Panda Headphones

Elli has a cute set of panda headphones that she uses with the iPad.

Watching a show or playing preschool games and flashcards on the iPad with headphones is great for times like at a doctor's office when Elli needs to be quiet and occupied.  I don't think anyone minded when she sang the ABC song along with Dora the Explorer...

 Elli in the eye doctor's exam room.

Putting on the cool disposable shades for going outside since our eyes had been dilated.  Elli got a pair too!  The doctor said we would want to check Elli's eyes when she was school age or if we noticed a problem.

"I see everything with my beautiful eyes!" - Elli (2/18/13)

Recipe - Tastes Like Lasagna Soup

Jeff didn't want me to have to cook on Valentine's Day, but he had to work a little late, and I had a new soup recipe that I was anxious to try.  Doesn't a hot bowl of homemade lasagna soup and warm breadsticks at home on a cold winter's night sound pretty romantic anyway?

Tastes Like Lasagna Soup
(I slightly adapted the recipe from www.thedeenbros.com)

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage (I used Johnsonville mild)
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 (32-ounce) container (or 2 cans) chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt, optional
4 ounces broken lasagna noodles (about 4 noodles) or gluten-free penne pasta
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves

shredded mozzarella cheese
grated parmesan cheese
crushed red pepper

Serve with breadsticks.

Instructions:

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick sauce pan. Add the sausage, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is crumbled and browned, 8 – 10 minutes. Drain.

Add the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add the noodles; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens slightly and the noodles are tender, 10 – 12 minutes. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle individual bowls of soup with mozzarella cheese, grated parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper (if desired). Serve with breadsticks.

Making Window Cling Hearts!

Elli and I made window cling hearts on Valentine's Day!

(funfamilycrafts.com)
Mix 1/3 cup Mod Podge with about 1 teaspoon craft paint.  You can add glitter too.

Use a brush to apply the mixture to freezer or wax paper.  Paint into a heart shape.

Allow the hearts to dry (which took about two days!), then carefully peel them off the paper.  They will cling to any glass surface.

More hearts...Kaitlyn giving Elli a homemade Valentine.

Elli putting up the heart window clings we made.

How do they look?

Our Little Fairy Sprinkling Smiles

Later at Sunday School....

Story and craft about the angel Gabriel who announced the birth of Jesus.

Angel craft made with a sucker, two coffee filters, ribbon, silver chenille stick, glue, and glitter.

Later making a skillet chocolate chip cookie...

 Adding some salt...or pixie dust?

We love your smiles, sweet little fairy!

Lavender Roses

Jeff usually brings me a dozen roses on Valentine's Day.  My traditional guy usually picks out beautiful red roses which symbolize romantic love.  This Valentine's Day morning, he brought me a dozen lavender roses.  The shade is very beautiful.  

I was curious of the meaning and symbolism of lavender roses.  I found out that lavender roses are one of the rarest and most visually stunning rose colors and are a sign of enchantment and falling in love at first sight "just like Cinderella's Prince Charming".  Aww...

Play-Doh ~ Ice Cream Shoppe!

Elli likes playing with her new Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe that she got for her birthday!  Kaitlyn likes playing with it too.  :)

 Kaitlyn's cool creations!

Chinese New Year ~ 2013

Today is Chinese New Year!  Elli has been excited making crafts this past week and celebrating!  

2013 is the Year of the Snake.

Chinese paper lantern.

Chinese drum.

Kaitlyn drew the Chinese characters for blessing/good luck and prosperity.

Decorating with Chinese characters.

Clementine oil candle.  Oranges represent wealth and are a Chinese New Year tradition.  Mandarin oranges are the most popular and abundant fruit during Chinese New Year.

To make the candle, keep the long stem intact for the wick and fill with canola oil.

The top half can be put on, but it can burn.  Make sure the top hole is big enough and keep an eye on it.  We placed the orange candle on a stone plate.  We finally blew the candle out after 1 1/2 hours!

Chinese paper dragon puppet.

The red Chinese lantern we brought home from China.  Red is a lucky color in China and is prominent in Chinese New Year symbols and decorations.

Chinese take-out.  Fried pork dumplings, Sweet and sour chicken, General Tso's chicken, white rice, noodles, and fortune cookies.

Noodles are always served on Chinese New Year.  Noodles represent longevity and should not be cut when cooking.  Cutting the long noodles means to "cut" your life or to shorten your lifespan.

We gave the kids the traditional red envelope with a monetary gift inside.  Elli got a little game for her new Leapster learning game system too.

Happy Chinese New Year!!