Friday, May 29, 2009

Run, Run...

Run, run, fast as you can.... I brought home a bunch of nursery rhyme books the other day, and after we'd read The Gingerbread Boy, by Paul Galdone (which I didn't exactly follow his words, I kept saying the rhyming bits the way I remember them from kindergarten!), we made some gingerbread men.
L helped me mix the dough while M was out with Daddy, and after the dough had chilled, both boys helped roll it and cut the men out, and then decorated them. Our gingerbread men went the way of all gingerbread men - down somebody's throat - and so there are no pics of the finished project, but gosh were they yummy!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Oops!

Oops! I realized the other week that I totally and completely forgot to send something fun to my girlfriend back home when she had her baby. I think this occured to me when I was posting a picture of the little pirate lass from our last trip to Ft. Pierce. She and her mother and sisters made a big deal over my first pregnancy, so I couldn't let this go! I doubt very highly that she reads this blog, so I thought I'd show off what I've been up to lately!
I made her little girl a couple of bubble suit jumper thing-a-ma-jigs, and a bonnet. I'm going to use the extra fabric to make a couple of these and put them in my shop too...
They seem like just the right thing for summer (or really most of the year where this kid lives), so hopefully they'll fit okay, and she won't mind the ribbons! The pattern I used for the first one was okay, but I felt like it left a good bit of room for improvement, so I altered a few things for the second one, and was really happy with it (not only was my way a bit neater, it was also easier - go figure)!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

L's Photography

Few things in this world are more amazing than to literally be able to see the world through your kid's eyes. I love digital cameras! These were all taken by L (amongst many others), including the two self-portraits!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Moments...

Here is L, very serious about his work...
And tomorrow I'll have some of L's photography to share!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Hiding Spots

L, for whatever reason, has been wanting to make boxes and animals to hide in them. First we made a dragon in a box, and then a fox in a box.
And here's M, hiding from Daddy under my legs. There are few safer places in this world than under Mama's wings! The next shot he was quite miffed, as he was not in the mood for having his picture taken!

Mama shooed the camera away, so he could hide in peace!

Friday, May 22, 2009

My Dinner Dates

Daddy needed to work late the other night, so we had a little date night with me and my boys on the porch! It was great! Daddy will be having more and more late nights as the camp season picks up!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Hiking fun

We went for a hike, and L wanted to help carry our bag. Daddy came with us this time, as well as Mr. Albert!
Not sure why this pic blurred like this (a bunch of them did this time), but it's still cute...
M was so excited to hike with Mr. Albert!
Here's the turtle L found! We also saw a snake and a caterpillar!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

Ice Cream!

Oh, my gosh. We finished the letter I off by making some ice cream in a bag!
It was sooo easy, and we had a blast! I'll include the recipe we used at the bottom of this post. I was floored by how good this stuff was! We tossed it around for 15 minutes, and they had no idea what Mama was up to, other than the fact that we had dumped sugar and milk and cream and vanilla in a bag and were getting to throw it around! When we opened it up they totally freaked to find ice cream!



For the ice cream:
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (whipping)
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla (we just use a capful)

Other supplies:

  • 1/2 cup salt (table or rock)
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 2 small ziplock bags
  • 2 big ziplock bags
  • kitchen towel
  • cups & spoons to eat with
  1. Dump the sugar, vanilla, cream and milk in one of the small ziplock bags. Seal it tight, then put it in the other small baggie and zip that tight too (just to make sure it doesn't pop open and get all salty & icy).
  2. Put the salt & ice into one of the big bags, alone with your baggie of future yummy goodness. Seal this tight. Wrap the whole thing in the kitchen towel, and put it into the last big bag and seal that too (salt lowers the freezing point of ice, and the towel will help keep little hands from freezing).
  3. Set a bell for 15 minutes. Rock, roll, toss the bag, play catch, whatever - just remember that it is a plastic baggie, so dont be too tough on it. After a while the ice will start to get all slushy, and just around the 15 minute mark your little bag of goodies will feel like a nice, firm lump in the middle of that towel.
  4. Take out your bag, serve and enjoy!

I couldn't believe how easy, fun and yummy this project was! We will definately be doing it again! Oh, and this made enough for me and the two boys to each have some. It was really rich, so we got plenty!

Friday, May 15, 2009

what we wear

I made these shorts for M and they fit really well. He ran around in them, and I'm really happy, since there was no pattern. He didn't really want to hold still for a little photo session... but I finally wore him down, and he camped at the window to watch the rain, and then I snapped a couple.


Seriously, Mama, I have had enough, please put the camera away.
And L was the cowboy for a bit. I love this picture. He looks so lanky, like a cute cowboy scarecrow.
Can we fix it? Yes we can! M likes to dress up too, but only for a moment or two.


Thursday, May 14, 2009

not that messy



I have to say, as much as I shy away from paint, today I realized it's really not that big of a mess. We have some tube-water colors, and for a change I gave L some q-tips to paint with, and he really loved that. I think they gave him more control than our big paint brushes. M likes his fingerpaint.
L is painting a map he wanted me to draw for him. Once it dried he carted it around for a while. I swear this kid is going to be some kind of adventurer - he loves a good map and compass!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

letter "I" week

L's coloring is really coming along! He did the iguana and the ice cream cone all by himself (and a few days later colored the second cone). A few days later we made ice cream!