Leftover Peeps

Peeps...they're not just for eating anymore.  These colorful, animal-shaped marshmallows have become an endearing craft embellishment. Crafters are using Peeps in creative ways that I would have never thought of myself.  They are using them in wreaths, in flower arrangements, and making awesome dioramas in very hilarious settings.  But I do not have the time or patience to do any of those crafts.

There's only one thing my son and I like to do with Peeps.

BLOW them up in the microwave!  
This activity take less than 1 minute in the microwave and it's also healthier to nuke the Peeps in the microwave rather than eating them. The pictures do not do this justice. It really is fun and the kids get a good kick out of seeing the Peeps blow up to 4 times their original size.  FYI the snowman Peeps get really big.

Chick Peeps

Pumpkin Peeps

 

 

More Chick Peeps

Snowman Peeps

Other ideas for Peeps

 

   

http://www.facebook.com/gatewaypeople

These ads are on my church's facebook page and in our local newspaper.

I had to show this pic because I'm a nerd and it cracks me up.  

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Gooey Rice Krispies Treats

I love it when Homer Simpson finds goo and says, "Mmmm....free goo."

For the last few weeks the topic of conversation with my youngest son has been the STAAR test (public school state test).  We've been stressing how important it is for him to pay attention and stop daydreaming.
In order to help with his ADHD I banned junk food and foods with red, blue and yellow dyes and made sure he was taking his fish oils.  It was hard.
Now that 2 of the 4 tests are over I  decided to make a treat for my boys.  Something quick and easy that they both liked.  Gooey Rice Krispies Treats.  My son always asks "Are you going to put the extra marshmallows in?"  Why YES of course, dearie.

For the most part I follow the regular recipe except I add an extra tablespoon of butter and add extra marshmallows at the end.

GOOEY RICE KRISPIES TREATS

4 Tablespoons of Butter (NEVER margarine)

1 Package 10 oz marshmallows or 4 cups AND an extra 1-3 cups marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add 4 cups or 10 oz marshmallows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat. Mix in cereal. Stir until well coated.  Add 1 to 3 cups marshmallows and stir again.  Spread the mixture using a buttered spatula or waxed paper evenly into a 13x9x2 inch pan coated with cooking spray or butter. Allow to cool 10 minutes before cutting the squares.

I normally add more marshmallows that this but this is all I had.  The amount of extra marshmallows you put in is entirely up to personal taste.

Yummy, gooey.

Fun Breakfast

Children across the state had their STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academics Readiness) and Benchmark tests this week.  I thought the TAKS test was bad but apparently this test is more difficult. If the homework is any indication of what will be on the tests I just pray that God helps all our children. I'm having to look up stuff on the internet just to help my 5th grader.  And forget about helping my junior.  My brain has decided to delete the information I once learned in chemistry and geometry since it hasn't been accessed in over a decade.  Blame it on the politicians to give our students a test that puts more emphasis on standardized testing rather than actually learning all in the name of money. I won't blame any particular party as I think both have contributed to the downward spiral of our education.  But I digress from the subject....

I wanted to start the day off on a positive note so I arranged breakfast into a smiley face or at least I tried. Note to self: curve bacon before cooking so it will look like a smile.  Did the smiley faces go unappreciated?  I don't know. They're big boys and I think it's all the same to them.  But I think that somewhere deep inside they appreciated the effort.  And yes, those are Veggie Tales place mats.  

Farewell Christopher Robin

Change happens whether we want it or not; seasons, people, minds, friends, and life changes. There's an unwelcome change happening in our household.  My 11-year old son's voice is changing.  I am jarred to my core every time his smooth childish voice cracks and a deep voice breaks through in the middle of a sentence.  I don’t recognize this new voice.  This deep voice clangs as a warning bell of a new chapter entering my life. The deep voice also symbolizes more changes:  the process of emptying toy boxes, buying deodorant, loss of control, cell phones and data plans, making room in the closet for fashionable clothes and shoes, and worst of all, not being able to kiss or hug the grown up hurts away. Then it will be me alone living with 3 men.  I am NOT ready for this!

Every night I give my son a good night kiss and as I walk away the practical feeling of he’s getting too old for bedtime kisses fights my emotional ties.  I just want to hold onto the adolescent for a few more years. It’s times such as these that make me regret not cherishing more moments before tweendom. I wanted him to grow, mature, and catch up with his peers so I never expected this melancholy feeling.   

