Frosting playdough!

Preston and Peighton LOVE playdough.

 

They love it even more when it's edible.

 

We tried a new one over Christmas break and it was a hit!

 

Preston likes to shove all his dough into bowls and then make ME dig it out.

 

 

Peighton uses more of a baker's approach and flattens hers to make into "cookies."

 

 

He was SO MESSY.

 

We had fun playing with and eating this one.

 

 

 

Frosting playdough

 

1 can frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

 

Mix them together.

I had to use a LOT more than 1 cup.

Maybe more like 3 cups to get it not to be sticky.

I thought about adding flour too but then it might not have tasted very good!

 

I made sure to add extra powdered sugar to their cutting boards so it didn't stick.

They made a lovely mess and had a great time!

 

 



A new challenge for ME!

I love pictures.

If you come to my house you won't see lots of expensive art on the walls.

You'll see lots and lots of pictures.

Pictures from all stages of my kids little lives.

Pictures of my family.

Pictures of Dustin's family.
Pictures of trips we've taken.
Pictures of us just living.

Pictures that I love to look at every single day.

 

I love TAKING the pictures which means I an not IN too many of the pictures.

I have a hard time handing my camera over to Dustin or anyone else for that matter because I know I can do it better! ;-)

 

 

I read my friend Kimberlee's Blog and I think I need to do THIS challenge.

The challenge is to actually BE IN more pictures with your kids.

I know I need to do better with this.

I want lots and lots of pictures for my kids to look back at and remember all the fun things we've done and tell lots of stories to thier kids.

 



I took a few this morning of me and my little buddy.

He was watching Mickey Mouse in my bed and I rudely interuppted him.

 

 

One of my favorite parts about Preston are his eyes.

There's so much expression in them!

 

I have a very cool screen that flips out on my camera.

I can turn the camera towards me and see what's on the screen-which is why Preston is looking off to the side...that's where the screen is and he can see himself!!!

He REALLY likes to see himself.

 

 

We had fun taking pictures of ourselves.

I'll take some with Peighton when she gets home from school today.

I think it will also be fun to let her take a few pictures too-I know she's going to love that!

 

I really like this challenge!

Can't wait to do more!

Thanks for the inspiration, Kimberlee!!!!!

 

 

Banana Oatmeal cups

Preston and I did a lot of baking during our Potty training boot camp.

 

 

We needed some projects to keep us from going crazy!

 

 

We tried out these Banana oatmeal cups today and they were really good.

 

Preston gobbled up two of them as soon as they were cooled off a bit!

 

 

The best part is they were super quick.

And  a great way to use up those last few bananas that no one wants to eat!

 

 

Banana Oatmeal cups

 

3 mashed bananas

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 T baking powder

3 cups Old Fashioned Oats

1 t vanilla

3 T mini chocolate chips

 

Mix everything together and muffin cups almost to the top.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

 

 

It made about 16 muffin cups for me.

I'm going to try freezing a few of them if they last that long!

 

 

 

 



Preston's John Deere Room

He's a tractor loving boy.

 

The obvious choice for his "big boy room" could only be

TRACTORS.

 

And lots of them.

 

 

 

I worked on a big John Deere quilt while Dustin was away at "Deer Camp."

 

He loves snuggling in at night under all that John Deere.

 

One of his favorite parts is his John Deere bookshelf!

 

I got these vinyl stick-ons off etsy.

They were a HUGE pain but they are so cute on his wall.

 

A few more tractors on his windows!

 

One of my favorite parts is this print I found on etsy.

 

 

 

We still need to get some actual furniture in there but it's a good start!

 

 



A Gingerbread House and Sugar Cookies!

 

Dustin went to "Deer Camp" for a whole weekend.

So we found lots of fun things to fill our weekend without him!

 

 

Grandma Sue has bought a gingerbread house the past few years and we have loved helping her decorate it!

 

We had a few more  helpers this year that made it even more fun.

 

 

 

I said, "Peighton, can you look at me?"
This is what I got...

 

Preston was very precise with where he wanted his candies to go.

 

Peighton liked making patterns with the candy.

 

We decorated sugar cookies too but I guess I was having too much fun decorating to take pictures!

 

All of our helpers!

 

 

Someday everyone will pay attention when we want them to look at the camera!!!!!

I guess three out of four isn't too bad.



Potty Training Boot Camp

Preston is attending Potty Training Boot Camp this week.

 

He's doing a great job....as long as there are skittles and M & M's for motivation!!!!!

 

We also have a basket full of "Potty Prezzies" as he calls them.

(It's a basket full of small treasures from the Dollar Store!  He thinks it's fantastic.)

 

We set our timer and every time it goes off I see this fabulous face:

 

 

And in between our potty sessions we play LOTS of tractors.

 

He makes the best tractor noises.

We got a little more creative today and made some roads with tape on the floor.

This little farmer is LOVING it.

 

 

Hopefully someday soon we will wear pants again....and maybe leave the house too!

We can only hope.

 

 

 



Sourdough Bread- In the Bread Machine and NO starter!

We LOVE sourdough bread.

It's so yummy with soup or made into paninis or french toast....I could go on.

 

One time,

 (when I had a lot of time on my hands...a.k.a. no kids)

I made a sourdough starter that I kept in the fridge.

I made a loaf every few weeks or so and when I wasn't using it I had to "feed" it.

It made FABULOUS sourdough bread.

But it took a lot of "feeding."

 

A few years and a few kids later I know I would NEVER remember to "feed" something that didn't whine, cry or throw a fit when it needed fed. ;-)

 

 

 

When I found a bread machine recipe for Sourdough bread I was a bit skeptical.

No starter?

It doesn't have to sit for a few days before you use it?

I figured it was worth a try.

 

And it was pretty good!

 

It does taste different that a normal loaf made with a starter.

But it's still pretty good and has that distinct sourdough taste.

 

 

Sourdough Bread (made in the Bread Machine)

 

2/3 cup water (70-80 degrees)

2 T white vinegar

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature (I used plain greek yogurt)

1 T sugar

1 1/2 t salt

3 Cups bread flour

2 1/4 active dry yeast

 

Add all ingredients in this order.

(wet ingredients always in the bottom, then dry ingredients and the yeast last)

Choose the Basic cycle.

 

 

Super yummy and very easy!

We're having ours with soup tonight!