Nothing Like a Little Plant to Brighten Up the Day

I picked up this little $5 shamrock plant at the grocery store...I'm just craving spring, so this might help tide me over!  Plus, how cool  to have some shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day?  I knew the kids would love it too.  It's funny, the little things they get so excited about!

My Sweet Hannah Girl

Crazytown Puppet

My brother (who is 27, ha ha) loves weird puppets so I decided to try and make one for him this past Christmas.  I got the idea for this one from this book, but in the book it wasn't designed as a puppet.  It's a soft doll named "Patricia" (hilarious).  It took me days to just mentally figure out how to convert it into a puppet, and every drop of brain power while I was sewing it all together.  Really, I had to close my eyes sometimes and think HARD!  But it worked.  Good thing you can't see the details in the stitching because they are pretty bad in spots.  But hey, it was so much fun to watch my brother open it on Christmas...he just laughed and laughed.

Happy Girls

These little girls are cousins.  I made the one with the blue kerchief for my one year old niece, and the other one for my Nina.  They are far from perfect, and obviously armless and legless, but they were fun to stitch up for gifts this past Christmas.  They each have matching tiny quilts with the girls' names embroidered on the back.  

Ai-yah!

The proud owner of a new orange belt.

Kung Fu Family Night

We thought it would be fun to take the kids out to Pei Wei for dinner, followed by "Kung Fu Panda" at home.  So that's what we did tonight.  Pulling into the parking lot, Clayton said, "Who's ready for Pee Wee?  Pee Wee's big adventure?"  The kids don't even know what that means, but they laughed anyway, especially when I asked Olivia, "Are you ready for Pee Wee, you little Pee Wee?"  Hannah, of course, had second helpings at dinner, Nina ate a couple noodles (with very awkward chopsticks), and Ben ate about 35 fortune cookies.  He also took home an empty Chinese take out box because those things are AWES!  I'm sure it will be full of treasures within the next few days.  Kung Fu Panda was cute, by the way.  I loved the animation.

My fortune:  "You love playing to a crowd."  What kind of stupid fortune is that?  Plus it's a lie.

Hannah's fortune:  "You are often entertaining and delightful."  True, so true.

Ben's fortune, (or one of the 35):  "Wise men learn from fools, and foolish men never learn from the wise."  ("HUH?  What does that mean, Mom?")

Nina's fortune:  "Your principles will lead you on your road to success."  Really? 

Clayton's fortune:  "New financial opportunities and success are in your path."  Sweet!  He always gets one like that. 

Clayton said, "What if you really believed in this stuff?"  Seriously.

Swedish Pancakes

Just wanted to share this little gem.  

I like mine best just sprinkled with a little sugar and rolled up, or with strawberry freezer jam. The traditional way of serving them with sour cream and lingonberry preserves is pretty good too, but I'm the only one in this house that will even try that.  My husband likes them best with maple syrup.  And of course, the kids like them best with sugar, jam, AND maple syrup. 

4 eggs

4 cups milk

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

Beat the eggs lightly in a large bowl, and add the milk, flour, sugar and salt while gently stirring until blended.  Stir in the melted butter.  Cover the batter and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Heat a skillet and lightly coat it with oil.  Pour in a small amount of batter, then swirl the pan to create a very thin pancake.  Cook for about 20-30 seconds per side.

Serve immediately.