A super cute pattern I tested!

I love testing patterns!

I just finished an adorable skirt that has shorts attached underneath-perfect for the girl who only wears skirts and dresses but still likes to be upside down on the playground!

(That would be Miss Peighton!!!!)

This pattern was from Petite Kids Boutique.

I have a few other patterns of hers and they have all been great!

Very easy and usually pretty quick to complete.

The green ruffle has an exposed seam...I am not a big fan of it and next time I think I'll skip that and make a regular hidden seam-it just looks cleaner!

Peighton LOVES these cherries and so do I!

We even made another outfit out of them so we'll have lots of cherries this summer!

Cooking with the kids!

We are working on "Operation Clean Out the Pantry" around here.

Which means sometimes we make some random things!

Today I found a few of those muffin mixes where you just add water.

PERFECT for letting the kids do it!

We poured, and measured, and poured and stirred.....and stirred.....and stirred.

(Preston likes the stirring part.)

Then we poured again to get them into the muffin pans.

We talked about measurements and "parts of things" vs a "whole thing."

Preston ate a little batter....and made a very funny face.

We talked about numbers...and Preston counted for us. 

Although his counting goes a little like this: " Nine....nine....nine..." you get the idea.

It was a great morning!

And of course we got to eat them too!

We're a family of 4-H'ers!

We are now ready for summer-we've got our "County Fair Attire" made and ready to wear!

Dustin and I were both in 4-H.

I know he is counting down the years until Peighton is old enough to start showing a few cattle and pigs.

And Preston won't be far behind!

For now though, we will just be super cute while we visit the fair!

Rhubarb Coffee Cake....a bit healthier!

My mom gave me a bunch of rhubarb.

I think it's kind of gross....unless you bake with it then it's quite yummy!

Peighton and I tried Rhubarb Coffee Cake!

I swapped out some of the ingredients for healthier ones and it's pretty good.

Both of my monkeys gobbled it up for breakfast this morning!

I have the original recipe below and have also included what I used instead.

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Source: Hy-Vee cookbook

1 1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening (I replaced this with 1/2 cup applesauce)

1 egg (could have used Egg Beaters if I had some!)

2 c flour

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 c sour cream ( I used 1 cup plain greek yogurt)

1 1/2 cup chopped rhubarb

Topping:
1/4 c sugar

1/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c pecans (I left these out-my short people would have complained!)

1 T Margarine ( I did use margarine for the topping-it won't be the same with anything else!)
1 t cinnamon

(I also sprinkled some oatmeal on top of the topping!)

Cream brown sugar and shortening/applesauce. Add egg. Combine flour, soda, salt; add alternately with sour cream/yogurt to the creamed mixture.

Fold in the rhubarb.

Spread into greased 9x13 pan.

Combine all topping ingredients.

Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.

In my version, there is only 1 tablespoon of margarine in the whole thing and it was super yummy!
You could certainly leave the topping off entirely but it wouldn't be the same.



VEISHEA Fun!

We had a really fun weekend!

Even though it was a bit cold and drizzly we took the kids to VEISHEA at Iowa State and had  a great time!

We walked around the campus a bit.

We showed Peighton and Preston where Mommy and Daddy lived while we were in college-Peighton thought the AGR house and the Pi Phi house were "very big."

Most of the morning was spent at the parade!

Preston LOVED it.

All sorts of wonderful food vendors at VEISHEA and what do my kids eat?

POP-TARTS!!!!!

Preston did sample a hot dog though!

He was so impresssed with all the marching bands, tractors, firetrucks and horses!

Peighton was happy she got some beads!

We went through the college of Ag too and Peighton found this cow!

Pretty sure her favorite part though was getting her face painted!

Certainly a good day for all!

Travel Tractor Tote

Preston's first word was "Tractor."

He is now OBSESSED with them.

When we drive anywhere there is a lot of shouting in the backseat when he sees "Dac-tors."

I had seen some travel car mats on a few different sites and thought it would be really cute to have a traveling farm for my little guy.

Here is what I came up with:

Had to have his name on the front of course!

One side has a field for planting, plowing, picking corn or letting the cattle graze.

And the other side has a road for driving his trucks and tractors to the field.

Lots of room for farming on the go!

 

The back has a large pocket for holding all the trucks, tractors and livestock.

When Peighton saw it she thought she needed one....I am thinking a travel mat for her princesses is coming up next!

Dr. Seuss Playroom Accessories!

I always love when friends ask me to make stuff for them!

I made a super cute valance and pennant for some good friends of ours and they are just adorable!

Our kids play together quite often so we will get to enjoy them  too!

They chose a fun, bright print for the main part of the curtains and some funky red and white ovals to coordinate with it.

It's got characters from a few classic Dr. Seuss books on it.

I really like the pennant! 

Such a fun way to dress up a playroom.

And there was even fabric leftover so I hope that my (equally addicted to pinterest) friend does something fun with the rest of it!