Beads

Why does a 2 year old need spring break? What exactly is she burnt out on, coloring? *sigh* As you can probably guess Bentobaby is enjoying a spring break. While Mama is burnt out city. I'm not one of those moms who can parent 24/7 with out getting burnt out. I think those of you who can are great, not me. I'm going to the movies tomorrow for a much needed break. Plus our family has been under a great deal of continuing stress for the past week. Fun. My nerves are raw and bentobaby is deep into wanting to do everything herself. We encourage this as much as possible, but there are things she simply can't do. Enter fireworks.

ANYWAYS, I needed a new activity to keep her occupied. She's bored with our toys. (i hid a bag in the closet to bring out next week, old toys new again) I had an empty sensory box (used to hold Orbeez) but no idea what I was going to use in the box. Sand is an outside toy at my house, she already has a cotton, dress up, rice, and popcorn box. I did consider dry beans but those are for dinner in a few days. Then I remembered the cheap plastic beads from the dollar store. USE CAUTION when giving your child small objects. Bentobaby doesn't put things in her mouth and i stayed with her the whole time. I gave her a kitchen scoop, scraps of ribbon, an empty cream cheese container, and an empty spice shaker. She spent a good 20 minutes happily scooping and dumping beads while i enjoyed some blessed peace. Ahhhh.

(yes, her hair is being re-done today. She keeps pulling off her sleep cap and not using her satin pillow)

Bento Dinner

Hubby's dinner bento. He planned to take leftover pizza for dinner. I made him a quick bento box while he put bento baby to bed.

Hubby has carrots, strawberries, a clementine, a clearance valentine candy, two pieces of pizza, and a sauce container full of raisins. I didn't think raisin covered pizza would be good.

Colorful bento filler

I have been looking everywhere for re-usable ice cubes. Why? For Bento of course! I think these will make great fillers/ ice packs for bento boxes. Plus iIbet they will fit into a packed lunch bag more easily then a big ice pack. I have had not had any luck locating re-usable ice cubes anywhere. I'm guessing because its winter and not really ice cube season. Imagine my joy with hubby found these for me. Best of all, it was at Dollar Tree!

16 cubes for a buck! YAY! Of course I have yet to use them (not really bento season where I live) but I'll be sure and update when I've given them a shot.

After wash results

Right after the wash my husband said her hair felt softer and lighter. We put her to bed with wet hair, and in the morning it was pretty dry. I added Kinky Curly's Knot Today (which i love)for her detangler. Unfortunately our tangle tweezer is missing, had to use the detangling comb.

I then styled in Bantu knots. I used Darcy Botanical's twisting cream for hold. I like it, but i want to try the heavier stuff next time.

She was watching Phineas and Ferb so mama would style. Bantu knots are fairly quick so I left her in her high chair. Before we left for church I gave her a few sprays of Greg juice. Her hair feels pretty good now, still a little dry.

Lazy home bento

This is my Non- Bento. I had pulled out the Strawberry Shortcake bento for myself. But hubby was going to end up eating after I did. I gave him the bento box, i used the plate.

I had carrots, onigiri stuffed with turkey, turkey to wrap the onigiri and a bit of extra sharp cheese.

Hubby's strawberry shortcake bento (LOL) had onigiri, cheese and carrots.

Bento baby has jiggler, rice squares, cheese and carrots. This girl loves her onigiri.

These bentos are not properly packed. I made them to eat at home. I wasn't worried about the contents shifting or having enough to fill everyone up. A lazy at home bento!

Splash!

Sometimes we do a sensory activity with Bentobaby without realizing it. When we took Bentobaby to the park, hubby had her throwing rocks in the water. She thought this was awesome. (even managed to get a few in!) I thought about it later and throwing rocks is very sensory. There is the feel of the stones, (smooth, rough, bumpy etc) the splash of the water from the throw. Bentobaby did great. She did not like the wave that came from the rock landing in the water. That kind of frightened her. Being encouraged to throw things was very enjoyable to bentobaby.

Hair wash tonight

Today I took bento baby's hair braids out. She had one long corn roll across her forehead. (Happy Mom calls it 'Queen Style') Two smaller braids behind the long one, and some bantu knots in the back. Her hair actually feels pretty good right now. But there is some visible product build up. I would guess its from my using too much product. Either way its been a few weeks since her hair was washed, and tonight is the night.

Tonight's hair products

New to the line up is the RenPure Amazing Miracle Deep Penetrating Reconstructor. It was .99 cents at our local Walgreens. I thought we would give it a try.