Taia's homemade Abacus!

This is not food related but I do think it is related to Taia's diet. When she doesn't have food dyes in her system, she is able to concentrate and do amazing things! 

 

Taia decided last week that she wanted to build an Abacus! Grandma offered to buy her one and Taia asked "what's an abacus?" When Grandma told her, she responded "We don't need to buy one! I can make one!" And proceeded to tell her how she was going to make it! WITHOUT EVER SEEING ONE!

 

She drew up her plans. Notice that she even drew scissors and a hole punch (that's what the odd thing in the top right is! It actually looks like my crop-o-dile!)  She has been hanging out with her daddy too much! He draws out every project in advance! 

The outer decorations, a very important part! 

She was actually having fun, I swear!

Very proudly showing off her new abacus! And she is using it for math that's way above her level. 

We are so proud of our baby girl. 

Dye Free Jello cups

During Taia's "Under The Sea" camp, they served blue jello with Swedish Fish. Of course, that is pure food coloring so I had to come up with something dye free!!

I didn't have time to shop for dye free fish or the energy to make dye free fish gummies. So I stuck a fish pick in it and sent along some chocolate covered sunflower seeds! She was thrilled!

I started off with this Recipe.

Instead of using concentrate, I used a jug of grape juice and poured it in muffin cups!

Taia LOVED it!

I put the finished product in a cupcake carrier and sent it with her lunch and she loved it!

Day 3 of camp + mom and dad's lunches!

 Dean and I have been taking our lunches a lot more lately. 

They're not really picture worthy so I don't post about them much! 

I had:

-Hummus

-Carrots

-Grapes

-Sweet peppers

-Turkey and provalone sandwich. ( I left them open and toasted the bread first so they wouldn't get super soggy... It SORT of worked. )

-The little spoon over the peppers is a ZAK! spoon. I found a set of 4 at Tuesday morning. I love their picks and was thrilled to find the mini spoons!

 Dean had:

-Chex Mix

-Homemade slaw ( ZAK! spoon for the slaw)

-Chicken and provalone sandwich.

For tomorrow, Taia has:

-Mini sandwich skewers made with my Fun Bites Cube It.

-Carrots

-Grapes

-Cheez Its

She also has several drinks and snacks!! 

PLEASE excuse my awful cell phone pictures on my countertops. 

It's complete laziness! I promise to get better!

Under The Sea Camp, Day 2!

I sent tons of extra food today for camp. 2 drinks. When I picked Taia up, the teacher asked me to send a snack tomorrow because Taia got hungry today. I informed her that I sent 3 snacks on top of Taia's lunch today. She told me that I did not.... Taia was very hungry because she didn't have enough food?!?! So I opened her lunchbox and she still has a FULL Easy Lunch Box, a bag of goldfish, and a banana!  I showed the teachers (by this point, two were involved) and they were all "OH!" Seriously, they didn't CHECK before accusing me of not sending enough? Apparently she told them that she didn't have a "snack." She told me that she thought everything in the lunchbox was her lunch and she should've had a different carrier for a snack? Ah well. 

So tomorrow she has:

-Pop Chips

-Grapes

-Ham

-Some dye free treats a friend gave her

-Carrots

-Nutella sandwich ( I thought about making it cute with some cheese shapes or something but it's been a long day...)

For snacktime:

-A snack box of grapes for later

- Cheez-its

-Goldfish

3 thermoses:

-Fruit Juice

-Milk

-Water

HOPEFULLY she has enough for tomorrow! :)

FLAMINGO!

Those of you that KNOW me knew that it was 

coming. And MORE are coming. :) I LOVE IT! 

Taia loved this lunch! It's for tomorrow but I showed her in advance!

She has:

-Chips (requested)

-Trader Joe's Jelly Beans (DYE FREE of course!!)

-Grape Tomatoes on a Flamingo Pick

-A Fresh, locally grown carrot! (She has eaten at least 8 of these this weekend because "that's how bunnies eat them!!! Awesome! )

-Open Faced Salami, Ham (smooth salami - Taia speak....) and 'Mingo (more Taia speak) cheese sandwich on a potato roll! 

All in all, I LOVE this lunch! Taia loves this lunch! Dean asked for a similar lunch for tomorrow! MOMMY, PASS! :) Opposed to my usual "MOMMY, FAILS!" 

 

Under the Sea Camp this week!

I am looking forward to Taia's Under The Sea camp this week! The last few weeks of school were so busy that I didn't put much effort into her lunches. And I have missed them! I'm trying to come up with some unique ideas for Ocean themed lunches! Knowing me, I'll wind up with sandwiches with cheese creatures on top. But hey, they're still cute!

Anywho- I just wanted to check in and let y'all know I'm still here!!! Look for a guest post or two coming up!!

Great Giveaway over at Bento For Kidlet!

Check out the great All Things For Sale giveaway over at Bento For Kidlet!! Only TWO more days to enter!!!