Playing with Paperoni

Anna found some kits of paperoni on sale at Target this weekend, and the kids had a lot of fun playing with it yesterday morning.





The kits included craft ideas, stickers, sequins, and tongs for applying the paper to the craft surface -- I think the tongs were Buttercup's favorite part!




By the way, don't close a car door on your finger -- it HURTS!

Haning out at the museum again

Thanks to a gift of museum membership from Grammy and Granddaddy, we've been spending more time at the children's museum! We visited again last week and, as usual, had a great time. Surprisingly (or maybe not), the kids spent more time exploring activities that they've never shown much interest in on previous visits. Oliver and Buttercup were both really interested in the dairy section, behind the food store. They played here for almost an 30 minutes (which, in toddler/preschooler speak, is translated to a "really, really, really long time")!





We eventually headed upstairs to the Tinkerer's Workshop, where I expected Oliver to sit and work with screws, hinges, and bolts for the rest of our visit. But once again, he proved me wrong! He walked right past the tools and headed straight for this paint-with-water station, where he and Buttercup played for a while.


After that, we went to the craft tables where there are lots of different types of recycled items (like toilet paper rolls, yogurt containers, egg cartons, etc) that the kids can use to make crafts. Both Oliver and Buttercup sat and worked on their own craft for about 45 minutes.

Buttercup mostly colored and applied tape to a piece of purple construction paper (which she promptly destroyed because she was angry with me for not letting her hit another toddler at the table). And Oliver made this awesome boat (his own design!!).


I think this was one of our most fun trips to the museum so far!!

M is for Moose

This morning after breakfast, Oliver was looking for something different to do, so he and I decided to do another letter lesson. It's been so long since our last one that I can't even remember what we did!

After some hemming and hawing, we came up with M is for Moose -- specifically, Oliver's beloved chocolate moose. ;-)


While I worked on drawing the moose's head, Oliver traced his hands to make the antlers.


Once it was all put together, he very carefully wrote the word "moose" at the top of the page! Turns out that "moose" is kind of difficult to sound out -- those tricky double Os and silent E! -- but he did great and I am just so proud of my smart little boy.



Check out my awesome (ha, ha!!!) moose here:

Cow statues

Creamy Ham and Potato recipe

I discovered this recipe last week and made it twice in 3 days! I even doubled the recipe on the 2nd attempt because it is just that good.

Creamy Ham and Potatoes from Taste of Home magazine

4 medium red potatoes, thinly sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1-1/3 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar, optional

In a slow cooker, layer potatoes, onion and ham. In a saucepan, melt butter, then stir in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Combine soup and water, gradually stir into flour mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Pour over ham.

Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until potatoes are tender. If desired, sprinkle with cheese before serving.

Yield: 4 servings.

Oliver-isms

Are there a lot of telephones wires that go to fire stations?

Mom, when we get to the playground, I'm going to tell you a secret.

If an owl is hanging on a tree in Alabama, can it see all the way to Texas?

I want to be a carpenter when I grow up, but I'm not going to live in the same town as you. I might visit you some time though.

Mom, one day when you're not looking, I'm going to walk gently into the utility room and throw away all of my papers.

Do cats vomit because they're allergic to vitamins or tomatoes?

Tell you what. I will do a super good chore this morning, and YOU will give me more allowance in my piggy bank!!

Do you know how I waited so patiently for the 7 [on his clock] this morning? I said to myself, "I will put my elephant over my face, and then I will see a 7!"

I try to remember stuff, but I think I have too many thoughts in my brain. [Dramatic sigh.]

Mmmmmmm, carrot cake!!!

My hubby's birthday was this week! Every year I ask him what kind of birthday cake he wants, and he always says that he wants carrot cake. I made him one once a long time ago (I think it was right after our second anniversary!), but I finally decided to try it again this year. He does so much for me and the kids, and is more than deserving of a simple carrot cake. If that's what he wanted, then I was happy to make one and it was an easy way for me to show him my appreciation!!



I made the cake while the kids were napping, so they didn't get to help with that part. But they were up and around when I made the cream cheese icing -- definitely the best part of the cake!!



I used this recipe, but as usual, I didn't follow it exactly (recipes are more like a guideline, right?). The verdict? This cake is SO good that over half of it is gone already (less than 24 hours after we cut it!) and I am definitely not waiting another year before I make it again. :-)

Here is the recipe, with my additions/changes in bold.

Carrot cake:
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups coarsely chopped carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted, Hubby doesn't like pecans)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease two round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Stir in carrots. Pour into prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Cream cheese icing:
6 tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans (omitted)

In a medium bowl, whip butter, cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy. Add powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake and enjoy!!