Book Slings

I love reading Meg's blog.  I've had my eye on her book sling (scroll down) for some time now.  At a glance, this project intimidated me.  But, once I actually read through the directions, I realized that it was very doable.

Laurel's.

 

(Laurel keeps asking when Ian gets to sleep in her room with her. I fear it will be a while...he's pretty cozy in mama's bed.)

Emma's.

Hannah's. 

 

We have a 15 minute reading allowance before bedtime each night.  It helps the girls settle into their beds (besides it is so light out at 8:30pm!)  These book slings help keep their favorite books close and off the floor....I hope!

::32::

It was my birthday today...

So I made a cherry-cheesecake pie.  Sure wish I could've shared a slice with you! How 'bout the recipe instead?

Cherry Cheesecake Pie

1 box refrigerated ready-to-bake crusts (I know...this is really cheating!)

1/2 cup sugar

1 T cornstarch

2 bricks (8oz each) softened cream cheese

1 egg

1/2 t almond extract (this is really a key ingredient- don't skip this one!)

1 can (21oz) cherry pie filling

Egg white

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 9" pie plate. Fit 1 crust into pie plate.  Unroll or unfold remaining crust on a cutting board; cut in 1/2 inch wide strips. Set aside.  Mix sugar and cornstarch in a medium bowl.  Add cream cheese and beat until smooth.  Add egg and extract, beat until just blended. Spread batter evenly in crust; spoon pie filling evenly over the top. Beat egg white and brush over the strips of pie crust.  Arrange 8 strips across the pie.  Then place 8 more strips on diagonally over the first strips to form a lattice. Trim ends and press into bottom crust. Brush rim with egg white and press on almonds. Bake 50-60 minutes until crust is golden and filling is bubbling. Cool on rack. (I like to serve this cold so I pop it in the fridge overnight.)

Enjoy!

Bub in the tub

Ian was not originally a fan of his Spa Baby bath tub. I don't know why, he just didn't like it.  So, up until the last two weeks or so he would take a bath with me.

I loved that! However, it takes two people to complete the operation, and Carl is not always home when Ian needs a bath.  So, I am happy now that he likes his little tub.  It is an important part of his winding down process every evening. I am fairly religious about baths for kids at night- especially in the summer.  I think we all sleep better when we are not covered in popsicle juice and chlorine. When I was little my grandmother never let me go to bed with dirty feet.  Even when we were camping or something- she would always wash my feet with a nice warm cloth before tucking me in.  I guess that has stuck with me. 

An added benefit of this little tub is that it uses hardly any water!  Maybe 1 gallon? 

 

What is better than a nice clean baby? Very little I'd say!