Butterfly Snack for Kids - A Fun Preschool Snack

It’s nearing the end of the school year and it’s my son’s last day to bring a snack to share with his Pre-School class, so I thought we would make it a good one. I had a few fun ideas filed away and when I told my son about them, he definitely wanted to make Butterfly Snacks.

I first saw these cute Butterfly Snacks in Family Fun Magazine, but have since spotted several versions on Pinterest using all sorts of fun snack combinations. You can use the same snack in both wings, different snacks of the same color in each wing, or just put different snacks in any color in each wing for the kids to enjoy. Of course some snack combinations will make the butterflies look more realistic than others, but I just love that you can include two different snacks in the same bag separated by a clothespin...functional and cute!

I left my son pick the snacks he wanted to share with his Pre-School class. He chose a couple of his current favorites, Strawberries and Organic Animal Crackers.  Not a combination I’ve seen made into Butterfly Snacks before, but we’re always up for a challenge.

So we gathered the supplies:
- Plastic Sandwich Bags
- Pipe Cleaners (cut in half, so each antenna is roughly 6”)
- Wooden Clothes Pins
- Small Googly Eyes
- Glue
- Strawberries
- Animal Crackers

First glue the googly eyes to the clothespins, so they have time to dry. Then cut the pipe cleaners in half and shape the antenna.

Next it’s time to fill the bags with snacks. We bought the snacks in bulk sizes at Costco, so we had more than enough. First fill each bag with a serving size of animal crackers. I wasn’t sure what to do with the strawberries, so they would look like a butterfly wing and be easy for the kids to eat. I considered cutting them, but decided to see how the Butterfly Snacks looked if we used whole berries. After washing the strawberries, lay them out to dry.  Put a larger berry on top and a smaller berry on the bottom (stems touching toward the center). Close each plastic bag, fold the ziptop to the back, and pinch the bag together between the two different snacks. Clip a clothespin in between the snacks and insert the antenna pipe cleaner.

It worked and they look pretty cute.  :)

A tray full of beautiful Butterfly Snacks to share...not bad with a 4 year old and newborn baby!

I like the natural wood look of the clothespins, but if I make these again it would be fun to try decorating the clothespins with patterned scrapbook paper, paint, markers, or even washi tape.

Update: These were a big hit with the Pre-School class. I may have to make these again for my sons class next year!

Almond Butter now available at Costco in glass jar!

Don’t you love when things you purchase get better? I do and the almond butter my son loves is now sold in a glass jar at Costco instead of plastic.

New Glass Almond Butter Jar on the left and plastic jar on right.  Same quantity, same price, but better packaging.

I buy this almond butter because it only has one ingredient, dry roasted almonds.

I’ve been working on switching out many plastic food storage items to glass around our house, so it’s great to be able to buy products that are sold in glass instead of plastic too.

And as a bonus, I can often find great ways to reuse clear glass containers just like this one. It would be perfect as Cupcake Liner Storage since it’s nice and tall.

But I have another storage and organization idea for this jar as soon as my boys polish off all that almond butter! :)

Healthy Bunny Snack for Kids - Food Fun

I first discovered bento box lunches featuring healthy foods transformed into super cuteness a few years ago. At the time I thought it was fun, but didn’t try it on my family because my son was too young to need a packed lunch for school and, lucky for us, he ate everything! It didn’t matter what color or texture, veggie or fruit, he would try it and like it. Fast forward to 4 years old and I now have a super picky eater on my hands. I don’t know what happened, perhaps it was the juice and snacks at Pre-School that slowly changed his palate or maybe he was bound to start being more opinionated and picky with age? Either way, I now need to get creative to get a variety of healthy whole foods into him without a meltdown. Smoothies work and so do some soups. I’ve also discovered having him help make things in the kitchen almost always ensures a few samples. Today I’m trying a fun food presentation (inspired by a lunch Jill from Meet the Dubiens made for her kids - love her blog!), a plate full of healthy snacks made to look like a cute bunny, the perfect snack to go along with our Easter egg decorating.

This bunny is made out of a brown rice cake topped with almond butter, apple wedges for the bunny ears, a carrot cut into strips for whiskers and a triangle for the nose.  I would have used blueberries for eyes, but we only have frozen right now, so I decided to make it a special treat by adding chocolate chips. My little man was so excited for his cute snack. Although he immediately asked, “What happened to the bunny’s feet and body?” apparently he wanted the bunny to be able to “hop, hop, hop”.

