Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Letters, Numbers and SUGAR

I just couldn't help it. I have been watching for ideas for Kathryn's pre-school group. There's so much out there now that is fun and has some learning elements to it for little kids. So for pre-school we loaded up!!
Sadly two of our little guys were sick so it was 4 three year olds on deck by 9amish. We had to conquer the letter D and the number 4 today so we headed to the kitchen table and started with some play dough. I had made a huge batch last night so that the kids would have all that they wanted. It worked really well and if anyone got the urge to eat it, we were ok, too.
As we played with the play dough, I pulled out a plate of frosted sugar cookies that I had made that were just the letter D and the number 4. We talked about the letter D and ate one at a time as we went. Same with the number 4. It sure seemed like they were interested.
After this little fun and learning, we:
Read the book: The Cheerios Play Book and all of the kids got to help with this great little book and eat Cheerios as we went along.
We also "built" random items with a mix of marshmallows, gum drops, orange slices, and gummy worms stuck together with toothpicks. I think for every one item stuck together 4 were eaten. At the beginning everyone was getting into the building and S. was just kickin' in in his seat chowing on his gummy worm. It was so funny.
We had a couple play times ate fishy crackers, played some music, marched, and sang. At the end we all sat around the table and I gave the kids their cookie puzzles. They were frosted sugar cookie squares, one for each child, where I used cookie cutters and cut out the number 4, the letter D, and either a dinosaur or a duck. The kids really seemed to like to eat and play with their puzzles. It was interesting to see who ate theirs first and who kept theirs a little longer.
I sent them home with their candy creations, their cookie puzzles and a cupcake with a sugar cookie D on the top.
Not sure if I gave them enough sugar :)

Book: The Cheerios Play Book
Music Instruments: Melissa & Doug Musical Box
A couple cookie puzzle links:
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/puzzle-cookie-recipe.htm
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/back-to-school-cookie-puzzle













Friday, September 25, 2009

Firestation Outing

We had such a fun time with "Playgroup" at the firestation. We got the 5 star tour of the trucks and firestation. They even brought out the ladder truck for our picture and then made the ladder go all the way up and around. Kathryn, like her big sister, would have nothing to do with the inside of the trucks. No way.










Sunday, September 20, 2009

4am with Kathryn-why not?

Why 4am. We don't know. But at 4am this morning (and no, I don't have pictures) Kathryn came to Mommy's side of the bed and whispered her typical (for 7 am), "Mom, I'm hungry". Mommy rolls over to see what Kathryn is saying. Kathryn repeats with no problem. Them Mommy asks (now waking up quickly), "Kathryn, why is Mommy's back all wet?" Just then Mommy feels the little cup that had been full of water and placed at Mommy's back. Kathryn replies, "You spilled my water!" Mommy is soaked. The bed is soaked.
Mommy is now WIDE awake and runs to get a big towel. A beach towel will due. Two actually.
Time for a potty break and putting the 3 yr old in bed with the TV on with Mommy and Daddy. Well, Mommy starts falling asleep but not Kathryn. NO. Now it is time for Daddy to jump in. Kathryn wants a Popsicle. Being the strict parents that we are (actually you guessed it, we were tired and desperate) Mark took her to get a Popsicle. Mommy could hear the tantrum because Kathryn wanted the pink one but Mommy wasn't budging. Once that episode was solved, the 3 yr old hopped in bed with Mommy.
Mommy: "Kathryn, where's your Popsicle?"
Kathryn just points to the book on Mommy's nightstand (Of course, why not, right?)
OK eat it Kathryn or it's outta here!
Kathryn eats it and then starts to try to wake Mommy up again to throw the stick away.
Not happening. So the 3 yr old throws it away and gets in the big bed with Mommy and Daddy.

