Chain Letters

It's amazing having a child who is obsessed with the ABCs. That kid will make the alphabet out of anything and everything if given a chance. One of Buddy's new favorite activities is stealing one of my necklaces and creating letters out of it.  I have to admit, it's so fun using a simple necklace and watching how the letters can morph into one another.

Today we had fun doing the entire alphabet together. D put together a montage of our efforts.

ChainLetters from A Happy Song on Vimeo.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Backyard Make-Over

I'll be honest, what I really want to be doing right now is re-watching one of my favorite Korean dramedies. Instead, I decided that I should bust out a quick post. I've been waiting to post these photos for a while.  We had the play chips blown-in yesterday, so now I think it's time to reveal our backyard make-over.

Before: 

After:

Another angle, plus my two views sitting on the patio: 

We took out the hot-tub and koi pond.  Some would say that it is a shame. We were a little saddened at removing the pond, but couldn't stand having it around with toddlers. Now we have a kid-friendly area and a lovely space for reading. Best part?  The low maintenance.
One final thing: I think it's important to note that I planted all of the plants you can see there with the exception of the trees.  That was 40+ plants. Whew. It makes me tired just looking at it.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Homemade Root Beer Float

Growing up, one of the highlights of summer was the homemade root beer that my father would brew, bottle and ferment in the garage.  It didn't appeal to everyone, in fact, it was an acquired taste. There was even that memorable event when one of my sister's friends took a sip and spit it across the kitchen. I'll tell you something though, nothing tastes better with a bacon and tomato (fresh from the garden) sandwich than that root beer.

This summer, I decided that it was time to revive the tradition of homemade root beer.  I didn't have my father's equipment or recipe. Plus, I wasn't sure I was up to making it in quite the quantity that he bottles it in. So, when I ran across this Mr. Root Beer home brewing kit, I thought it was worth a try.

When it arrived in the mail, it engulfed my kitchen in the wonderful smell of root beer extract.  The instructions were fairly simple and I was able to brew my first batch during nap time. After letting it ferment for the prescribed amount of time and then chilling it in the fridge, I ventured a first taste. I'll be honest, it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. I think I was craving something a bit "yeastier" and because this tasted more like root beer than yeast, it really wasn't what I was expecting. It's funny how a taste memory can be so strong.

Yet, the kids loved it and the taste has grown on me.  It made for one amazing root beer float while the kids were again napping (I love nap time). What's great is that it isn't quite as sugary sweet as the root beer you might purchase in the store. It was definitely a worthy experiment. We have bacon and tomato sandwiches on the menu this week.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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First Day of School Chalkboard

Buddy just started his first day of preschool today!  I'm certain that I'm more anxious about it than he is.  Is it okay for the parent to experience separation anxiety?  He's my first, so unlike most of the parents I meet, I kind of want to keep him home forever. He's pretty much awesome.  Perhaps, after I've experienced life with just one child a few days a week, I'll feel differently. Maybe. And I suppose that the one on one time with Jellybean will be good for both of us.

Here's my amazing preschooler (AHH! I have a preschooler!)

See that chalkboard in his hands? I got this really simple tip from a friend.  Just pick up a frame and spray paint the glass with chalkboard paint. Now, I'll be able to use this chalkboard every year. How awesome is that?

Here's the step by step:

1. Get some chalkboard paint and take the glass out of your frame.
2. Spray paint the glass. I gave it several thin coats. After it was dry to the touch, I did a few more thin coats.
3. Let it dry for 24 hours
4. To get it ready for use, rub chalk over the entire surface.
5. Erase.
6. Put it in your frame and you're ready to write.

I don't have incredible art skills, maybe they'll improve over the years.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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Grandma's Book Club

When my mother was a little girl, she had a library behind her house. All she had to do was bypass the fence and then she would check out book after book and while away the hours on the library lawn, reading in the shade. She grew up with an intense love of books and quite naturally, her children did too.

