Jun
Alphabet Fun
I recently started making a new alphabet book for Hailey. This is a really simple way to practice letters. Just squirt some finger paint onto a plate. Enjoy playing with the finger paint- write words, letters, numbers. Draw pictures or just play with it. Then when your child is done playing with the paint you can write the letter you want to be on the plate when it dries. Once the plates are dry you can put them together to make a book. Hailey loves her book!
Tags: alphabet book, finger painting, fun with the alphabet, Toddler and Preschool Activities
Jun
Open Ended Painting
For toddlers painting (or any “art” activity) is all about the process. Toddlers don’t care much about what they are making, so long as they are having fun making it.
Finger painting is a great activity to do with toddlers. Most of them love getting messy (although some do not like it and that is perfectly normal too). And they are curious about how it feels. It’s great for talking about colors and for mixing primary colors together to see what happens.
This activity for finger painting is perfect for toddlers- or anyone really.
What you’ll need:
Finger paint
Table/highchair
Paper
Put some finger paint on the highchair or table and let your toddler paint the table.
Hailey loved painting her tray.
When she was done I took a piece of paper and and pressed it onto her painting- a way to save the painting she had done.
The finished pictures, hanging to dry.
Jun
Spicy Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups water
2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
2 small carrots, grated
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
2-1/2 cups milk, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8 ounces process American cheese, cubed
1/4 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in beef and 2 cups of milk; heat through. Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted. Add cayenne if desired. Top with bacon just before serving. Yield: 6-8 servings (about 2 quarts).
In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients 
Stir in beef and 2 cups of milk; heat through. Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted.
The finished product- a yummy cup of Spicy Cheeseburger Soup.
Tags: Spicy Cheeseburger Soup
Jun
Father's Day Picture Frame
Now I know that Father’s Day is over, but I couldn’t post this before Father’s Day or Rich would have seen what Hailey made for him. (She also made this for her grandfathers and has not given it to them yet, but I don’t think either of them read this blog.)
Anyhoo, this is a cute picture frame that can be used for Father’s Day. Or, it can be used for a cute gift for anything.
What you’ll need:
Craft Sticks
Paint
Hot Glue Gun
Regular Glue
Puzzle Pieces
“I love you to pieces” on construction paper
Adorable picture of your child
Hailey works on painting her craft sticks.
I used a hot glue gun to glue the pieces to create a frame.
Hailey glued puzzle pieces onto three sides of the frame.
The frame with “I love you to pieces!” glued onto the fourth side.
(get it? I love you to ‘pieces’- for puzzle ‘pieces’)
Add an adorable picture of your child.
Depending on how you want the recipient to be able to display the picture- you can add a piece of cardboard to the back of the picture so that it will stand up. Or, add a magnet to the back so that it can be put on the refrigerator.
Tags: Father's Day picture frame, gift from toddler, Toddler and Preschool Activities
