Oobleck

N is really into Dr Seuss stuff right now. We went to the library and checked out five Dr. Seuss books and a Dr. Seuss movie. I found a fun science related activity online so we did tried it. We read Dr. Seuss's "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" book. Then we made Oobleck. I had no idea how much N would love making and playing with this gooey stuff. It only took a couple minutes to stir together and it was very inexpensive, but it was very messy. It was worth it, though. N and I played with it for about forty five minutes and N keeps asking when we can make more. The recipe is below. I don't know what the actual science is behind it, but somehow when you mix corn starch and water together in these amounts, it makes a material that is both semi-solid and semi-liquid. You can punch it in the bowl and it doesn't splash, but when you break through it with your fingers and scoop it up it turns back into a liquid. So cool. Try it. It's fun!

Oobleck

2 cups of corn starch

3 drops of green food coloring

Enough water to make a thick mixture (1 to 1.5 cups)

Mix all ingredients together. I would suggest using a bowl that you don't mind throwing away.

Mexican Lasagna

I tried a new recipe using Lawyr's "Chimichurri Burrito Casserole" seasoning mix and it was yummy! I made it like a Mexican lasagna.

Chimichurri Burrito Casserole

1 pkg. Lawrys Chimichurri Burrito Carrerole Spices & Seasonings

1-1/2 Cups Water

1 Can (8 oz) Tomato Sauce

1 lb Ground Beef (lean ground beef)
1 Can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
8 flour tortillias (8-inch), Warmed (wheat tortillas)
1-1/2 Cup Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend

Directions:

MIX water, Seasoning Mix and Tomato Sauce until well blended.

BROWN meat in large skillet on medium heat. Drain Fat. Stir in one cup of the sauce mixture and beans. Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture into each tortilla and fold over sides. Place seam side down in greased 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese.

BAKE in preheated oven at 350 for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

You can make this recipe as burritos as written above or you can layer it in a casserole dish like you'd make a lasagna. This is what I did. The package says to prepare the sauce and meat mixture as directed. Alternately layer tortillas and meat mixture in baking dish, beginning and ending with tortillas. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and bake as directed above.

Candy Fairy

The candy fairy came to our house the night of Halloween. Below you will see a picture of N with all the candy he got while trick or treating! As I said in a previous post, we let him keep five....err ten pieces of candy for himself and he gave the rest to the candy fairy. N told me what to write in a note to the candy fairy which went like this, "Dear Candy Fairy. Please take all this candy. Sincerely, The Cat in the Hat." Simple and to the point. N left his candy bag and the note in the kitchen for the fairy to find. I got to thinking, if we left the bag-o-candy outside his bedroom door he'd be able to sit outside his room and eat candy all night! So, in the kitchen it stayed. The Candy Fairy found the bag, emptied it and filled it with other goodies. She also left a clever note that went like this:

Thank you for leaving me your candy.

You really are quite Dandy!

For being such a big boy,

I shall leave you things that bring you joy.

I heard you were the Cat in the Hat for Trick or Treat

I think you’ll find this movie very neat.

Bubble bath is something you want, I’m told.

I brought you some to hold.

There were two more lines, but they included N's name, so I will omit them here..

Sincerely, The Candy Fairy

N was very receptive to this tradition, so I think we'll ask the Candy Fairy to return next year. N's enjoying the Dr Seuss movie that the CF left him. He also loved taking a bath with the bubbles the CF left. I've got cute photos of him in the bath tub making a bubble hat, bubble mohawk and bubble beard "just like Grandpa L's." And the Tinkerbell vitamins are a hit.

Diaper Rash Spray

L is very prone to diaper rashes. I have pinpointed a few things that I know cause them and I avoid them, but I haven't figured out all the causes. Whenever he gets a rash I find it difficult to get him cleaned up w/o making a big mess, until now. I saw a diaper rash spray product at Target the other day. I thought it was such a great idea, but didn't want to drop $8 on the small-ish bottle. I decided I would try to make my own spray and if it didn't work I'd buy what I saw at the store. I found a recipe for homemade baby wipes online. I also found a recipe for diaper rash spray. I looked at both recipes, merged them into one recipe and made something that works for us. It is so handy! I happened to have two spray bottle on hand. I divided the mixture and poured a little into each bottle so I can keep one bottle upstairs and one downstairs.

Diaper Rash Spray

2 cups water

1 TBSP baby oil

2 TBSP baby shampoo/body wash (a 2-in-1 product used on baby's hair & body)

Spray bottle

Paper Towel

Combine liquid ingredients in a measuring cup that has a pouring spout in it. Pour into spray bottle. Spray on baby's bottom and wipe away with paper towel.