Shakin' Up Some Ice Cream

Today we headed to the pool to make homemade ice cream for Story's two year old science play date. We had a really low turn out today Story and J were the only two year olds here. First, we did an experiment where we put scoops of ice cream on the sidewalk, in a metal pan, a plastic bowl and a glass pan. We asked the girls which scoop would melt first when the pans were placed in the sun. Our four year olds guessed right with the sidewalk. After watching the melting ice cream for a while, we made our own ice cream in plastic bags. I got the recipe at All Recipes. It required lots of shaking! The girls didn't last too long with the shaking so J and I did most of it. It was actually pretty good.

Story and J helped mix the ice cream mixture before we put it into the baggies. I didn't take any pictures of the swimming but we had a great time swimming with J, J and J! Thanks for coming over and hanging out with us today girls! Mama J I hope your arm wasn't too sore from throwing the rockets for the girls.

** I had to include this picture to tell you guys about our snake rescue! When we all arrived at the pool today there was a mama and her kiddos already there and they said there was a snake in the pool. We all went over and looked at it and then tried to get it out. We tried with a hook thing used to pull people out, but it didn't work. We then decided to use a pool noodle and were able to rescue the little guy. He looks really long in this picture, but I think he was just a baby. Pretty cool start to our science play date.

Y is for Yam Buddies

We did the cutest craft with our play group today! Thanks for setting it up J! This month is "Y" month, so we made Yam Buddies. They are so cute! We put them in a jar with water and they are going to grow legs and hair. I will be sure to keep you all updated on their progress.

Story decided to give her buddy a purple necklace.

Lyric named her little guy Allen (don't ask me where the name came from). They chatted all the way home. Allen even asked me to turn the radio down because it was too loud for him! I guess he and Lyric are pretty different when it comes to the radio. The louder the better for her!

He even sat in the chair and had lunch with us. But apparently he doesn't like french fries, so Lyric had to eat his:-)

Cadence was cute as usual. She just sat in the stroller eating pretzels while we did the craft.

Early Riser

Story was up before 6:00 this morning, so we decided to make some pancakes. Actually it was her idea:-) Grammy gave us a good recipe for a mix the other day for Oatmeal Pancakes. You just have to add water, eggs and applesauce. They are really good.

They have cinnamon in them, so I just had mine with strawberries and blueberries-no syrup needed.

Story Bell was really in the mood to be photographed this morning! I took the first picture of her eatingand she wanted me to take another one... and another one!

Puffs and Pretzels Haystacks...YUM!

Devon and I have sort of been on this Kashi diet for the last two weeks or so. We pretty much only eat Kashi cereal and a protein for every meal. That is unless we go out to eat which we have done way too often, so I don't know how much of a "diet" we are really on. I will tell you one thing we have discovered though, Super Target has the best selection of Kashi products!

The other day we bought a box of 7 Whole Grain Puffs with a recipe on the side of the box. So, today the girls and I decided to try it... Well, they kind of helped, they bailed on me in the middle of cooking. Story later came back into the kitchen and said, "Are we still cooking or what?" Anyway I thought I would post the recipe:

Puffs and Pretzels Haystacks

3 1/2 c Kashi Puffs Cereal

1 c shredded coconut (we left this out because my family doesn't like it-I know they are weirdos!)

1 c broken pretzel sticks (3/4 inch pieces)

2/3 c coarsely chopped almonds

12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c smooth natural almond butter

2/3 c cranberries

In a large mixing bowl, combine cereal, coconut, pretzels, almonds, and cranberries. Microwave the chocolate chips in 20 second intervals until melted. Add the almond butter for the last 20 seconds then stir until smooth. Pour melted mixture over cereal mixture and mix well. Drop by tablespoonful onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm.

You can go to the Kashi website for nutritional information, but I am sure they are not too bad for you after all they are made with Kashi:-)

The girls really liked them!

Diggin' For Worms

Daddy grilled us some burgers this afternoon. While we were outside, Lyric and I decided to try and dig up some earthworms. We dug a hole, poured some water in it and watched for the worms to come out. We did find two worms, but they weren't earthworms, maybe they were millipedes? Not sure, but Lyric enjoyed playing with them.

She even managed to get Story to "pet" one. The whole time assuring her, "Go ahead Story he won't hurt you. It's okay Story you can pet him." Story maybe even held one of them, but her interest didn't last long. Although, she did come running to tell them good bye before Lyric released them.

At one point Lyric had one in her hand and one on here leg. She even had to get the magnifying glass out to get a closer look. All in a days fun around here!

What do you get when Daddy and Lyric do the grocery shopping?

