WFMW: Mix Once, Bake Twice

My daughter started Kindergarten yesterday! Although both her and her brother have been to preschool, it felt like yesterday was the first day of real school. We had to shop for uniforms, supplies, learn all about the carpool lane and dismissal procedures. Almost as important was deciding what treat would be included in the lunch box. After much deliberation my daughter finally decided she wanted chocolate chip cookies. Remember these, the best chocolate chip cookies ever? Yep, that's what she picked.

I waited to bake the cookies until after putting the kids to bed. I do some of my best thinking while baking, and I had a lot to think about that night. As I pulled out each ingredient from the pantry I contemplated how our lives would be changing as our oldest child entered elementary school. It's at that point that I decided it might be best to mix two batches of cookies and freeze one for later. That way I'd just have to pull out the cookie dough out next week and bake. Fresh homemade cookies in less than 15 minutes? Sounds good to me. So in the same time that it takes to make one batch of cookies I made two and I rolled up half of it in wax paper, twisting the ends like candy. I then popped those tubes in a freezer storage back and threw them in the freezer.

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I still have a lot to learn about being a mom to an elementary school kid. The early mornings might kill me, but at least she'll have homemade cookies in her lunchbox (along with a note reminding her how much I love her!)

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Mailbox Moments Mondays - Week #3

I'm participating in a link party hosted by Mailbox Moments. Every Monday for four weeks they will provide a prompt to inspire bloggers to share how they keep in touch with others. Today's prompt was: Send someone a handmade item. The challenge here is you can't spend any money on the item. You must make something with things that you already have at home. The only cost should be to mail the item. Express appreciation to the person and maybe include a little note of love. Take pictures of the item and share the post on your blog on 8/22/11.

I decided to make some of these strawberry hats for two babies born into our circle of friends recently. Coincidentally I met these two moms when I was pregnant with my first child, the same one that started Kindergarten today. We joined the same pregnancy online club and have remained friends to this day. Both of these moms had baby girls while I was in Spain this summer so I decided to send them a little something that their precious baby girls can wear when it gets chilly in a couple of months. I'll include a note to each of them thanking them for being such wonderful friends and wishing them the best of luck with their new bundle of joy.

Mailbox Moments Mondays - Week #2

I'm participating in a link party hosted by Mailbox Moments. Every Monday for four weeks they will provide a prompt to inspire bloggers to share how they keep in touch with others. The prompt for this week was: Write someone a back-to-school letter wishing them good luck. Give them some advice and well wishes.

I decided to write a letter to my daughter who is starting Kindergarten next week. This morning as we entered her new new school for some testing I got very emotional thinking that in a short week she will be a student there. I don't even need to close my eyes to imagine her as a tiny newborn swaddled in her cradle next to my bed, and now she's starting Kindergarten. *sniff*

I wrote her a letter telling her how I feel about this moment, and also letting her know how proud I am of the little girl she is today. Amongst many things I told her that I hope she will always continue to love learning and that I hope she never stops asking questions about the world around her. I put the letter inside her new "School Years" scrapbook that appropriately arrived today. Thanks for reading, I'm off to grab another tissue.

Captain America T-Shirt

My 3 year old son is OBSESSED with superheros. I did a lot better when my daughter was into princesses, I know NOTHING about superheros. I feel lost most of the time and find myself researching their different powers when the little guy is sleeping. I'll admit to wanting to win the "cool parent" award :)

After a struggle finding appropriate PJs one night (apparently he is too cool for Thomas & Mickey) I decided to try my hand at making him some. I always have a stash of t-shirts bought on clearance, so I grabbed one of those and some felt and got to work. Captain America seemed to be the easiest to tackle and this $1 t-shirt was the perfect blue. I cut some circles out of felt using different plates and cups found around the house and then carefully created an applique. He LOVED it and wore it for 48 straight hours- I finally got him to let me wash it. Next up: Superhero cape. Let's see who the cool parent is now :)

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