Valentine’s Day 2014

I know that Valentine’s Day is typically a day at childcare centers full of hearts, red, pink & white. However, this year I decided to forgo the typical “Valentine’s” cookies or cupcakes, and instead we made cinnamon buns for snack.

These however, are not your average cinnamon buns! I used my bread recipe. However instead of simply rolling them as one would normally roll cinnamon buns, I cut the flattened dough into strips, and then rolled each end until they touched. I kinda pinched the tip creating a sort of heart shape. Some of them are more heart shaped than others. But all in all I think they look pretty good!!

Can’t wait for the kids to wake up so we can taste them!

Large Muscle Snow Fun

Well, It’s getting to that point in winter when my daycare children just want the snow to melt. They are tired of playing on tramped down snow in the backyard. The boys told me last week “I can’t wait for Mud Day!!” (Check out our Mud Day 2012) They have also started to eye up the puddles that are starting to form in the driveway (Check out Puddle Jumping last June). What the boys needed was a change in scenery! (Me as well!) 🙂 A couple weeks ago, we watched our friend (Clint Moffat, from Moffat & Sons Construction) clean out our driveway and dump the huge pile of snow in the front yard. What could be more fun that a HUGE pile of snow?!?!?! However, I had to think of the safety of the children, since the snow pile is right beside the road. Obviously it wouldn’t be safe to slide down the side facing the road. So, the children and I sat down and made the rule that we couldn’t climb on the side of the hill closest to the road.  Over the past week, we’ve had a grand time on the snow pile! We’ve jumped, climbed, slid, stomped, pulled ourselves using our arms, rolled…. the large muscle play just goes on and on and on……….

Who will get to the top first? (Notice one child in the background, trying to get out of the wasit deep snow, I just love the thought process, and large muscles that need to work to get out of that situation!)

Climbing back up after sliding down….

Even the 2 year olds can climb the big hill!

Checking out the side that goes to the road, and deciding that yep! It’s too dangerous to slide that way!

Thanks Clint for creating such an awesome snow hill for us to have fun on (and get our exercise on!)

Meatless Monday: Lentil Loaf

Today, we had a Meatless Monday! 🙂 I have been slowly introducing the children to Lentil & Beans. It hasn’t been a favourite, but all the children are eager to try at least one bite! I made up this Lentil Loaf recipe as I went along, but the kids and I thought it turned out great!! 🙂 I combined a lentil loaf recipe & my tried & true meatloaf recipe. This is what I came up with:

2/3 cup Lentils
1.5 cups Water
1 cup Rolled Oats
1 Egg
1/2 cup Chicken Broth (Homemade)
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tbsp Parsley
2 Individual Packets Dry Lipton Beef Vegetable Soup Mix
Shredded Cracker Barrel Marble Cheese

First, bring lentils and water to a boil, and simmer until lentils are soft. (about 40 minutes) Then, add all other ingredients (except cheese). Mix well. Spoon into a greased muffin tin. Bake at 400F for 40 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake another 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. I put this into a muffin pan, instead of a loaf pan, so that the children would each have an individual loaf. But, you could also bake it in a loaf pan.

For more information on cooking with pulses please check out the Manitoba Pulse Growers website. Under the Consumer menu, there is information on where to buy pulses, how to cook with them, and also some recipes.

Puddling Jumping

It rained today at nap time, but once all the children were up….. we couldn’t resist donning our rubber boots and heading outside to go….PUDDLE JUMPING!!!!!!!

The view from the top of the driveway!

At first they just walked and stood in the puddles

And of course, everyone had to see if the water would come over the tops of their boots!!!! (What’s more fun than that??)

And then…….the jumping started!!!!!!

And the splashing!!!!!

And falling!!!! (Followed quickly by laughing!) LOL

And more splashing!!

We all got soaked! But we had SO much fun on a rainy day!!!!

I really wish that I could show you the children’s faces!!

They had such huge smiles!