Family Rules Project

If you've been around the blog block a time or two, then I'm sure that you have seen the family rules canvases that are super popular right now. I can't be sure where I first saw the idea, but I think that it was over at The Pleated Poppy.

{Photo Credit: The Pleated Poppy}

I loved the idea of it, but it wasn't exactly my style. So, I took the idea and made it my own! Busy Bee, Hubby & I brainstormed and came up with these family rules to live by. The last two are Busy Bee's and possibly my favorite, "Leave a trail of loveness" (loooooove this) and "no coffee in the family room" (don't ask)!

I plan on printing this on canvas and hanging it in our office. I'll let you know how it turns out!

In case you have trouble reading them, here they are:

be kind & speak nicely

share

mind your manners

sing & laugh & dance & play

clean up after yourself

always tell the truth

believe in yourself

be grateful

keep your promises

count your blessings

work hard & play hard

give your best to your guest

no coffee in the family room

leave a trail of loveness

 

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

In honor of Earth Day, I thought that I would share one of my favorite quotes with you!

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
- Native American Proverb

Bee Happy,

Swedish Pancakes

{Photo : Taste Of Home}

I tried my hand at making a family favorite this weekend! They were a delicious change and so yummy with blueberries on top. They must have passed the Busy Bees Household test because I got a "Thumbs Up!" & a "Put these in the rotation!"

2 eggs

1/2 t. salt

1 T. sugar
1/3 c. sifted flour
1/2 c. milk
1 t melted shortening
(batter will be thin)

butter for frying
berries for topping (optional)
Beat the eggs and add the milk and flour gradually along with the sugar and salt. Heat a small frying pan over medium heat and brush with butter. Pour 1/4 cup batter into center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Repeat with remaining batter, adding butter to skillet as needed.

Enjoy!

Click here to print this recipe! They are sized as a 3 x 5 to fit perfectly in your recipe box.

Bee Happy,

Easter Egg Hunt Recap

The Easter Egg Hunt turned out to be great fun! We kept it simple and didn't too much planning - knowing that it would be all over in a matter of minutes! We followed it with an ice cream picnic and some of the kiddos stayed around to play!

In case you are planning your own for next year, here are a few ideas!

We created cute carrot shaped favors with Wilton 12 inch pastry bags, some polkadot (of course!) ribbon and some of Busy Bee's favorites - chickadees cheddar cheese snack crackers. For the babies in attendance we filled them with sweet potato puffs by Gerber. And since those babes wouldn't be able to enjoy the goodies in the eggs, we got them little books as a favor too.

We had extra baskets on hand in case our friends forgot theirs and made sure to have a first aid kit handy (although we didn't need it, thankfully).

We filled about 2 dozen eggs per child and one extra large one. We also hid mini bottles of bubbles. We decided against doing a "golden egg" or putting cash in one because we didn't want anybody feelings to be hurt about not getting the "big" prize. All in all, it was a great success and I'm looking forward to next year - and hitting up the clearance department for cute decor!

Bee Happy,

Make Your Own Lacing Cards

Today Busy Bee and I made our own lacing cards! They were "sew" simple ;)! I simply trimmed some characters that Busy Bee had colored or painted. The watercolor books worked the best because they were thicker paper and also did not have anything on the backside. Then we laminated them and punched holes around the edges, using a heart shaped punch for a little whimsy!

Bee Happy,

Spring Flowers

Nothing says Spring to me more than these beautiful egg carton flowers! I just love the color combos!

Monday Mission: Plan an Easter Egg Hunt

in FIVE days! :)

Busy Bee and I were talking about what fun it would be to host an Easter Egg Hunt with her friends in the neighborhood and I heard myself saying, "Maybe next year..." because I was thinking that it was getting too late to send invites. Then I asked hubby his opinion and he was game. Then I checked the weather. High 70s with tons of sunshine! It has *snowed* on Easter before - so I figured that we might as well as take advantage of the weather and go for it!