I was so excited to see him take a big bite of an apple wedge and enjoy it. This is a big deal, he typically refuses to eat the apple skin. He ate a few more bites of apple with skin, but to keep it real I must admit he then ate just the white part of the apples and left the rest of skin. I’ll take even a few bites to start as I want him to keep trying whole foods until he relearns to like them.

This cute bunny snack worked well to get my son to happily eat healthy snacks and was super easy to make, no special cutters required.  Next time I make a fun food snack, I’m going to try adding some green veggies...baby steps!

My Hospital Packing List - Getting Ready for Baby

I try to keep packing for the maternity ward simple. Who wants to lug everything but the kitchen sink around the hospital? Plus packing light makes it easier to find what you need quickly.

I’ll be delivering my second child at the same hospital, so it should be a lot easier this time around. I now realize what was not needed that I packed last time, and what I missed that I wish I would have packed.

Here’s my list of everything I’m going to consider taking to the hospital.

Purse
- Photo ID
- Insurance Card/Information
- Checkbook or Credit Card for Payment
- Hospital Registration Forms (if you haven’t completed and submitted in advance)

For Delivery - Mommy
I like to put these items in a small zip top bag for easy access, stashed in my duffle bag until needed.
- Washcloth
- Tennis Ball - can be helpful for massage if you’re trying to delivery naturally
- Lip Balm
- Hair Band
- Mints, Snacks, and Bottle of Water for after Birth (they gave me ice chips at the hospital, but didn’t want me to eat or drink.)
Last time I packed all kinds of fun entertainment options, thinking I would have hours of waiting that I could relax and watch movies on a laptop with my husband, magazines to read, etc. Ha, ha...boy was I ever wrong! I must have been watching too many Baby Stories on TV, because I chose to give birth naturally and was in active labor the whole time without a break. There was a point where I would have considered an epidural, but it was the middle of the night and I told the staff early on not to call in the anesthesiologist. In the end, I’m glad it worked out the way it did, all the pain magically disappears as soon as the baby is pushed out.

For Delivery - Labor Coach
Pack in a small bag stored inside duffle bag, unless you have as much camera equipment as my hubby.
- Watch with second hand (if they don’t wear one everyday)
- Snacks and Bottle of Water
- Camera, Video Camera, Charger, and Memory Cards ready for right after the Birth (Note: Don’t leave these in the car like last time, there won’t be time to go out and get them later.)

For Mommy's Hospital Stay - In My Duffle Bag
- Shower Shoes (Cheap-o Old Navy Flip Flops - hospital floors can be icky!)
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, comb, makeup, hair band, soap, shampoo / conditioner, and lotion) - some items may be provided, but I prefer my own
- Comfortable Pajamas, Robe, Slippers, and Socks
- iPhone & Charger - This eliminates much of the comfort items (family picture, music, entertainment, etc.) I brought last time when smart phones were non-existent!
- Nursing Bras & Pads
- Comfortable Going Home Outfit
- Healthy Snacks & Water (Not Fan of Hospital Food)
- Small Notepad and Pen (May just use iPhone, but it's nice to be able to jot down important information, memories, notes, etc.)
- Prenatal Vitamins, DHA Supplement

For Baby's Hospital Stay - In My Duffle Bag
- Boppy Nursing Pillow (Didn’t take to hospital for first baby, now I know.)
- Hospital Picture Outfit - Our hospital takes newborn portraits
- Going Home Outfit (I try to pick something comfy for going home.)
- Warm Hat & Blanket, if it’s cold outside for Going Home
- Car Seat Installed

*Make a List of Items to Grab Before You Head Out the Door and Put On Top of Hospital Bag Some items like a nursing pillow, I’m not going to use everyday and they can be packed and waiting, but I only have one small makeup bag so that’s not going to be sitting in my hospital bag for a few weeks. These items are things I use daily that I’ll need to grab before heading out the door.
- makeup bag
- camera
- cell phone
- sandwich for Daddy (Labor Coach)

Getting Vehicle Ready
Put Towels and Garbage Bag in Car to put on the seat for the ride to the hospital.  In case water breaks, you won’t have another thing to clean when getting home from the hospital.

Getting Ready at Home
Everyone’s list will be different, but as long as you have the necessities (place for baby to sleep, clean clothes, diapers, wipes) you can figure it out as you go. I like to be organized and prepared, so I try to have everything ready in advance, but delivering a baby can be unpredictable so you just have to do your best and be ready for anything.

Pre-School Valentines Cards

I love seeing all the creative handmade valentines on blogs and pinterest.  I usually love designing and making my own too, but with a baby on the way I decided to check out what the stores offered for classroom style valentines this year.

