Cat in the Hat Cake

For Nate's birthday I made The Cat in the Hat's hat cake.



It was my first attempt at working with fondant. I had trouble when I folded it, like I would a pie crust to move it on to the cake, because it stuck together--permanently. I pulled it off by putting several small pieces together. It isn't the prettiest cake I've ever made, but I didn't have the time to rework it, so it is what it is.


I think he likes it.


I think he really likes it.

That's Just Rotten

I have been waiting over a decade to do this project. Literally.

When I was in college, one of my courses sent us to a teacher training being held in the town I grew up in. When I was there, I took a workshop on incorporating science in the elementary school classroom. Most of the science I taught was cooking based, so I never had a chance to teach this lesson. I wish I could remember who taught the session, but I don't remember at all, nor do I know where my handouts are, so I suppose it's not much more than the broad idea that I used.

So here it is--it is all about rotting stuff. You take your left over jack-o-lantern from Halloween and bury it, along with other items that no one needs again. We got a large pot and potting soil from a garden center, since we are living in a rental house and didn't want to dig up the yard, plus it will make easier to find what is left of our items later.

In preparation for our lesson we read From Seed to Pumpkin by Pfeffer and The Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad by Cole. We also completed "It's Like Magic" (about composting) in Read and Understand Science Grades 1-2 by Evan-Moor Publishing.

These are the things we buried with our pumpkin:

a paperclip, a note from Halloween/Trick or Treating, an orange spider ring, and a scrap piece of ribbon from Kate's costume.

Kate made guesses as to what would happen to our items.

She decided the pumpkin would become dirt. I thought she'd really grasped it, but then she decided each of the other items would be there in their present state in the spring, but that they would have each been turned black by the dirt.

On a side note, our pumpkins were already starting to decompose sitting out back waiting for us to get over the stomach flu. Kate was out back playing when she saw that the lids had fallen in. Her explanation was priceless, "My pumpkin got too big for it's lid!" Very linear, but very false. Maybe next year we'll measure our pumpkins to see that they don't grow once they are off the vine.


Here is our nearly buried pumpkin.

We'll dig it up in the spring and see what's left! Then she can fill out the rest of our worksheet. We'll talk about the value of recycling then too, as some of our things will not have broken down in that time.

Happy decomposing!

One Whole Year

Somehow a whole year has passed.


The little fellow who couldn't even wait for the admissions questions to be answered before making his grand entrance has spent the first year of his life running full speed ahead. He rolled early, stood early, walked early, and has a vocabulary that has suddenly boomed. He is my little man.


He likes to climb.


He likes his sisters.


He likes hanging out with Daddy, especially if it involves watching explosions on You-Tube,


And he loves his Mama.

He doesn't like sitting in the high chair (it is much more fun to try to climb out than it is to eat). He doesn't like to wait for anything. He is not a fan of diaper changes either.

He spent his first birthday celebrating with his sisters, Aunt Holly, and my parents, with two busted lips. He fell head long into the kitchen chair this morning, poor little fellow. I made a Cat in the Hat hat for his birthday cake. He got some new pajamas, a book, and several fun new trucks to zoom around the house.

Is it just me, or did that baseball glove shrink this year?



He's still a peanut, around 19 lbs, but we'll get his official stats at the doctor's office this week. He can't hold up his 12 month pants yet and 9 month shirts still fit, but are a little short in the arms.

We love you Little One. May God richly bless your future, and help me keep up!

You Create: Gabby Makes a Bear

This year the girls each had a little birthday money to spend. I was thrilled that they both picked craft kits.


Gabby chose a set of two bears, similar to the Build-A-Bears, but a take home version of course. The bears have great princess-y dress-up clothes too: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Tinker Bell.


She was a little hesitant of the filling at first,


but then she decided the fluffy stuff was fun.

I helped fill in the arms and legs for her.

The only down side is that in making it a no sew project, the back is secured by hook and loop, so it can be opened and the filling removed--over and over. But we wouldn't know anything about that here. I haven't even considered pulling out my needle and thread. Ahem.


She loves her white bear and decided that Kate can use he brown one, a very sweet thing.

Christmas Cards from Shutterfly

I try not to get in to the Christmas thing until after Thanksgiving, but as we moved this year we will be trying to send out our Christmas cards just as soon as Advent begins, so I've started thinking about those already. For the past few years, I've been making my own photo cards using pictures I've taken and PowerPoint. They have turned out pretty well, but the font isn't always as clean as I would like.

I've been using Shutterfly for photos for several years. My mom started with a site that was bought out by Shutterfly, so we have just always uploaded there. She does most of the ordering, but I do from time to time as well--I really need to update my photo albums at some point!

Last year I purchased some personalized stationary for our grandmother's there as well. This year they are having a special promotion for bloggers to get a free sample of their cards for Christmas. I've been paging through the many choices. I like this, this, this, and this one. I have requested permission to post pictures from the site, but I haven't heard back yet. If I get that permission, I'll post the pics so you don't have to click to see each picture.

I really like that they are offering cards on card stock and even in folding styles. The price on those is over my budget, but a really nice option for those who can afford it.

And if you are interested in linking up to get free cards, here is where to link up.

I have not received my cards yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to tell you how they turned out!

A Morning with Nate and Daddy

I am just enjoying Nate so much these days. He's at a wonderful age. He's starting to talk a lot, which is always fun.

This morning when Justin got Nate from his crib he tried to put his bear in Justin's mouth, and he said, "Et [sic] it." He followed Justin around with a book as he was gathering his things to leave. Then, as Justin was leaving, he waved and said 'bye, and he followed him to the door, both hands going, saying 'bye, and reaching for a hug. So sweet. Once the door was closed he stooped down low to look through the sidelight where there are a couple of missing slats. He stayed by the door babbling for a few more minutes.

Nate's been a Mama's boy, so it's nice to see him enjoy his Daddy now too.

Happy



Birthday



Mama!