Cornstarch Gloop {Kid Craft}

My kids love to make a mess! Is that abnormal? I'm thinking not. They love to squish their hands in gross things too. Wait, that doesn't sound right. You know what I mean! This was the perfect craft/activity.

I found this great idea over on this blog. She has a short video on her site that might explain it a little better too.

I don't think my pictures can do this "gloop" justice. They just can't give you the full affect on how cool it really is.

It's a liquid...

But it's also a solid. Does that make sense?

When you squish your hands into this mixture it's pliable and feels like a thick paste. But then you hold it for a second and it melts away. It's so cool!

Even though I can't even begin to describe how cool it is, my kids LOVE playing with this and ask to make Gloop all the time! And it's so easy!


Ingredients:
* 1 cup Cornstarch
* 1/2 cold water
* a few drops of food coloring

That's it!

In a measuring cup mix the water and food coloring.

Add it to the cornstarch Now mix and play!

Cheap and fun! I like those kinds of activities =o)

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Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

I think it was right after Easter when I saw this recipe over on Tiffanee's blog, One Crazy Cookie. It looked so good I immediately bookmarked. Oh my! Was it ever. The combination of flavors was incredible and I've made it a couple of times since then!)

It was super easy (which I love) and it tastes fantastic. Two things I love =o) And I made one casserole and then froze individual servings in plastic containers so I could take them to work for lunch. Perfect!

Ingredients:
* 16 oz. bag of frozen hash browns (Tiffanee used 8 oz. but I added more)
* 3 - 4 chicken breasts cooked and cubed
* 1/2 pound ham, cubed
* 8 oz. cream cheese
* 1 can cream of chicken soup
* 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
* 1/4 tsp. pepper
* 1/4 cup milk

Place hash browns in the bottom of a x13 casserole dish.

Then layer the chicken and ham over the top.

Sprinkle with 1 cup Swiss cheese.

Combine the soup, cream cheese (slightly warm so it's easier to stir), milk and pepper. Spread the creamy mixture over the cheese layer.

(Sorry, I lost that picture) =o(

Sprinkle the rest of the Swiss cheese over the top. (You can freeze it at this point if you would like to.) Or bake at 350 degrees, covered, for 50 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 10 more minutes until bubbly.


Note: It's even better the next day after all the flavors sit.

Enjoy!




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A Trip to the Windy City: Chicago!

My kids and I just got back from our vacation to Chicago to visit my sister and her family. Wow! For those of you who don't know, we live in Oregon, so traveling to Chicago for me and the kids was a big deal (and quite the adventure!)

My niece had a baby on Valentine's Day so we have been aching to see this little guy for 5 months now!


My kids were so funny. I wasn't sure if they would be a little jealous with all the attention Kemper would get but they didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, they were the ones giving him so much attention!

Our trip was quite the adventure. I think my son's favorite place we went to was Lego Adventure Land. The smile on his face says it all, don't you think?


My son and me with my niece, Kati, and her little guy, Kemper.


My kids and their cousin, Matt.

Cody with his favorite Aunt, Carolyn, and his new cousin, Kemper.

The Navy Pier made completely out of Legos!

We didn't see a ton of Chicago but that really wasn't the purpose of our visit. We just wanted to hang out with our family and give them hugs and kisses. =o) But we did go down to the Navy Pier one day. We got to take the train into downtown Chicago. What an adventure!




Then we boarded a water taxi that took us to Navy Pier.




We ate lunch here:

My sister and I shared this: (YUM!)

We also went to the ceramic painting place. I just love those places!


But maybe one of my favorite memories I'll take with me was our colossal silly string war.

What fun we had! I think the memory my son will have for ever is playing with his cousin! What patience my nephew has! They put Legos together:


They went through all of my nephews old Pokemon cards:


And had Pokemon battles:

My daughter's favorite memory?


It was an amazing trip. We came home exhausted - just like you're supposed to from vacation!