Well, Daddy's not off the hook yet. The cat gets into the act now. Cat wants food then it's not just perfect (why would anything be perfect at now 4:45am?), then wants out.
As poor Daddy gets in bed, he decides that the cartoons aren't going to work so it's off to the couch and his news broadcast.
It's 5am and everyone is back to sleep.
Tell me WHEN the full night sleeps become consistent!!!!!

And as a follow up, all day Kathryn has reminded Mommy and Daddy all day that Mommy spilled Kathryn's water. The audacity of Mommy!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sliders fro Half Time


GO CATS!!!
At the Pampered Chef Party I just had, we were taught how to make these "sliders" for game day. It was so fun and really easy!! I know they were good because this platter that was overflowing with sliders went downstairs and disappeared during football viewing.




Recipe for Sliders:
1 medium onion (about 1 cup finely chopped)
¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1½ lb 90% lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp salt
6 slices American cheese
8 hot dog buns
24 hamburger dill pickle slices

Preheat oven to 450°F. Finely chop onion and parsley using Food Chopper. Combine beef,
onion, parsley, garlic pressed with Garlic Press and salt in Classic Batter Bowl; mix well using
Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. Press beef mixture evenly over bottom of Large Bar Pan. Bake 10-12
minutes or until beef is no longer pink.
Meanwhile, on Cutting Board, cut cheese into quarters; set aside. Slice buns apart neatly at
seams using Utility Knife (do not separate tops from bottoms). Trim about ¼ in. from each
bun end to square off (discard trimmings). Cut buns into thirds for a total of 24 square mini
buns; set aside.
Remove bar pan from oven. Pour off juices, if necessary, and place on Stackable Cooling Rack.
Cut beef mixture into 24 squares using Pizza Cutter. Top each burger with one pickle and one
piece of cheese. Place one bun top onto each burger; top with one bun bottom. Cover bar pan
with aluminum foil and bake 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and buns are warm.
To serve, place one burger with bun top onto one bun bottom using Mini-Serving Spatula.
Repeat with remaining burgers and bun bottoms. Serve immediately.
Yield: 24 mini burgers
Nutrients per serving (2 burgers): Calories 220, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 45 mg,
Carbohydrate 15 g, Protein 17 g, Sodium 540 mg, Fiber 1
g


You can still order something until this Thursday (9/24/09), too!! Bakeware is on sale.
www.pamperedchef.biz/tracyking

Our Front Yard Buddy

Mark and the boys noticed this visitor the other night. He has moved to another spot in our front yard to a place that I noticed him today while weeding. I finally HAD to look this critter up to make sure it was ok to keep him there. We're ok so we'll just keep admiring this 2 inch black and yellow beauty.


Black-And Yellow Argiope Spider
It was hard to get the camera to focus. This is our friend hanging between two Holly bushes along the walkway.





Moves from the Musical Girl

Since the age of 3 months, we've noticed Kathryn's love for music. We signed her up for a music class and she LOVES it, especially the hoops and drums. :)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Bestest Big Brothers in the World

The boys in this house deserve big kudos for allowing their little sister to boss them around so much. Here we have big brother Christian (I believe) in the "bed" that Kathryn has made. Notice her bed is set up, too and she "will be right back" (said with finger waving in the air)
Does this look yummy? It did to a 2 yr old :)

I did it! I can't believe I canned food. It was a lot of fun and I'm hooked with the local orchards and farms, this could become addicting.
I canned Salsa. The fam will be so happy :).

Turning 3!

Well, Kathryn had quite the birthday. With very little sleep from the night before and a trip to the Doctor for her double ear infection, she did little celebrating. Mommy felt so sad for Kathryn that we got the huge balloon while filling Kathryn's prescriptions. And then to Kathryn's surprise there was a fun birthday balloon out in front to greet her from our wonderful neighbors the Vonderheides! So fun! Finally at about 9pm, once everyone was actually home and done with the day's events, we were able to celebrate with a little cake and ice cream and a happier birthday girl who got to stay up much later than her regular bedtime.