Harding Homecoming

This past weekend was homecoming at Harding University where Patrick works as a biology professor.  We had a great time visiting campus.  Even though we didn't stay for the game (2pm is right during nap time), we had fun walking around campus and visiting all the special events.  We went to a museum open house, art gallery, the bookstore to stock up on HU gear,  ate lunch at the family picnic, jumped in bouncy houses, and bought a book at the book fair at the library!

We stopped at the bookstore to get some Harding T-shirts and hats.

The HU Alum and future Bisons?

Dean is learning to be a great big brother!

This museum on campus had an open house.

Coins from Biblical times.

Most of these were reproductions, but they were still fascinating.

Medical instruments and spices.

Patrick showing Dean a reproduction of David's sling.

There were bouncy houses and other inflatables set up in the Ganus Athletic Center.  

Dean was so brave!

Boiler up!
We ended the evening watching the Purdue vs. Ohio State game with friends.  Dean's jersey must be good luck because they won! 

Sports Art for Dean's Room

Dean (and I) made some neat canvas paintings for his sports themed"big boy" room.  Each canvas was 8x10 and we picked four different sport balls to do: soccer, football, basketball, and baseball.  I had seen the idea on Pinterest and thought it would be a fun project for us to do together AND be a great addition to his room.  We already had the acrylic paint and a 4 nails leftover from other projects and bought 2 of the Stretched Canvas 2-packs at Walmart for $3.97 each.  So only $8 for this fun project!

D was so careful painting on the canvas.  He enjoyed going wild on the drop cloth!

The football looked the best!

The soccer ball was hard... I should have printed out a template.

Three down, one to go!

The finished product!  I still don't like the soccer ball, maybe some day we will try that one again.
Dean loves it though!

Butternut Squash Soup

It FINALLY feels like fall here!  You know what that means?? Soup season!!!  This soup recipe isn't from my family recipe book, but it is one of our favorites now.  I will have to add it in!  Butternut squash, granny smith apples, carrots, and coconut milk are the star ingredients.  I adapted it from a slow cooker recipe that took 4-6 hours to make, to an instant pot recipe that only takes 30 minutes or so.  Below are the instructions for both.  Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 Granny Smith Apples
1 (rather large, but it needs to fit in your pot) butternut squash, peeled*, seeded, diced
1 tsp sage (can use a fresh sprig or dried)
1 onion, diced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
dash of cayenne
pepper to taste
1 can coconut milk

*prick squash with a fork several times, then microwave for 5 minutes.  Let cool and then peel with vegetable peeler.


Directions for Instant Pot:

Add all ingredients except coconut milk to pot.  Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.  Add coconut milk. Blend with immersion blender.  Serve.



Directions for slow cooker:

Add all ingredients except coconut milk to slow cooker.  Cook on high 4-6 hours.  Add coconut milk. Blend with immersion blender.  Serve.

Dean's 3rd Birthday

Wow!  Dean is already 3 years old!  We had a Paw Patrol party for him last weekend.  Take a look at the photos and video below.

The party invitation.  I ordered the digital file on Etsy from PrintsforParty.  Check it out here.

Our friend Jessy Stewart made the cake!  It was incredibly delicious and Dean (and everyone else!) LOVED it!

Dean opening his presents.

Everyone gathered to watch Dean open his presents.  We are so blessed to have friends and family that love our boy so much!

The kids had a great time playing outside.

Lighting the candles!

Dean wanted mac n cheese and broccoli for his bday lunch!

Birthday boy went through the line first!

Hot dog bar.

We brought cupcakes to his class at daycare on Monday (his actual birthday).  He wanted chocolate with orange frosting.  Mine were not as good as Jessy's cake, but they made D happy!

Dean has grown into a spunky and bright little boy!  Patrick and I are so proud of him.  We love experiencing new things with him and we can't wait to see what all he does in this next year!

Silas James is 3 Months Old!

Our sweet Silas James is 3 months old!  What a joy he is and I have been so blessed to be able to stay home with him and soak it all in.  Here are some of my favorite photos of Si.



He has been growing and changing!

He seems to rather enjoy bath time.

Hanging out with his friend Lydia.

Paw Patrol brothers!

Sweet snuggle bug!

Game night!

Family Game Night is something that Patrick and I want to do regularly with our boys, but we thought it would be a few years before we were able to do it.   Our friends, the Fitzsimmons', encouraged us to begin our family game nights now.  They said it doesn't matter that your young ones can't follow the exact rules, it just matters that you are together having fun and that even toddlers can match colors, roll dice, and move game pieces.  It makes a lot of sense to start building those basic skills now! Tonight we decided to get out a game called Rummikub, a game where players have numbered tiles that you place in runs or group by color.  The first player to place all their tiles wins.

 Amazon describes it as a "fast-paced" and "easy" game that "is ideal for people of different ages to play together" that "reinforces STEM and STEAM concepts for kids like sequencing, pattern recognition, and planning skills."  You can buy it here.  I totally recommend it for play with your kids!  Dean mostly just drew, stacked, and arranged the tiles on his board.  He was noticing the colors and numbers also!

Coffee, snacks, and games make for some family time. :)