Using Morgan's Cool Bake Oven

I went through the kids' activity box on Tuesday to clean it out and put all the supplies in a bigger box. While I was switching everything over, I came across the mixes for Morgan's Cool Bake Oven that she got for Christmas. We had made the brownies that came with it, shortly after Christmas, but I had forgotten about it since. Anyway, the weather wasn't cooperating to make it outside to play Tuesday afternoon, so we made some Cool Bake Cookies instead! :-)

*I had never heard of the Cool Bake Oven before Morgan got it for Christmas. It's pretty neat-it actually 'bakes' the dough using ice!

Wordless Wednesday: Close up

For more Wordless Wednesday, check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go!, Healthy Moms and PB and Smelly's Dad.

Potty Time Tuesday: Exciting News!

So it's actually Wednesday when I'm posting this, but I had to tell everyone what Blake did this morning.

We are still just letting Blake sit on the potty when he feels like it. I haven't been pushing him at all. I've just been taking it easy with potty training until summer. Well, this morning, I asked Blake if he wanted to sit on the potty and he shook his head yes. I went to take his sleeper off, but he insisted on doing it himself. He got the zipper down and then Morgan helped him get his feet and arms out. Morgan was about to get his diaper off for him too, but I stopped that one! (Last night, when I took Blake out of the bath tub, he wet on the rug and I didn't want a diaperless Blake running around and peeing all over. Also, when he wet on the rug, I put him right on the toilet and told him that was where he was suppose to go potty hoping it would sink in.)

Okay, so back to the story. I put Blake on the potty and gave him his tube of toothpaste to hold like usual. I sat on the step stool and talked to him. I didn't really thinking that anything was going to happen. Blake started to reach for the toilet paper, which he usually does, and he actually got some and went right to wiping himself. I thought that he was just mimicking what he had seen Morgan and I do, but when I looked, I saw a little droplet on him and realized he had actually peed in the potty! The little bit of yellowish water confirmed it! I think I was just as excited as when I won the play set and camera last Wednesday! LOL!

I think he might be getting the idea, but I'm not sure what to do next. Should I start putting him on the potty certain times of the day, like when he wakes up and before and after meals? Or maybe I should try what I did with Morgan and let him run around without a diaper, even though it isn't summer yet? Or should I just keep taking it easy like I have been? Or maybe it was just an accident-that he happened to go on the potty this morning, and no matter what I do, he still might not really be catching on? What do you think?

To participate in Potty Time Tuesdays, head on over to Healthy Moms.

Make Something Monday: Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

As much as I love to bake, I usually don't have a ton of time with the little ones, so I LOVE this recipe. I can still have chocolate chip cookies without having to drop a bunch of cookies on cookie sheets and then wait for them all to bake. I just whip this up and cut it into squares. It probably takes less than half the time as making individual cookies.

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 6 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (12 ounce package) Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually blend into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12x5/8-inch round pizza pan with foil. Pat dough evenly into prepared pan to within 3/4-inch of edge. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool; cute into wedges. Makes about 8 servings. (I cut them into small squares and get about 30 cookies.)

For more Make Something Monday, check out Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom.

Baskin Robbins is Honoring America's Firefighters with a 31 cent Scoop Night!

With Rich being a volunteer firefighter, I thought it was pretty neat that Baskin Robbins will be honoring America’s firefighters on Wednesday, April 29th from 5:00 to 10:00 pm. They will be hosting a 31 cent scoop night (for the small size) where firefighters will be serving ice cream and teaching kids about fire safety and prevention. Baskin Robbins will also be donating $100,000 to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)National Junior Firefighter Program.

I'm not sure if we will be going, or even if our local Baskin Robbins is participating, but I wanted to spread the word. It sounds like a fun way for kids to learn some very important fire safety and also enjoy a yummy treat! :-)

Thank you to Chefdruck Reviews for sharing this information on your blog! :-)