The Sewing Machine LIVES!

picklewart.blogspot.com

Well, you coop a person up long enough on a snow-laden hill and something highly unlikely is bound to happen. For me, it was sewing... sewing... yep, I said it, sewing. I finally got my mother's old 1960's New Home sewing machine to come alive.
I'm no seamstress... not even a little... but I've managed to sew a pillow case... an OVERLAPPING flaps pillow case. I know, I know. Some of you are gasping and shrieking at the thought, but it's true.
Grace picked out some fabric that she really liked at Hobby Lobby, and so it happened. Yep. The real deal. Me, a sewing machine, a couple of ugly words, and a pillow case.
Grace is quite proud of her new pillow case.

Next, a pillowcase dress! (oh mercy.)

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Puffy Paint

picklewart.blogspot.com

My friend Marlana over at A Peek Into Our Nest mentioned making puffy paint the other day. It sounded fun AND easy, so we decided to give it a try... and I'm glad we did. The kids loved it!

All you need is some plain white school glue and some plain white shaving cream. Mix equal parts of each.

You'll have a thick gloopy (is that a word?) goo to use. Go start creating!

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Princess Birthday Bonanza

picklewart.blogspot.com

Well, my little girl will soon turn 4. My tiny little sweet baby girl... my sweet baby that I rocked each night, my little angel.
Tomorrow, the 12th, at about 12:30 PM, my little girl will be four years old.
Tonight we celebrated with friends and family.
Earlier this month this same sweet little girl told her Mommy (who would do almost anything for her) that she wanted a castle cake this year... almost a predictable request for a 4 year old birthday party... but then she added that she also wanted it to have a volcano behind it!
Say huh?
She continued with this same request for the next several days and weeks. Obviously she was serious. So, Mommy made it happen in accordance as the little princess deemed it.But there was more "princessing" to do... frog kisses anyone?
And how 'bout glittery play dough... or "royal dough"!And Garrett wanted in on the present action.But there was one present at the end that Grace never expected...
A dollhouse taller than her!
We had a good time at the party tonight... and I look forward to many more with my sweet little princess!!
Pictures here by my friend Kara Guffey of Kara Guffey Photography - serving southwest Missouri!

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My Baby Boy is ONE!

picklewart.blogspot.com

My baby boy is now officially ONE YEAR OLD. It's the end of a "baby era" here at the Goff house. At least, we believe it's the end of an era!
Garrett had his first birthday party here at the house with lots of friends and family! We indulged in cake (my first attempt at home-made marshmallow fondant) and ice cream, had fun with presents and playing, and then went off for naps so that everyone could return that evening for grilling out and some firework festivities!!

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Practice with a Fondant Cake

picklewart.blogspot.com

Garrett's 1st birthday is coming soon, and I decided this year that I would make his first cake using fondant... I guess that makes two firsts. I've been told home-made marshmallow fondant tastes sooooo much better than store-bought, and it's much cheaper too... especially if you're making a lot of it! Today was my first go and it went OK. Dyeing fondant seems to be the biggest challenge though (thus the tie dye pink ;-).

I used a home-made marshmallow fondant and here's how it goes:

*Grease counter with oleo (Crisco).

1. Pour out 1/2 a bag of powdered sugar onto surface.
2. In large greased bowl, pour a full bag of marshmallows (reg or min) and 1/2 Tbsp of water.
3. Microwave in 30 sec increments stirring between until marshmallows melt (usually around 2 min).
4. Pour melted marshmallow onto powdered sugar surface.
5. Grease hands and knead. (This is a very messy process but also a little fun. Who doesn't love pla-dough!?)Work until pliable. If it becomes sticky, add more powdered sugar).
6. Roll into ball, grease the ball with oleo, and wrap in saran wrap.
7. Refridgerate to firm 4+ hours.
8. Buttercream crumb-coat your cake before laying on fondant. Refridgerate an hour or so. When you remove, rub the edges to remove any excessive roughness.
9. Roll to 1/4" thickness to lay over cake.
10. Lay over cake. Gently rub and pull down to smooth out the sides from overlap. Trim bulk to aid in this process. Set aside bulk for dyeing later.
11. To dye, knead the heck out of it with your gel dye (or reg dye). This will seem neverending. Mine never really did become a smooth color!

Below are pictures from our process:

Some handy tools to have around.

Sorry, no pics of MY fondant process... too messy. But here's the finished product ready to go to the fridge. Here's the YouTube How to video link I used though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9rlJeJsJR0

My favorite icing... Wilton's Buttercream below - for my filling and crumb coating above.
Grace picks out the practice cake colors. Pink and green of COURSE!
My white base layer of fondant layed on and tucked in around the 9" double layer cake.
Grace helped out cutting shapes and rolling balls!

The finished product:

Ready to eat!!

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"Why?" "How come?"

picklewart.blogspot.com

I should have taken a picture of it. There it was, a big sign on the wall of The Magic House:

The average 4 year old
asks 437 questions a day.

It's 11:45 AM, and I am almost certain my 3 1/2 year old has already asked 436 questions. I have been told this phase was coming and that it was normal. I have been told that it's a good sign that they begin to ask sooooo many questions - it's a sign that they are learning.
Well, I am here to tell you that my kid is learning... a whole lot! I have heard parents complain, um, I mean discuss, how much their 4 and 5 year old asked questions... about how tiring it could be. I thought to myself then, "Yeah, that's probably a little annoying to answer questions all the time." I had no idea what they really meant though.
Sometimes, I honest to goodness get tired of hearing myself talk. I wish I would just shut up... but I can't because HERE COMES ANOTHER QUESTION! Oh my goodness.

Well, I am so thankful to have a happy healthy 3 1/2 year old, and I am thankful that she's here to ask all 437 questions a day... I just noticed that I haven't had to answer a question for the last 15 minutes... well, she is napping...

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I'd like to be a buffalo at Grant's Farm

picklewart.blogspot.com

Our last day in St. Louis was another fun one. We packed up, checked out, and headed for one last park day at Grant's Farm. What a neat place to spend a couple of hours. It started out with a tram ride around half the park and then dropped us off at a "walk-around" area. This is where Grace got up close and personal with kids - the goat kind that is. We also saw chickens with hair (Crested Polish or something like that) and chickens with pants (feathers down their legs). I made note of these exotic dancing chickens and have a list started for our chicken farm! She also saw buffalo (boy do they have an easy life!), foxes, lemurs, camels, parrots, iguanas, elephants, and, of COURSE, Clydesdales. And once again, here are the pics to show a few...

Buffalo and their babes

Clean-up tub in one of the stall areas - we should have filled it and given her a bath right there. Her teeth were blue from her sno-one!

Getting up close and personal with a baby Clydesdale!

You can see momma Clydesdale in the background of this picture.

Well, it's all over now, but what fun we had... and what good memories Grace will have. We'll have to go back and do it all again in a few years when Garrett can live it up with her!
Happy Vacationing Everyone!

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The Very Magical Magic House - St. Louis

picklewart.blogspot.com

It was another great day here in St. Louis. We experience much magic at The Magic House! That place is HUGE and is loaded with activities for everyone from babies to elders! We absolutely wore ourselves out and were ready to relax that evening!

Garrett in "the oval office"

Lunch at The Picnic Basket in The Magic House

The mirror maze was fun

Grace built her own working set of gears

Floating on air balls fascinated Garrett

The bubble organ was a hoot

And when the day was over and Courtney and I were ready to collapse, THIS is what Grace was doing. No more monkeys jumping on the bed, girl!

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