Dressing Up

This time of year is so fun!  While we don't celebrate Halloween in the traditional sense, i.e. we don't do trick-or-treating or many of the other Halloween-y things, we do let the kids dress up for their preschool parties. Emerson wanted to be a princess yet again, so I let her choose from her dress-up collection.  I found a consignment pirate costume for Jax, and my friend Jamie let me borrow the strawberry costume for Hayden. 

Here are pictures from Emerson and Jax's preschool costume parade day.  Jax's class will get to participate in the parade next year. 

Grandma and Pa-Pa took the kids to a pumpkin patch last weekend.  They had a blast, and we enjoyed the break! 

The resident artist

Within the last few weeks, Emerson has undergone a complete transformation in her coloring abilities.  I figured at some point this year she would start coloring in the lines and taking her time, but it was almost an overnight flip of the switch.  A while back, Emerson asked Daddy if he would color while she watched.  You could see the little wheels turning in her brain as she soaked up everything he was doing.  Now she loves to color, and her favorite spot is smack dab in the middle of the kitchen next to the craft bin, on her belly with her feet crossed at the ankles. 

Here's a little sampling of her colorific talents!

Recipes for this week

Rebekah, thanks for the comment asking for links for recipes!  I guess it's kind of pointless to tell others what you're making if you don't direct them to the place where they can find the recipe, too!  Ha! 

Click HERE for the recipe for the slow-cooker sloppy joes.  I actually used the cooktop method listed at the bottom... they turned out great!  Lots of leftovers, too, which is always a plus.

For the sweet potato fries, I peeled and cut four medium sweet potatoes into fry-like straws.  I threw them in a bowl with olive oil, kosher salt, a little sugar, some pumpkin pie spice, and mixed to coat.  I ended up doing two batches because they wouldn't all fit on one pan and I didn't want to crowd them, so the first batch I baked at 450 and the second batch at 500 (about 25-30 minutes).  The second batch had a few burned spots, so I think 450 is perfect.  Now don't make these and expect them to turn out as crispy as normal french fries.  Based on my experience and also a lot of other recipes I've searched, sweet potatoes just don't crisp up as well as regular potatoes.  Oh, and I almost forgot, I put them on a cooling rack sprayed with pan spray and then set that on a cookie sheet.  I think it helped evenly cook, and I didn't have to turn them halfway through cooking.

Chicken, Green Bean & Wild Rice Casserole
(recipe from a friend, but I can't remember for the life of me who it was... mommy brain)

1 whole chicken, chopped into bite-size pieces (I boil mine for almost 2 hours, but you can always just buy a rotisserie)
1 chopped onion, sauteed in 1 T. butter
1 box Uncle Ben's wild rice, prepared according to pkg
1/2 lb. green beans, steamed
1/4 C. sliced almonds, toasted
1 C. mayo
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

*Mix it all up in a large bowl, then bake in a 9x13 at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  Not the healthiest casserole ever, but definitely a crowd pleaser!  My kids love it, too.

For the roasted potatoes, I don't have an exact recipe I follow, but you can just cube regular or red potatoes, coat them in olive oil and sprinkle whatever herbs and seasonings you're in the mood for, throw on some kosher salt, and I think I usually do 475 for 30-ish minutes.  You might want to turn them a time or two during baking.  My sister-in-law Liz makes THE BEST roasted potatoes ever.  Liz, if you're reading this, will you comment on how you do yours, pretty please?! 

And I don't make desserts during the week, but these little puppies are just begging to be made this weekend for the OU game perhaps... HELLO
candy corn fudge.

Happy cooking, Rebekah and other friends!

Monday morning menagerie

1) I am craving chocolate like a crazy person.  I think the dreaded cycle is right around the corner.  I haven't had one in 17 months!  It's been glorious!

2) Hayden is going through some serious separation anxiety right now.  It doesn't matter who it is... Jason, his parents, the nursery workers at church... if she leaves my arms, she's crying and flailing and wailing, and there's nothing that can console her until she's back in my arms.  Good times.

3) Today is supposed to be in the mid-80s again.  Seriously.  If I sweat one more time while at the park in October, I'm gonna rip somebody's head off.  This is probably due in part to #1 above. 

4) Meal plan for this week:
* Monday - slow-cooker sloppy joes, baked sweet potato fries
* Tuesday - chicken,green bean & wild rice casserole, salad, rolls
* Wednesday - grilled pork tenderloin, steamed broccoli, roasted potatoes
* Thursday - carryout!
* Friday - BLT's, leftover potato soup

5) Husband, if you're reading this, I love you.  You looked freakin' hot leaving the house this morning, and I can't remember if I told you or not.  XOXO.

Pipe cleaners & pom poms

This morning I was racking my brain for something crafty for Jax to work on while Emerson and I worked on her phonics and flashcards.  I scoured a few mommy blogs and saw a great idea... using a little pair of tongs to pick up pom poms for hand/eye coordination.  I remembered I had red pom poms in my craft bin in the garage, and I grabbed some pipe cleaners while I was out there.  I also remembered that the kitchen tools kit I bought Emerson for her birthday also included a set of mini tongs.  Score! 

Needless to say, an hour later the phonics and flashcards hadn't surfaced.  All three of us had a LOT of fun playing. 

The tong/pom pom activity was so simple yet so fascinating.  Move them from the box to the cup and then back again.

My glasses were a hit.

Jax fashioned a little headband.  I was also impressed with all of the letter and numbers he was attempting to create.  It's interesting how much the second child picks up while the first child is doing the 'learning.' 



One of my other go-to activities for our morning learning/crafty time?  Preschool Packs (printable sets of activities that are theme-based).  I just pick my favorite pages, print them out, stick them inside sheet protectors, and let the kids use dry-erase markers on them.  They go nuts!

Here's an example..  http://homeschoolcreations.com/preschoolpacks.html

Happy Fall Break to you! 

 

Sweet scarf video

Money-Saving Mom posted this on her blog yesterday.  I was mesmerized.  A cool front blew through last night bringing cooler temperatures FINALLY, and now I'm totally inspired to start wearing all of my scarves.  All being two, now that I think about it.  But still.  Those two scarves are gonna be worked OUT.  Five-O.  I don't know... I heard that somewhere.   

http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/10/25-ways-to-wear-a-scarf-video.html

Meal plan for this week:

Monday - Pasta with scallops
Tuesday - Grilled BBQ chicken breasts, roasted green beans, salad
Wednesday - Burgers on thin buns
Thursday - carryout!
Friday - not sure yet...
Saturday - some sort of yummy game day food