Brownie Bites with Pumpkin Pie Spice Frosting

My oldest son's Boy Scout Troop had a Thanksgiving Feast, and everyone was asked to bring something.   He was assigned dessert, and choose brownie bites.

He made them himself, with me in the next room in case he needed help.

He made pumpkin pie spice cream cheese frosting, and I put it in the pastry bag, and showed him how to top the brownies.

After a couple, they were looking pretty good.  But the first few, like the one in the picture, looked a little like dog poo.  We had a good laugh about it, as we packed them all up for his feast!

It's sometimes hard not to step in and "correct"  your children's works when they are learning something new.  But the pride he felt from taking HIS brownie bites was more important than taking picture perfect dessert for his friends and their families.

Come to think of it, I think this picture is perfect!

Brownie Bites:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 stick butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat for 4 minutes, use a timer because the beating time is important.
Spray or butter a mini muffin pan, or use mini muffin cups. 
Cook for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Pumpkin Pie Spice Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz. package cheese cheese
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice (adjust to taste). 

Beat until incorporated.  Frost as desired.

Veteran's Day

On Veterans Day, after we raised the flag and watched some local coverage on television, I took my 3 year old outside and we played with his little toy soldiers. 

While I am a big believer in taking just about every toy outside, toy soldiers are a natural for outdoor play.  We set up the soldiers in the grass and along the rocks, bringing in a few more rocks from around our garden. 

He also has several army trucks, which we ran back and forth between the platoons.  I added some water and made mud for them to run through, which really excited my little boy!  

He flew planes around the yard, and I made a mental note to find him some of those little guys with parachutes on their backs. 

I watched as he collected leaves, small sticks and other natural things from around the yard, and used them to build a bridge and beds for his "men".  He sorted the leaves, using big ones for the mattresses and blankets, and little ones for pillows.  He even attempted to make a small tent with a few of the largest leaves, but it wouldn't stay up.  I was tempted to help with that, but realized he was learning more from his failtures than he would from my assistance. 

He also has a few boats, and had it been warmer, we would have set up his small wading pool to sail the boats across the "ocean".  I plan to remember that on the Fourth of July. 

Under our oak tree, we set up a camp and brought out our lunch to eat while he played.  Some of the "G I Joes", as he calls them, were brought over, and they sat under the tree with us to eat. 

He's only three, and doesn't understand the workings of war, but I'm much older, and don't either.  As we played, with the sun shining on us while we laid in the grass, I talked to him about his grandfathers, who both served, and his great grandfather, who was a paratrooper in Germany during World War II.  I also talked about the idea of freedom, and how the men and women these toys represent fight for us.

His older siblings came home from school, and immediately joined in with him.  The innocent game my son was playing, where none of the toy soldiers had died, and were much more concerned with jumping from the tall rock towers he had built, was over.  The plastic men now battled one another, in hand to hand combat and decisive battles where recovered acorns served as cannons balls, knocking down entire troops. Medics rushed the injured off the field, to a make shift hospital fashioned from a spiral notebook from my older son's backpack.  Even our NuNu Kitty, who had spent the afternoon lazily watching us from under a bush, was transformed into a battle cat, carrying men to war on her back.  True to any war, both sides claimed to be "the good guys", and were not exactly sure why they were fighting.

I know some friends who don't let their children play with toy soldiers, claiming the violence associated with them, and that most of them are holding guns.  I understand and respect their opinions on the matter, but I also appreciate the lessons my children learned, playing with these simple toys, that don't use batteries, make noises or, thankfully, involve any kind of "screen". 

The game ended shortly after I went in to begin dinner, as the sky was turning.  I stood in the kitchen, browning the ground beef for our chili, listening as our children recounted for their dad and me the different ways Veteran's Day was observed during their school day. My son's school had an assembly, and my daughter's class took turns telling about the Veterans who had served in their family.  We then sat together at the table, and thanked God for our food, and for the men and women who have served and sacrificed.

We crashed the Civil War reenactment at Fort Richardson

The second annual Civil War Reenactment was held at Fort Richardson in Jacksboro, Tx.  Forces from the Union and the Confederacy took to the field in battle, bringing to life a skirmish that never really happened.  Except for a few along the Gulf Coast, there were no Civil War battles in Texas to be reenacted.  But that doesn't stop these weekend historians, and it didn't stop us, or I should say my son, from wanting in on the fun!  

Fort Richardson held their first reenactment last year, in September.  On the 100+ degree day, it was so hot that the actors were happily lying down, feigning mortal injuries.  It was there that my son befriended one of the Confederate soldiers, who had escaped to the shade of the Mesquite tree we were sitting under.  He told my son, then 10 years old, that if he were to show up in time accurate clothing the next year, that he could participate with the other boys on the field, who were holding the flag and some were carrying drums.

