Number Caterpillar

I was trying to think of something for Emily to do the other day since she decided not to nap. It was pretty warm outside and I didn’t feel like standing in one place, baking, while pushing her on the swing. Art project time!!!!

It’s been quite awhile since we have done any. She was so excited for her “project”! I decided to add some learning into the mix and we made a number caterpillar. She can count from 1-12 (then jumps to 20) but she doesn’t recognize the numbers correctly. (I was feeling behind on that but my fears were put to ease when our Parents as Teacher Educator told me yesterday that she wouldn’t expect that yet.) I thought this fun project would be a good way to get a jump on learning.

Easiest cookies in the world!

I just made two batches of the easiest cookies in the world! I made them while Emily was with Grandma but they are definitely kid friendly. I know she would have had a blast helping me.

I don’t think they taste too bad. I’ll get Stephen’s opinion when he gets home from work!

Oh-So-Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg

Mix ingredients in big bowl. Scoop into small balls and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F. Let cool on rack.

Kids can help: Measure and mix ingredients, scoop dough.

Extras: Dot each cookie with a chocolate chip or two, flash-freeze already-formed cookies on a tray then pack in a freezer bag so you can bake them a few at a time for future snacks.
(I got the recipe from parenting.com)(I also used half sugar, half Splenda.)

 

No-Bake Cookies- Chocolate Chip

1 stick butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 cups rolled oats (not instant oatmeal)
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract

• Grease the inside rim of a 4 qt pot with butter. Put the rest of the butter in the pot. This greasing step will prevent any boil over disasters.
• Put the sugar and milk in the pot on medium heat. Bring to a boil for exactly 1 minute.
• Add the oats, chocolate chips and vanilla.
• Plop spoonfuls of the mixture onto waxed paper and let sit for 20 minutes.

 

Cross dressing bear…

Emily is really big into dress up lately. She loves her jewelry, shoes and dresses! She loves being called a princess and wearing a tiara. She wanted to share some of that fun with her stuffed bear, Nick. Stephen thought it was the funniest thing- a cross dressing bear.

Emily and Stephen have an ongoing argument as it is. This just adds to it. They have been going back and forth as to whether Clifford is a boy or a girl. Emily is ADAMANT that Clifford is a girl, despite every book saying “he”. He sleeps on the “girl’s side” of the bed and everything. Listening to the two of them go back and forth, debating, just cracks me up.

Cheesy Muffins

I have been doing some baking lately and wanted to share some of the recipes so someone else can enjoy the tasty goodness!

Cheesy Muffins

1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
4 scallions, sliced
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350. Line a muffin pan with paper cups.

Combine the milk, oil, yogurt and eggs in a bowl. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, paprika, and salt and pepper. Stir in the Cheddar cheese and scallions.

Add the liquid ingredients to the flour mixture and mix quickly before spooning into the paper cups. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and bake for 20 minutes.

Variations- Cheese and corn muffins- add 2 tablespoons maple syrup to the milk mixture, use 5 scallions and stir in 3/4 cup canned corn.

I used half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour.
This recipe was taken from the book “Lunchboxes and Snacks” by Annabel Karmel.

My family

Our church decided that this year they were doing a photo directory. Our pastor has a way about him. He has the good ol’ Catholic guilt down to an art. He can guilt you into anything without making it sound like he is guilting you into it. Does that make sense? At first we weren’t going to get our pictures taken but he talked us into it. Us and a ton of the other parishioners as well!

I will have to say that I am glad we did. I think they turned out nicely. We didn’t buy too many but I wanted to share the ones that we did purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

Festival Fun

This past weekend was the Festival of the Little Hills. Usually it’s hot, sticky and gross. This year, we had a beautiful fall weekend in the end of August. I think everybody had the same idea of enjoying the weather by going downtown!

We went up there Friday night after dinner. Wouldn’t you believe that after we paid for parking and walked halfway down there it started to rain??? Of course it did! Luckily it was a brief shower and we were able to check out the booth’s on Main Street. We looked at the craft booths and drooled at the food booths. Stephen enjoyed chocolate covered bacon. Gross. We also sampled some ice cream from the Blue Sky Creamery and devoured a funnel cake. One of Emily’s first tastes of festival food. Next time we should buy her one of those giant turkey legs!

Emily did so great! She walked almost the entire time we were down there and all the way up the hill to the car. It’s no wonder why she was so tired when we got home! We decided to call it an evening and hit the booths in Frontier Park on Saturday morning.

We thought we would head up there early on Saturday to avoid some of the crowd. It opened at 9:30 and we were almost there by 9:40. The traffic! Oh me, oh my!!! Apparently, everybody had the same idea we did. It was worth it though. We never found what we were looking for at the fair (butterflies and wooden cows) but we did have fun. We bought a really cute hat for Emily. I’ll have to try to sneak a picture the next time I bribe her to wear it she puts it on.

Last but not least, we could not leave the festival before a ride on the swings. Oh, what makes a little girl happy!

Starting her young……

With the beer…..the Fitz’s root beer that is! She was more fascinated with the bottle than she was with the actual drink though. Kept pouring it into her cup and only had a swig or two.

Kicks or gas??

Having Crohn’s Disease really makes it difficult to be able to distinguish between kicks and gas. I have gas all the time. My poor belly is a musical instrument, rumbling and churning some days. They say Crohn’s usually gets better or worse with pregnancy. With Emily, it was a million times better. This pregnancy, not so much. But it is livable.

I am really starting to think that I am feeling kicks though. Little butterflies and flutters. Jabs and jibs. At night, Stephen likes to put his head on my belly and see what he feels. I definitely can feel some kicks then. It’s like the little one is telling Daddy to get out of his space! It’s the best feeling!

An evening at the Magic House

Stephen’s company is sponsoring an exhibit at the Magic House, the Soybean Story. In appreciation for their sponsorship, the Magic House graciously opened up Saturday night just for the employees of Stephen’s company. It was like your own private party! The crowd was just the right size so you weren’t bumping into people or fighting over the same exhibits. We had a blast there!

Emily’s favorite things were: anything that made music, the air shooter thing and the water table. She could have spent the entire evening in the new section where all the music things were. She was having so much fun that she didn’t want to sit still for 5 minutes to have any of the yummy sweets that were catered in!

I am not sure who was more tired on the way home- Emily or Mommy! It was such a great time. We just love the Magic House. Emily really enjoyed exploring the new section with Daddy. It was his first time since they opened it.

Playing the piano

President Emily

Construction worker

Anniversary Trip

Stephen and I celebrated our anniversary with our annual trip to a bed and breakfast. This year we chose to head to Augusta. I wasn’t pregnant when we booked the trip so we had planned on hitting all the wineries and having a great time. Good things happened and plans changed but we had a great time nonetheless.

We stayed at the HS Clay House. It was very eclectic. There was so much to see in that house. All types of historical pictures and papers. And lots of…..treasures…. It was a really neat place. It had a pool, which we did take advantage of after dinner and a hot tub, which we didn’t take advantage of. I would say the best part was that we were the only guests so we had the ENTIRE house to ourselves. It was quiet and relaxing. Of course, the breakfast was SCRUMPTIOUS. We had a really great time hitting a few wineries, driving to Washington a few times and enjoying an adult dinner.

Emily stayed the night at Grandma and Papa’s. They had a blast together and she did great. Didn’t give Grandma any problems going to bed. Wonder what Grandma’s secret is…. They had such a great time that I think more slumber parties are in order!

Anniversary flowers- Thanks Stephen!

gift and card from Emily