"Can I Play One of Your Games?"

Jacob just loves playing our games, his way of course. Ticket to Ride is a favourite and also Zooloretto. So when Daniel was sleeping I thought I'd let him try Settlers. He loved it.

A Warning

So remember that big baking soda and vinegar "volcano" we made recently? Well, the boys wanted to do it again. Of course they did, it was awesome, it was fun, it took up a lot of time and all I have to do is a load of dishes and a load of laundry afterwards. I was feeling brilliant and creative so I thought they could each have their own volcano... One yellow and one blue and then when the bubbles came together it would be green. Good plan. I also thought "hey, I have half a box of baking soda in the fridge that should be replaced so why don't I just use that up, instead of the brand new box I bought at the store last week?" Sure, I know baking soda is in the fridge to absorb weird smells, but the baking soda doesn't stink... Right? WRONG! Mix that old fridge baking soda with vinegar and now all of a sudden your kitchen is filled with all the aromas you didn't want in your fridge. Seriously gross. But, the boys didn't care, they had a total blast, spilled stinky vinegar-baking soda-food colouring-water all over the place, and used up most of a cold boring morning. Now I am wondering... Should I sanitize my kitchen from that stinky mess, or is it okay because it is vinegar?

The Elephant in the Room

I have been waiting to try this recipe, so today I told the boys I would be making Elephant Bread during their "quiet time" for our afternoon snack. Jacob was so excited. He remembered when I made Monkey Bread and looked forward to this new treat all day. The boys asked why it was called Elephant Bread... I said it was because the pieces look like elephant ears. This is a sticky, gooey, caramelly, pull-apart bread. Enjoy.

"Elephant Bread"

Put this stuff in your mixer bowl:

2 cup all purpose flour
3 tbsp honey
2 1/4 tsp active dry year
1/2 tsp salt

Set aside.

In small saucepan melt:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup milk

Remove from heat.
Add 1/4 cup water and 1 tsp vanilla.
Let cool briefly. Add to flour mixture.

Start mixer. Add 2 beaten eggs and 3/4 cup flour

Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Roll dough out nice and flat (like a pizza)
Brush 1/4 melted butter mixed with 1 tsp vanilla on top.
In small bowl mix 1 cup white sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle the majority over the buttered dough. Completely cover dough with topping.

Using pizza cutter slice into approximately 2" squares.
Stack these squares unevenly into 3 piles.
Carefully place in buttered loaf pan.
Sprinkle any remaining sugar/cinnamon on top.
Cover and let rise 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Bake 35-40 minutes until top is golden.

Try not to eat the whole thing.
Jacob, Daniel, and I ate half of it. It was delicious.

Frederick

Hurray! Another storybook craft! These are my favourite. I just love reading a book and then creating the character in the book with the boys. Jacob and I read the book "Frederick" by Leo Lioni together and then he asked to make Frederick. And I think they turned out so cute. In the story four mice are storing up food for the winter, but the fifth mouse, Frederick, isn't helping. Instead he gathers sunlight and colour and words. The other mice don't understand him but when the winter runs long and the food runs out, Frederick warms them with memories of their beautiful meadow, and ends the book with a poem. Daniel wanted his Frederick to one carrying corn (there is a picture of the mice storing up corn in the book) and Jacob wanted his Fredrick to be eating a chocolate chip cookie (this comes from a picture where Frederick is eating a nut with black spots).