Iowa Children's Museum

Last week my friend L invited us to go with her and her kiddos to the Iowa Children's Museum in Iowa City and we were so excited to visit a children's museum for the first time.

It did not disappoint! There were so many fun activities for my busy 2-year old and she went to town in the grocery store, hospital, Take Flight (aviation room), ImaginAcres (farm room with fun tunnel), PlayWorks theatre (dress up theater with stage0 and Block Party (lego room). It was the perfect size for preschoolers and a decent price for the activities offered. Here's our day in pictures:





Don't you love the tennis shoes with that dress? I think they really complete the outfit. Teehee!

Ice Play

I bought a silicone star ice tray at the $ Tree in July and have been waiting to see what I was going to do with it (it's been filled with ice for oooh, about 2 weeks now).

Last night while making dinner, I popped them into a container and let Sweet P go to town while I made veggie fajitas (yumm-o).
She had a blast with them (and even ate a few).
I gave her a cup and a few other tools to transfer with and away she went.
Such a simple, fun and if you used ice trays you already had...free activity! We talked about how they were stars, but I think she was more excited that they were cold (since it was SO hot yesterday). So go ahead, freeze some water!

PS. This could easily be done outside, but it was too stinkin' hot in Iowa yesterday afternoon (they'd have turned to water in about 2 seconds).

Strawberry Scones

If I'm being brutally honest, pregnancy makes me lazy. And that means instead of blogging, I take a nap. A nice long nap in my comfy bed while Sweet P naps the afternoon away (which she tends to do after playing outside on a hot day). So that is where I have been! But I'm back and hoping to have some posts to keep you busy reading for the next few weeks.

And without further ado, I haven't forgotten that I promised a recipe for scones. Gammie made these while she was here so I can't' take credit for this recipe, but they are sooo scrumdiddleeumptious.

The Recipe: Strawberry Scones

What you need:

3 c flour

1/4 c sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 c mashed strawberries

3/4 c unsalted butter (chilled and cut into squares)

3/4 c + 1 tbsp milk

1/4 c honey

2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture is crumby. Warm milk for 30 seconds, then add honey and vanilla and combine. Add to dry ingredients and stir until well combined.

Plop dough onto a floured surface and roll out a bit. Fold in half, then fold in half again. Repeat so dough becomes flaky. Form dough into a circle about 1 in thick, then cut into triangles with a pizza cutter. Place scones on a cookie sheet and bake 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.

Serve with regular or honey butter (and try not to eat them all in one sitting!).