Beauty and the Beast is one of her favorites, for some reason she is fascinated with the Beast. She is starting to love all of the songs as much as I do too! We love playing it in the dvd player in the car every December to prepare her for her Belle photoshoot!
Belle is an adventurous girl who loves to read to experience excitement. She loves her father and friends more than anything, and will do anything to protect them. She is brave, bold and brilliant!
Storm is also adventurous, and brave. She is not afraid to wander in unknown places, and often explores with me following behind. We read books every night, hoping that she will develop a natural love of books as well.
We took her Belle pictures outside for the first time this year, since it got up to 50 degrees today. We just went into the yard and brought her props with us. Her beautiful yellow dress was given to us when she was a baby, and I’ve been saving it for her. I curled her hair and pulled the top portion of it back into a bun with a bun shaper. Then I wrapped a yellow ribbon around the bun. She wore her gold earrings that have the screw on backings. I got this old book at one of our library book sales. The Chip Mug was given to me as a Christmas gift a few years back. The mirror and rose just came from out local dollar store.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Storm has dressed as Belle on December 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Belle photoshoots:
3 year old Belle2 year old Belle16 month old Belle4 month old Belle
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
4 year old Pocahontas4 year old Cinderella4 year old Snow White
Every year we make gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving. We made a Nativity scene with graham crackers and gum drop people. We used coconut for the hay and animal crackers with candy canes as well. We tried something new this year, using peanut butter instead of icing; but it wasn’t sturdy enough so the gumdrops kept falling over. Next time we will have to add some powdered sugar to the peanut butter to thicken it up.
In a small saucepan, mix together 1 cup of water, 1 TBSP vegetable oil and a few drops of red food coloring.
In another small bowl mix together 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt, 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice.
Turn the stove on medium heat and slowly mix your flour mixture into your water mixture.
Continuing mixing until the color is fully blended and the playdough begins to pull away from the saucepan. The batter will be lumpy but as you stir the playdough begins to form and sticks to itself.
Place the playdough on a piece of parchment paper and allow it to cool a bit.
Once it’s cool to the touch knead for a few minutes until soft.
Here are some of our other Thanksgiving Gingerbread posts:
Gingerbread House -23Thanksgiving Baking -20Kids Thanksgiving Treats -19
And here are some of our other Family Holidays:
Talk Like a Pirate DayEaster Minute-to-win-itChristmas Fireplace & Crafts
The Pocahontas Disney movie is one of my recent favorites, since I have started reading about the history of the United States. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every November to prepare her for her Pocahontas photoshoot!
Pocahontas is a respectful of nature and people. She is always outside with the river or mountains or cornfields. She spends time with her Grandmother Willow and the animals that live with her. Pocahontas tries to teach her new friend how to respect nature as well.
Storm loves nature as well. At school they call her “The Flower Hunter”. She can find wild flowers no matter what season. She also loves being outside and learning about animals too.
We went to a local park to take her Pocahontas photos this year. She wore her beautiful long hair down, to flow in the wind! She also had on a turquoise necklace that I had found at a consignment shop, and her turquoise earrings that we bought last year. She wore her Pocahontas dress that we bought last year after Halloween. I had her wear black leggings since it was colder this time of year than it has in the past. Last, she wore her golden sandals.
Amos 4:13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness
Storm has dressed as Pocahontas on November 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Pocahontas photoshoots:
3 year old Pocahontas2 year old Pocahontas15 month old Pocahontas3 month old Pocahontas
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
4 year old Cinderella4 year old Snow White4 year old Sleeping Beauty
Disney’s Cinderella is such a sweet movie that reminds us all to be kind in all situations. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every October to prepare her for her Cinderella photoshoot!
Cinderella is kind and gentle in all situations. The animals love her because she is so gentle with them, and she truly cares about them. The mice and birds also love her, helping to prepare her dress for the ball. All off the animals help with her coach going to the ball as well.
Storm truly cares about her loved ones as well. Every day when she eats something yummy she sets a small bit aside to save for when her niece comes over (even if it is days away). She is an empathetic girl as well. Whenever I am not feeling well or hurt myself (even if I just stub my toe), she rushes to me to find out how she can help. Mostly giving lots of hugs and empathetic looks.
