Liam's Grover Birthday Party

You know how hard it is to get a good picture of a 2 yr. old at his birthday party?  I had a few family members over in our house - all crammed into the living room.  My husband was catching up with his step brother in the kitchen, while I was trying to get pics & help him unwrap.  He unwraps one gifts & just wants to play with it, instead of move on to the next present.   He absolutely loves Grover, so I ordered the hat you see him wearing off of etsy & I got him the Sesame Street play house w/ a Grover & Oscar in addition to Elmo & Big Bird that came with it. He got Elmo books (including a potty book), a Chuck the Talking Truck, a Colts outfit, a tractor w/ cute little animals & a farmer, and money.  He had a blast & would not be still for a single picture.   I made this cake to look like Grover.  He loved it & it was cheaper than buying one from the bakery. 

Gingerbread Houses

We made gingerbread houses w/ marshmallow trees, marshmallow snowmen, candies, graham crackers, & icing.  Scott's & Laurana's held up better than mine & Liam's.  They had more icing & the roof had a long overhang.  Liam was delighted when I told him he could knock it down & eat some of it!

My First Muffin Tin Meal

This is my first muffin tin meal that I blogged about.  Took me out of hiatus!

Muffin Tin Monday - on Wednesday for us!

Stop by this blog to see more Muffin Tin Monday ideas!

The theme this week was Christmas, so I had to do The Night Before Christmas.  My kids really like doing this,

so we will have to continue this!  They squeal w/ delight when I tell them we are doing a muffin tin meal.

Today's meal had the following.
Cottage cheese to resemble the snow
a stocking (piece of buttered bread that I cut into shape sans a cookie cutter)
a reindeer made of a pear half, raisins for eyes, pretzels for antlers, and a dried cranberry for the nose
cherries for Santa's nose & cheeks
marshmallows for Santa's white beard
carrots for the reindeer to eat
rolled up chicken lunch meat for logs in the fireplace
Not pictured is jello for Santa's belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

I read the book while I prepared it.  They didn't want to wait on the jello to set up to start eating.

Both kids ate on the meat first!  I figured they'd go straight for the marshmallows!

I am going to do another muffin tin meal this weekend to talk about Jesus.  I thought that would be harder to come up with food ideas, based on what I had in my kitchen.

Merry Christmas!  Jesus is the reason for this season!!

Menu Plan Monday

Week starting 10/19:
I am now on a diet, so my menus listed will be for the family.  I will cook up extra chicken for myself to eat, since I can only eat beef twice per week.  I have lost about 10 lbs. in a week (at time I prepared this post in advance).   My husband is off work 3 days per week, so I include lunch & dinner for those days.  The other day's lunches are usually leftovers or PB sandwiches for kids and a salad w/ chicken for me.

Mon.-  Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken

Tues. -  Turkey Meatloaf

Wed. - Lamb
Thurs. - pizza

Fri. -  Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: meatballs

Sat. -  Lunch:  Family Gathering - taking something I can have and probably a cake or something (have a cake mix  DH doesn't like, so I need to get rid of it).
Dinner: Might go to a fall party, so not sure

Sunday- Lunch: CP BBQ chicken sandwiches, mashed potatoes, broccoli
Dinner: grilled cheese sandwiches

Sour Cream Containers

I made these sour cream containers for party favors for my friend's daughter's baby shower.  I love this display stand.  I seemed a little small for a standard small cake, but I think it is meant to use for a cake. 
These favors are super easy to make.  I used scraps for the stamped "thank you" and the scalloped circles and I only needed two pieces of patterned paper for 18 favors.

Look at that face!  He is so adorable and loving his hat I bought for only $1.

The kids are sharing a little rocking chair and watching a cartoon together.  I love this pic!  Taken about a month ago.

Homeschool Ideas

I found some cute homeschool ideas.  I need to get busy with my daugther, since she will be in kindergarten in under a year.  I do hope to homeschool and don't really know how to do it all.  I'm glad that I have found some blogs with ideas that I can at least use now.  I think I will start a little preschool session for her (and maybe my son will learn a little bit, too).  Check out Homeschool Creations and  Confessions of a Homeschooler.  They both have wonderful ideas.  I poked around on a few more that I found from these two.  I love the alphabet crafts - like turning a felt or construction paper "D" into a dinosaur.  Very cute!