Easter Fun!

Okay, I have a confession...I've been really bad about doing craft and fun projects with the kids lately.  It seems like I've had so many things to do to prepare for Baby #4 that I've slacked off and just let the kiddos play most days.  I figured it was time to do something fun with them to celebrate Easter, so today we did a few crafts and over the weekend my mom was kind enough to make some cookie dough for the kiddos to cut out some cookies to decorate.  Mom-guilt washed away!

Today we made stained glass Easter eggs to put in our front door windows and a bunny ear headband.  Not too many supplies needed:  contact paper, construction paper, tissue paper, card stock, and a stapler.  For the eggs, I cut out the shape of an egg from construction paper and stuck it on the contact paper.  We already had some tissue paper cut up, so they stuck it on.  You can also have your kids rip it.  To make the bunny ear headbands, I used pink card stock and large white construction paper to make the headband.  My daughter is almost four, so she cut out her ears (and did pretty well!).  For the little guy, I did it all.  Once we were finished, they practiced their hopping and finding some eggs.  

Little Easter Bunnies

Stained glass Easter Eggs

If you're looking for some other activities, one of my favorites is to make glossy Easter eggs.  Cut out an egg on some card stock or poster board.  Add some corn syrup to regular washable paint and it will dry very shiny.  It's so pretty and on my list of things to do later this week.  You can also take some plastic eggs, separate them, and let the kids paint with eggs by stamping.  I also plan on making a bunny puppet with a brown lunch sack.

The kids had a great time yesterday finding eggs that I had hidden around the house.  We like to practice!  After awhile, I had the kids hide them for each other.  Oh the giggles!  You can turn this into a math game by giving them a specific number of eggs to find.  You can also take a Sharpie and put dots on one half of the egg and a corresponding number on the other (use different colors, it is more challenging) and have the kids match them up.

As I mentioned earlier, we made cut-out cookies and decorated them with frosting over the weekend.  The kids got to paint the frosting on and had a blast.  I'll include the recipe that I use to paint the cookies.

Cookie Glaze Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

2 t. milk

2 t. light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Food coloring of decorating gel

In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth.  Beat in corn syrup and vanilla until icing is smooth and glossy.  If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup (this is always the case for me.  You could add a bit more milk and then corn syrup until it is thin enough to spread).  Separate into bowls and add coloring gel or dye.  Paint them with a brush.

Cutting them out

Painting away!

A finished product!

Counting Down the Days...2 Weeks (or less!)

My little energy bursts last week seem to have subsided.  I'm pretty sure I could go to bed right now and it's not even dinnertime!  My kids have been sleeping better (and later), but unfortunately it's a little late for that because I'm up all of the time at night.  Seems to be how things always go when we have another baby.  If they could keep it up after he or she arrives, though, that would be great!

There have been a lot of "last-minute" ideas I've had that I'm trying to get crossed off of my list.  Over the weekend my husband and I went out for a date night (gasp!).  It was much-needed and we thoroughly enjoyed a quiet dinner and were able to have a conversation without being interrupted a million times.  It's something we definitely don't do enough, but I know we appreciate it on the rare occasions that it happens.  Fortunately, we are both fairly realistic about our expectations for a social life at this point and time in our lives:  it is pretty non-existent.  Even though we have family nearby, it is difficult for them to watch and put to bed our three kids and it won't get any easier adding another.  We've tried to get creative and do a "date night" at home on some Saturday evenings, but that will probably be put on the back burner for awhile, too.  I think it can be frustrating for us at times, but it's just where we are in life.  

I finally got a baby book yesterday (so excited!), so I plan to work on filling that in this week.  I enjoy marking the milestones for all of our kids and have stuck with the baby books (and then journals) for all of the kiddos so far.  I am a super sentimental freak, so this is very important to me!  I still need to finish uploading pictures to my photo cart online, but I hope to get that done this week, too.  I like to do photo albums, but have had a hard time keeping up the past few years!  At least I will have all of the pictures printed off.  They may sit in a box for awhile, but it's something!

