Music Time

Last night our Parents as Teachers Group held a music event for the family.  So our dear friends and us decided to picnic and play at the park for supper and then head over and attend the music event.

The music night started with creating streamers and then dancing around.  Let me just say there were some “great” moves being done by all:)

Then we headed upstairs and created and played a drum while listening to a jazz band.  Corbin did an excellent job of playing his drum to the beat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop, water painting to the sounds of strings playing classical music.  This was Corbin’s favorite station.  (I think it was everyone’s favorite.  It was quiet, relaxing, and calm:)  Corbin used watercolors to create his masterpiece.

Then we made cowboy hats to “hoe down” music.  The hat decorated by Corbin looked great, but the downfall was it was entirely too big for him to wear.  No worries, Daddy took over the modeling duties.

Finally, to end the evening, the kids experimented creating their own music with a variety of instruments.

This morning we’ve already danced with the streamers and played with the drum again for minutes upon minutes.  I would say last night was a hit.  We all had a great time!

Wordless Wednesday--Caption Style

“Are you looking at me?”

“Checkin’ out my new backpack?  Wait for it….”

“Bam!  There it is.  Elmo in all his glory riding on my back. “

“Yup, I’m pretty lucky to have such a rockin’ backpack.”

Salty Caramel Oatmeal Bars

This dessert will not disappoint.  It is delicious on so many levels.  I love oatmeal cookies and this dessert takes the wonderful oatmeal cookie and pumps it up by adding nuts, caramel, chocolate and salt, by form of pretzels.  Really, what’s not to like?  (Well, I will say we did omit the nuts in case of allergies for others.  So maybe the nuts aren’t so lovable to some.  But other than that what’s not to love;)

I found the recipe on Pinterest, originally at this site: http://cookiesandcups.com/salty-caramel-oat-bars/

Here are the directions:

makes approx 60 bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cups finely crushed pretzels
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk, minus 1/2 cup)
• 1 (11oz) bag of caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped cashews
• 1 tsp coarse sea salt

How to Make

1. Preheat the oven to 350°
2. Line a 15x10x1 inch pan with foil
3. With your electric mixer beat butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla until incorporated.
4. On low speed add in your pretzels and flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly mix in your oats.
5. Set aside 1 cup of your batter.
6. Press remaining batter into prepared pan.
7. In medium saucepan combine your caramels and sweetened condensed milk over medium heat until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.
8. Pour caramel on oat batter. Sprinkle the cashews, chocolate chips and remaining oat batter on top.
9. Sprinkle your coarse sea salt evenly over top.
10. Bake for 20-2 minutes until top starts to golden.
11. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
12. When cool lift bars from pan with foil and cut.

As cooler weather approaches, take a break, stay inside and bake these cookies.  Then curl up with a tall glass of milk and a couple of these delicious bars and a great book, movie, or football game!  (Trust me eating one isn’t an option, so you might as well start with two and safe yourself a trip to the kitchen.)

Enjoy!

“Oh Well”

I love the Jesus Calling daily devotional book.  It provides a quick read that can really pack a punch and gets your thinking started in the right direction for the day.

The September 20th passage was about perspective.  I’m sure no one else has a problem, but sometimes I have a problem with perspective.  Specifically, keeping everything in the right perspective.  I tend to blow things out of proportion…can anyone relate?

Today in Jesus Calling this was stated:

“When little things don't go as you had hoped, look to God lightheartedly and say “oh well”.  This simple discipline can protect you from being burdened with an accumulation of petty cares and frustrations.  If you practice this diligently, you will make a life-changing discovery:  You realize that most of the the things that worry you are not important.”

Wow, so simple, just say “oh well”.  But, what jumped out at me was that doing this is a DISCIPLINE and takes PRACTICE.  Yes, this sounds easy to do, but it’s not.  So like with many things it will take practice and discipline to become proficient at this skill.

I had already been working a little on doing this, but I’m now committed to putting in more practice and trying to be disciplined in all situations to put things into perspective.  Look at the world more from an eternal perspective and the goal is one day I too can be like the apostle Paul and see that all my troubles are light and momentary, compared with the eternal glory awaiting me.

So that’s my challenge to myself and you (if you too have perspective issues:) embrace the attitude of “oh well” and look toward God.  Let’s practice and be disciplined in this and see what happens.  I’m positive it will be a good thing!

Ten Little Fish

Corbin and I love to go to the library and search the shelves for books. He’s always captivated by new books.

The last time we were at the library we picked up Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood.  (She also wrote The Napping House which is a popular kid’s book.)

As we were reading Ten Little Fish I thought it would be a great book to let Corbin “act” out. 

So I found a fish outline, printed off ten of them, and let him color while I cut them out.