He came back and said he spent too much money; I'm much more frugal than he is. Yeah, because I don't buy junk like this: But, Lyric wanted them;-) While they were eating them one of the girls, Lyric I think, even said, "This tastes like sugar." Nice job, Daddy!

20 Questions

These questions were posted on our play group's message board.

Here is what Miss Lyric had to say about me:

1. What is something that Mom always says to you?

night night before bed

2. What makes Mom happy?

everyday mommy says get in my seat (in the car)

3. What makes Mom sad?

when I don't get in my seat

4. How does Mom make you laugh?

when she says monkey (what?)

5. What was Mom like as a child?

like me.

6. How old is your Mom?

40 (thanks, Lyric)

7. How tall is your Mom?

5 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

play hula hoop (I have a weighted hula hoop from my gym, that she has seen me do once or twice:-)

9. What does your Mom do when you are not around?

do laundry

10. If your Mom becomes famous what will it be for?

if you were good at something

11. What is your Mom really good at?

hula hoop (yeah right!)

12. What is your Mom not really good at?

not good at being polite (what? I use my please and thank yous!)

13. What does your Mom do for her Job?

clean house, do laundry, do dishes and make dinner, lunch and breakfast

14. What is your Mom's favorite food?

oatmeal (not really my favorite, but I do have it every morning)

15. What makes you proud of your Mom?

when she cleans my room

16. If your Mom were a cartoon character who would she be?

Old McDonald Had a Farm (????)

17. What do you and your Mom do together?

play games

18. How are you and your Mom the same?

we sometimes wear the same shorts

19. How are you and your Mom different?

we don't have the same eyes or ears

20. How do you know that your Mom loves you?

well, I don't know (huge gasp by me!...) when she kisses me

Story answered for Daddy:

1. What is something that Dad always says to you?

he says, no don't do that

2. What makes Dad happy?

when I put food back in the pantry

3. What makes Dad sad?

when I don't put food back in the pantry

4. How does Dad make you laugh?

tickles me

5. What was Dad like as a child?

he liked a clip in his hair (does Story know something about Daddy that we don't?)

6. How old is your Dad?

6

7. How tall is your Dad?

this tall (points to the celling)

8. What is his favorite thing to do?

eat (no, Story that is mommy)

9. What does your Dad do when you are not around?

goes to work

10. If your Dad becomes famous what will it be for?

I don't know... do different things... let me get my lantern

11. What is your Dad really good at?

She asks the lantern...whatever he can do he can do

12. What is your Dad not really good at?

he can't get back out of the tree (see here for understanding)

Story got tired, so Lyric took over:

13. What does your Dad do for his Job?

works

14. What is your Dad's favorite food?

Tabasco

15. What makes you proud of your Dad?

when he buys a bus (long story, Daddy will understand)

16. If your Dad were a cartoon character who would he be?

Arthur because he is a boy

17. What do you and your Dad do together?

snuggle

18. How are you and your Dad the same?

green eyes

19. How are you and your Dad different?

we don't have the same feet; mine are little and his are big

20. How do you know that your Dad loves you?

he kisses me

Lunch

Lyric asked me to take a picture of her lunch today. I'm not really sure why, I guess she was proud of her creation. On the menu today for Miss Lyric was: crackers, cheese, ham, blueberries and strawberries. She made herself a little "sandwich". It didn't appear all that appetizing to me, but she really enjoyed it!

Butterflies in Watercolors

I found a free lapbook about butterflies and the girls said they would like to do it. So, we checked out some butterfly books from the library and today we painted a butterfly for the cover. Lyric decided to dress like a cowgirl for the occasion. Not sure why? Maybe it was because she insisted we listen to Kenny Chesney while they painted. Cadence watched on while enjoying a cracker. I tried to get her to show off her new teeth, but only captured the chewed up cracker.

The girls are with Mimi J tonight, so I am going to do a little "planning" on our lapbook. I will be sure to post our progress.

My Four Year Old is a Hillbilly!

The girls spent last week with my parents. On Friday, I went to Bryan to spend the weekend and pick them up. Lyric was laying in the windowsill with a pillow and a blanket reading a book. I sat on the love seat next to her. This is what she said in her most grown up tone:

"Excuse me ma'am, but that is my parents' bed, you can't sit there."

I said, "Oh, I'm sorry! Where can I sit?"

She pointed into the other room and said, "You can sit in yonder."

Yonder, my child said yonder! It took everything I had to keep a straight face! But you know I had to make her say it again, so I said, "Excuse me, but where can I sit?"

Not missing a beat, she pointed again and said, "In yonder."

Too funny!! Thanks Grammy and Bob!