For it's second year, the reenactment was moved to the first weekend in November.  My son had been asking about it since September, so I knew he was still interested in participating.  I made a few phone calls, and spoke with Glen, the park's interpretive director.  He told me it would be easiest to purchase Cole's clothing at the park from the vendors, so that he could try them on.  He also reassured me that the guys at the reenactment were super, and would probably be happy to let Cole participate.

Because of prior soccer obligations, we weren't able to go out until Sunday.  We had purchased Cole a pair of Justin Ropers, but nothing else.  There is little online for children's clothing, although I did find patterns, which made me wish I owned a sewing machine... or know how to sew.  But I can't, not even a button.  It's on my bucket list.

I won't bore you with the details of how we tracked down his appropriate clothing, and someone who would let him participate, but we owe a great amount of thanks to Saddler to the 6th.  They had everything Cole needed but a vest, so they loaned him a jacket.  Great bunch of folks!

Cole then went and joined up with his unit.  He was to be a runner, running messages to and from different unit commanders.  I admit to still not understanding the different units.  However, once again, the men that put him to "work" were wonderful, and happily accepted him!

We left him and grabbed a seat on the porch of the "hospital" to watch the battle with the other spectators.  While it had drizzled on and off all morning, just as they were getting started, a light rain descended that lasted most of the battle.  The dark clouds on the horizon added a beautiful contrast to the smoke of the cannons.

We laughed as Cole was sent running around the battlefield, with a hand perched atop his head to keep his new "slouch" hat on as he ran!

He had a wonderful time, and can't wait until the next reenactment! 

If you are interested in more information regarding Civil War Reenactments, here are a few sites that proved invaluable to us!

36th Texas Cavalry CSA (Dismounted) Reenactment Unit http://www.facebook.com/pages/36th-Texas-Cavalry-CSA-Dismounted-Reenactment-Unit/191315307546399?ref=pb

Saddler to the 6th  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saddler-to-the-6th/235237446539147?sk=wall

Fort Richardson State Historic Site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_richardson/

The House At Pooh Corner

Our family reads, alot!  While my older children are always reading something on their own, we also read as a family.  It's just a wonderful, bonding time for us! 
The little stuffed bear with very little brains holds a special place for each of us.  The older children loved reading about Pooh and Piglet, Christopher Robin and Tigger when they were little, and now reading about him to my three year old is giving them a chance to relive some of the magic that A. A. Milne brought to their lives (just a few) years ago!

The House At Pooh Corner stands to be one of our favorites.  The second of the four book Milne wrote about the inhabitants of the 100 Acre Woods, it is where Tigger is introduced, undoubtedly our favorite character!  The last chapter of the book, Chapter Ten, "In Which Christopher Robin and Pooh come to an enchanted place, and we leave them there", still brings me to tears as Pooh and his friends tell a maturing Christopher Robin goodbye, knowing he is growing up and leaving them.  I no longer cry for these characters, but for my own children as I watch them transforming from child to pre-teens. 

We often find some activities to incorporate into the reading of our favorite books, and we built Eeyore a house, just as in Chapter One.  My three year old loved running through the woods gathering sticks and building a very good reproduction of Eeyore's, which is simply sticks leaning against one another!  As Eeyore's favorite food is thistles, my little son gathered Sweet Gum Balls and placed before him. 

The sun was to the west of us as we sat in the shade of the trees and read Chapter One again, singing several times another of our favorites from the book;

The more it snows (Tiddely pom),
The more it goes (Tiddely pom),
The more it goes (Tiddely pom),
On snowing.
And nobody knows (Tiddely pom),
How cold my toes (Tiddely pom),
How cold my toes (Tiddely pom),
Are growing.

My daughter added the final touch, the Eeyore sign she painted on a half of a small branch she found in the forest. 

We aloud wondered if, when we return, Pooh and Piglet will indeed have moved Eeyore's house to the other side of the forest, as the story goes.  For the sake of the magic still alive in my 3 year old, we may have to make sure they do.

"And by and by Christopher Robin came to an end of things, and he was silent, and he sat there, looking out over the world, just wishing it wouldn't stop."

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

Making Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies is a Halloween Tradition with us!  I help the kids, as needed, but I really try to let them do as much as they can on their own.  The kids will love decorating the cookies, too.  Let them let their creativity bring these happy pumpkins to life!    







