Cayla's Making Muffins!

One of Cayla's teachers in a baking class at co-op encouraged the students to go home and make their own muffins.  Cayla took the challenge seriously and this afternoon she whipped up a batch of chocolate chip muffins.  They were delicious.  And they were easy.  Did I mention they were chocolate chip?  They were amazing!  This was her first official solo baking episode.  I did give her a couple of tips like, "No, 1 tsp. of salt is NOT the same as 1/4 teaspoon - you must find the 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon."  But she did all the work herself.

Ta da!  Finished product.  They were so light and fluffy and they tasted great.   Now this is the kind of homework a kid AND a mom both LOVE :)


If you want your kiddos to make you some great muffins too, follow the recipe below and prepare to be WOWED!!!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

• 2 Cups AP flour
• 1/3 Cup sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 Cup milk
• 1/4 Cup oil
• 1 1/4 Cup chocolate chips

****

Start by mixing the dry ingredients together in a large bowl

In a separate bowl, combine egg, milk and oil

Pour into the middle of the dry ingredients and stir gently, Do Not Overstir

Add in chocolate chips, nuts, or blueberries

Spoon into muffin cups and bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes - Makes 12

Easter 2012!

We had such a blessed Easter.  It started with my mom coming for a visit, followed by egg hunts, family dinners and celebrating Jesus, risen from the dead.

"He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where the Lord lay."  Matthew 28:6

Lisa and Mom

Lisa, Mom and Me

Cayla, Autumn, Mark and Luke post egg-hunting

Chuck, hanging out with the kids while they open their eggs and count their findings.  He was hoping for a stray jelly bean or a loose swedish fish.  He's not picky!

Kelly, Katy and LisaDawn - Yes, they dyed eggs too!

Egg dyeing stations

Lisa, with her selection of colorful eggs.  Do you like the candy corn apron?  We're into mixing holidays around here!

Luke and Cayla took their egg dyeing seriously!

Just a few of the nearly 10 dozen eggs we dyed!

Quick pic of the girls' Easter baskets.  Angry birds and the risen Savior....yeah, there's no connection.

Family photo featuring the four of us in our Easter finery :)

Easter egg hunt at Grammy Barb's with Cayla, Caitlin, Autumn and Ben

Mermaid Autumn showing off the tissue paper from her Easter gift

Cayla, me and Great-Grandma

Men's Dress Shirt Re-purpose!

About 6 months ago my sister was getting rid of this really cute dress shirt and I didn't miss the opportunity to snap it up. I knew what I wanted to do with it the minute I got it from her, but it's taken me until now to actually DO it!

Starting underneath the arm, I cut from one seam  to the other to make the skirt.

OK, so my pictures are really out of order.....this is the bow I attached to the neckline of the tee shirt.  It's made from one of the shirt sleeves.

I cut off the sleeve cuffs and attached them to the sleeves of Autumn's tee shirt, to make the outfit look like it was made as a set.  Not gonna lie - these were a beast to sew on.  Initially I pinned the cuffs on and attempted to use my machine, but that failed, so ultimately I did a quick basting stitch by hand to secure the sleeve, then I ran it through my machine.  Much more effective!

Naturally, I retained the buttons from the original shirt.  But Autumn was funny, she was paranoid that a button would come off and her skirt would fall open - so I stitched it closed from top to bottom.  Problem solved!

Here's the final outcome.  An elastic waist skirt, and an embellished tee, all from a dress shirt!  Tomorrow I'm heading to Hobby Lobby to find some alligator clips.  My plan is to make a bow from the other sleeve and have her wear it in her hair!  I love it when a plan comes together :)

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