trudge through gravel in the middle of the night if I wanted to pee, and I didn't know a soul when I moved there.  Yet, it was so fun and so incredibly easy.  For example, look at my financial worries. 




This particuluar weekend in February of 2001, I did nothing on Saturday except spent a large amount of monthly budget (Francs back then) at the Irish Pub, then I didn't spend a single penny on Sunday...I'm pretty sure that was the day I stayed in bed all day reading Thornbirds. 

This is another one of my favorite pages:


In case you can't read this, my host parents served fish one night then left it in the fridge.  I found it the next morning and it's spiky teeth really freaked me out!  It's fun to look back on the days when I had zero responsibility.  I floated through life looking for fun things to do and interesting people to meet.  Now, I'm responsible for this:



On the other hand, I guess life was pretty bland without kids, a husband, and a house to take care of.  The days I spent in France laying in bed reading a book while it rained seem pretty boring compared to my rainy days now:



Wrestling is a fun way to pass our rainy days now.  Munchkin Girl won that round, but Little Buddy is starting to be able to figure out how to beat his Big Sister.  And that's when the fun will really begin.