Because of this, it came as a shock when she asked a grandchild what they were reading and they replied, "I don't like to read." She then realized that while some of her grandchildren loved reading, there were some that just didn't.  So, she began to think of ways that she could encourage all of her grandchildren in a love of reading.

My mother began asking her children about what books they loved when they were children, she got book lists and made list of "classics" that she thought would be worth having. Then she began collecting books.  Some were already available, left by her children when they moved out.  Many, she found at consignment and thrift stores.  She looked primarily for classics and for special interest books and began to fill a small bookshelf with her collection.

Once, she had a small collection, she asked her grandchildren if they would like to join Grandma's Book Club. The answer was, "Yes!"

The club is targeted at her grandchildren ages 7-13 years, but the younger children are also encouraged to participate and write down what they are reading as well. My mother reads every book that is on the shelf so that she knows what to recommend. She also has a binder where the kids can write down what they are "checking out" from Grandma's Library.  They can also record what they are reading and how many pages they have read.

She even thought of an award for those that participate: extra sleepover opportunities at Grandma's house and a special party with treats at some point in the year.

She doesn't know how successful the book club has been yet, but feels that it has drawn attention to the importance of reading. Even the most reluctant of her readers are excited to tell her about what they are reading when they come to visit. Now, they know how important it is to her and that she is genuinely interested in what books they have enjoyed.

What books are in Grandma's Library?
I put a list together based on what is currently on her shelf, what she would like to add and some books that I have loved and would recommend. I've arranged the books is approximate age ranges. Maybe you'll discover a new book for your child. Here's the list: Grandma's Book Club Reading List

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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WW- Kickin' in the Backseat

My two backseat drivers:

Beanie with a propeller? Check.  Calculator?  Check. 

Come join in the Wordless Wednesday fun.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

BLT Pasta

I decided to search my Pinterest recipe board for a new recipe to make with my fresh garden tomatoes. I found one that I thought would be fun to try: BLT Pasta. It sounded delicious and it turns out that it was delicious.

BLT Pasta
Adapted from Some The Wiser

Ingredients
5 strips bacon, diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3 San Marzano or other plum type tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup leeks, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine, or white grape juice
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
7 oz dry rotini pasta
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1/4 teasppon dry thyme

For Garlic Toast Bread Crumbs:

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 cups French bread, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Whisk together minced garlic and olive oil.  In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, oil, and garlic.  Stir, making sure bread is thoroughly coated with oil.  Toast coated bread crumbs in a large skillet over medium heat until golden, stirring often.  Season with salt and set aside.

Saute the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat.  Cook until crisp, then set aside on paper towel.   Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings, and drain off remaining oil.

Caramelize the tomatoes and sugar in the bacon drippings in large skillet or sauce pan, over medium heat.  Cook until tomatoes begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.  Add the leeks and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until leeks soften and plum tomatoes begin to break down.

Deglaze with wine and allow sauce to simmer until the wine is nearly evaporated and sauce is thick.  Add the broth, vinegar, and pepper flakes.  Simmer until reduced by 1/3, approximately 5 minutes.

Add the spinach, thyme, and bacon to the sauce, then add the cooked pasta.  Toss lightly until pasta is well coated with sauce.  Season with salt as needed.  Top each serving with garlic toast bread crumbs.

Makes 4 servings.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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Play and Eat with Oatmeal

Occasionally, I'll be working on the computer and Jellybean will come sit with me. Because I'm often looking at craft and activity ideas to do with her, she likes to point at the screen and tell me what she'd like me to make or what activity looks fun to her.  Last week, she saw this post on Play Through The Day for an oatmeal sensory bin.  Jellybean wanted to do this activity so badly, that I couldn't turn her down.

This is actually my first bonafide sensory bin and an easy one to put together at that.  I had an old container of oatmeal that was expired, so I dumped that in and then grabbed my daughter's Fisher Price farm animals and tossed those in as well.  I also grabbed a couple of cans so that they could dig and pour.