All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with what has been accomplished in the past month as we await Baby #4's arrival.  My kids are excited and ask each night if it will be the day.  My husband and I are anxious and waiting for true labor to kick in.  Most importantly, though, we're enjoying our last few days or weeks as a family of five.  We had planned many special activities and have enjoyed them a lot.  I am always nervous about how our family dynamics will change once another little one arrives, but I think our kiddos will shower this one with love (maybe too much!) and before we know it we'll feel like it's always been the six of us! 

Nesting, Nesting! Might as Well Bake!

This week has been a long one!  I'm trying to be patient awaiting Baby #4's arrival, but two days of constant contractions has made me a little impatient.  My body always does this, though, and I know it could go on for a few more weeks, but at least it kicked me into high gear!  My house is cleaned, the nursery is coming along, and I finally packed my hospital bag.  Now we just wait and what better way to pass the time than to...bake!

Today I decided to try out a blueberry muffin recipe I had come across awhile ago.  It's been on my list of things to freeze for "after baby," so I tackled them today.  We have done a little taste-testing this morning.  My husband and I like them a lot, the kids are a little uncertain.  They are certainly not as sweet as a box mix, but they are much healthier and very moist!  I thought I'd share the recipe in case you'd like to try them out!

Blueberry Muffins
Source:  Joy of Baking (adapted a bit)

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup yogurt (calls for plain, but I used vanilla)
1/3 c. canola oil
1 t. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
6 oz. fresh blueberries

In a small bowl, mix together egg, yogurt, oil, and vanilla.  In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients to dry, folding in using a spatula, blending well.  Better will be thick.  Fold in blueberries.  Scoop into lined muffin pans using an ice cream scoop.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Recipe says it makes 12, but I got 24 out of it because I don't make giant muffins!

Monday Craving: Cherry Bars!

I only have a few more weeks to enjoy indulging in the pregnancy cravings, so I better take advantage of it, right?  Over the weekend I made our green Jello cake and have had my fair share of it (I'm saving one more piece for tonight!).  It is spring break for my kindergartener this week and I'm on my own with the three kiddos until Friday, so I think I deserve a treat!  

I was flipping through my recipe book the other day and came across a recipe for Cherry Bars.  I love them, my husband does not, so we'll see where the kids stand.  He doesn't like the texture of cherries, so it's no surprise these don't top his list!  I think I'll be making a quick trip to the store tomorrow to pick up a few things to make these.

Cherry Bars

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
dash of salt

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Beat well.  Add vanilla, flour, and salt.  Mix well.  Spread in a greased jelly roll pan.  Spoon one can cherry pie filling on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar or vanilla glaze.

Note:  I spread thin layer on bottom of pan.  Then pie filling and then drop remainder of dough in small portions on top and spread with knife as best I can.  Yum!!!

St. Patrick's Day Fun

You would think Christmas is coming!  My kids are so excited about St. Patrick's Day and I'm not really sure why, as we don't make a big deal out of it.  Our oldest son has been playing "leprechaun" which entails dumping all of the toys all over the floor and turning all of the chairs upside down.  Needless to say, after one round of the game, he was forced to clean it all up himself and we ended that little bit.  Since then, they have been devising ways to set traps for the leprechauns by baiting them with Lucky Charms and they can't wait to see what mischief they will cause.  I guess we better plan something!

I haven't been feeling super crafty lately, but did provide them with three green cut-out hearts and had them piece them together into shamrocks.  We've also printed off a few coloring pages to make our house a little more festive.  They really are all into this holiday!

Our little craft project

For a little fun, I thought I'd share a recipe that you could make for a St. Patrick's Day dessert.  When I was young, I would beg my mom to make this cake.  I've made this for my kids before and they aren't huge fans, but I might make it this year anyway (I know I will eat it up!).  You can substitute any Jello flavor to go with any holiday or occasion.

