Thursday Thoughts - Christmas Projects, Fall Baking and Ear Infections

Some random thoughts for your Thursday:

1. Amelia made it to nearly 18 months without getting an ear infection, and now she has one that just won't go away. Poor thing has been tired and cranky and sleep has been a little more erratic at our house than normal. Have I ever mentioned how much I love sleep? I love it. Hopefully things clear up soon. 

2. I can't tell you how excited my husband and I were for Amelia to play in the leaves this year. Last year she just watched from her stroller, covered with many blankets, while we raked the lawn. This year we were sure she'd be running through the piles and jumping in them. Turns out she hates being in a pile of leaves. She cried every time we plopped her in one, and being the wonderful parents that we are, we definitely plopped her in a pile more than once. When she didn't cry, she just crawled out of there as fast as she could. Maybe next year. 

 3. Have you all see the incredible kitchen sets that people have made from old entertainment centers. Here are some examples of my favorites.

Image Source: http://entirelysmitten.typepad.com/entirelysmitten/2011/08/diy-play-kitchen-set-for-kids-hack.html

Image Source: http://caroline-frei.blogspot.com/2012/08/kids-kitchen-habitat-for-humanity.html

Image Source: http://3krazychics.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-play-kitchen-from-old-entertainment.html

My husband and I have been talking about buying a kitchen set for Amelia for Christmas but they are either insanely expensive or look like they would break easily. We decided to try our hand at one of the entertainment center kitchens so we bought these beauties last night: 

I'm fairly certain we were the only ones at the thrift store getting excited about the entertainment centers there but we couldn't help opening and closing the doors on each one and imagining the possibilities. We decided to get two pieces in the end because one looked perfect for a stand-alone fridge and we wanted Amelia's kitchen to have a pantry and place for dishes. Obviously. Given that we have precious little free time between now and Christmas we might be in over our heads but we're going to try our hardest to finish it in time. I'll post updates as it progresses.

4. Our local grocery stores do sales where whatever you can fit from a list of specified produce into a shopping bag costs a flat fee. Usually this doesn't excite me too much because the produce on the list to choose from aren't things I need that week, but when they put squash on the list I ran down there and filled up two bags. Squash keeps for a long time and can be expensive to buy by the pound. I think I fit five butternut squash in one bag and goodness knows how many acorn, kabocha and spaghetti squash in the other one. Expect more squash recipes in the near future. :)

Hope you all have a great week!

Posted in: Thursday Thoughts