DIY Snow Cone Fun Anytime! (#Recipe)

We love snow cones here! 
 
So easy to make quickly on a hot day and frugal enough to have anytime.

This year, instead of stocking up on an assortment of flavored syrups, I decided to make our own. Ours will be high fructose free and preferably using fresh available fruit.

Have you tried it? It is just a flavored simple syrup and only takes a few minutes to whip up a jar of your own. Use fresh fruit, or Kool-aid (as we needed to make a patriotic blue for the 4th) and you will have a simple, cold, and sweet treat.

You Will Need:
2 c. sugar
1 c. water *
Flavoring - 1 c. pureed fruit or 1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid.

*When using fresh fruit, I cut the water by 1/2 so it wouldn't be too runny. I think it is a personal preference. You could also strain out the seeds with a cheesecloth, but I would miss the chunks of fruit I got with just pureeing them.

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan.

Bring this mixture up to a boil for one minute.

Turn off the burner and remove from the heat. Then stir in your fresh fruit or packet of drink mix. It is that simple! Store it in a sealed jar, a canning jar worked well, for up to 2 weeks.

And for the snow cones? We picked up a ice shaver at Target.

I like this model because it uses either round ice molds you can freeze with water or juice,  or use regular ice cubes. My molds melted in the car on the way to my in-laws so I was grateful we could also use the regular ice cubes! The kids were not able to wait too long for their treats.

These patriotic snow cones were the perfect treat for the kids at our Fourth of July get-together. They didn't last long.

So experiment and enjoy!

No Doesn't Always Mean "No!"

In the spirit of Toddler Tuesday, I thought I would share a little developemental update on my youngest baby girl. She is most definitely into the defiant toddler stage, and language has become the biggest and most frustrating obstacle for her.

Language is a beautiful thing. I love watching my daughter connect meaning to her sounds and get recognition from people we see. Moms and Dads share special modified communication with their children, be it gestures, inflection or cute nicknames. But, when outsiders can understand, that is a big deal! And I love to see the look of understanding on her eager face.

My son said "Yes" with a gusto for a long time. Unfortunately since my daughter is the second child, "No" has become more prevalent in our daily speech. Add to that a new puppy and "No" is probably the most used word in our house. My precious little girl, of course, picked up on this. And her go to word is.... the dreaded,

"NO!!!!"

Her sweet little "no" isn't all that cut and dry. Ask her if she wants to watch her beloved Wiggles and she will answer you, "no" with a a raised inflection. Of course she means yes. And we understand her. If candy is involved she also gives a more emphatic "No", but her body language tells another story. Arms outstretched and a big smile on her face.

So for the past week I have been making a concerted effort to end with a "yes?" and a big head nod. Though she still says "no" more often than not, she has added a head nod that is easier for strangers and family to identify. Ding-Ding! We have real communication. I am hoping that simple behavior modification will lead to less frustration and tantrums for her. Unlike my son, she is a throw down and kick kinda gal, and I don't want that to become habit.

I can't remove all the negative words from her vocabulary, and I think there is a place the word no. I just want her to only use it when it is needed, and of course for her to do more than just answer everything with a show-stopping "NO!".

Do you have any language tips or behavior help for toddlers? I would love to hear them.  

Toddler Tuesdays - Independence!

Welcome to Toddler Tuesday! Since I now have two toddlers in the house (gasp!) I think it is doubly important to celebrate the true toddler spirit of, "I can do it!".

The road to independence is paved with a bit of frosting...

A few snack friendly finger foods...

And a bunch of mac n' cheese (PKU friendly of course from Cambrooke foods!)

Yay for independence! Doesn't it look delicious.... and fun?


If you want to share your own Toddler Tuesday post, be sure to link up at Minnesota Mamas Must Haves!

Toddler Tuesday - Making It His Way

So, any ideas what will happen to this stuff? Straight from my garden it was destined for...


Pizza!


While we were at PKU camp my son became very interested in pizza. So much so that he asked for it for the next meal. Now, if you have a picky eater in your home you will know that was a really big deal. I was sent home with left overs, but also a desire to try making the specially modified pizzas with my toddler. Oh, yeah.... the flour dust did fly!


My son has PKU, a rare metabolic disorder, which requires a low-protein diet. Instead of flour, which has quite a bit of protein, we use a mix of wheat starch, corn starch and some other stuff only found on the back, dusty shelves of health food stores.

It was a pretty simple recipe and we added some italian seasonings and extra olive oil to the mix. It was a huge hit. Especially the decorating part!



Don't worry... even the cheese is imitation, low-pro stuff safe for my son. It does melt... eventually. But, my son loved it!