Jello Cake

Yellow cake mix
1 small package Jello (green for this one!)
1 c. boiling water, add Jello and stir for two minutes
1/2 c. cold water, add to Jello

Cake extender:
1 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 t. baking powder
1/2 c. oil
2/3 c. water

Mix cake mix per box instructions.  Add extender.  Pour into a 9X13 cake pan and bake according to package instructions, but add 10-15 minutes to cake time (due to adding the cake extender).  Let cool.  Using a wooden spoon handle, poke holes on top of the cake.  Pour in the Jello.  Chill 3-4 hours.  Top with Cool Whip-go ahead, dye it green (and fruit if desired).  *Sometimes I have made a package of vanilla pudding and mixed that in with the Cool Whip to spread on the top.  Enjoy!

Broccoli Rice Casserole (Without Processed Cheese!)

It's been a busy day filled with more baby prep and party prep for our daughter's birthday party.  It's the little things in life, like My Little Pony napkins and party plates, that really bring a smile to a kid's face.  The countdown is on for her celebration.  She has given me very specific instructions about her cake as only an almost-four-year-old can and I just need to finalize a menu.  We are celebrating with family a few weekends before her birthday hopefully before the baby arrives!

I know I share many main dish recipes with you, but I wanted to pass along this awesome cheesy rice and broccoli side dish that I made for Christmas.  It was so delicious and did not contain any processed cheese (which is a bonus!).

No Cheese-Whiz Broccoli Rice Casserole
Source:  www.food.com

2 10 oz. boxes frozen broccoli, thawed (I used fresh; I guessed how much and steamed it first)
2 cups cooked rice
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 small onion, chopped (I omitted)
2 T. butter

If using, cook onion in butter in large skillet on stove until soft.  Add remaining ingredients and cook just until cheese is melted.  Put in 2-quart casserole dish (I used a 9X13 Pyrex pan).  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Feeling a Little Nostalgic

Tonight we are taking a tour of the hospital that we will deliver at this time around.  It's making me feel a bit sad and nostalgic.  By nature I'm not a huge fan of change.  I like things to be predictable and I like familiarity.  This time around, our birth experience will not be either of those things, not that I'd ever call childbirth predictable per se, but at least knowing what to expect with my doctors and hospital was.

Before we moved, we went to a practice of four doctors.  Somehow it worked out that the same doctor was on-call for all of our children's births.  None of mine were scheduled and he said it was the first time it had ever happened to him.  We really liked our doctor and I have missed him terribly throughout this pregnancy!  I was also used to the hospital procedures and felt kind of at home there after having three babies.  

This time around I am also at a practice, but am seeing midwives.  While the practice is nice, I don't feel any real connection to any of the midwives and quite honestly can't even remember who is who half of the time.  It's been a little difficult for me.  I miss the familiarity of my doctor and being able to bring my concerns and questions to someone who knows my history.  I know it will all work out just fine in the end, but I just find myself getting a bit nervous about the situation.

We're down to our last month (4 weeks until my due date!) and I'm feeling a bit sad about the very real possibility of this being the last little bundle we have.  While this pregnancy has been by far the most difficult, I will still miss the amazing feeling of those first little patters, kicks, and squirms.  I still find it hard to believe that it was already six years ago that we had just done this for the first time and here we are with our fourth!  I still can't believe how quickly the kiddos have grown.  I may shed a few more tears this time around, especially after all of the firsts we'll encounter!  

I think it's safe to say that my husband and I are both excited and a little bit nervous about adding another baby to the brood.  We don't get much sleep around here the way it is, so what's another one, right?  I plan to soak up as many newborn snuggles as I can while still making sure to spend some time with all of the others, too, of course.  If this is indeed the last go-around, I'm going to try to live in the moment and enjoy it all, the good and the bad, as much as I can.  

Here's to an exciting last few weeks of wondering, "Is this the day?"  The kids are counting down the days as well.  I think they are intrigued and excited, too.  I guess I should get busy decorating the nursery and getting a few more things washed up.  Our little surprise will be here soon (we may want to solidify some name choices, too!).