Play Kitchen Part 9: Upcycled Ice Cream Cones

 I'd been saving these vintage cake decorating supplies with the idea that I was going to make ice cream cones for our play kitchen.  I hadn't done it, as I wasn't sure how I was going to make the top.  I was hoping to do a ruffle, but my plans were pretty complex.  But then, I saw these on pinterest, which were much simpler than my ideas. I went to work, using scraps.  And now we have Neapolitan cones.



Here's a run down of the rest of the kitchen accessories series, in case you missed them:
Part 1: Market bag
Part 2: Dish Towels
Part 3: Potholders
Part 4: Felt Veggies
Part 5: Apron
Part 6: Felt Fruits
Part 7: Wooden Groceries
Part 8: Play Cupcakes

Although if I did it again, I'd make the ice cream a little larger.  But still, who could refuse an ice cream cone?

 

He wants to be just like us...

Something that really drives me nuts is when we're out an about and someone says "Wow, you must have your hands full".  I feel like saying instead, "No, I'm raising the biggest blessing I have ever received and I'm thoroughly enjoying it."  Of course, a kid is a kid...and it's not like he never gets himself into mischief and it's not like he never has tried out how well a tantrum would work on us.  But all in all, this journey into parenthood is filled with joy.

One personality trait that I find most amusing in our little guy is he wants to be just like us.  In everything he does. We have had zero need for any sort of gate or child safety contraptions in this house, as he's always right under our feet.  He rarely wanders off into the other room without us, and if he does, it's to retrieve something for us.  Now, it's not like we need to entertain him...he'll happily play with his toys while we're doing whatever we need to do.  But more often than not, he's trying to be just like us, trying to be one step ahead of us, guessing what we're going to do, "helping", while giving a detailed narrative. 

Most often if he gets into trouble, it's from being too helpful.  For example, independently guessing a cup of flour is needed while baking, to acquiring it and offering it, but accidentally spilling the whole cup on the floor in the process, to trying to wipe up the mess with a cloth napkin he retrieved for the job, to knowing the cloth napkin belongs in the laundry once soiled, to delivering that soiled napkin to the laundry.  Before we know it, there's flour spread across the entire kitchen, and our little guy, with a trail leading to the laundry room.   All of this right under our nose, as we're trying to retrieve a broom to clean up the job.

Now, I know I went on a tangent here.  What I really am trying to say is kids need to be celebrated!  The quirky messes they make, the trouble they get into, the mistakes they make.  It's all a celebration.  It's not about having our "hands full" as parents, it's delighting in the journey of raising children the best we can.  No two kids are the same...but each child's individuality needs to be celebrated.

So, I'm celebrating our little guy and his uniqueness.  I'm chuckling at how he wants to be just like us and the obstacles we face as he attempts just that.  And I'm smiling at this picture, case in point...as he's having his morning snack along with the paper.  Just like us.

Quilt 56

Quilt 56 2002 Twin Size; Hand quilted

Thrifting

A couple of books.
Fairy Friends magnets play set.
Little boy's embroidered sailboat/lighthouse overalls (Which I couldn't refuse...as seen here).
Boy's swim shirt.
Two pairs of sneakers, one of them being brand new New Balance Shoes...that are fast like Uncle Matt.

Grand total of $5.50

Aunt Helen's Banana Bread

This is the banana bread I grew up with...from my Aunt Helen.  They freeze up nicely, so I usually eat one now and pop the other in the freezer.  Or you can easily half the recipe if you only want one. I don't like to wait until the bananas are super brown, as it makes a darker texture in the bread.  I usually do the bread when they're quite spotted, but not mostly brown.  

 

 

Banana Bread

1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 1/2 cup sour milk (I add a little lemon juice to make sour)
4 mashed average sized bananas

Cream shortening, butter, sugar.  Add eggs.  Add baking powder, baking soda, salt.  Alternate flour and sour milk, mixing well.  Add bananas.

Place in two greased loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for an hour.

Upcycled Newborn Wool Diaper

 From a felted wool sweater to a newborn wool diaper.

I must say I love it. And I can't wait for a tiny bottom to wear it.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I feel like much of my time at home is cleaning up messes. Meal messes, cat hairballs, muddy boot tracks, chicken poop, dust bunnies, toy explosions, laundry mountains...well, you get the drift.  

Sometimes when someone wants to get messy, I start to redirect. For do I really need one more mess to tackle? 

But, sometimes, I stop and think.  Messy is good.  Good exploring. Good learning.  Awesome giggles.  Lots of fun.

Sometimes I stop in my tracks and find myself saying :

"Yes, you can march in that puddle". 

"Go ahead and roll in the garden...while wearing the tail your mama made you."  

"Sure, we can paint."  

"Let's do shaving cream".  

"Why yes, you can help me bake."

"Want to help me pot these flowers?"

Inevitably, the mess is often ginormous upon completion of the task.  One more mess for me to clean up that could have been avoided.  Something else to add to my to do list, that of course is never ending.

But....if I avoid the messes, I'd miss out on this:  

 

Some our greatest memories together occur while making a colossal mess.  

Sometimes, messes are good.