Touchless Finger Painting Fall Leaves

We did some "mess-free" finger painting this morning. I used Fall paint colors and squirted it onto wax paper then covered it with another piece of wax paper.

Then I let Avery bang, smush and smash as much as she wanted. I also helped her to get good coverage.

After we had enough, I pulled the paper apart to let dry.

When they were completely dry I cut Fall leaf shapes out of the wax paper and hung them on the window to enjoy. 

They look especially nice when the sun hits them. :)

Yours Truely

Pumpkin Carving 2011

 Yay! Daddy came home early from work so we could carve our pumpkin! AK watched her daddy carve out the top and empty the pumpkin guts. She had played with the pulp and seeds. She even tasted the pulp and did not like it so she decided she had enough of that.

Mommy and Daddy each drew a jack o' lantern face and we held them both up for AK to decide which one we would carve.

She picked mommy's!!!

Daddy carved out the face and AK and mommy watched.

We had so much fun!!!

 Look how great our jack o' lantern looks!!!

See ya later! 

Yours Truly

Try-it Tuesday...Dijon Chicken Yum

So after searching the pantry to find something to season chicken breasts with I came up with this little experiment  And to my surprise it turned out yummy (not all my experiments turn out so well). 

I will call it....

Dijon Chicken Yum

Chicken Breast

Poultry Seasoning

Cream of Celery 

Dijon Mustard

Milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Clean and season chicken with poultry seasoning and place in a Pam coated pan. Whisk together one can cream of celery, half the can of milk and 1/4cup Dijon mustard. Pour  over chicken and bake for 1hour and 20min. Serve over rice.

Yours Truly

Apple Picking...in the Living Room

Something I have always wanted to do in the Fall is go apple picking. I decided to bring that joy to our living room today! While AK napped I stuck apple shaped post-its around the living room. When she woke up I grabbed my camera and set her down in the middle of the living room. Here is what happened...

First she started handing me the apples but then I showed her how to put them in a bucket. She loved this activity. I plan on doing it again soon!

Yours Truly

Sensory Play: Cooked Pasta

We got a little bored on this rainy Monday and decided to do some sensory play. This time we used cooked fettuccine. 

Avery played for about 10minutes before she started throwing the pasta on the floor. I loved seeing the little gears turning as she played. So worth it!

Yours Truely

Pumpkins for my pumpkin

Avery, daddy and I took our first trip to the pumpkin patch on a beautiful Fall Friday! I say "first" because we already have plans to go back! The photo ops were endless and the smiles just kept coming!

 Our friends and neighbors Emmy (pictured) and Sara came along too!

 There was a bunny petting zoo!

 AK and daddy

What a fun Fall field trip... we can't wait to go back!!!

Yours Truly

Fall Leaves Stamping

Avery and I did a Fall Leaves Stamping painting this afternoon. Turns out I did most of the work and she watched. First I cut out the shape of a tree from brown card stock and glued it to white paper. Then, to make the stamps, I cut small triangular slivers out  of  three wine corks. 

We used red, yellow and orange paint to stamp fall leaves on the tree and on the ground.

My little girl liked playing in the paint more than the actual stamping. She kept trying to eat the stamp with paint on it. :)

Fall is my favorite time of year so I can't  wait to do more fun activities with AK!

Yours Truly

Try-it Tuesday...Scooter's Spaghetti

I know it has been a while but I am back. I am super excited about this weeks Try-it Tuesday recipe. Scooter's Spaghetti....it is like baked spaghetti but with cream cheese! 

I found this recipe on pinterest.com but it originates from salad-in-a-jar blog. Here is the link.

Scooter's Spaghetti

I thought this was delicious!!! And fairly easy.
I did have to use a lot of pots and dishes but
"hey, that's what dishwashers are for!" 

Yours Truly

What we have been up to...

Our computer crashed and we had to send it back to the manufacture to be fixed. So here is what we have been up to the past few weeks.

Avery played dress up...

And tried raspberries for the first time...

I dabbled in some extreme couponing and got all this for $11.83. A total savings of $20.80.

Avery had a playdate with her first cousin, Ellie, who is only two days older than her.

I painted an old mirror that I inherited from my grandmother. I have big plans for this mirror. I hope to turn it in to a dress-up mirror for the play room.

Avery saw a catapillar for the first time.

I made a sensory box for AK. I filled it with items from the dollar store that had different textures (i.e. soft, squishy, rough, bumpy). I spent less than $8 on it. As she gets older I will fill the box with other sensory items for her to investigate.

We have had playdates and met new friends. So much fun! I am glad to be back blogging. Talk to you soon.

Yours Truely

Try-it Tuesday: Black and Blue Quesadillas

In lieu of my husband absence, due to a engineering convention in Orlando, we will be trying this recipe on Thursday. To keep with tradition I will post the recipe today.

Black and Blue Quesadilla 

2 (15oz. cans) black beans drained and rinsed

1tsp. Tabasco sauce

2tsp. cumin

Shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Blue cheese or Gorgonzola  cheese crumbles

8 wheat tortillas

1 red pepper diced

In a bowl mix beans, Tabasco, and cumin. Spray skillet with cooking spray and turn stove on medium low heat. Add a layer of both cheeses, a layer of bean mixture, diced red pepper, and another layer of cheeses. Cover with tortilla and cook for 1-2min. Then flip and cook for another 2min. 

Sounds yummy! I will let you know how it turns out next week.

Yours Truely

Try-it Tuesday: Cottage Cheese

I recently read an article that said starting traditions can make stronger connections with in your marriage and family life. Therefor, I have decided to start a weekly tradition...

Every Tuesday our family will try a new food or recipe.

Today AK tried cottage cheese for the first time. It seems that she loves it! She even signs "more" as I am feeding her...take a look!

What will we try next week??? 

Yours Truely

Beachside Blogging

On this rainy Friday morning, we wait for the sun to shine on our last day at the beach. We have spent most of our time on the beach. AK loved the sand and sun! We built sand castles, body surfed, caught sand fiddlers, collected seashells, and made a sand cast of AK's footprints.

Right before AK put a fistful of sand in her mouth. 

Daddy daughter time!

Turtle sculpture...

Drip castle

Sand cast of AK footprint made with plaster of paris. 

Well as the clouds pass and the rain dies down we will see what adventures our last day here has in store for us...

See you later!

Yours Truely

The first post....

I am a former Pre-K teacher turned stay-at-home-mom. I never pictured myself being a very content SAHM but that was before Avery Kate. Now I can't picture my life any differently. 


Here are a few more things I am....
A Virgo
An ECU Pirate
North Carolinian at heart
OCD about recycling
A lover of the color purple
A Braves fan
A night owl
Happiest in the Fall
A wanna-be extreme couponer
A big sister
A Christian
Now a blogger


The best day of my life...



The most magical day of my life...

Avery Kate
October 29, 2010


Thanks for taking the time to get to know me. Till next time!
Yours Truely