Painted Butterfly House

A couple of months ago while making one of our many frequented Saturday visits to the Home Depot, we stumbled across a large group of parents with their little ones working on crafts.  As we approached to take a closer look to see what was going on, a woman behind a table asked us if we registered for the day's craft activities.  Although we hadn't, she explained to us that the first Saturday of each month the Home Depot puts on a children's workshop where, with the accompaniment of their parents, they learn to assemble and build little crafts.  (lightbulb)  I though what a wonderful activity for Dad and Park to do together (while I have Mommy time of course:)  So we signed up for the next month's activities.

The first Saturday Park and his Daddy attended at Home Depot they built a stand for little cars, motorcycles, and planes.  It was perfect timing as he was just really getting into those little motor vehicles and planes.  They even gave him his very own worker's apron...I think it's so cute.

Then this last Saturday, Park came home with his very own butterfly house. ( I know, I've never heard of one either).  So I decided to look into it some more since we love butterflies and here is what I found.

Today, we decided to paint Park's butterfly house in preparation of it's new home in our backyard.  To see instructions to paint a butterfly house click here.

Although the instructions said to paint the house with bright colors (I'm assuming to attract the butterflies) we did not have any suitable paint but browns and greens.  Even though this house is pretty much camouflage with the outdoors, I'm hoping that by placing it next to the vegetable garden and keeping a banana peel in it will attract our pretty winged friends.

Once the house is ready for its new inhabitants, all you need to do is care for the house from time to time.  Instructions in caring for a butterfly house is here. 

This little project was perfect for an afternoon indoors.  We can't wait to get the butterfly house outdoors to see who comes!  Now, if only it would quit snowing in Utah.

Mommy Bridget

Petite Planet: Cute Egg Art & Shopping for Eco-friendly Eggs

Petite Planet: Cute Egg Art & Shopping for Eco-friendly Eggs

Check out what only some eggs and a sharpie can do for the soul...

Happy Easter Weekend to you all,

Mommy Bridget

Easter Traditions

In lieu of Easter this coming weekend, Park and I worked on some new family traditions.  Yesterday, we decided to dye Easter eggs.  The other day I purchased the Paas brand kit I remember using as a child from the Dollar Store and a carton of eggs just for the day.  We hard boiled our eggs, and when they were cool enough we began dying.  Unfortunately, we came to the conclusion through trial and error that brown eggs don't pick up dye all too well.  The only colors that ended up working were blue and red...but the eggs had to sit in the dye for over an hour.  Needless to say, Park lost interest REAL fast and we had to pick up on the
decorating after dinner.

Anyways, we didn't let this get us down.  When the eggs were dry, I let Park decorate his eggs with dinosaur stickers.  I was a little worried that the stickers were too small for him to maneuver and maybe a bit to advanced to figure out.  However, he proved me wrong!  He's such a genius:)  I also think we could have used washable paints and let him paint his eggs.  That would have been really fun!  Next year...

After craft time was over, he wanted to "help" his Mommy and Daddy eat the eggs.  So he cracked the eggs, peeled them, salted them, and fed them to us.  What a day!  He did a really good job.

I also have an Easter basket that I'm going to make for Park.   I plan on putting it in his bedroom so that he can wake up on Sunday with a surprise from the Easter Bunny!  I have crayons and little cars to put in his basket as well as the usual plastic eggs.  However, I still haven't decided what to put in the eggs for his basket AND for the little Easter egg hunt we are going to do.  Uncommon Momsense's cute Mommy blog posted some good ideas for what to put inside the eggs...I'm thinking I'll do healthy snacks for the basket and money for the hunt.  Oh the days!

Have a wonderful day!

Mommy Bridget

Domestication Mayhem

For some reason today, despite the beautiful weather, I felt like staying home and doing things around the house such as baking...not only because our bananas are more than ready to either bake with or toss into the garbage, but because I was feeling a little extra domesticated today:)  Oh, and my son LOVES to help!

As you can see, he doesn't mind one bit helping me "clean" up the mixing bowl.  Oh the days, I totally remember doing the same with my mom (love you Mom!)

I have also decided that if you are still reading this post, then you are special enough to have my secret Banana Bread recipe.  It's my grandmother's recipe that my mom made and now I make...and now you will make!  It's too good of a recipe to hang on to in secret.  If anyone eats banana bread it ought to be worth eating right!

So here it is:

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar (I use 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup butter
mix well
2 eggs
4 tbls. milk (I use vanilla soy milk but you can use any)
mix well
1 tsp. baking soda
3 mashed ripe bananas
mix well
opt. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups flour
mix well


Butter and flour your bread pan prior to use.  Bake mixture at 350 degrees for 50 min.  Use toothpicks to be sure the bread is done.


Enjoy and be well!!!


Mommy Bridget