Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season! We're glad to be finally winding down from all the festivities, but we feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends to be surrounded by during this season!

Wishing you all the best!

Productive Day

  Well, today was a wonderfully productive day! I did some grocery shopping and ended up finding some killer sales that saved me nearly $50 worth of food! I didn't quite get to all the laundry I was hoping for, but I finally organized my book shelf, and I came across my Early Childhood guide from birth to age 5.

Guess what I'm reading tonight?!

:P

I'm such a dork, I know.

James had a much better day today than yesterday (we some rough housing issues with little Jackson), and he was so attentive to Jackson! I made sure to tell him just how proud I was of him! We wrapped up our night with story time after baths, and James wrangled me into one more story... "The Little Engine That Could." He asked so sweetly, that I just had to say yes.

Then when I got home, Lily threw herself on me with huge hugs and kisses! She immediately grabbed my hand and told me that Daddy had said it was bedtime when Mommy got home, so she was going to go pick out a book. :) We read "The Little Mermaid" twice before tucking in for the night surrounded by a menagerie of stuffed animals and barbies.

*Sigh*

Warm food and a book, and this day is perfect! 

a LONG month!

WOW!

That is pretty much all I have to say about this past month! I have had so much fun, but I am ready to let loose and go trick or treating with Lilybug! :) She is going to be a bee this year! I can't wait!

James said he wants to be Thomas the Tank Engine again and that Jackson should be Sir Topham Hat. I thought that was the cutest idea ever! I hope they can find a costume for Jackson in his size. I think that would be the cutest costume ever!

Since it rained all day today, we put on some classical celebration stories for children and danced around pretending we were conducting an orchestra or symphony. We also read The Giving Tree and a handful of Thomas the Tank Engine stories before bedtime. With the exception of an afternoon nap, I would say that today was the perfect rainy day.

And you really can't beat coming home to, "Mommy, I missed you so much!"

:)

Creative Day

So Ajay and I had lots of fun today fingerpainting and working on his fine motor skills with a pasta and bowl activity! He's such a doll, and Lily is loving helping him learn. She is so nurturing, and with his having a big brother, the stimulation and example are perfect for him!

James and Jackson also had fun fingerpainting this afternoon when we got home from preschool. We decorated telescopes and had tons of fun looking at each other through them!

Next, we took turns putting on puppet shows for each other, and I'm so glad he has an interest in dramatic play... because I sure do!

After a long day it was great to come home, enjoy a brisk walk with Ares, and sit down to a nice dinner with my wonderful man and lovely little girl. We're working our way through an Aladdin book, and Lily can't wait to see what happens next to Jasmine and her tiger!

Finishing up some late night homework and lesson plans now, and then I'm off to mail a painting Lily did to her Gigi in Tennessee.

Goodnight all!

Milestones!

Jackson is crawling now!

I am not sure what made everything click for him, but Saturday morning he decided it was time, and now he's just cruising around everywhere! I'm so excited! I love watching the milestones that little ones go through. They do so much growing and changing so quickly! It is simply amazing!

Lily and I had a great time at Grandma's house today, and Lily got some quality time playing while I went for my yearly eye exam. We played soccer outside, chased butterflies, and she listened in rapture as I told her the story of Rumpelstiltskin.

My cousin, Sairsha (Gaelic "Saiorse" meaning freedom), is having a fundraiser for her school, and I think I'm going to get a book instead of a magazine subscription as I normally do. It is all about cooking seasonally and light, and not only will I be making healthy meals, but I will learn about seasonal fruits and vegetables, so it'll definitely help my budget!

I can't wait to get it in the mail!

Anyway, off to bed for me! Okay, I admit it... I'm in the middle of a superb book that I can't put down! I have to see what happens next!

Night night!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Success!

James and I had a great time making the cookies, and I'm so glad he loved them! Using whole wheat flour is a little thicker and heavier so sometimes it takes some getting used to. However, next weekend, I think we'll make some yummy chocolate chip cookies with all-purpose white flour (because they wouldn't be classic cookies without it!) for our Saturday night treat! Jackson thought we were hilarious measuring everything out and mixing in front of him  :p

This week is a busy busy busy one! Finalizing my classes for this term with my mentor and getting them started, and I've just begun Creative Play classes for those parents who just want to add a little fun into the day!

Check it out!

I'm excited!!

:)

Cookies Tonight!

Tonight James and I are going to make some oh-so-yummy cookies for dessert! I am so excited! I've had this healthy sugar cookie recipe sitting in my recipe box for a little while now, and I just recently remembered about it. 

James and I are going to be busy mixing it up in the kitchen, and I'm going to set some aside without milk or eggs for Jackson to explore, as well!

My recipe is for healthy sugar cookies made with whole wheat flour, I use a milk alternative (nonfat works too), and a sugar alternative. I have not had them in a while, and I hope my lovelies really enjoy them!

Healthy Sugar Cookies

You'll need:

whole wheat flour

baking powder

baking soda

salt

low fat unsalted margarine

sugar alternative

egg whites

nonfat, almond, or soy milk

lemon juice

1.  Mix 2 cups of whole wheat flour with teaspoon of baking soda. Add and mix in a half teaspoon of salt and a cup of sugar alternative. Make sure that you sift and mix these well.

2.  Now fold in half a cup of low fat unsalted margarine. Make sure to mix this in well so your dough has an even consistency.

3.  Next mix in two egg whites, on tablespoon of nonfat milk (I like soy or almond milk, too), and a half teaspoon of lemon juice.

4.  Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

5.  Roll dough into small circles and place 2 inches apart or roll flat and use a cookie cutter to get special shapes.

6.  Bake 10 minutes or until pale brown on the sides.

7.  Remove from cookie sheet and cool. Enjoy!