In this moment I feel like Winnie the Pooh saying good bye to Christopher Robin. I feel as if I'm standing in the doorway of the last chapter waving a tearful good bye to a small child who's walking away.  It is a bittersweet moment and the tears are one-sided.  I'm saying goodbye to softness, good bye tickling/cuddling, good bye stuffed animals and good bye to being the center of my child’s universe.  The child is smiling and eager for new adventures and happy to be independent and saying “Hello, world!”

As I'm sadly watching the child getting smaller in the distance there's a tween with a cracking voice who is as tall as me trying to enter through the doorway without an invitation. I look at him, pause and accept that children grow up and I welcome him inside.  Before I shut the door I look out once more to see the child cresting the horizon into a bright future.

Excerpt from "The World of Pooh"  Chapter 10

Christopher Robin was going away.  Nobody knew why he was going; nobody knew where he was going; indeed, nobody even knew why he knew that Christoper Robin was going away.  But somehow or other everybody in the Forest felt that it was happening at last. 

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little.
"How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
Pooh nodded.
"I promise," he said.
Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh's paw. 
'"Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if I--if I'm not quite------" he stopped and tried again----"Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won't you?"
"Understand what?"
"Oh, nothing" He laughed and jumped to his feet. "Come on!"
"Where?" said Pooh.
"Anywhere," said Christopher Robin. 

I MISS THIS GUY!

Monster House Costume

My youngest child never wants to buy Halloween costumes from the store. He always wants me to make his costumes. I don't even know where he got the idea that I could make his costumes. The problem is I don't really know how to sew so I'm always hard pressed on what costume to make.  I made this costume 5 years ago when he was still small.  I wish I took more pics from start to finish.  But these few pics are all I have.  

I used one big box for the house and another box for the chimney and the protruding window.  I used shipping tape to adhere the window and the roof is actually the flaps of the box taped up. I cut the the arm holes, windows, door, and the flaps of the shingles which is also the eye holes. Then I papier-mâchéd the entire box to reinforce the strength of the box.  

Paper Mâché Paste Recipe

Flour and Water

Mix 1 part flour to 2 parts water until you have a thick glue-like consistency. You want it a little runny. You can add more flour if needed. If you live in a high-humidity area add salt to prevent mold. Mix until there are no more lumps.

Allow to dry overnight and paint. I used acrylic paints.

I also bought a big car wash sponge from the dollar store and glued it inside the roof for cushion because the box was slightly heavy. I used a white styrofoam plate for the teeth, yellow paper for the windows and stretched a couple of big-sized cotton balls to form hazy smoke for the chimney. I used Elmer's glue to glue it all, nothing fancy. 

eye holes

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Roca & Company

DIY Showoff

The Shabby Nest


No Minimalist Here


DELICATE Construction


the letter 4



Where Nothing Good Comes Easy

Not So Great Mommy Moment

I am feeling so ashamed right now. I had a not-so-great-mommy-moment this evening. To be exact - I had a Kate Gosselin moment and that lady makes me cringe.  I am so thankful that a camera was not around when I had my fit. I think I would lose all my friends and become a pariah in the church if anyone saw me.

Tonight I suddenly remembered that my 5th grader had homework. Strike # 1 - doing homework late makes me fretful. It wasn't an easy assignment either. He had to write 2 limericks, a funny poem, and answer questions about poetry. Strike #2 - he was not listening to me at all and he kept looking at the clock because he wanted to get on the computer to play Garry's Mod with his friends. He'd already spent several hours on the computer today so it wasn't like he was missing out.  Strike #3 - I felt like I was doing most of the work. Hello. If I'm going to give you my time and attention I would like a little effort. Strike #4 - Even though I kept repeating the rules of the limerick and wrote guidelines along the side of which sentences should rhyme he still kept trying to do it his way Strike #5 - every time I erased his incorrect rhymes or lack of capitalization he would get upset with me.

To be honest I blew up and I started yelling at him. I said he doesn't have to look at the clock anymore because he won't be using the computer at all. So my boy started crying. I was asking "Are you crying because you can't get on the computer anymore?"  My husband interceded and said, "No he's crying because you're yelling." I said "I think he's crying about the computer."  More back and forth happened but I won't bore you with the details. Dad finished helping with the homework instead and I was left feeling like a failure once again.

I know, I know I could have told my boy in a controlled manner that he was no longer getting computer time. I didn't have to yell. But I am emotionally drained from other stuff that happened this weekend.  And I never said I was patient. Impatience is one of my worst traits. It doesn't matter though - these are excuses. And there's no excuse for behaving like a tyrant. Before my son went to bed I told him I was sorry and asked for forgiveness. But I still feel bad.

