Chalking Good Time

            I know Kinley is still in the "I want to put EVERYTHING in my mouth" stage, but thought I would give sidewalk chalk a try.  Well, I guess this is yet another activity that will have to wait till she is a little older, since some of it did make it to her mouth.  Let's just say I only took a few pictures before I gave her something else to play with that could go in her mouth.  Liam on the other hand like coloring with it, but decided his Transformers we a lot more fun.

Love this picture, she is so cute looking up at me!

There it goes...in the mouth.

Like her green shade of chalk lipstick?

Liam has been all about Transformers Prime Beast Hunters the past few days...

It's nice to get a break from the Angry Birds.

Let's Make Music

          The other day the kiddos and I went outside and channeled our inner rocker!  We played the piano, maracas, jingle bells, tambourine, kazoo, slide whistle, harmonica, horns, and the drum, which seemed to be the favorite by both kids.  We had a lot of fun letting our creative music flow.

Kinley on the drum

She couldn't decide which instrument to play with...

Liam picking out an instrument

Liam, the one man band!

After some music, it was a tickle fest!

After awhile, Liam gave up the music for Transformers.

Preschool Graduation

     This past Tuesday, my little man officially graduated Preschool.  We are so proud of him!

Here are the kiddos waiting for the ceremony to start.

All the kiddos put on a performance of all the songs they have learned over the school year.  

Liam actually stood up there by himself and sang this time.  

He wasn't much for the hand gestures, but he sang!

"Walking" across the stage

He didn't want to get his graduation certificate by himself, so daddy helped out.

Little Miss enjoyed herself too, she liked all the singing and kept clapping for big brother.

Our Graduate

Class of 2013

Us and the kiddos

It was great evening.  Pretty soon we will have a kindergartener! 

Greek Blueberry Yogurt Dots

     Recently, my daughter has been loving her Gerber Yogurt Melts, they are great source of calcium plus they are perfect for her to practice picking up food and chewing, since they dissolve very easily.  Since, purchasing them, my son also loves them and wants to eat them all.  I had to explain that they are made for babies not big boys like him.  So, I made some of his very own just for him using some of his favorite yogurt.  They were extremely easy to make and so delish!

  Here's what you need:

 Large pan

Wax paper

Favorite yogurt

Squeeze bottle, ziploc bag, or piping bag

How to make them:

Line your pan with wax paper.

Pour the yogurt into the squeeze bottle, Ziploc bag, or piping bag.

(If using a Ziploc bag, cut a hole in one tip to make the dots)

Squeeze yogurt out into little dots on the prepared pan.

Once all piped out, put in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

When they are completely frozen, take out of the freezer.

You can store them in an air tight bag in the freezer.

That's it! 

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Change is Good

     Hi everyone, as you have noticed, I have changed a few things....I thought it was about time to start making this blog of mine something I really love.  I recently recruited one of my good friends Tori from  Lil' Mrs. Tori to help me with the background, layout, and templates.   So as you can see right now it is rather plain, however, I have changed the title yet again, this time to Measurements of Merriment, I think this suits me a lot more.  I wanted to express my love of cooking/baking and the joy it brings me and my family.  I have also updated my blog address, it's now MeasurementsofLOVE@blogspot.com, so I hope you all will be able to find me again.


I look forward to revealing my new blog soon.....

May Crafternoon

     For this month's Crafternoon we headed over to Jennie's house to make some beaded serving ware.  We had a lot of yummies, this time I brought Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Bars.  They were a BIG hit!

CRAFT TIME

What you need: 

Silverware or serving ware

Silver wire

Beads

Bottle nose pliers

Regular pliers

Wire cutters

Instructions:

Just cut a piece of wire long enough, then leaving about an inch at the top, 

start wrapping the wire around the silverware.  

Then string a bead on the wire and continue to wrap.  

Keep doing this till you have covered the handle of the silverware.  

Then using the bottle nose pliers and regular pliers, 

curl each end of the wire to make a curly-que.  

Jennie getting her craft on!

Elizabeth was pro at the little curly ques!

Marissa creating her masterpieces.

These are the ones I did!

Here's ALL of them!  

They turned out so pretty, each one different and unique.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins

     I don't know about you, but I love fresh cherries! Since cherry season is upon us, I recently bought a big bag of yummy red cherries and have been eating them almost every day.  This morning I found a recipe for some Dark Chocolate Cherry Muffins from this blog The Bakerita, so I thought I would give them a try.  I wanted to make something different other then blueberry, banana nut, or apple cinnamon that I usually make.  Liam is my little muffin monster, so if he approves, then the recipe it s keeper!

Here's what you need:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 TBsp and 1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, room temp.
1 tsp almond extract (I used vanilla instead)
2/3 cup milk
2 cup fresh cherries, pitted & quartered
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

How to make them:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Grease muffin pan or line with cupcake liners.
Whisk or sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder.
Pour vegetable oil into a 2 cup liquid measuring cup; add the eggs, almond extract, and enough milk to reach 2 cups.
Gently whisk together the ingredients in the cup with a fork or small whisk.
Stir into flour mixture.
Fold in the cherries and chocolate.
Fill muffin cups almost to the top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in oven or until toothpick comes out cleanly.

** After they cooled I drizzled some melted chocolate over the tops **

Outside Again

  Recently, Liam and I went through all his toys and came across his old Toy Story stuffed animals and soft Rock 'N Roll blocks.  Since he doesn't play with them anymore he decided to give them to Kinley to play with.  He is such a great big brother, I am so proud of him for thinking of his little sister and sharing his toys.  With it being such a nice day out we went outside to play.  Liam would stack up the blocks for Kinley to knock down.  It's so fun to watch them play together.  Liam even let me take a picture of him this time....he has become a little camera shy, or rather just doesn't want to take pictures.  Kinley on the other hand, LOVES the camera and is usually always ready with a big grin.