These pictures show the deep thought Corbin went into when picking a color for the fish.

“Hmmm, what color shall I choose?  So many choices!”

“Oh yeah, I’ve found the perfect shade of red.  This fish will look dashing.”

“Mom, put the camera down.  I’m an artist at work. I require deep concentration.”

Then as I was reading the book he moved the fish according to the text. 

The fish start in a line, but then they hide, jump, and swim, until only one little fish is left.  The ending is pretty cute so I won’t ruin that for you;)

 

If you’re looking for a fun activity pick up Ten Little Fish, print off some coloring sheets, and get busy!

“Chris”

To the world his name is Chris, to Corbin it’s…Chris.

So, Corbin has picked up that Daddy has a first name and now he likes to refer to Daddy as Chris.

I’m not sure how to handle the situation.  Honestly, it cracks me up and I think it’s a phase that will just pass. 

Sometimes I correct him, sometimes I ignore it, sometimes Chris just ignores him until he says “Daddy”. 

I’m just not sure how to handle this situation.  Any ideas?

For now I am just trying to cover my smile and ignore Corbin’s calls for “Chris”.  I think making less of this issue will be best in the long run, but I’m very open to hearing opinions and thoughts on the subject.

Addition

Corbin has added a new member to his bedtime crew.  A another stuffed dog has been added.  So now Corbin has Sleepy Bear, Puddles, Pickles (the new stuffed dog), and Blanket all in bed with him at night.

We aren’t sure how this new love of Pickles developed. Pickles has set neglected with so many of his other stuffed animals for weeks, Corbin decided one night that he needed this little dog. 

Apparently, Pickles made a big impact that first night because he’s been back ever night since.

Welcome to the nighttime family Pickles!

Transition

The time has come, I guess, although I don’t really know why, for Corbin to move into his toddler bed.

So many have said don’t do it until you have to.  Don’t let your child free from the crib!

Corbin has never tried to “escape” from his crib, so when was the “right” time to transition him? 

Chris declared Monday afternoon that this was “the day”.

Why was it the right day?  Did he hear some words from God? Could Chris now suddenly see the future?

Nope, it was the right time he declared because he had some spare time to install the crib conversion kit.  Oh well of course, then by that logic it is by all means the exact right time to make this transition;)

I was less then thrilled because again I have heard horror stories of how this transition can effect a parent’s sleep.  Please, not my sleep!

But, we did it.  Here’s the crib changed to toddler bed.

And here’s what this big boy thought about the whole process.

He’s in love!

He played on his bed for quite a while, enjoying the new freedom of getting in and out by himself.

Corbin lounged and relaxed.

Then night fell and it was time to get to the actual business of using the bed to sleep in and…

he woke up 100 times, got out of bed, disrupted my sleep and in general has made this whole transition miserable (see I told you Chris!).

Nope, that’s not true.  He did great:)  Chris declared, in all his wisdom and exhaustive study of the child’s mind, that the time was right and he was correct.  Corbin is now in his big toddler bed and loving it!

Here’s to more smooth transitions in the future.

Why is it?

I invite you to ponder the imponderables that have been plaguing my thoughts lately…

*Why is it that Corbin misses the bathroom door almost every time he needs to go to the restroom? He runs down the hall, runs into his room, and then in surprise runs back out of his room into the hallway and then in the bathroom.  Silly boy!

*Why is it that it’s always windy on good hair days?

*Why is it that Corbin always wants to play trucks?  I’m tired of trucks, can we find a new passion?

*Why is it that 15 minutes of “me” time goes by in a flash while 15 minutes of playing with trucks (for the 100th time that day:) drips by as slow as molasses?

*Why is it that the laundry basket never stays empty…not even for a minute?

And finally,

*Why is it that Corbin will eat all of the ingredients to a meal (bread, cheese, hamburger), but he refuses to eat the finished product (pizza)?

Labor Day Weekend Family Style

We had a great weekend hanging out with Chris’ side of the family. 

On Saturday we were with Grandma and Grandpa Williams.  We ate a ton of great food, played at the park, and splashed around in the pool.

Corbin and cousin Collin had a great time playing with each other all day long!

 

Then on Sunday it of was off to Papa Lee and Grandma’s house to celebrate Aunt Kati’s 20th birthday!

This girl is 20?!?!  Hard to believe, but it’s true.  My favorite thing about her birthday is the blueberry pie.  She has great taste in dessert:)

It was also the day Corbin found a great and deep and abiding love for his Aunt April.  He wanted to spend most of his time next to her.  (Sorry Aunt April, you certainly had a little shadow all afternoon:)

The boys also had great fun with G.G. and the dog, but really who doesn’t?:)

What a great weekend of time with family and celebrations!