Ten Apples Up on Top

Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss is one of Harry's favorite books. I made the book come alive by this simple project! It's great for learning how to count too!!

First, I searched Google and downloaded pictures of the characters to print.

Note: I printed them as 5x7's.





Then I colored them and laminated them. I used this type of self laminating paper. It works great!!



Next, I grew 10 apples, cut them out, and laminated them. Don't judge. They look goofy. Lol.



Now your book can come alive! Of course, Harry needed a lot help with this, but he will be able to do this on his own once he is a little older.

Here's how we played... On each page, we worked together and matched the correct number of apples each character had by placing the apples above their head. This is a great way too practice counting. It also makes the concept of counting more concrete because kids are able to do it themselves.

Oatmeal cinnamon chocolate chip pancakes

Made from scratch, these cinnamon chocolate chip oatmeal pancakes are amazing!!!



Here's what you need:

1 cup flour
1 cup oats (quick cooking)
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 ground cinnamon
1 cup milk (any)
2 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 tablespoon applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg

*I know.. It's a lot of ingredients but worth it. Trust me!!*

How to make these awesome pancakes:

1. First, mix the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, oats, chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt) in a bowl.

2. Next, in a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients (butter, milk, egg, vanilla, and applesauce) together.

3. Combine the two bowls together and mix well.

4. Heat a burner on the oven to medium heat, and put a little bit of butter in a pan to grease the pan.

5. Pour the desired amount of pancake mix into the pan. (You can make them whatever size you like.)

6. Cook until the surface of the pancakes have some bubbles. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned underneath.

7.Transfer to plate, and set aside.

8. Enjoy!! Harry approves!! :) :)

Do it yourself dog treats!

Have you ever wanted to make your own dog treats so you know exactly what your dog is getting?? Now you can!! Making your dog treats for your furry little friend has never been easier!! You ONLY need THREE ingredients, and they are quite healthy for your dog too without all the extra stuff in them. Heck, you CAN even eat them too!!! Really, it's all "people" food. :)



Here's what you need:

2-3 jars of puréed vegetable baby food (I used squash.)
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of oats



Here's a link of the safe vegetables and fruits to feed your dog:

http://www.ehow.com/list_7156880_safe-fruits-veggies-dogs.html

How to make your own dog treats:

1. Mix all the ingredients in one bowl until a dough forms.

2. Roll the dough out onto a counter or flat surface, and then flatten the dough.

3. Using a cookie cutter, cut into shapes. You can also make your own shapes, roll into little balls, or anything else you can think!
Note: I used a duck cookie cutter!


4. Preheat your oven to 350F degrees, and VERY lightly grease a cookie sheet.

5. Place the treats on the cookie sheet, and bake for 20-24 minutes.


6. Enjoy!! Cece approves!! ;)

Bunny Pancakes

Ok, I'll admit... These are not perfect looking bunnies, and they are a little odd, but I'd say that I did well for my first try! ;)

We are going on an Easter egg hunt today, so I thought I would make bunny pancakes for us! It was fun, and my son enjoyed them.



Here's what you need to make the pancakes:
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
1 egg
1 tablespoon applesauce
1 teaspoon Vanilla
4 drops of red food coloring

How to make the pancakes:
1. First, mix the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt) in a bowl.

2. Next, in a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients (coconut oil, milk, egg, vanilla, food coloring and applesauce) together.
Note: You only want about 4 drops of food coloring so the pancakes are pink not red.

3. Combine the two bowls together and mix well.

4. Heat a burner on the oven to medium heat, and put a little bit of coconut oil in a pan to grease the pan.

5. Pour the desired amount of pancake mix into the pan. (You can make them whatever size you like.)

6. Cook until the surface of the pancakes have some bubbles. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned underneath.

7.Transfer to plate, and set aside.

How to make the pancakes into bunnies:

What you need:
1.5 pancakes
Berries
Vanilla yogurt

What to do:
1. First, put two pancakes on plate. Cut one in half, and then cut it half again. You should have one pancake in 4 pieces.
Note: You may need to reshape the pieces to look like ears.