Both Jellybean and Buddy enjoyed digging their hands in the bin and playing together with the animals. It's so fun to see them work so creatively with something simple.

I left them to their own devices until I noticed that the oatmeal was being thrown around the room.  That was my cue that the activity was over and it was time for snacks.  Guess what they wanted to eat? Oatmeal. No, we did not eat the oatmeal they played with. Just in case you were wondering.

Yum!

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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We're Forever Blowing Bubbles

We love blowing bubbles at our house.  Who doesn't love blowing hundreds of bubbles and watching them burst around you or fly away across the neighborhood.  I've often wondered what my neighbors think when they see the results of our bubble blowing extravaganzas as the bubbles drift across their yards. The kids get such a kick out of chasing and popping the bubbles, too.

Up until now, my very favorite bubble solution was the kind from Gymboree. Their bubble blower is the absolute best as well. The only problem? When we ran out of our one and only bottle, I didn't have time to run out to the store, nor did I want to spend more money. As it turns out, I had everything I needed to make fantastic bubbles right in my kitchen and it was really easy, too.

Here's the recipe I went with:

Fantastic Bubble Solution
via Hellobee

Supplies:
• Water
• Liquid Dish Soap
• Light Corn Syrup
• Bottle or Container to store Bubble Solution
• Straws
• Tape

To make the bubble solution, you will need:
• 2 1/2 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup liquid dish soap

Directions:
Add 1/2 cup light corn syrup to the hot water and whisk well until it is dissolved.  Slowly add the 1/2 cup liquid dish soap, and whisk well.
Pour the bubble solution into individual bottles or a container with a lid.  Let the solution rest for a few hours before using it for the best results.  (Though we used it immediately with pretty good results as well)

I didn't fuss with making anything pretty, but this bubble solution and makeshift blowers still did a fabulous job. The solution works awesome with my Gymboree blower as well. Yay!

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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Baby Zombies Like Brains and Waffles

For weeks she's been saying the same phrase over an over again, I couldn't understand what she was saying at first. Then I figured it out.


Baby Zombie from A Happy Song on Vimeo.

Also, who knew that zombies enjoyed wearing pink shirts with bunnies on them?

Happy (almost) Wordless Wednesday and

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Green Gables Lemonade

Awhile back, I ran across a website where the sole purpose was to recreate recipes from classic literature. They even had a post regarding Anne of Green Gables' recipe for old fashioned lemonade. I thought the idea was cute at the time, but it wasn't until we were hitting above 100 degrees this summer that I was reminded of it and decided it was high time I got a good lemonade recipe.  I searched for the Green Gables lemonade recipe and found it!  I'm thinking that Anne (with an 'e') would appreciate how much we enjoyed it.

We set up our afternoon snack out on the back deck in the shade.  It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon: sipping lemonade and laughing with my kids.

There's my glass waiting for me!

Jellybean found an interesting way of enjoying her lemonade:

That's right, dipping her wheat thins.

Old Fashioned Lemonade 
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups water
Zest from one lemon
1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 6 or 7 lemons)
Ice cubes
Cold water or sparkling water

Measure the sugar and water into a sauce pan. While stirring with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let cool slightly.

Add fresh squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest to the sugar syrup. Cool completely. Pour the lemonade syrup into a quart jar. Cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.

When you’re ready to serve the lemonade, put some ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Our ¼ cup of the lemon syrup over the ice cubes. Add ¾ cup cold water or sparkling water and stir. I decided that I wasn't a real fan of the zest in my glass, so I've started straining that out.

The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.

I couldn't help sipping while I took photos.  Here's my jar of syrup, too. Yum.

Just incase you are wondering, "It looks good, but is it really?" Here's what my children thought of our new recipe, they were pretty enthusiastic...


Lemonade Critique from A Happy Song on Vimeo.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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