Fackrell Family Favorite Toys

Geo Trax has been one of the best toy investments our family has ever made.  It has several different options for tracks and many toy trains to choose from.  We have had hundreds of hours of fun with Geo Trax.  They are a toy that we keep up when we are not playing with them, but the trains that go back and forth are always a winner.

Our second favorite toy is Magnetix.  I buy most of these at Robert's Crafts with the 40% off coupon that comes each month.  Then Target has a great supplement with Magnetix dinosaurs and cars that work wonders with the Magnetix toys.  They are always hit, regardless of the age.

Our third favorite toy is the bug catcher vacuum and bug world, also a Target purchase.  We are able to catch all sorts of bugs with the bug vacuum.  Recently we caught four frogs who lived in the bug world.  We then used the bug catcher to feed the frogs.  The family thought this was a lot of fun.

Please share your favorite toys!

Much Love

Tamara

The Best Play Dough Recipe! Proven for 12 years and running!

Today I was able to make play dough with Presdon.  It is one of our families absolute favorite things to do and I have the best recipe!  I thought I should share it with you.

Large Recipe

4 cups of flour  

4 cups of water

4 tablespoons oil

1 cup salt

1 packet of Koolaid

Small Recipe

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1 tablespooon oil

1/4 cup salt

1 packet Koolaid

Mix all of the ingredients over the stove on medium heat.  Cook until it is not sticky.  (Cook a little longer than you think. Between 10 and 20 minutes.)  The Koolaid gives it a fragrant smell so the smell of salt is not so strong.  It also gives it coloring. Let the play dough cool. Then, use any color of dye to make color variations.  Store the finished product in ziplocks in the refrigerator. It lasts up to two weeks!   Use cookie cutters, garlic press, pizza cutters, potato masher and other kitchen gadgets to make the play dough into many fun and exciting shapes.

If you use the recipe, please report, even if we are not yet friends.

Much happiness to you all,

Tamara

The Accident!

Ouch!  I fell down cement stairs in the dark and my hands were full.  I hit my head and got a gash!  I was in and out of consciousness.  My black eye lasted for three weeks.  Jake and I had to go to the hospital emergency room for his kidney stones and the all the staff asked if his kidney stones were payback for my black eye.  Of course, Jake was nothing but amazing when the fall occurred.  As for Jake, he had to get emergency lithotripsy.  He is doing well now, I am happy to report and everyone else is healthy.

Home With the Kids and Caterpillars

Today I am enjoying motherhood.  I have my three nieces visiting from Texas.  They have been occupied all morning by catching caterpillars.  They have caught over 10.  I just hope they turn into butterflies and not some unattractive moth.  My husband has been out of town most of the week and during this time Mac and Cheese for dinner is a nice reprieve.  Yesterday, my son was carrying in the groceries and one of the bag ripped open.  The largest glass bottle of olive oil was smashed all over the driveway.  In these types of occurrences, I like to first make sure my son survived.  We looked at his foot and got it all patched up.  Then it was cleaning up the mess!  All the days work of a busy mother of six.  I love motherhood, yet at night when my head hits the pillow I am ready for some dreams.

The Ragnar Race

My latest adventure has been the Ragnar Relay Race.  This is a 180 mile relay race where we ran from Park City to Logan.  I was asked by my friend to join her team and she asked me to find a few more people.  A few people, turned into my own team.  We had 12 amazing people, all girls and all above 30 years old.  We never stopped and my team ran it in 30 hours and 33 minutes.  It was exhausting but an elation.  I ran about 16 miles and had an extreme down hill and an extreme uphill run.  I am so happy for this accomplishment. You must remember that one year ago, I couldn't even run 1/2 of a mile without stopping.  I am so happy about running!