Versatile Macaroni Salad

I hated Tuna Mac Salad when I was growing up.
It was fishy and dry with little taste...sorry Mom,
but now I understand why she made it.
Its Fast, Easy and you can sneak veggies and a protein in. 
Last week she me she was making it for company and I was like "Yucky, don't do that to them!"
Mom made it anyway and I tried it and was shocked.
 I loved it! 16 years later, she has improved her technique!

There really is no recipe.
Pick out Pasta, cook and cool
Add Mayo, Miracle Whip, Sour Cream....one or all 3, if you'd like, I did.
Add Tuna (rinsed, this is key to non fishy taste or smell) or Chicken, maybe Salmon.
Add chopped Red Onion, green onion...we like onion
Add chopped celery, for crunch, you could add grapes, water chestnuts...anything really.
Lemon Pepper, salt and fresh pepper to taste.
Refrigerate, then add mayo again before serving.

Recently tested and approved by a 3, 9 and 11 year old. 

Fav Foods @ 2 1/2 years

Dinner: yep ...you guessed it Spaghetti!!

Breakfast: Mimi's shakes...don't ask whats in it, just drink it! 

Lunch: Hard-boiled egg, or chicken salad

Veggie: Broccoli  

Fruit: Any kind but loves watermelon, strawberries,  grapes and frozen blueberries

Snack: Goldfish, raisins and marshmallows...mixed together  

Drink: Simply Apple juice...she will stop EVERYTHING for a glass of this, also Papa's grape juice 

Dessert: Anything with frosting
 

Sweet Dreams

 We love our nighttime routine and I hope she will remember it when she is older, if not I will remind her how much she loved to cuddle with momma when she is 14 and wants nothing to do with me.
 Her night usually goes like this: Bath, where I fight to rinse the shampoo out of her hair, where she doctors her bath-time Dora doll or puts her to bed with a washcloth. Afterwords, she sits on the counter and makes butt prints on the mirror with the lotion I just put on her, then she brushes her teeth/eats the toothpaste.
Next, we read a few stories on the couch, then she says "Daddy can I have a glass of wader",after one tiny gulp she gives Daddy kisses and hugs then we head down the hallway as she says "but we still need to do Rock a bye", so we pile up on the cozy recliner in her room with the lights off her moon projector on, cover up with Blankie, cuddle and sing Rock a bye, Twinkle Twinkle...which she has an alternative ending to, then we sing or say as many nursery rhymes as we can remember that particular day. Her favorites; Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Yankee Doodle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Mary had a Little Lamb. After 3 more, "just one mores",  she gets cozy in her bed with all her "friends" which include the following.: Most importantly, Dollie then Bun Bun, Little Puppy, Mr. Measles, Teddy and the newest member, Polar Bear. Then she asks "what are we going to do Saturday"...which usually means tomorrow, then we tell each other sweet dreams and blow kisses and she is quickly off to dreamland.
Such sweet memories...

Another Milestone

2 Years and 5 months and potty trained...still having a few hiccups in the # 2 department, but all in all I am very impressed with her achievement! I took a few days off in preparation for this event, I had the the panties washed, the M&M jar filled, lots of drinks and all her favorite sitting spots covered with towels.
 By 11am (5 tinkles)on the first day she understood she had the power to control and was done with getting wet.

My tips:
1. PottyWise by Gary Ezzo was very helpful
2.Start verbally prepping 2 weeks before, role play with a doll/animal so she can teach
3.It was easier to go straight to the potty seat that fits on the toilet
4. Buy at least 14 pairs of panties to start
5. Praise for staying dry too, not just going(M&Ms and Dollar Store prizes worked well)

bye bye paci,hello potty!

Last week Isabel misplaced her paci at bedtime(the only time she was allowed to have it.) She only has one...it is the only kind she likes and they don't make them anymore...luckily! It actually worked out well, because she knew I just didn't take it away from her...we really couldn't find it. She whimpered for a bit but that was it, she didn't wake up during the night or anything! I have been attempting...well contemplating, removing the paci since January!
The next day Mom suggested that I let her pick a "cuddly" to replace paci with. So we drove on down to Big Lots just in time to see them unload all the Easter product. I explained that she could pick something because she was such a big girl and didn't need her paci anymore. I pointed out a cute 15inch lop ear bunny to which Isabel said "that's too big to cuddle mommy" and then she found a little 4inch purple bunny and squeezed it tight and said "this is perrrfect."
The next few nights she asked for paci, and I just told her "remember we went and got Bun Bun because you are such a big girl and don't need your paci anymore." After that she started telling me the story at night.
I did find the pacifier ...but I snapped a picture and then tossed it! Now on to the potty training challenge! Excellent book by the way...I highly recommend it.

Finger Painting

1st Art project

Took her a while to allow herself to get "dirty"

And now I know why they sell finger paint in tubes.

Words of Wisdom...

Isabel has let the "terrible 2" out a little this past week and we have been working on having a happy heart. This was a friendly reminder for me. I think I will put it on the bathroom mirror so I can see it when I am trying to pry her mouth open to brush her teeth :)

Isabel's Favorites 2yrs 3mo.

 We both love this book, and she can almost read it to me. It is the perfect bedtime story!

 This is her favorite learning toy, and it has helped her learn her ABC's.

My snack creation for Isa

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I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and adjusted it to be a little healthier with substituting applesauce for oil, reducing sugar and adding more veggies. So I feel, changing the name was justified. Isabel loves it!

 Toddler Friendly Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (1of them whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
•  1 3/4 cups sugar(1c. white,3/4 brown)
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  3cups grated zucchini
• 1 grated carrot
• handful of raisins

Directions

1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, applesauce, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and carrots until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Pens should have safety locks...

or parents should never leave toddlers alone, especially in house where the pen count triples almost daily thanks to hubby. :)