Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know it is sad to say, but really, these cookies practically count as vegetable at our house!  I know it is pathetic, but I admit it, my kids are picky, especially my son.  I'll take my vegetables where I can get them!  I know everyone has heard of this easier than easy recipe, but sometimes I forget about it.  I didn't make these cookies forever and then I remembered them and lately we have been making them regularly because my kids seriously shovel them in.  I know, all you perfectly healthy folks who don't do sugar or chocolate will disagree, but in my book, these are as healthy a treat as you can get.   All it takes to make them is 2 boxes of spice cake mix, one of the big cans of pumpkin, and some chocolate chips.  A friend gave me the tip to use the mini-chocolate chips because you can get away with using less.  I dump the cake mixes and pumpkin in a big bowl and use a spatula to mix it all.  It takes a bit of serious mixing, but once it is all incorporated, add your chocolate chips.  Use your cookie size ice cream scoop and drop the dough onto your cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.  You end up with about 60 cookies and happy kids! 

Free Phonics Lessons

http://www.starfall.com/    is one of my favorite kids websites.  Some friends who have done some homeschool pre-school and kindergarten directed me to this website and it is fantastic!  It starts with the very beginning phonics lessons and goes step by step to reading all with fun games and music.  The very best part is that it is free!  Phonics instruction is one of those things that is a basic necessity for reading, but is next to impossible to teach without a laid out program.  It needs to work step by step which is difficult for parents to do at home on their own.  I love the way this website allows you to come back to whatever stuff your child needs help with.  My current favorite thing to do is to assign my 7 year old to spend time going through parts of the website with his 3 year old sister.  He likes the time on the computer and it gives her some added exposure to the alphabet and frankly, any kind of phonics review is always good for my 7 year old.  I feel like it really cements his understanding when he is trying to explain things to his sister, although I had to laugh when I overheard him trying to explain sound "chunks" to his 3 year old sister today.  The best part is that she pretends to understand completely!  Anyway, when you have a minute, sit down and go through some of the starfall activities.  Although the graphics are not super exciting and the newest and greatest, the content is some of the best I have seen!

Knitting

I am so excited!  I have been trying and trying to learn to knit and up until this point have never been able to get any farther than a scarf and usually a pretty pathetic one at that.  We had a Relief Society night the other night where they were teaching people to knit.  One of the projects was baby hats.  I finally was able to get it.  I guess knitting is one of those things that it just takes quite a few times of being shown, before you really start to get it.  I finished a very basic hat for my baby that turned out okay, but I didn't love it.  This was my second attempt at a hat.  A friend who works at the local knitting store gave me a few pointers and helped me find some patterns on ravelry.com  and I did it!  There are a couple little mistakes with the decreasing at the very top where I had to switch to double pointed kneedles, my counting got a little messed up, but overall there are no blaring mistakes.  Of course, Paige is asleep, so I can't try it on her, hopefully it fits right.  Thanks to all the people who have been helping me, now and in years past!  My inspiration has been my mom.  She used to knit the most amazing mittens.  She made a pair for each of us girls and a couple for the oldest grandkids because they were the only ones around at that point, but then she started having too much trouble with carpletunnel and it hurt her wrists too much to do.  I want to make those mittens!  Now I am one step closer.  I can knit a rib stitch!

Book for your Pirate Lovers

Okay, so if you have a pirate loving little boy, which honestly, is there a little boy who doesn't love pirates, then Pirates Don't Change Diapers, by Melinda Long is the book for you.  Long's first pirate book, How I Became a Pirate is great, but  Pirates Don't Change Diapers is over the top funny!  The great thing with Long's books is that they are funny enough that my princess loving daughter loves to read it.   If you haven't met Jeremy Jacob and his little sister Bonney Anne, you need too!   They have some hilarious adventures with a band of pirates and their treasure.

Olivia the Pig by Ian Falconer

I've said this before, but one of Paige's favorite books is Olivia, by Ian Falconer.  Today she was begging for a project "like when we made the mitten", so I did a search for 'Olivia the pig activities' and immediately came across this link.  The link is to a pdf of Olivia paper dolls.  We read the book and then went to work cutting.  I cut out the paper doll and clothes and Paige had a great time using kiddie scissors to cut out the miniature Olivia book covers.   Have you ever watched a child trying to learn to use scissors?  It is amazing to see all the ways they attempt to use them.  Paige is only 3, so of course I made sure to supervise, but I let her do it completely by herself, which she loves.  She shredded the paper into little bits and then we spent some time trying all the outfits on Olivia. 

McDuff Saves the Day, by Rosemary Wells

If you are familiar with children's literature, you know you'll never go wrong with Rosemary Wells.  Even Nickelodeon has figured that out with it's popular Max and Ruby series.  Our family feels the same way.  One of our family favorites is the McDuff series by Rosemary Wells.  I was reminded just how wonderful the series is today, as I put my 3 year old down for her nap.  The story she chose to have me read was McDuff Saves the Day.  If you have a dog around you are sure to recognize your furry friend in the antics of McDuff.  Well's storylines feature McDuff's personality and quirks and will grab the heart of any dog-lover!   These books are a must have for your personal library!

P.S.  I am still looking for any great book suggestions for my Valentine's! 

Looking for Good Books

We started a new Valentine's day tradition last year.  One of the things I really love is books, so I told my kids that each year they could pick a book for Valentines day.  Last year Valentine's was a Saturday and it happened to be the day my husband was moving his office so he had to work.  I took the kids and let them pick their book at Barnes and Noble and then we bought ice cream cones at Ben and Jerry's.  Since Valentine's Day is on a Sunday this year, I decided that I need to get some really cool books for them.  I am looking for any great suggestions you may have.  I have a 7 year old boy who loves football, Harry Potter, and The Boxcar Children books.  I also have two daughters, a 3 year old and a 7 month old.  Share any and all favorites!  By the way, don't you love this darling vintage Valentine?  It's a public domain image from this site.