Breakfast time. Pancakes.

UPDATED 2-5-14
Ok so everyone wants/needs a good go to pancake recipe. The kind you generally always have the stuff for, can add in fruits, chocolate chips, nuts or whatever to. Well, this is it for us. Last week my niece, nephew and sister in law were able to spend allot of time with us, including breakfast most mornings of the week and when I asked them what they wanted for breakfast my niece Julia chose pancakes so that's what we had and apparently they liked them cause she kept wanting them thru the week. Hey, it made auntie ellie feel good! My son loves any food pretty much any time of day but my daughter wants only fruit for breakfast ( which is healthy so I kind of cater to that) so we don't usually do big breakfasts they get fruit, cereal, eggs stuff like that allot but last week I think my daughter Annabelle discovered a new favorite, pancakes! They all enjoyed them and she ate something other than only fruit for breakfast for the first time in months ;)
Pancakes: ( yield 10-12 pancakes)
2c self rising flour
1/3c sugar
1tbsp vanilla
1tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/4c milk
butter or spray for cooking
Mix well everything except butter in a large bowl. Melt butter in pan and cook pancakes on medium heat until bubbly then flip. I used a 1/3 c measuring cup to spoon into pan.
Like I said before this is a great recipe either standing alone or with some add-ins and today since my kids love fruits I added in 1 1/2 bananas diced up, I didn't have walnuts but they would have been great too.
One last note, pancakes are a great, GREAT make ahead breakfast for busy mornings. I have done this many times, make a large batch and freeze in freezer bags then when you want just heat up in microwave or on a cookie sheet in the oven.
Hope you enjoy!

Easy to do toddler Valentine!

Doing crafts with my little girl is the best! I'm sure when my son gets a little bigger he will join right in there with us. This year we did her first "valentine's". We are doing something special for aunt and uncle and the grandparents which I will share once they are done (haven't quite finished those yet). But first, take a look at the cutest little valentine bags ever, and they are cheap to make too!

Looking for ideas I found the "banana's over you" theme for valentines stuff, and who doesn't love banana runts? So, this is what we came up with. Also, another great thing for toddlers, STICKERS, they love stickers, or at least mine does. So, of course, this includes stickers!

We made 4 valentines this year, this is what we purchased for the 4.

And everything was purchased at Hobby Lobby, of course! (except the candy)

What you will need: (Forgot to keep the receipt so I'll guess on price to what I can remember)

-Small jewelry storage zip lock (large pack is approx. 2.99)

-Small letter stickers (I purchased 2 pkgs at 50% off 1.99)

-Monkey stickers about 2 inches or smaller (1pkg 1.49)

-Large Card stock paper in preferred colour (2 sheets, .50 each)

-Skinny ribbon in preferred colour (1.99 1 roll)

-Hole punch (can be purchased for 5.00 or under I think)

-Runts (and other candy if you want extra, 3-4.00)

 

Cut the card stock in strips about 3x6, fold in half.

Then, is is where my Annabelle came in, STICKER TIME!

 
 

Take the strips of card stock and arrange the letter stickers to make "Bananas over you" and place the monkey sticker on as well.

  

(excuse the mess on the table, we were in the middle of the grandparents valentines too)

Cut strips of ribbon about 8 inches long. 

Place folded card stock over bag zipper and punch holes thru bag and paper together. Once you add the candy to the bag (we chose to do runts for the banana theme and a twix for chocolate too, except one bag which is for a younger baby we just put a few banana's and then some m&m's and 3 musketeers for a softer candy he could eat) place the paper over the bag and pull ribbon thru holes and tie in a bow.

 

Now look how adorable? Annabelle LOVED to pick out which monkey each one should get and help put them on.

 

Hoping you all enjoy this idea and enjoy making valentines with your sweet little one as well. Keep a look out and I'll have the grandparents valentines up on the blog soon!

HAPPY VALENTINES TO YOU AND YOURS!