We went to a local chapel to take these pictures on the front steps. She wore her Cinderella dress that we got from a resale shop and her white gloves, headband, and necklace. She wore her white dress shoes with the low heel and her pearl earrings. I pulled her hair backing using a bun shaper and added her headband. I found this large clock with the Roman numerals on Facebook for free. I spray painted a white pumpkin with silver glitter. And I found this star wand and tiny glass slipper on Amazon.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Storm has dressed as Cinderella on October 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Cinderella photoshoots:
Cinderella 3 years Cinderella 2 yearsCinderella 14 monthsCinderella 2 months
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
4 year Snow White4 year Sleeping Beauty3 year old Ariel
September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We made a fun pirate themed lunch for the kids at school. The lunch staff also wore pirate hats and we bought eye patches for the kids.
Sea Shaped Fish Nuggets
Our food supplier doesn’t have fish sticks, but they do have fish nuggets in the shape of sea creatures.
Treasure Map Cheese Sticks
We just used Sharpies to draw a red X on the cheese sticks with black dotted lines for the trail.
We placed blue Jello in the bottom of clear plastic cups and added an orange wedge on the top. Then we added a Pirate Flag to the orange wedge to look like a Pirate ship.
Carrot Stick Planks
We cup up carrot sticks and called them “Carrot Planks”.
Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is such a fun and silly movie that Storm loves. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every September to prepare her for her Snow White photoshoot!
The 7 Dwarfs have such a fun and silly time with Snow White, bringing out her motherly side. They care about her so much that they, even Grumpy, warns her to be careful of letting anyone into the house. Snow White loves taking care of them and their house, cleaning, cooking, and loving all 7 dwarfs.
My Little Storm loves being silly and she also loves being my helper in the kitchen and watching her little niece. She is still learning what it means to be a diligent worker and to be aware of strangers. She loves EVERYONE that she meets and doesn’t know a stranger! I pray that one day she will grow up learning to love like Snow White and to make the best in all circumstances.
We took these pictures out in our backyard near the woods. She loves being outside and goes out every chance that she gets. She wore her Snow White dress that I found at the resale shop after last Halloween! Her shoes are the black flats with a bow and her earrings are from a multi color pack that I bought when she was a baby. We loved these earrings because they have the twist on backing and she wore the red earrings today. The red bow in her hair came from a colorful pack of bow that I had bought when she was a baby as well. This oval gold mirror I also found at a resale store several years ago. I used the wooden brown basket to put her apples in. I always buy Red Delicious because they look the most red like in the movie.
Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Storm has dressed as Snow White on September 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Snow White photoshoots:
3 Year Old Snow White13 Month Old Snow White2 Year Old Snow White1 Month Old Snow White
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
4 Year Old Sleeping Beauty3 Year Old Ariel3 Year Old Moana
Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is such a typical princess “happily ever after” story that little girls love. We have it playing in the dvd player in the car every August to prepare her for her Sleeping Beauty photoshoot!
The 3 good fairy’s bless Princess Aurora with beauty, grace, and song. She is such a joy for the fairy’s when she lives with them, they get upset when she turns 16 and has to leave. They want to do what is best for the princess even if it is hard for them, and they are teaching her how important it is to live with dignity and make good moral choices.
My Perfect Storm is also beautiful and loves singing and listening to songs. She is still learning what it means to live a moral life, even when the world is telling her the opposite. I pray that one day she to will live with dignity and be proud of her life choices.
We visited a local rose garden for this photoshoot. She loved seeing all of the different colors of flowers and wanted a picture by each color. She wore the same Sleeping Beauty dress that she wore for the past few years (I bought it big so I wouldn’t have to keep getting her a new one each year). Her white dress shoes had a bow and a little strap. I curled her hair before we left the house while she ate her lunch. Lastly we put in the gold and pink earrings that I had bought a few years ago for these photoshoots. I bought gold glitter cardstock and made her crown and necklace. This gold glitter cardstock was perfect for cutting and there was no mess. I printed out this free princess crown template and cut it out and traced it on the back of the gold paper. Then she just held the single red rose too. I was able to get her to lay on a pillow this year and to close her eyes of couple times.
