Sweet Sassy Studio

squirrel snack and woodland art

It was our day to bring snacks.

Watermelon squirrels are a definite do again!

Snack day is also share day.

We love share day.

Big Brother worked on a forest scene. A collage of felt and paper mammals to compliment the unit of study at school. Each day for about 2 weeks we created a new animal. The finished poster is still at school but this was in the early stages. I see a moose, deer and mice. Pa helped add a den that wolf slides in and out of and a squirrel under a flap in a tree. We labelled each animal and had a fantastic time creating this project!

20 Months Old

You are 20 months old. That is really close to 2!

When did that happen?

You are so full of life! So full in fact you start each day at 5am, 6am if we are lucky. You wake up, stand in your crib and yell "POTTY!" until someone comes to get you. You are true to your word like clockwork so we don't mind.

You love numbers. 8 and 2 are your favorites but 7 is close. You point out numbers where ever we go, lockers at school, prices at Wal-Mart, Costco-you find numbers everywhere!

You like letters too. You like pointing them out when you have them on your shirts. You could stand and look in the mirror for hours. I could look at you for hours too :)

You are not a fan of loud voices but love singing. You can sing a few words of Twinkle Twinkle, The ABC's, Mary Had A Little Lamb and even Cuckoo. When you don't want to sing you sweetly say "No Sing".

Words we hear you say a lot are eat, potty, play, stairs, I keem (ice cream), fall, Pa, etters (letters), choo choo, water, gotch, books and guys.

Two word phrases are daddy's car, no gate, no socks, diaper on, diaper off, Pa's House, Daddy work, Mommy's beep (jeep), tank ooo (thank you), hat on, hat off, door off (door open) and hot tub.

You give tight hugs and fall a lot.

You take off your socks and shoes in the car everyday even though it is -20+ and there is 3 feet of snow outside.

You greet your Dad with the loudest holler of "DAAAAAD!" I have ever heard come out of something so small.

You love Tim Horton's muffins and immediately request a "nuffin" if we drive near. You devour every bite.

You also eat apples with no skin (which makes me smile because your big brother is the exact opposite eating only the skin!), smoothies, strawberries, bacon, burger with no bun, spiral whole wheat noodles, steak, hot dogs, pizza, pears, peas, corn on the cob and rice.

You go to music once a week, gymnastics drop ins and will do swimming lessons again in the summer.

You are growing up quickly and your vocabulary amazes me. You are starting to play more by yourself, especially with your puzzles-shape puzzle is a favorite.

Your blond hair is as soft as silk and your big eyes let you get your way more than you probably should. You love to fall asleep in my arms and once in a while I let you and just hold you because in not too long you won't need me to anymore.

I love you more each day little one.

Grow Your Own Luck!?

Big Brother packed a few sacks with his green thumbs today!

Deliveries also started today!

Dirt, pot, pebbles, and clover seed!

We started our seeds and they sprouted quite quickly, overnight actually! Here is a great tip-we used a empty strawberry box as a mini green house and placed our pot in a really warm sunny spot.

We can't wait to see if we grow our own four leaf clover! Luck to you all!

paint by number

I grew up in a home where colouring books were taboo.

Why colour a picture that someone else had already drawn? Draw your own and colour those.

Now I am a Mom. We did have one colouring book. Once. If it is in eyesight my little artist won't draw so it only makes rare appearances-he never even asks for it :) (I like the mazes in it!)

So why the paint by number when this little one paints such beautiful pictures on his own...

Paint by numbers are fun to do together, just us time when little brother naps. They require working memory-I have to say it over and over in my head, sixes are green, sixes are green. I can't imagine how hard his little mind is working! We are required to mix colours to get the shades/hues we need. Painting in the lines is a great fine motor skill.

It is new! New things are fun!

This paint by number was a dollar store purchase for three dollars, everything included. We do two or three colours a day-great winter project!

Try one!

mini ice cream cone cake pops

The sweet little cones were fun and easy to make.

I made these for a fundraiser a while back.

There are a million blog tutorials out there so I won't give the details.

Just know they are easy to make and not all that time consuming either! Try it!

The chicks are probably my favorite purchase in a while.

There are five (for the members of our family + one for Pa)

Big Brother loves using his creativity to set up different sets for the chicks.

reading

How did this happen?!

You are four.

You will be five in a few months.

Kindergarten is 7 months away. You are reading now.

You are amazing.

It started with a reading program I use at school to teach sounds and sight words. We would do a lesson or two a week after lunch.

You work hard at school too.

Your teacher tells me you like to offer words that begin with the sound of the week.

You love inviting me in to see your work matching words to pictures.

Then one day I open your backpack to find....your first home reading book!

A big step, huge!

A trip to the toy store big.

Now each time you have a new book from you school you are so proud to read it. Once, twice......you usually read it 4 or 5 times the day you bring it home and a few more in the morning before school! Fluency is coming.

I am so proud of you!

sweetly sings the donkey

Big Brother is working on a song called Sweetly Sings the Donkey in piano.

It has a real name but I can't think of it right now.

Seeing the donkey at winterfest was great timing. Perfect motivation.

I am off to a music parent talk and workshop tonite. I made a few treats for the silent auction I can't wait to share!

quick easy cheesecake

I feel bad calling these cheesecakes. Cheesecakes are filled with time and lots of work. These cute little cakes took me less than 20 minutes. They are quick, yummy and although not as decadent as a real cheesecake a great on the go alternative. Perfect for a summer picnic too! Or a potluck.

I doubled the recipe and it make 20 small jam jars. As of now there are only 5 left in my fridge. Our dinner last night was for 8 people......Kumon where are you now?!

Here is the how to, enjoy!

Ingredients

· Graham Cracker Crust:

· 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

· 2 Tbsp. granulated white sugar

· 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

· Cheesecake Filling:

· One 8-ounce (227 grams) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature

· 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

· 1 tsp. vanilla extract

· 1 cup whipping cream (35%)

· Topping:

· One 21 oz. (595 grams) can cherry pie filling

Instructions

1. For the Graham Cracker Crust: In a large bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Place 1/4 cup of filling into bottom each jar. Use anything from your kitchen that has a flat bottom and will fit into the jar to press the crumb mixture down gently to level it (doesn’t need to be packed down hard, just enough to neaten it up). Place jars in the fridge to chill while you prepare the filling.

2. Cheesecake Filling: In a clean bowl of stand mixer or with your electric mixer, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Remove to a separate bowl and set aside. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl then beat in the vanilla extract. Gradually fold or beat the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and well combined. (* I folded by hand to keep some of the lightness of the whipped cream)

3. Remove jars from fridge and place a generous 1/4 cup of filling over the chilled graham cracker crust. If you have extra, just distribute amongst the jars. Smooth the top of the filling. Place lid on jars and refrigerate for about an hour, until firm. Remove from fridge and spoon a layer of the cherry pie filling over the cheesecake filling and gently spread evenly to the edges. Place lid back on jar and refrigerate for several hours or more. Once set, these can also be frozen. (*If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the refrigeration of the filling before putting on the cherry topping. It’s actually pretty firm so it’s not too difficult to spoon the topping on if you’re a bit gentle with it).