Our Own Hidden Wonderland...

This week found me turning this old suitcase...

Into this awesome place for plastic dinosaurs and lizards to play!
The children have had a blast helping put this together, and I love that it closes and looks decent when put away (who doesn't love stacks of old suitcases?!). I didn't take any "in the process" photos. I wish I would have, but we were elbow deep in paint. Chayce now wants me to make a hidden house for her Polly Pockets. I can't wait! I still have some plants that need to be hot-glued on.

For a great tutorial on how to do this, head on over to At Second Street
I believe her suitcase was a little deeper than mine, but either way, it's fun!

Dance classes.

Zachary and Chayce just finished their first year of dance lessons. Zac was in a hip-hop class, and Chayce took ballet. There were no snazzy outfits, just the lessons and a night to show off their moves. It was perfect. They really enjoyed themselves.

Each child received an award for something they had done during the year. Chayce received the award for best side-sashays in the class. Zac's award was for most creative. This was a play on a class that was held a few weeks ago, when Miss Kristy asked the class to each perform a trick on the dance floor, that was of their own creation. Zac went out and used his fingers to move his nose side to side and announced that he'd begun his own nose-dance fad. Laughter ensued, and it's been part of the class since. Silly boy.

Food Fail!

It's been a loooong time since one of my experiments in cooking has flopped, but it has happened. This time, it was big...so big that even I didn't eat it. Sadly. Lots of good veggies went to the compost pile. But that's OK, it will add nutrients to my compost, thus feeding my future veggies. Or someone else's future veggies, if the folks who buy our home like to eat decent food--er, umm, garden.

The fail here was that no one in my family likes the taste of seaweed. I do...a little, like in sushi, but this recipe was overpowering. Sigh. On my list of NOT HAPPENING AGAIN. I thought I could convince them that they were just black noodles (which isn't a bad thing, since I do have a yummy recipe for homemade chocolate spaghetti with vanilla sauce). On with life!

A is for Amazing!

My most amazing friend, who goes by "A" online, has opened her own etsy shop! All are her own designs, using vintage sheets, and are adorable! (So, A is also for adorable.) Anyhow, head on over and see her fun designs.

She trains them well

In the morning over the last several weeks, the youngest wakes up screaming for daddy. The moment I have changed her diaper, she starts asking for mom.

POPCORN!

Oh, I've been on one lately. We've been having popcorn, popcorn, and more popcorn. I've been in the mood. I know many variations on the theme, and have had a different one each day. This probably (OK, it does) means I've been serving up a LOT of corn syrup, but...but...but...

Today's was strawberry. I might do apricot tomorrow. We had caramel corn the other day. And also just plain buttered. I've heard cinnamon on buttered popcorn is good, but haven't tried it yet...that's next.

Here's today's popcorn coating recipe:

1 C corn syrup
1 3 oz pkg Jello...your choice of flavor.

Heat in saucepan until the gelatin is completely melted. Stir, stir, stir!

Pour over large bowl (about 10 cups) of popped popcorn. Oh, have this already popped, or the jello will harden. Munch, munch, munch.

Help! Help!

OK, so it's not a crisis, but if you have a minute, would you help me make a decision?

Should I chop off my hair, or keep it long? Here are three photos to help in the voting:




I know, it's a totally vain post, and I'll more than likely delete it once I decide, because--really, it's not going in the scrapbook...but since the blogosphere is here... well, I might as well use it.