No recipe included on this one since it was low-pro. If you happen to have PKU and are interested, shoot me an email. Otherwise, I will post my favorite pizza crust recipe for regular dough soon.

Have a great Toddler Tuesday!

Toddler Tuesdays - Big Boy

Babies grow up so fast, but toddlers are changing at warp speed. I am always amazed with the changes in my son as he picks up expressions, gestures, vocabulary and attitude. There is no stopping the changes and some days I feel a little bowled over by them! When I stop to think about it I am overwhelmed by the person he is becoming. Looking back at videos and remembering the cute nicknames my son gave everything brings a tear to my eye. The changes are nothing short of amazing. So, today's Toddler Tuesday is devoted to how fast my little man is growing up.

Don't worry, I won't blubber over my lost baby too much in this post. Well, maybe a little, but I really want to do is highlight some of my favorite things he has outgrown or just started doing. Real reminders that he is growing up so fast!

First there are the expressions he has picked up... today I heard him shout, "Oh, crumbs!" when he dropped a bowl. Thank goodness he hasn't been listening to his uncle's exclamations!

Today as we were making cupcakes I spilled a little flour on the flour and was frustrated by the mess. My son patted me and said, "It's okay Mommy. It'll taste goooood." Such a sweetie!

Then there are the loss of cute words. My son no longer says "doh-dums" instead of dominoes. And when my DH pointed out a whole parking lot of "washing machines" to him, he said "No Daddy. Those are not washing machines. Those are cement mixers." Awwe... It is a loss of an era.

And for the earth shattering change? My son has started sharing his snacks, even the ones he likes, with his sister. Now, toys are still another matter. But, food is a start. They share the same diet so it is pretty safe.

So, with a small tear in my eye and a little, *sniff*, I have to admit that my son is still a toddler, but definitely growing up. Some days a bit faster than I would like.

If you have a toddler what changes make the biggest impact on you? Or if your children are older, I would love to hear a favorite memory. I just love hearing from my readers. Care to share?

To link up and join in on the Toddler Tuesday fun, head on over to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves.

Toddler Tuesdays - Play, Eat, & Sleep Hard...

Everything is big for a toddler... no holding back. Play hard - with every bit of energy and pushing the limits of physics. Nothing is impossible and the word "no" is ignored.


Then eat to refuel... don't savor food - there will be time for that later. Gulp down what you can in order to fast forward to desert. There is always room for desert. The more the merrier!


Then crash. Don't worry about the sore muscles or cricks in the neck that will come later in life. Just grab your puppy, a blanket and crash. But not because Mommy told you, or because she asked... naps are to be avoided. No, crash because you can't keep your head up or your eyes open any longer. Sleep so you can play some more...




My toddler never ceases to surprise me with his gusto for life, his sunny disposition, and hunger to learn each day.

Want to Link up for Toddler Tuesday? Head on over to Minnesota Mama's to find some other great blogs and share your own.

Toddler Tuesdays - Pedaling Fun!

Welcome to another Toddler Tuesday! As my daughter is getting ready to walk I am terrified by the thought that soon, I will have 2 toddlers under one roof! Oh, help me. Well, there won't be a dull... or non-sticky moment.

This week is an ode to our new pedal tractor. At a friend's house my son was introduced to the big drivable trucks. He was so amazed! Even with a water slide, swingset and whole yard full of kids, he was fixated on the truck. Unfortunately he isn't the best at following instructions so he spend a lot of time spinning his wheels in gravel. After some discussion (...and a look at the price tag...) my DH & I decided he was old enough for something... but, maybe pedal power was more up our alley! I had horrible vision of him either running over his sister or my chickens. Saying he is a busy little boy is an understatement... (the band-aid, by the way, is testament to him being too busy to let scratches heal without help.)


And here it is. Since it is pedal powered he will need to build up strength in order to build up speed. This is much harder to mindlessly run into things. We are pretty happy with this find at our local farm supply store.


...and he loves it! He has his own tractor and he gets to work on it with his tools.

It doesn't get much better for a little boy. He can pedal it around the yard, fill the bucket up and dump it out again.

Thanks for stopping my for Toddler Tuesday. This meme was started by Minnesota Mama's. If you want to read more TT fun, or link up, just head on over to her blog.

Toddler Tuesdays - Better Than TV

No, I didn't forget about Toddler Tuesday... I am just running a few hours behind today. I was up early this morning getting cherry turnovers made and getting everyone up. Hay was being baled and that sets the mood for the day....

We don't have to go far. Just in the backyard. The back field sets that stage... two tractors & a bale wagon going around and around.


While the field is being baled, my son forgets all about his toys, he forgets his juice, and he forgets that his favorite program is on TV. All he wants to do is watch the machines do their jobs...

