Make This: Reindeer Food

Major accomplishment today, making something with the big kid. Before I tell you why I'm crowing, let me tell you what we did so you can do it too!

Reindeer Food:

Materials:
sugar
oats
liquid food dye

I put about 2 Tbsp of sugar in a jar and let E squeeze in 2 or 3 (or 5 or 6- whoops!) drops of food coloring. She shook that really good, then we funneled in about 1/2 cup of oats. And there you have it- oats for the reindeer, and sparkles to catch the light of Rudolph's nose and show Santa where to land. Ernie's dad will help her throw a few handfuls up on the roof Christmas Eve.

I've seen this done with glitter, but glitter isn't very kind to birdie tummies, so we used sugar.


Now....let Mimi summarize the rest of our week up to this point.

For some unknown reason, Mimi can.not.sleep. Last night: asleep 8-11:30. Nursed, and we both went back to bed. I'd been in bed since 9, but never fell asleep. (Whatever I've done to be punished with insomnia, I'm sorry!) She fell asleep right away, I dozed off around 12:30. She was up again at 1:15, and just couldn't sleep in her crib. I hauled out the quilt and sat in the chair with her until 5:30- she slept fine, but I've lost my magical sleep-sitting-up abilities. I finally put her back down and tried to sleep. I fell asleep around 6:15, and was up at 7:30 to teach piano lessons. She took a 45 minute nap in the afternoon- I never managed to fall asleep. Drat.

When I say she can't sleep in her crib, I mean it. Believe me, after 3 nights of nearly no sleep, you better believe that I'm trying everything I can. This is one tired mama! I don't know if it's a sore throat, or achy teeth, or maybe something in her ears? She has snuffly breathing at night, but no runny nose during the day. However, she likes to sleep on her tummy and knees, bum up in the air. She quiets as soon as I get her out, and often just rests on my shoulder for a minute or two before jumping from my arms back to her crib. I tuck her in...and she's crying again 2 minutes later. She's exhausted, and she and I both want nothing more than some good quality crib time for this poor girl! Tylenol, space heater, cuddly blankets, humidifier, normal routine...she has them all.

So please send sleepy thoughts our way. I have 3 more piano lessons to get through tomorrow, and then I'm hosting a piano recital for all 14 of my students, and up to 30 more spectators. Forty-five people in my living room tomorrow night... why I never thought of moving the recital to a larger location, I'm sure I don't know.