Steel's Kindergarten Picture

I cannot stop laughing!  

This has to be the funniest picture ever!  

It had to be absolute torture to smile!  

Dog Tag #2

And here we go...the Original that I was talking about yesterday...

A little background:
The hub pretends he doesn't like Puppy.  (We have caught him acting otherwise!!!)  But if Puppy ever ended up 'lost' it would definitely be the hub's fault!

On to Puppy's new dog tag...

Allrecipes App

Allrecipes.com is my fav recipe site.  I love to look for ideas.  I sometimes take a number of recipes and combine them into one delish dish.

Well, of course, it has it's own app as well!  It's a must!  Check it out here...  Allrecipes App

Dog Tag #1

I found this super cute idea on Etsy from Billets Doux.  She is selling them but I made one.  Mine looks a bit rough, as it has been a while since I stamped but it just adds to the character, right?!  =)

This is for our crazy Licker, Puppy...

Tune in tomorrow for an Original...Can't wait...lol

Starfall.com and App

I found this website http://www.starfall.com/ a few years back.  Steel used to play on it constantly when he was first learning to use the computer.  He had to have been about 2, as he had he own computer since he was 3.  (That was more out of convenience than anything, Steel would be on my laptop and Daddy would be on his and Mommy sat here with nothing.  So, Daddy went and bought Mommy a new laptop!  That was 3 years ago!  Wow!)  Anyhow, I was pleasantly surprised when Steel came home from school one day and asked if I could put that website on his computer 'with the dragon' as he called it.  (There's a story on there with a dragon in it.)  I guess his teacher had it on at school that day.  Well, I thought I would post on it.  There's activities for all levels on there starting with learning letters on up to little readers.

I, also, just noticed that they have a few apps.  The Starfall App is only out for iphone, no android yet!  They do have a Starfall Snowman App and a Starfall Gingerbread App for android (and iphone) but they are $0.99 each.  I'm still sticking to my no pay rule for apps but someone out there may be interested...

Check er out!

Can Stilts

I had a pair of can stilts that my grandmother made for me out of cans when I was younger.  I loved them, so I decided to make a pair for Steel.

I used two left over cans from Steel's party.  I did not have a can opener, the kind that you use to puncture triangles into the top of can lids.  So I went and purchase one for 99 cents.  It seemed like a good idea at the time until it broke on the first hole I made into the cans.  With a little elbow grease, I managed to get 3 more holes and finish my little project.

Materials
2 quart sized paint cans (or larger 28oz. tomato sauce cans would work nicely)
Rope (approximately 36 inches for each can)
Can opener (the kind described above)

The How To
1.  Turn cans upside down so that the bottom of the can is facing upward and the opening is pointing down.  Use can opener to poke triangular holes into the sides of cans at the top edge(Hopefully, you will not break your can opener.)

2.  Cut two pieces of rope, equal in size, one for each can.  This measurement is dependent on the height of the child.  You want to make sure that it is long enough so that the child does not have to bend over to hold on to the rope but short enough that they won't need to pull the ropes over their heads.

3.  Insert ends of rope into each hole of a can and push through.

4.  Tie a knot and tighten.

5.  Pull the rope back through so that the knot is inside the can and the rope (handle) is outside.

6.  Let the fun begin!  Steel was not being cooperative and demonstrate so that I could take a picture so for those of you that have never seen these I will try to explain how to use them.

How They Work:
     1.  Child places foot, preferably with shoes on, on the bottom of can (now the top).
     2.  Child, then, grasps rope with hand of same side as foot.  (Ex.  Right foot, right hand)
     3.  Repeat for other foot and hand.
     4.  Pull up with rope to lift can and foot and move forward alternating sides as walking.

It takes a bit of concentration at first but it's a fun activity!

Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

Ingredients:

2 - 8oz. pkgs of mushrooms, sliced

1 lb. wide egg noodles, cooked and strained

2 sticks of margarine

3 chicken breasts, shredded (see Super Easy Shredded Chicken)

2 cans condensed chicken and mushroom soup

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 sleeves of ritz crackers (or similar)

To Prepare:

1.  Clean and saute mushroom in sauce pan with 1 stick of margarine.  Once complete, remove from pan with slotted spoon, keeping the remaining margarine in the pan.

2.  Prepare noodles as mushrooms are cooking.

3.  Once mushrooms and noodles are ready, add mushrooms, chicken, soup, noodles and sour cream to oblong baking pan and mix thoroughly. 

4.  Taking remaining margarine from the mushrooms, melt the additional stick of margarine (or butter).  

5.  Crush the 2 sleeves of crackers and add to margarine and coat thoroughly.  

6.  Add mixture to top of baking pan on top of the chicken and noodle mixture.

7.  Bake for 40 minutes at 375°F.  Or until edges of crackers are golden brown.