Boys and big toys... living on the farm really agrees with my son. He never stays still for this long.


If you want more Toddler Tuesday fun, or you would like to Link up for the fun, go over to Minnesota Mama's home of the meme, Toddler Tuesday.

Toddler Tuesdays - Finally!... acceptance

Speaking of sleeping toddlers...

Seems like sleeping (or not) toddlers are going around this week. Not just a minute before I snapped this photo (right before I ran scrambling for the camera!) my son had his arm around his sister. I guess he has decided that she is here to stay.

We co-sleep with our toddler and find that we all get a better night sleep that way. I understand it isn't for everyone, and we have had him sleep in his crib in the past. This just works for us, and ends up being such a pleasant wake-up.

As a side note, my daughter, who is 10-months-old, sleeps most of the night in her crib. Oddly enough, she sleeps better this way. I guess all children are different. This is a rare morning where we were all snuggled up together. Luckily they slept while I carefully slid out of bed. Yeah, that never happens!

Because we love our toddlers (today said through gritted teeth!) head on over to Minnesota Mama's to link up your own antics. Enjoy!

Toddler Tuesdays - My Little Dirt Mover

Armed with some machines, dirt and rubber boots (put on the wrong feet, himself) my little dirt mover is hard at work.



It is amazing how much concentration goes into the moving and flattening out of the dirt in this wine barrel. This is his dirt barrel. His work involves constant movement and perpetual perfection.


I would love a glimpse into his world through his eyes. He is so busy... and most importantly he is happiest outside with his machines and dirt.


On a perfect summer day (and aren't they all perfect at this age?)... it is good to be a toddler.

Thanks for stopping by for my Toddler Tuesday. For more Linked up fun, head over to Minnesota Mamas.

Toddler Tuesdays - U-Pick For Fun

Welcome to yet another Toddler Tuesday. We have some berries to share with you. They are still a little dirty, but we picked them with care.


A big thank you to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves for the great Linky (just click to be directed there). I just love reading all the posts of everyone enjoying their toddler. Some days can be a struggle, so it is wonderful to share all those great moments we have.


Even with our lack of sun here in Oregon, the strawberries are trying hard to get ripe. One of our favorite family friendly activities is with U-pick strawberries on the farm. Granted, most people can't just take a wagon across the road to pick, but I bet there are self pick fruit opportunities in your neck of the woods. We hope that some actually make it into your bucket.


This year Owen was excited to see the strawberries getting red. It was his baby sister's first time eating them and I don't know which of the kids was more excited to bite into their big, juicy strawberry.

Toddler Tuesdays - Translation Needed?

My son is 2 1/2... a big boy, by his own declaration. Gone are the quiet afternoons of simple baby coos and non stop babbling. This boy can talk! ...and he surprises us daily with what he says. He has dropped the baby nicknames for things, but I think sometimes we could still use a translator to keep up with him. Here are a few of my current favorites.

Doh-dums - Dominos

Bell-butt - Belly Button

High-tau - Helicopter

Track-trau - Tractor

Monkles - Monkeys

I need to record some of these before he outgrows them. They are so cute! They have also caused a lot of head scratching for relatives.

I know each toddler has their own special language. So, what does your toddler say?

Toddler Tuesdays - Take Your Son to Work

I am sure anyone with a toddler can tell you that they love to mimic their parents. My son is often in the kitchen with me during the day, but it is a special event when he goes to work with his Dad.

Most days he watched Dad, his Great Uncle & Great Grandpa out working at the shop. He also keeps a close eye on which machines go in and out. This is a machine-lovin-toddler's dream come true.

Thank goodness the tractors are much more comfortable to ride on these days.


Luckily the tractor has a great little buddy seat in it. We also have his ear protection on and then away they go!

I will be sure to have a nice tall glass of lemonade waiting for my hard working guys!

Happy Toddler Tuesday everyone! Be sure to visit Minnesota Mamma's blog for her TT post as well as a listing of other posts around the blogisphere. If you have a post, be sure to link up and let me know so I come visit you.

Toddler Tuesdays - Boy Meets Bird

Welcome to another Toddler Tuesday, a celebration on the ups, downs & the creative side of having a toddler. At the bottom of the post you will find a link to the Toddler Tuesday Linky at Minnesota Mama's Must Haves.

Our chickens are getting big, but still a lot of fun. My toddler helps me care for them and he looks forward to it everyday. ...always a nice reminder that his "chickies need fresh waa".



We just finished building their outdoor coop and now they are easier to interact with.



Here Boy meets bird.


And well, bird decides to go elsewhere.


Do your toddlers have responsibilities? Do they have simple chores or a pet to care for? Link up for more fun at Minnesota Mama's.