I'm a party planning girl by nature. As in, I start to plan next year's birthday party the day after this year's party. I pore over the design of the invites and collect ideas and goodies for months. Scour blogs for inspiration. I run through the set up and decor in my mind like it's a military exercise. I have trouble falling asleep the night before because I'm so excited. It's crazy!

But, because of the timing - the Easter Egg Hunt has to be more on the impromptu and simple side. (As simple as 250 filled eggs can be, right?)

I don't *do* simple! But I'm gonna try...

Today Busy Bee and I delivered these adorable (if I do say so myself, LOL!) invites to the guests along with an egg filled with chocolate treats. And before you say, "Not more candy!~" I do plan on finding a good many nonedible treats for the egg stuffings.

When I told Busy Bee that the hunt was on - she said, "Yeah, you are SUPERMOM!" I can't turn back now! :)

I'll let you know how it goes!

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

I wanted to share a video with you today. Be sure to have a tissue handy. I promise you that nobody gets sick or passes away. It's just a gentle reminder to savor every single day with your own busy bees. Before you know it, they will be leaving the hive... Enjoy!

Bee Happy,

More Rainbow Fun

We finshed off St. Patrick's Day fun with more rainbow activities. First up, we planned a rainbow dinner and made sure to include something for every color. We even had rainbow striped plates!

Next we created rainbow bracelets with colored fruit cereal and string licorice so our creations were totally edible! We took some time to discuss favorite colors and patterns.

We read this book and then took a look at some of Van Gogh's masterpieces and the use of color.

Last but certainly not least was what Busy Bee had been looking forward to and planning for months! We had billed it as a boring plain old vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. If you've been around the blogging block before you know what's coming. If you are offended by technicolored food - click away and come back tomorrow. :)

Here is the finished cake- please keep in mind that I iced it in a matter of 5 minutes while trying to occupy Baby Bee with silly faces and in between having playdates with Busy Bee's neighborhood friends.

If you decide to tackle this cake here are two tips:

use Wilton gel food coloring and be sure to get the ones with "no taste" and

use disposable cake pans (you can use them afterward for crafting purposes)!

We had a few of Busy Bee's friends over for the big cake reveal and I have to say that it did earn me a few points in the "Cool Mom" department.

I'm off to go feed Busy Bee nothing but organic food for the next few weeks to counteract this colorful concoction! :)

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

May you always find

Blue Skies Above your Head
Shamrocks beneath your feet
Laughter and joy aplenty
Kindness from all you meet
Good friends and kin to miss you
If you ever choose to roam
And a path that's been cleared
By the Angels themselves
To carry you safely home.

-Irish Blessing


Bee Happy,

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

The other day Busy Bee and I made some yummy chocolate chip banana bread! It was so good that we wanted to share the recipe with you!

To create the cute heart shaped pat of butter, we simply softened some butter in the microwave and used a knife to press it into a candy mold. We popped the mold in the freezer until the butter was solid. Simple & sweet!

Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mashed ripe banana(2 to 3 medium)
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan.

2. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in large bowl; blend well on medium speed of mixer. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Makes one loaf.

Bee Happy,

Backwards Letter from The Leprechaun

A few of Busy Bee's friends get a visit from a leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day! He does all sorts of silly things like color the milk green, turn things upside down and leave a trail of mini footprints and green sugar in his dust! If they are lucky, he leaves them a treat or two!

I'm not sure if the leprechaun will visit inside our house this year. He may create some silliness in the yard and leave this note and a treat in the mailbox.

I was thinking earlier this evening of a new printable to share with you, a letter from the leprechaun for him to leave behind, but I wanted to make it extra special! That's when it hit me - do it in reverse!

Simply have your busy bee hold it up to the mirror to see the message left behind from lucky the leprechaun!

It reads:
Sorry for all of the mischief and mess...
I hope that this St. Patrick's Day is the best!