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Storm has dressed as Sleeping Beauty on August 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Sleeping Beauty photoshoots:
3 year old Sleeping Beauty12 month old Sleeping Beauty2 year old Sleeping BeautyNewborn Sleeping Beauty
This girl likes butterfly and she has memorized the book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. We decided to use this for her 4 year old birthday party. I found this fun little butterfly wings at the Dollar Tree for the girls to wear, they love them!
I used red and Green Party Paper Fans to make a caterpillar. I also used red and green paper plates to make a caterpillar and used my Cricut to spell out Storm’s name. I created a sign with my CANVA program that says, “Storm is a beautiful butterfly!”
I took a large box and painted a big red circle on it, then I cut a whole for the caterpillar’s mouth and added eyes and ears. The kids could toss the fruit into the caterpillar’s mouth. Storm and I also looked through all of her toy food and found some from the book to feed the caterpillar box as well.
Very Hungry Caterpillar Food
I used my CANVA program to make some labels for the food table too. I also served salami and cheese sliders and hot dogs for lunch as well.
“A little egg lay on a leaf.” I made deviled eggs and placed hem on a lettuce leaf.
“He ate through one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, five oranges.” I placed the fruit out with the sign sticking up with a picture from the book attached.
“one piece of chocolate cake” I made these Buckeye Brownies…
Buckeye Brownie Recipe:
Ingredients:
2½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup butter, softened
1¼ cups sugar
3 large eggs
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup creamy peanut butter
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon milk
½ cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Spinkles
Cherries
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Prepare your dish by lining a 9-inch square pan with heavy-duty foil then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Place a cup of water in a small saucepan and place it on medium heat. Place a glass bowl on top of the saucepan with the hot water in it and combine 1½ cups chocolate morsels and ½ cup butter in the bowl. Turn off the stove once the water starts bowling, be careful of the steam. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth.
In a mixer you can add sugar and the chocolate, stirring to combine.
Add eggs, 1 at a time; add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring well.
Mix in the flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir for several minutes.
Pour into the 9×9 baking dish.
Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, remaining ¼ cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, milk, and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring until blended.
While brownie is slightly warm, spread peanut butter mixture over top in a smooth layer. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat cream until almost boiling. Remove from heat, and add remaining 1 cup chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Pour over peanut butter layer, spreading into a smooth layer.
We added chocolate sprinkles.
Refrigerate for about 4 hours, until chocolate layer becomes firm.
Using edges of foil as handles, lift whole brownie from pan. Carefully remove foil, and place brownie on a cutting board. Press down firmly in one motion to cut into individual brownies, about an inch apart.
Add the cherry if you choose.
“one ice-cream cone” I filled the cones sitting on the table with pink cotton candy and later we ate strawberry ice-cream in our cones with the cake. I was able to hold up the cones with Cone Holder.
“one pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami”
Place muffin cups in 12 muffin holders. And fill ¾ full with batter.
Bake for 16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
“and one slice of watermelon.”
“The caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf” I made a salad with cucumber and tomato slices arranged on top to look like the caterpillar.
Butterfly Nectar
Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake
I used a strawberry cake mix and strawberry icing for her cake. I sliced kiwi and strawberries to place on the top to look like a caterpillar. Storm also found some fun pink and green sprinkles to put on her cupcakes.
She asked for a Butterfly Birthday Party, so we took some pictures with her butterfly wings. She felt so pretty and special. She is an energetic 4 year old who loves everyone. She is my “Perfect Storm”.
She ran around the yard like a butterfly and then she found a group of clovers to lay down in. She is an outside girl and loves to try new exciting things.
Happy Birthday, my Beautiful Baby!
You might enjoy some of Storm’s other photoshoots:
One Foot Two Feet by Felicia Zekauskas was one of my favorite books. It gives the singular and plural of some of the more challenging English words for young children to understand. Goose-Geese, Foot-Feet, etc…
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 3), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 4), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 5), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 6), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 7), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 8), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 8 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 9), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 9 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 10), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 10 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
First we read 10 Apples up on Top by Dr. Seuss. Print out the free 10 Apple Stack from Teachers Pay Teachers. Then Storm glued a picture of herself to the bottom of the paper and cut out the apples and glued them in numerical order on top of her head.