2. Next, add two blueberries for the eyes and a raspberry for the nose.


3. Then add some yogurt on the ears, and a blackberry for the mouth.


4. Enjoy!!!

Easter Crafts and Projects 2014

There is just something about spring time that makes me happy! I love this time of year, therefore I love Easter. As Harry is getting older, our holiday crafts are becoming a little bit more elaborate. It's fun! :)

Here's a look at what we have done for Easter:

1. I LOVE handprint and footprint crafts! We made chick footprints.


2. Carrot footprint


3. Painting with carrots! All you need is paint, baby carrots, and paper. Dip the carrots in the paint, and paint using the carrot.


4. Alphabet eggs.
You can use this year round though. You simply write letters on the eggs and match them. The link is located in my blog too.


5. Duck shaped scrambled egg.
You can do this year round too. It's just scrambled eggs made into the same of a duck, shredded cheese, and a chocolate chip.


6. Easter bunny handprint.
This is a cute Easter card for family too. You use your child's handprint but only two fingers.


7. Decorating Easter eggs with paper.
Cut up some paper and glue it on the egg.


8. Easter bunnies!
We made Easter bunnies using cotton balls, googly eyes, paint, toilet paper rolls, pom pom balls, pipe cleaners, and paper.


9. Painting Easter eggs with pom pom balls.


10. Painting with magic paint.
This was a HUGE hit! I bought a 12 pack of this for only $2 at the craft store too!! All you do is get the paintbrush wet, dip it in the colors, and paint!


11. Painting with potatoes.
We painted Easter eggs with potatoes! I LOVED this. You cut a potato in half, carve a few lines in it, dip it in paint, and stamp your paper!



12. Painting with a potato masher.
This was awesome too! We used Easter colors, dipped the potato masher in paint, and painted.


13. Volcano eggs.
This can be used year round too. Using baking soda and vinegar, we made the eggs explode! This is an awesome science and chemistry lesson!! Visit my blog for the lesson...


14. Washing Easter eggs.
Using two containers, wash and rinse your eggs with soap and water. This can be done year round too.


15. Religious craft.
I used one of my favorite psalms, Harry's handprint for the sun, and three crosses to represent the meaning of Easter. I really enjoy this craft. :)


16. Chicks
Using a toilet paper roll and yellow paint, we made chicks. You dip the toilet paper roll into the paint, and stamp it on the paper. Then add feathers on each side. I also helped Harry add the eyes and nose.

Volcano Eggs

What kid doesn't love something exploding?! Well, you can make your own volcano eruption at home using baking soda and vinegar! Plus it is a nice science and chemistry lesson for all ages too. I remember doing these experiments as a kid and teenager and having so much fun with it! I'm a total science nerd, so I love this type of stuff!

Here's what you need:
Vinegar (acetic acid-- an acid)
Baking soda (bicarbonate-- a base)
Plastic eggs
Cupcake pan


**First, here are the definitions of acids and bases.

Acid- a compound usually having a sour taste and capable of neutralizing alkalis and reddening blue litmus paper, containing hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal or an electropositive group to form a salt, or containing an atom that can accept a pair of electrons from a base. Acids are proton donors that yield hydronium ions in water solution, or electron-pair acceptors that combine with electron-pair donors or bases.

Source: http://m.dictionary.com/definition/acid

Base- A class of compounds whose aqueous solutions have a bitter taste and ability to turn litmus blue. They react with acids to form salts. They yield hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water and act as a proton acceptors.

Source: http://thesciencedictionary.org/base-2/

How to make volcano eggs:

1. First, place the eggs in the cupcake pan and fill them up with vinegar.


2. Next, fill each egg with 1 tablespoon of baking soda.. Harry and I took turns filling the eggs.


3. Watch the eruption taking place! The vinegar and baking soda should start to bubble and fizz creating a foamy volcanic like reaction.



So why does this volcanic reaction occur?? Well, we know vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid, and baking soda (bicarbonate) is a base. When you mix the two together, they change into sodium acetate and carbonic acid. This is because the baking soda takes the vinegar's hydrogen ions which is why a new substance is formed. The carbonic acid then changes into carbon dioxide which escapes during the fizzing. This is why you see the bubbles.

In simple terms for toddlers and preschoolers... Vinegar and baking soda are made up of tiny pieces. When you mix them together, the pieces combine, and make something new called a gas. The gas is inside the bubbles!