Love,
Lucky The Leprechaun
(I also have a no name/blank version in case you have been doing this in year's past & your leprechaun has a different name!)

Hop on over here to download a copy for yourself!
No name version



Bee Happy,


I'm linking up @

Coffee Filter Crafts

We've been busy working on coffee filter crafts in our house!

We wanted to share a few with you!

1. Shamrock

Gather markers in varying shades of green.

Have your busy bee scribble all over the coffee filter.

Spray lightly with water from spray bottle until the colors run together.

Lay flat and allow to dry.

Once dry, fold in half 3 times. Trim to this shape (think half of a heart).

Save excess for stem.

Open to reveal your shamrock shape and add your stem!

I plan on framing this and adding it to my St. Patrick's Day Decor.

2. Rainbow

Gather a rainbow of colored markers.

Fold Coffee filter in fourths and color like a rainbow.

Trim bottom in arch shape.

Spray lightly with water from the spray bottle until the colors run together.

Lay flat and allow to dry.

When finished you can trim to make 4 half rainbows or 2 full rainbows.

We framed a half rainbow and hung a full rainbow in our window like a sun catcher!

Rainbow Scavenger Hunt

Today we've been working on rainbow crafts and activities in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day! We started off this morning with a rainbow scavenger hunt! We kept it to one room, the playroom and tried to find items that were solid in color.

My favorite moment was when Busy Bee told the chair to "Say Cheese!" (She took all of the pictures!)

                                  

We also read one of our favorite books...and while I realize that Indigo is missing - it is still a pretty cute read as the rainbow unfolds in the form of a ribbon rainbow!

                                       

What Makes A Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz

Check back soon to see our other rainbow crafts and activities!

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

When I was expecting Baby Bee, little sibling to Busy Bee, a friend shared this poem with me. Now I want to share it with you! Luckily for us, it was adoration & affection from the start between Busy Bee & Baby Bee. It's amazing how in the span of a few moments - you can't imagine life with a second child and then you can't imagine life without them.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand,

basking in the glow of our magical relationship.

Suddenly I feel a kick from within,

as if to remind me that our time alone is limited.

And I wonder, how could I love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you.

I watch as the pain you feel at having to

share me as you have never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way,

"Please love only me" and
I hear myself telling you in mine "I can't".

Knowing in fact that I never can again.

You cry, I cry with you.

I almost see our baby as an intruder
on the precious relationship we once shared.

A relationship we can never have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached

to that new being, and feeling almost guilty.

I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her

-- as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity,

then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine.

The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just us two.

There are new times -- only now we are three.

I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other,

touch each other. I watch how she adores you, as I have for so long.

I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments.

I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you,

I've given something to you.

I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are,

but equally strong.

And my question is finally answered to my amazement.

Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you, only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time,
I know you'll never share my love.

There's enough of that for both of you --

you each have your own supply.

I love you both and I thank you both for blessing my life.

Author Unknown

Bee Happy,

St. Patrick's Day Printable - Kiss Me I'm Irish Sign

This one speaks for itself! It is sized for a 5 x7 frame or opening!

Head on over here to download it for yourself & have some instant St. Patty's day decor!

Bee Happy,

Moose Juice

Busy Bee headed to Grammy's to play

and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday.

They put their heads together
and started to think...
not of a treat that you eat...
but of one that you drink.

The ingredients they gathered
and blended and poured.
Tasting the silly concoction,
they were floored!
It was orangy and frothy
and oh so yummy...
and just hit the spot
in their rumbly tummy!

They toasted to Dr. Seuss
the 'Rhymer Extraordinaire',
with a cup full of Moose Juice...
here's the recipe to share!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup orange sherbert
1/2 banana, sliced
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon whipped cream

Directions

1. Combine the juice, sherbert, banana, and extract. Mix it in a blender until smooth.

2. Pour it in a glass and top with the whipped cream. Enjoy! A bendie or silly straw is a must!

Recipe from:

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Georgeanne Brennan

Bee Happy,