For the cookies:

3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup room temp butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk


1. In one bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice, and set aside.
2. In a seperate bowl, add butter and sugar, and mix with a hand or stand mixer.
3. In a small clear glass bowl, break your egg.  Check for eggshells, then add to the butter and sugar.  Mix until incorporated. 
4. Add 2 tablespoons milk.  Mix until incorporated.
5. 1/3 cup at a time, add the dry flour mixture to the wet butter and egg mixture.  Mix well after each 1/3 cup. 
6. The cookie dough will cut and retain it's shape better if it is cold.  Seperate the dough into 2 balls, cover or wrap in Saran Wrap, and place in refrigerator approximately 1 hour.
tick...tock....tick....tock....
7. Take out one of the cookie dough balls, and place on a surface dusted with either flour or powdered sugar.  I prefer the sugar, of course!
8.  Rub your rolling pin in either the flour or powdered sugar until lightly coated.  Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.  Try to keep the dough the same thickness all the way across. 
9.  Take your pumpkin cookie cutter, and cut out your cookies, being careful to place the cutter to get as many cookies as possible. 
10.  Transfer the cookies to a prepared cookie sheet. I spray with just a little Pam.  Place in a 375 degree preheated oven for 8-10 minutes
11. Let completely cool before decorating!

Decorating the Cookies!

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. Meringue Powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
orange icing coloring

1.  Mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon Meringe Powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a few drops of orange icing coloring, I use Wilton.  Mix in about 5 teaspoons HOT water.
2.  You can use either a decorating bag with tips, or just a gallon size zip lock bag.  Just cut a very small hole at one corner.  Now fill with your icing.  Use this icing to outline your cookies. 
3. Use the same recipe, but add a few extra drops of HOT water to give it a runnier consistency to "flood" the cookies.  I add this to a small squeeze bottle and slowly apply to the cookies.  Use a toothpick to help spread it around.  Don't eat it until it's dry!

If you want to create a Jack-O-Lantern, make black icing and outline the faces before you flood with the orange! Be sure to let the icing on each stage dry, so that your colors don't run.

Horse Apples

In Texas, these are Horse Apples, but they are also known as Osage Oranges and Hedge Apples.

One of our favorite fall activities is to go hunting for them.  They turn ripe in the fall, and begin falling from the trees.  The kids have a contest on who can find the most, the largest, etc. at our community park.  It's almost like an Autumn Easter Egg hunt. 

Let me say that we take them from our park because otherwise they are just mowed over.  If we were at a state park, or a natural area, we would just leave them alone.

 Once we have collected them, we can put them to lots of uses.  I put them in the sensory tub in my preschool classroom, since they are textured.  We also paint with them, rolling them around on paper.  We have even decoupaged them with glitter, and hung them up as ornaments.

We saw them once at a Halloween party, labeled as Alien Brains.

Their usefulness extends beyond that of a decoration.  The fruit is said to be a natural insect repellent, and you can even find them in stores and online to purchase to keep in your home.  Some even say they can keep flies away.  One can only wish.

The trees which bear the fruit have an interesting history.  Native American would use the dense wood to make bows, and these bows were traded along the trail lines.  The sharp thorns were a suggested use for hedge fences before the introduction of barbed wire.  The wood was also used for fence post, and is still valued for tool and knife handles. 

Dinosaur Puppets

Meet Lenny the Longneck.  My kids and I had a blast making these cute little lunch bag puppets, then they put on a show for my husband and me. 
Thanks to Texas Parks and Wildlife for the idea and tutorial on their web site.  I may or may not have needed the tutorial, but it's a nice place to start.  Because what we sometimes need is a little inspiration.  Inspiration to turn off the tv, or quit folding the laundry, sit down with your children and make something....





http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_trex.phtml

I gathered paper lunch bags, construction paper, glue sticks, crayons and scissors.  You could use hot glue or liquid glue, but with a 3 year old I "stuck" with the glue sticks.  I also used regular scissors and the ones that make jagged edges for different looks for the dinosaurs.

I purchased both the white and the brown paper lunch bags, but we only used the white. 

For this T-Rex puppet, my son colored the the bag green, then cut out the head and lower jaw shapes.  He used the jagged scissors to create a scaley look. 

This one was my little guys, and his sister helped on the face. 














My daughter cut out horns for her Stegosaurus puppet.  She also added a tail to him. 

This is my long neck.  I cut out a long neck, and glued it onto the bag.  I think the large googly eyes would be so cute on these, but we didn't have any. 

 This is my daughter's Brachiosaurus.  She added a pencil on the back for support, and then taped it down using left over masking tape from when we painted her room. 

 My son balled up a piece of black construction paper for their show, End of the Dinosaur Days. I probably should have labeled this with a Spoiler Alert! You can probably guess how it ends.

 I added a tree branch to my long necked dinosaur, using construction paper. 

 Here is a close up of my tree branch, because I thought it was really cute. 

My daughter added some red and orange construction paper flames to a mountain they already had for the volcano scene of their puppet show.

 During the show, my daughter's Brachiosaurus with the engineered neck support.  I'm glad I kept my mouth shut, because I really didn't think it would work. 

Don't you love the legs! Unfortunantly, the cute little dinosaurs were bound for extinction.  We had so much fun, I bet they get brought to life again.  Maybe there will be a sequel.