Pretend Cooking with Real Ingredients

Call it a funk, winter blues, post-vacation, depression, anything. I've been down in the dumps lately. I briefly mentioned it in my last post, but at the time I thought I was coming out of it. Not so much. I tried some meds, but they made me sick, so at the moment I'm trying to do it on my own. So I thought to myself, what makes me happy? Emma, of course. And doing things with her is the best! Then I realized, we hadn't done any of our projects in a LONG time. So my current plan is to get active with Em again, and see if that helps! Also, now that I'm back in the blogging mode, I'll try to get a update up from the last THREE weeks! :/

I found this idea on Pinterest and thought Em would love it, so we tried it out! (By the way, this blog, Play Create Explore, has a lot of cute ideas!)

Best part of this project was that we had everything on hand! I cut open a trash bag to make a spill proof mat. Then Em and I went through the cabinets and fridge and picked out ingredients. A couple bowls, a pot, some spoons, and a whisk; and she was ready!

The set up

The ingredients

Cooking diva

The best part? Her running commentary. She may has spent many an hour with the Food Network on...

 The video is just a glimpse of it! She always tones it down with I start recording! Ugh!

The big finale!

And she was so sweet, helped me clean up with NO complaints!

We fed her "famous dish" to the birds! Poor things! Then, I made her some real food with real ingredients for lunch. I can't tell you the last time I COOKED lunch. (It's usually a sandwich or microwave mac n' cheese!)

All her favorites, and it only took like 10 minutes.

You can't tell by that expression, but she liked it! Said it was "a little bit yummy". Ha!

Pools, Movies, Bibles, & Elmer's Glue

I'm thinking of making this a weekly thing. Just a easy week wrap-up post of pictures. But knowing me like I do, I'll never keep it up. Well, here's to good intentions.

These are all phone pics, and I am awesome at taking blurring phone pics! You're welcome.

Clinton got Em's pool put up this week!

And we've been to 2 movies! I took her to see Madagascar 3 on Monday night, and we went back to the Summer movie club to watch Happy Feet 2 on Wednesday!

Em and Paytie insist on sitting by each other each time!

Someone needs to give me lessons on taking pictures in the movie theater!

What's that thing next to Em, you ask? My cheaper version of the kids meal! I was talking with my friend, Misty, about how much snacks cost us at the movies (she has 3 kids!) and she came up with this idea! Use a shower caddy, by one large popcorn and share. Sssh! We snuck in Em's drink and some cheap candy from Wal-Mart! (I mean COME ON! Box of candy is 98 cents at Wal-Mart and the same box at the theater is $4.00!!! Crazy!)

Some people may laugh at us... ahem, Tiffany, but it's worked out really well so far!

Speaking of Tiffany, she dragged me invited me to come to a Bible study at her church on Wednesday night! Just kidding about the dragged part! It's called Wisdom for Mothers, and let me tell you it's come none too soon! I am about at my breaking point with these power struggles over pottying and behaving. I'm hoping to find some answers in this study. Or some peace. Or some peaceful answers. Or anything really.

After the first night, a group of us went to Shoguns for an impromptu girls night! We had an unusually deep convo for girls night, but it was fun anyway. And Clinton was more than happy to babysit. Especially when he saw what my fortune was...

Ha! Dream on! Funny thing is, Tiff, got the same fortune!! And I do believe neither one came true!

This week hasn't been ALL fun and games! Em did do some work!

She is becoming a master at gluing! She loves it! Practically used every page in the book!

Ok, I'm done now! Check back later for Em's Father's Day crafting!

Rainy Day Crafting

It's pouring rain today, and since I didn't have to go anywhere today, I kept Em home from MDO. Mainly, because I didn't want to bother with getting out in the rain, and I wanted to sleep late! While perusing the internet this morning, I came across a template for a hand-print calendar on Share & Remember, a blog I follow.  The post was actually a template for NEXT year's calendar, but she linked up to a template for THIS year's calendar. I think it's super cute, AND I needed to keep Em occupied for a little while, so we got started!!

It's a little late in the year to be making this craft, but who cares!

Em's calendar!

The scantily clad artist showing her favorite page!

And this is Mommy's favorite!

It was a fun craft for Em and we didn't make *TOO* big of a mess, so it didn't stress me out too much! So we give it two thumbs up! It would make a really cute gift, but I'm keeping this one for myself! ;)

Buh, buh, bumblebee!

Em loves her some learning time!

A Pinteresting Learning Time

I call my little teaching sessions with Emma "learning time". Today, we used tools I found on Pinterest for our learning time.

Em loves to play these "games" from http://www.lawteedah.com/! It's such a great blog and she has so many fun, FREE printables for toddlers!

Repin it- Valentine's Day Printables PIN 
Or
Download the printables from the blog HERE

I printed them on card stock to make them more durable!

Working on patterns...

 Size sorting...

 Counting and matching numbers...

 This one?

 Perfect match!

We've, also, started using Lawteedah's Alphabet Tracing Pages to work on Em's letters.

Repin it- Alphabet Tracing Pages PIN
OR
Download the tracing pages from the blog HERE

*Note* my ink was low, so the alligator printed dull looking. The colors of the printables are much more vibrant!

AND there are number tracing pages, too! We will start on those later!

Em loves them! So proud of herself!