Rainbow Popsicles!

Taylor and I share a love for freezer pops. The BEST part of freezer pops is the juice left over at the end! Instead of slurping up our juice at the end, Taylor and I decided to do something else with it...

Make rainbow popsicles!!

We just dumped our juice left over from our popsicles into one and over time, we had made our own rainbow freezer pop!

Oh, the simple things :-)

I'm participating in the Nester's 31 Day Challenge!

Ice Cream Baby

A while back, we were having problems with Taylor eating her lunch at daycare. For whatever reason, she just refused to eat. When we found out about this, we were shocked because at home, she ate everything!  We talked to her each day and asked what she ate. She always answered either, "nothing," or, "bread."  Our babysitter said that it had started to become somewhat of a game to Taylor. All of the other kids would ask her immediately when they sat down for lunch, "Are you going to eat today, Taylor?"  The babysitter said that it always seemed like Taylor wanted to eat, but she wouldn't.  I started to really get concerned.  We tried praising her when she did eat. We tried not making a big deal about it when she didn't eat. We tried having the babysitter tell the kids not to say anything about it.  Nothing worked.

One day, Taylor spotted a baby at Target that she really wanted!  This baby's tongue would come out and actually lick her ice cream cone!  Taylor thought it was the most awesome thing in the entire world and talked non-stop about it.  Now, I'm not above bribery when it gets positive results.  I had Jaden make a stair-step chart for Taylor.  Each day that she would eat at least three things at lunch, she would get to move up a step. If she didn't eat, she had to move down a step.  When she got to the top, she would get Ice Cream Baby!  Well, did it work?

Absolutely!  She loves the heck out of her baby and has eaten lunch ever since!

Now, if only we could make this magic happen for bedtime...

I'm participating in the Nester's 31 Day Challenge!

Taylor Max is FOUR!

 

Taylor Max,

 

Happy birthday, Stink! It's hard to believe that my BABY is already four years old.

Three was a tough year... We battled a lot, especially bedtime. It was hard for all of us.

In fact, as I write this, I'm sitting on your bedroom floor.

Someday we'll get past it and look back on it as another phase that we conqured!

 

 

One of the many things that I love about you is your imagination!

You and Maxine are inseperable. I joke that Maxine is my third child because we take her everywhere we go!

 

 

When you get in trouble, you blame it on Maxine.

When you see a semi-truck, you tell us Maxine's grandpa is driving.

When we pass the pink house on the way to Garrett, you tell us that is where Maxine's grandma lives.

 

 

 

Everyone that knows you, knows Maxine, too.

They also know that today, like everyday, is Maxine's birthday.

She's probably turning 100 again :-)

 

 

 

Taylor and Maxine.

Maxine and Taylor.

One is never without the other.

 

 

 

You've been taking after your big sis lately and have found a new love in drawing!

You are a creative girl and love to tape and glue.

You are always making pictures for Maxine's birthday party.

 

Never have I met someone your age that is so particular about shoes and socks!

Even when it is 100 degrees out, you insist on wearing socks and your "school shoes."

You've also worn the bottoms off of a very loved pair of baby wedges :-)

I can't wait until we are the same size... I'll have some pretty great new shoes!

 

 

Right now, your favorite foods are raspberries (especially the ones you pick from Grampa Max's garden!), strawberries, grapes, pepperoni dipped in pizza sauce, and Pop-Tarts... especially the sprinkle ones!

 

You love to play house and school. You are a funny little mama!

I suppose if I ever want to know what I look like as a mom, I just need to watch you play :-)

You also love to be outside and have even learned to pump your legs and swing all by yourself! We are so proud of you!

 

You have definitely lived up to your nickname, Stink!

You are about as stubborn as they come sometimes.

I know when you get that look in your eyes, you aren't backing down for anything!

Keep that as you grow up. Don't let people push you around. Always know what you want and work hard for it! Never give up!

 

You make me proud to me your mommy, Taylor. I feel like a kid again when I'm with you.

I know that by having you around, I'll never be short on entertainment.

You look just like your dad and have his sense of humor, as well.

 

I love you to pieces, Taylor Max!

You may be a stinker, but I wouldn't change you for the world!

 

Well... except maybe the whole bedtime thing ;-)  But we'll get there!

 

Love you, Goober Grape! Keep smiling :-)

 

Love,

Mommy

71 Projects: Fab Badges

Project 9: Fab Badges

Start Date: January 19, 2013

Finish Date: January 19, 2013

Total Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty Level: Super Easy

Retail Cost: $19.99

For Christmas, my BFF Jackie got the girls a super fun badge making kit!

We decided to give it a go one Saturday morning back in January (yeah, I'm a little behind on blogging)!

First, the girls took turns picking out their fabrics.

 

Next, they placed the fabric circles on the badge maker gizmo.

Then, they put the front piece on top of the fabric and pressed it into the badge maker.

 

Next, they put the back onto the badge to lock the fabric in place.

Finally, they got to decorate their fabric covered badges with the stickers that were included in the kit!

They turned out great!

This was a quick, fun craft for the girls and I to do together. It does take a little adult assistance, but for the most part, they were able to do it themselves!

Thanks so much, Jackie!

Keep track of all of my DIY projects by clicking on the DIY Directory tab at the top of my blog!