Fine Motor Skills

Mackenzie loves to pour water back and forth from cup to cup.  If she wakes up early in the morning while I'm still drying my hair I'll bring her in the bathroom with me and she'll stand on a stool and just poor water back and forth between 2 cups.  Water is a bit messy so I decided to get some pom poms out for her to pour back and forth.  I got out  my little Tupperware play set and some plastic spoons and her and Tanner had a great time playing with them.  She already knows how to use a spoon but it's still great practice and it keeps her entertained for awhile.  It's also easy to clean up!

JJ & Year Pictures

Jayden James will be 7 in 2 days and since I had the back drop and lights set up for Devon I went ahead and did his 7 year pictures...

Devon

My Nephew is going a 2 year mission for our church to Finland, so exciting!!!  Polly wanted a few pictures before he left and these were my favorite...

 I wish I would have put the gray backdrop up for some of the pictures, since he has a white shirt on... oh well, live and learn.

 It had just started to snow outside, but you can hardly see it in the picture...

Zucchini Chips

I tried making some Zucchini chips, I followed this recipe from Table for Two.

They bake at 225 for over 2 hours!

I have another recipe pinned where they don't bake for so long, I want to try that recipe next.  

I actually thought these were good and gobbled them up pretty quick!!!!

Baby Girl Shoes - Black and Pink

A friend of mine will be having a baby girl any day so I made a pair of shoes for her.  And I also made her a matching flower clip for her hair, but I didn't take a picture of the 2 together.

And I also made my niece, Cozette a pair for her 1st birthday.

The top pair are size 3 months with matching fabric on the bottom and the bottom pair are 12  month with grippy stuff on the bottom.

You can download the free pattern from Tao of Craft click here to go to their link.

I didn't use their strap piece.  I just used the piece that was left over from cutting out the shoe for the strap.  And I don't like velcro, it comes apart too easily.  I like to put an elastic loop in the end and then put that over a button.  It's harder to come off and it gives it a little stretch.  Really you don't have to un-do it to get the shoe on and off the baby's foot either.  You can check out my tutorial here from the pleated Mary Janes on how I do my strap.

I had original bought this fabric to make Mackenzie a dress and matching shoes, but then my mom had her stroke and I never got it done.  So I decided to use it for a friend and my niece.  Maybe I'll make a skirt or dress from it for Mackenzie someday.

Almond Butter

I made some yummy Almond Butter!  This was my second batch.  It's so easy to do!!!!

All you do is just get some natural almonds and put them in a food processor for about 20-30 minutes.  That's it!  I do NOT add anything else, it's just the almonds.

My little food processor can only handle about 4 cups or 1 pound of almonds at a time.  During the process you will need to stop and scrap down the edges.  And it will get hot.  Let it go till it's about as smooth as you'd like it.  I store mine in the fridge.  I'm not sure if you have to, but I do it just to be safe.  And I love eating it with celery!  Yum!

I do not roast mine.  I actually did try some almond butter that was made with roasted almonds and I don't really care for it.  I like the natural almonds.  And it's so much healthier for you then peanut butter!

 And of course Mackenzie had to help me.  She loves being in the kitchen with me and doing what I'm doing!  She saw me scrap the bowl, so she had to do it too.  She's a cute little copy cat!