Introducing...Super Ben-The Wonder Boy!

My weekend was pretty uneventful. I did some cleaning today, but that was about it. I'm just stressed because my husband will be going out of town and my reinforcements, as I call them, (my parents) are away as well!

I just got back from grocery shopping....I needed to stock up on things for the week.
As we were packing and getting things together, my oldest-Ben came into the room. He called himself "Super Ben-the Wonder Boy!" He took a plastic headband that he found and put it over his eyes like a mask! Here's a picture that I thought you'd enjoy!
Leave it up to a boy to do something like that! lol

Thank you everyone for the great food advice. I figured that I would try some new things- like letting them help me prepare the food. But I figured if all else fails, I'll just let them eat the foods they enjoy.

RamblingGirl gave me the idea of using cookie cutters! I think this week I'm going to have a tea party with them and make really cool cutout sandwiches! I'll be sure to post the photos!
Thanks again and have a fabulous week!

Hugs,
Ruth Ann

Food Advice Needed

I need advice from all you Veteran Moms out there! I am having a terrible time getting my two picky toddlers to eat ANYTHING! And I mean anything....they don't even like macaroni and cheese, or mashed potatoes? What planet are they from? That is a staple in most kids diets!

Today I was eating a turkey sandwich. They both asked for a bite. They both seemed to enjoy it! When it came time for me to make their lunch, they wouldn't eat it! All they wanted to eat was hot dogs and dill pickles! What am I going to do? Should I surrender into giving them foods like that? I am lucky...they do LOVE fruits and some vegetables but I need other options! Does anyone have any ideas for giving them food that is nutritious? All they want is pizza? Does anyone have any great ideas for giving them food such as this but on the healthier side?

Should I just make them lunch and if they don't eat it, not feed them anything else until dinner? We've thought of that, but I want them to have at least something in their bellies.

Does anyone have any tips that have worked for their toddlers? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

One frustrated mom,
Ruth Ann

An Inaugural Day Blunder

I just wanted to share something cute with you on this very important day. Tonight, at dinner, when my husband came home we were talking about our day.

I mentioned that the boys earned "sharing stickers" for being so good at sharing today. Normally they fight over toys and what not, but today they did fantastic! Then they talked about going to playland and playing with all the kids on the sliding boards. Ben talked about making Valentine cookies while Alex was napping.

After this I said: "Tell daddy what important thing we watched on t.v. today." We had watched the Presidential Inauguration today, and Ben was fascinated with the President's motorcade. This is when Ben said: "Fireman Sam" and Alex yelled "Barney!"

I thought that their comments were very cute....here we have a monumental day in history and all that's important to my toddlers is cartoons! Too cute!

Here We Go Steelers....Here We Go!

Today we went to my father-in-law's for a Steeler party! I was very excited because a party meant that I could make a cake! I don't even like eating cake, I only like creating them! Here is a photo of the cakes that I made. Yes: "cakes!" I was only supposed to make one, but my husband didn't think that would be enough- so I spent all day decorating! The darker one has chocolate icing, and the lighter brown cake has butter cream icing. One would have been plenty, half was left of each cake!
The Steeler logos are actually done out of white wafer chocolate. I put the wafers in a Ziploc and dyed the candy accordingly to what I needed, then cut a very small whole in the bag and piped it onto wax paper. First I did the white background of the logo, then I waited until that set, and then I did the black outlines of the diamonds and after that set I filled it in with color. It's an awesome technique that I love to use. I got the idea from the book "The Whimsical Bakehouse." It gives you awesome ideas for creating a really cool personalized cake.

Before the game we had dinner. My father-in-law made cabbage rolls...they sure were delicious! After dinner we took the boys and went sled riding. This was the first time my boys ever went sled riding. They had soo much fun! Actually it was Ben who had the fun. Alex ended going down the hill once, and lost a shoe....that was it for him! He's still at that age where he's scared of things. He went inside to watch the game with the boys, while Ben had fun sledding with his Aunt and cousins!

Here's a photo of Ben and myself before we went outside. I love the look on his face, he said "Daddy are you done yet?" Ben gives attitude when I constantly take his photos!

Here's Alex going up the hill behind everyone. It reminded me of Randy on the Christmas Story when all the kids leave him behind in his giant snowsuit!

Ben has found a new sport that he loves: snowboarding! He always has to do what the big kids do!
How cute! He looks like a little pro! He did really good! His cousin Nick would leave go of him and he'd go about ten feet before falling!

And here's a photo of me and my boys in our Steeler gear! Yes I am wearing a Steeler jersey, it's just PINK! My husband says it doesn't count because it's not black and gold, but that's ok by me....with an all boy household I need to make some things as girly as possible!

Here we go Steelers....Here We Go!

Hugs,

Ruth Ann