A is for Acorn

For the last month or so, we've been watching squirrels gather acorns. My little guy loves to watch them, and it is such a concrete way for him to see the signs of the changing season. We also enjoyed reading Chipmunk Song. He love acting out the story as I read it.

We've been doing a few Acorn Activities and talking about the letter A

These acorn guys were fun to make and look so cute hanging from our light fixture over the kitchen table.

I don't usually gather acorn to eat for the winter, but these acorns were yummy!! I borrowed the pan for these from my mom. It's from Williams Sonoma . I have also seen some really cute leaf pans at Wal-Mart and of course they cost a little less.

I used a gingerbread muffin recipe for these muffins. The recipe is adapted from a Southern Living cook book.

Last Minute Gingerbread Muffins

1C butter

1C sugar

1C Molasses

4 eggs

2t soda

1 C buttermilk

4C flour

1 T plus 1t ground ginger

1t ground allspice

1/2 t ground nutmeg

1/4t ground black pepper

1t lemon zest

Cream butter gradually add sugar,beating at M spread until light and fluffy. Add molasses, add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Dissolve soda in buttermilk.

Combine flour, spices, and zest. add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture. beating well after each addition.

Fill greased and floured pans 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Batter can be kept in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I glazed some of the acorn with a mixture of granulated sugar and lemon juice.

This recipe was great for the pan. The muffin was firm but moist and I had no problem removing them from the pan. But I must say if you really want the best ever ginger bread you need to try this recipe. It is too moist to be used in the type of pan used above, but is by far the best gingerbread I've ever had.

Gather your little squirrels around and have a delightful day!!!

A is for Apple

We actually did this activity last week, and read the book Apples and Pumpkins (which is a Fall book, but ends with the children trick or treating).

A is for Apple, Apple Sauce

(this is soooo yummy with whipped cream)

enough cooking apples to fill your crock pot

add just a bit of water

red hot candies (add to your taste, I usually give in to my kids and add lots

Fill crock pot with apples (I used a little crock pot, you know the kind for dips and stuff). Add water and candies cover and cook until apples are tender and mushy ( we cooked it overnight and ate it for breakfast). This make a yummy chunky apple sauce!!

I first made this when I was teaching first grade. One of the other teachers shared the recipe with me. We saved some of the apple sauce and made fried pies with it the next day. If you would like to try making fried pies and easy way to do it is to buy refrigerated biscuits have kids flatten them out, spoon in apple sauce, fold over, seal edges and fry in hot oil.

Have a delightful day!!

S is for Scarecrow and Spider

In my last post I mentioned that the Little Guy has been learning about the letter S. We've been reading all about scarecrows and spiders and we've done some fun activities that even Big Sis has taken part in ( Scarecrow and Spider Crackers). I'm finally getting around to posting a couple of other activities that we've done based on the Letter S.

Scarecrow and Straw start with S (books we're reading The Lonely Scarecrow , Barn Dance, and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything)

First up is the Straw S. This is a super simple activity, but just one more way for little ones to begin to associate the sound s with the letter s. I cut out an S and we glued straw on together. As we worked we talked about our scarecrow stories, and remember that scarecrows are made with straw.

Spider Starts With S (books we're reading How Spider Saved Halloween and, The Very Busy Spider )

Next up, we have the favorite craft by far!! Spiders!! My little guy is really into spiders lately, and he loves to decorate for Halloween. Before the day was over we had to make a family of these guys to hang from the light fixture.

As usual I went with a simple pattern. I traced a medium sized bowl for the body and cut strips about 1/2 inch in width, and as long as the short side of the construction paper, free handed round eyes and the letter S.

We love the accordion folded legs and silly eyes. The spider looks great hanging from a light fixture or such (I should have taken pictures).

Have a delightful day!!

Muffin Tin Monday---Spider Snacks

We've been learning all about the letter S. Last week we read Barn Dance and made a Scarecrow (because scarecrow starts with S). This week we'll be reading How Spider Saved Halloween and The Very Busy Spider. So I thought it only fitting that Muffin Tin Monday reflect the stories and activities that we will do this week!!

I filled our muffin tin (well it's not a "tin") with Ritz crackers, pretzels, raisins, cheese slices cut into circles, cream cheese spread, and clementines.

We used all of this yummy stuff to make spider sandwich crackers!!

We actually had Muffin Tin Monday on Sunday so that Big sis could join in the fun.

Spider legs sure are yummy!!

For more Muffin Tin Monday head on over to Sycamore Stirrings.

Have a delightful day!! DeeLight

Are we stuck in the mud?

No, we're not stuck in the mud, but we are having fun playing in it. Today I'd like to share one last muddy activity, or should I say recipe. My little guy and I had so much fun making a "Muddy Mess" with these Mississippi Mud Brownies.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

1 C butter melted
2 eggs
2 C sugar
1 t vanilla

Mix well, and add the following ingredients.

1 1/2 C flour
4 T cocoa
1 C nuts (optional)

Pour into greased rectangular pan. and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread with one jar Marshmallow cream.
On top of that spread the following frosting.

2 T butter
1/4 C milk
2 C powdered sugar
2 T cocoa
1 t vanilla


This is one rich, but yummy desert!!


(Still a little warm so the topping was kinda runny)


Have a Delightful day.

"Oh Lovely Mud" and Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta

If you've just dropped by to see my favorite photo for the "Foto Fiesta" scroll down to the last photo of today's post. But feel free to read all about our "lovely mud" if you have the time.

"Oh Lovely Mud"

When I was teaching, Mrs. Wish Washy was always a favorite of my students, the same is true at home. My oldest daughter loved this book when she was small and my little guy loves it now. It's the perfect book for little ones, it has repetitive language patterns, fun content and, and great illustrations.
In the book, poor Mrs. Wishy Washy is trying to keep the animals clean, but they keep getting in the mud.

For today's activity we learned about the letter M, it's sound, and the fact that the word mud starts with M. We first read the book together and then we maid a "Muddy M" painting

We used brown paint and a letter M shaped cookie cutter, a sponge in the letter shape would work as well.

Once Big Sis came home, from school, we worked together to make farm animal cookies.



I love this recipe, it's easy for kids to roll and cut out themselves. The cookies taste great too!!

Rolled Sugar Cookies

3 C flour
2 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
1 C shortening (I used butter(
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 C sugar
2 T milk
1 t vanilla
Combine flour, baking powder, and soda, cut in shortening (or butter) with a pastry blender until it resembles course meal. Combine egg, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Stir until well blended pour into the the dry mixture. Stir with fork until well blended. pat dough into ball and chill 2 hours (we usually can't wait that long). Role dough 1/8 in thick and cut with cookie cutter.
Bake at 375 for 6 minutes.

After the cookies had time to cool we drizzled them with "mud". We used chocolate flavored almond bark (because it is so easy to work with) but any kind of candy coating or frosting would work.

Friday Foto Fiesta

The kids had such a great time working on this cooking project!! My favorite photo this week is of them together in the kitchen.

To Join the Fiesta!! Visit Candid Carrie.

Have a Delightful Day!!