I was actually surprised to find a great selection that even included small gifts at an inexpensive price.  We purchased a pack of valentines at Walmart for $2.47 and they had similar sets at Target for $3.00.  There were quite a few fun options to choose from, but my son immediately gravitated to the Disney Cars valentines that included pencils.  It seems like all the kids in his class are really into erasing things right now, so whether they want to practice writing their name or just have fun with the eraser they should be a hit.

His class recently took a field trip to the post office complete with a behind the scenes tour.  Each child will get to be the "mailman" at school, hand delivering their valentines to the mailboxes they each made during preschool class.  Our store bought valentines did not come with envelops, so that's the only thing we added to make it a little easier to deliver the cards and ensure the pencils wouldn't fall out.  Plus it's fun to open a surprise card.

I found stamping markers that were being discontinued at IKEA.  The red marker has a heart stamper, perfect to decorate the envelops.  I never heard of stamp markers before, but they are super fun and easy to use.

If you're looking for stamp markers, I also found cute Stamp Marker Activity Pads made by Melissa and Doug in pink and blue that would be perfect as a small gift, to put in an Easter basket, or just to have at the ready for rainy day fun.  I ordered the blue one for my little guy and I already know which stamp marker will be his favorite...definitely the red car!

I would love to check out everyone's valentines!  I've been busy pinning all sorts of fun Valentines Day inspiration on Pinterest.

Happy Valentines Day!

Purple Day - Kids Handprint Project

It was Purple Day at my son's Pre-School and it’s always fun to check his backpack to see what he’s been working on at school. When they learn about colors, they have everything covered from wearing purple to school, sharing a purple snack, and even creating a purple themed craft. I’m a sucker for any project involving my kids’ handprints, so I was a big fan of this creative handprint project showcasing purple.

It was fun to see his excitement as he explained how he first made red handprints, then blue handprints, and when the red and blue mixed it made purple...magically! What a fun way to learn about basic color mixing with paint. I also like how the teachers added the words “red + blue = purple”, and the simple math “1 + 1 = 2” at the bottom of this handprint project.

Preparing for Baby - My Get Ready for Baby To Do List

Since this is our second child, my to do list is much shorter than the first time around. I don’t have a baby registry to get together and we’re not having another baby shower, but there is still much to do. I’ll add to this list as I go and hopefully cross off many items quickly. Strangers are making comments that I look like I’m carrying a basketball, so it’s definitely time to finish getting the necessities together and get ready for baby!

- Revisit Hospital Packing List and Pack My Bags
- Get baby equipment out of storage, clean, and decide if we need to replace anything (infant car seat, strollers, crib / bassinet, swing, bouncer, bathtub, changing pads, and eventually high chair, baby gates, potty, etc.)
- Research if crib or any other baby equipment was recalled (I remember hearing about a ton of crib recalls after our first child was already out of the crib. It didn’t affect us then, but it does now.)
- Decide on Baby Laundry Detergent to Wash Everything
- Sort, organize, and wash all new and hand me down baby clothing
- Make a list of things to buy (special birthday outfit, nb diapers, baby care products, etc.)
- Research best diaper and wipes deals (Coupons, Warehouse Clubs, Discount Stores, or Online?)
- Research Amazon Mom Program, decide if it's worth signing up
- Find an iPhone App to track feedings and diaper changes for first days home (last time I used a pen and clipboard!)
- Complete Hospital Pre-Registration Forms and Submit to Hospital
- Fill Out Paperwork for my Husband's Family Leave from Work - Take to doctor to fill out their portion and fax
- Install Infant Car Seat
- Skim book used in my first childbirth class for a refresher on techniques for natural childbirth
- Finalize Baby Name Choice
- Take a few Maternity Pictures
- Baby Proof the House (this one will be harder with a 4 year old in the mix)
- Freeze Some Meals
- Buy Postpartum Necessities - Good Nursing Tanks / Bras
- Plan Newborn Photo Shoot and Pictures We Want to Capture
- Decide on Baby Announcements - DIY or Printing Company
- Buy Thank You Cards and Stamps
- Start an Online Document for Baby - Capture birth story and other important information that will help complete a baby book and be an accessible place to document everything quickly.
- Organize all baby necessities and find a place for everything around the house, so everyone can help put things where they belong.

Nice To Do, but not Necessary Right Away
- Figure Out Closet Organization System
- Special Craft / DIY Projects to Decorate for Baby
- Buy another Rocking/Recliner Chair and Short Dresser (if we use the same ones we used for our son, his bedroom will be bare!)