Sometimes you just gotta give in...(or up...)

Sometimes it just isn't worth the fight...

Sigh...yes, even the most well-intentioned, over-educated parents can end up feeding their child French Onion dip for dinner on occasion. Ummm...dairy group?? No, the chip wasn't included. It was just acting as the spoon. Hey, you try to get her to eat!

Even though she doesn't want to eat, she does love to cook. "Cooking! Food! Eat! Hun-ry." Interesting that her kitchen floor looks similar to mine after I've made dinner...hmmm. I think there is even a baby having a temper tantrum on her floor, too!

It is so fun to see Kate starting some imaginative play where she pretends. She pretends to cook (with my felt food!! yippee!!) and puts her babies to bed "night night baby...peeping" (=sleeping, said always in a whisper).

She also loves her stroller "go-wee". Here she is grocery shopping, checking out the nutritional content of Special K. Highly advanced for her age, you know...
Nah, I'll pass on the Special K, give me that French Onion dip!

And I couldn't resist one more pic with her hair in pig tails...they are just so darn cute! Such a shame they don't last.

The Helmet

Kate loves her bike. "Bike! Bike!" is all I hear when we go get in the car (the bike is right next to her side of the car). However, we made the mistake of letting her go on it before we got her a helmet...I'm sure you can see where this is going. Kate can't actually ride the bike, but she loves to sit on the seat and have Daddy push her around. Until the helmet...

A few minutes of riding...

Get this thing OFF!Daddy will wear the helmet, see?!? Isn't this fun!
Mommy to the rescue.

Recipes and projects

This is really what I love- spending the day with my little girl, baking yummy things and making cute stuff.

First for the cute stuff:

-finished up the shoes (I couldn't resist adding a ribbon) and made an appliqued matching onesie (first attempt at applique).

I also went a little crazy at a really great fabric shop I found. I actually went next door to have my camera fixed (which I thought was going to be really expensive), but it was FREE! So I went shopping. I am just itching to use these beautiful fabrics (who needs school anyway?! presentation? what presentation?)

Next for the baking! I've had a few people ask for these recipes, so I thought I'd share them with anyone interested...they are both ridiculously easy and have quickly become staples.

-Recipe #1: Homemade Yogurt (so much cheaper than store bought!)

adapted from here

Ingredients

8 cups (half-gallon) whole milk - can use reduced fat, but it isn't as delicious

1 single serving store bought yogurt with live, active cultures. I use Stonyfield Farms whole milk yogurt and sometimes Stonyfield Farms YoBaby. Can be flavored or plain; if flavored, the entire batch will have a slight taste of the starter yogurt. I think vanilla works well.

1/2 can sweetened condensed milk (use the other half in the granola bar recipe below)

1 tsp vanilla

Crockpot

Start this by at least 5pm so you are done in time for bed at 10:30 :)

Wash everything before you start. You don't want to grow anything bad. The initial step kills bad bacteria in the milk and crockpot, but I boil a spoon and whisk and a bowl for use later on.

Plug in the crockpot and turn to low. Add milk, condensed milk and vanilla (if you want plain, unflavored yogurt, omit the condensed milk and vanilla). Cover and cook on low for about 2 1/2 hours (doesn't have to be exact).

Then unplug the crockpot and leave it alone for another 3 hours. After 3 hours, remove 1 cup of the warm milk and in a small bowl, mix with your starter yogurt. Pour back into the crockpot and stir, replace lid.

Leaving it still unplugged, wrap the crockpot in towels or blankets to insulate it. It is 10:30pm- time for bed! Go to bed and let it grow overnight or for about 8 hours.

Morning! Wake up and eat your yummy yogurt! It should have thickened overnight.

If you want to flavor it with fruit, puree either fresh or frozen fruit in a blender and then mix it into the yogurt by hand (if you blend the yogurt it will get really liquid-y).

Recipe #2: Granola Bars (also way cheaper than store-bought)

adapted from here

Ingredients

1 1/2c oats

1/2 can sweetened condensed milk

1T melted butter

1 1/2 to 2c whatever you like in granola bars (my favorite is 1/2c coconut, 1/2c mini chocolate chips, 1/2c dried fruit such as cranberries)

Preheat oven to 350, grease a 9x9 (or similar) pan (I use parchment paper and rub a stick of butter on it).

Mix everything together in a bowl and press into the pan.

Bake 20-25 mins. Allow to cool.

...and that is a good day!

Let them eat cake...no, don't REALLY eat it!

A few more of my felt food creations...well, actually this is one cake with many outfits:) It is a 3 tiered cake with removable felt pieces so it can be decorated 3 different ways by a little cake decorator. For a friend who doesn't yet know it is coming!

Super cute booty

I've been having a ton of fun recently working on various crafts, so I thought I'd show off a few of my favorites...who knows, maybe I'm making one for you!!!

I love these little Robeez/Bobux style shoes- made from this free pattern. Really cute booties! Great for a baby shower coming up. Definitely more on the way...I have a few other patterns I'd love to try out.


I saw this crayon apron at a friend's house and thought it would be perfect for a little boy who has a birthday coming up...
...and don't worry, more felt food is in the making:)

Hovick Week

As promised, here are some photos from the "Hovick week" in CO...

Mom, Beedoh and I went wedding dress shopping-it was so much fun! She found a beautiful dress at the same place where we purchased my dress and by the same designer. The designer will be in town next weekend and Beedoh gets to meet her and have her take measurements! How fun!

The infamous cranberry sauce in the shape of a can

Kate and Alex on Christmas morning waiting for everyone else to wake up!

I love this picture of my Dad- you can just tell he is about to say something goofy...

did I mention I cut Kate's bangs?? You can see them in the 16 mo photo in the last post. Loren was mad!!

Happy Anniversary!

It has been a year (give or take a few days) since I started this blog! I hope everyone has been enjoying the updates and photos! Here are a few photos from our trip to Longmont for Christmas...more to followKent was brave enough to let me try my hand at the bobcat! The new house is really coming along...

16 months and 2 new teeth! 2 more on their way!

Kate loves to help Mommy clean the house

This tree is SO tall!

I'm going to be better at the computer than my mom and dad one day soon