Toddler day 7 healthy cookies

Another beautiful day in Texas, only 82 F. at noon!  Great Grand is feeling active today too.  We started the morning with baking some toddler approved healthier cookies.  I adapted a cowboy cookie recipe to sneak in some additional nutrients (dried fruit and grated carrots).  The 2 year old dumped the ingredients in the bowl and stirred as best he could.  He sampled the dried fruits and peanut butter bits nodding enthusiatically that they were "DELICIOUS".  The carrots...not so much.

Toddler day 4 paint birdhouse

7/10 A favorite color.  Apple green and all shades of pink.

A reprieve in the hot weather allowed us longer outdoor time today.  We gratefully dodged a few sprinkles and showers and managed to play with bubbles and paint bird houses.  We found small wooden birdhouses at Micheal's craft stores for a $1 each and used craft paints I already had on hand to splash on a lot of bright colors.  I've been saving some garden rake handles and pieces of lumber to lift them up in the garden.  They add a bit of fun and whimsy to the garden that a toddler really appreciates. : )  He and I especially love the bright apple green color.

We set up a paint station in the sand pit area and removed shirt & shorts to avoid stains...but had to keep the spider man boots on!  Craft paint, paint brush and bird house in hand, let the crafting begin!

Planted them in a planter needing some color.  A few more - and who needs blooms in this spot!

By the way, I made sausage balls today.  Great Grand LOVES them.  Here is the recipe I used:

Sausage Balls

1/2 pound mild ground breakfast sausage

1 jar Kraft Old English sharp pasteurized process cheese spread (5 oz)

1 1/2 cups flour

Knead it all together using your hands.  Form little 1-2" balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 350 F for 15-20 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen balls that can be stored in an airtight container for a week or frozen for a month.  Add a dot of jelly to the top when you serve them. 

Here is a recipe I found via Google for a pint of fresh berries.  It makes just a small amount, which is perfect for a pint of fruit from the produce section.

1/2 Pint Jam

 Rinse & dump a pint of berries into a measuring cup and smash them.

Add half as much sugar (If you have 2/3 cup of mashed berries add 1/3 cup sugar).

Stir to combine.

Move mixture to a small saucepan and cook until it thickens. (5 min)

Makes about half a pint of jam, perfect for a little mason jar!  Store in the fridge.

                                     

Toddler Play Day #1 water painting

First day keeping up with great grand was BUSY!  I was so excited I met him outside when his Gran Sissy dropped him off.  While it was still cool, we walked the 6 blocks to a school playground only to be turned away.  They are having summer school and the playground is closed to the public.  Bummer.  That's a bit hard to explain to a 2 yr old.  A slow walk back home and a hat full of nature finds, we hopped into the car and drove to a city park where he had a great time with 4 other little kids enjoying the cool morning.  Snack time was picnic time under the trees.  

7/1 photo a day July...Busy
http://fatmumslim.com.au/photo-a-day-july-see-the-list-join-the-challenge/

Back at home, lunch and a nap out of the way, some more outdoor playtime in the sprinklers (it's only 90 degrees today-wha hoo).  Who doesn't enjoy playing in the sprinklers on a hot day?  While the water is on for the alloted 30 minutes, chalk and paint brush in hand an artist emerged.  Whether it was  drawing a truck or painting rain puddles for the truck to splash in and sometimes Gr Grandad's legs...it was fun.

Celery stick fishing pole with peanut butter bait catches goldfish crackers.