So here I am putting it out there that I behaved terribly.  Start throwing the stones.

I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has had a moment like mine? Or just a moment that you are glad that your parenting skills wasn't captured on video like using paper towels and duct tape for diapers.

Eat This, Not That! Worst Restaurant Meals for Kids

Dave Zinczenko of Men's Health magazine was on the "Today Show" discussing children's meals. You might know who Dave is from "Eat This, Not That" column and book series.

Oh my goodness. I was shocked at the calories in children's meals. It is a crying shame that restaurants put very little thought into children's nutrition. It's almost as if the children's meals are afterthoughts.

I admit that we are "those" parents that allow our children to order what they want instead of choosing the meal for them. I think when they turned 7 we let them choose. There have been many times when their food was placed before them and I noticed that the color of the food was all brown...chicken nuggets, french fries, fried foods. I think it's time that I start paying attention to what my son is ordering and nudge him in the right direction. I think I need to also think about what I'm ordering. How many times have we adults ordered appetizers and it's all brown too?


Here are the 4 meals that Dave presented. Smart Swaps.


1. On the Border  NOT THAT
Kid’s Cheese Quesadilla with Mexican Rice
1,220 calories, 75 g fat (31 g saturated), 1,930 mg sodium
CALORIE EQUIVALENT: 17.5 José Olé Shredded Steak Taquitos—that’s almost a whole box!

EAT THIS

Kid’s Mexican Plate with Crispy Chicken Taco

260 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 530 mg sodium
*Don’t forget to set a good example for the niños yourself! From tacos to tamales, here are the universal guidelines you need to Master the Mexican Menu.

2. KFC NOT THAT        (We just got Popcorn chicken this past Sunday.)

Kids Meal with Popcorn Chicken, Potato Wedges, and Pepsi

730 calories, 32 g fat (6 g saturated), 1,535 mg sodium

CALORIE EQUIVALENT: More than seven Eggo Chocolate Chip Waffles!

EAT THIS

Kids Meal with Grilled Chicken Drumstick, Mashed Potatoes (no gravy), and Capri Sun Roarin’ Waters Tropical Fruit Juice Drink

210 calories, 7 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 625 mg sodium

3. McDonald’s NOT THAT

Mighty Kids Meal with McDouble, Fries, and 1 percent Chocolate Milk Jug

790 calories, 33 g fat (12 g saturated, 1.5 g trans), 1,230 mg sodium

CALORIE EQUIVALENT: 18 slices of Kraft Singles 2 percent American cheese—nearly an entire package!

EAT THIS

Happy Meal with Hamburger, Apple Dippers, and Apple Juice Box

380 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 540 mg sodium

4. Cheesecake Factory 

NOT THAT 

Kids Pasta with Alfredo Sauce 

1,810 calories , 89 g saturated fat, 652 mg sodium

CALORIE EQUIVALENT: 775 Parmesan-flavored Pepperidge Farm Goldfish—that’s two bags!

EAT THIS

Kids Pasta with Marinara Sauce

510 calories, 2 g saturated, 651 mg sodium

After seeing this I decided to search other high calorie shockers.

1. The Worst Drink in America
Cold Stone Creamery Gotta Have It PB&C Shake
2,010 calories, 131 g fat (68 g saturated), 153 g sugars

More sugar than 12 Fudgsicles, as much fat as a stick and a half of butter, and more calories than 37 Oreos. Oh, it also has 3 days’ worth of saturated fat. 

Drink This Instead!
Sinless Oh Fudge Shake—Like It
490 calories, 2 g fat (2 g saturated), 110 g carbohydrates, 44 g sugars

I was really sad to see PF Changs had the worst Chinese dish. This made #7 on 30 Worst Foods in America. Even though I know it's on the worst foods list this picture makes me want order some right now. 

7. P.F. Chang’s Combo Lo Mein - 1,968 calories, 96 g fat (12 g saturated), 5,860 mg sodium

Drum roll please for the Worst Meal in America...

1. Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Guacamole Bacon Burger with Medium Natural Cut Fries and 32-oz Coke - 1,810 calories, 92 g fat (29.5 g saturated, 2 g trans), 3,450 mg sodium

 (But it looks sooo good).

Interested in knowing good restaurants food choices? Click here for surprising healthy restaurant foods.