Sugar Free Pumpkin Bar Bites

I converted one of our family's favorite recipe

into the sugar free version of the original.

We invited some friends over for a cook out last night. 

I did not tell the kids that these were sugar free. 

They devoured them.  Some of there comments were:

 M.G. - This is heaven! 

I-Man - These taste better than last time. 

J.G. These are so good. 

G.  - Can I have more. & Can I take one home. 

I made a plate of them to take home,

half the plate was gone before they reached the door. 

Sugar Free Pumpkin Bar Bites

2 cups splenda
1 cup crisco shortening
18 oz canned pumpkin pie mix (2/3 of the big can)
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie mix

Combine first four ingredients, mix with blender until creamy. 
Add flour, mix again until combined. 
Add remaining ingredients and blend until combined.
Fill a pastry bag or a plastic freezer bag (cut of end)  fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full. 

Bake 350 F for 25-30 minutes.

Top with cream cheese frosting if desired.

note: the splenda in the recipe will prevent it from browning on the top.
 If you want a golden appearence, mist "cupcakes"
with cooking spray before putting in the oven.

Pima County Fair

Thursday was wristband day at the Pima County Fair

1 Donation of Dr.Pepper = $5 off Wristband

Wristband = Unlimited rides

Our awsome neighbors joined us for the rides this year

I-Man had his buddy M.G.

and J-Man had his buddy J.G.

J.G and Mr. Mr. on the Dune Buggies

J-Man on the Dune Buggy

Mr.Mr. and J-Man on the Bus Train

I-Man and Mr. Mr. in the Funhouse

That ride was so fast, they screamed

and laughed and begged to go again.

J.G. Mr.Mr and J-Man in the Teacups

Favorite Rides at the Fair

J-Man: All of the Fun Houses

I-Man: Alien Abduction,

The Flying Dutchman and The Sky Flyer Swings

Mr.Mr.: The Rocket Coaster

J.G: The Roller Coasters

M.G.: Alien Abduction

We rode a lot of rides that day. 

 I rode one the bigger rides like the rollercoasters

and the Farris wheel with them. 

 It was a blast.

We are going back today to see the animal auction,

 the demolition derby and of course have the food.

Navajo Taco's and Roasted Corn on the Cob are my favorite.

3 Hours of Joy

I taught my final Joy School Class on Thursday. 

I tried my best to make it the best lesson ever.

Mr. Mr. wearing his "I am special" crown

J-Man wearing his "I am special" crown

The living room set up for Joy School

Calendar

The Flag and Joy School House

All of our Joy School Kiddo's

Weather Wheel

A. N. arrived early and explored shadows

 with J-Man before school started

All the children in their "I am special" crowns

I traced their shadow portraits before they got their crowns

Painting Time

J-Man's painting - What is in the sky      

 G.J. and his painting - Clouds with rain on the playground

M.R and her painting - A Princess (of course)

M. F. and her painting - of all the flowers

L.L and his painting - all the toys for his friends

J.L. and his painting -

 (I can't remember everything he said, it had a very long explaination)

A. N. and his painting - of a T-Rex to eat you up

The kids had snack outside while their paintings dried on the kitchen table.

 

Air Hockey it was so fun we had to set a timer for play.

3 minute turns = no crying

Tiptoe prints

G. J. found a little man to put in the dump truck

J-Man and G. J. working together to build a wall of blocks

3 hours of Joy

busy, productive and memorable.

I-Man's World Cup Soccer Birthday Party

I-Man is officially a teenager, 13 years of age.

Here are some things about him:

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Food: Rib's from TGI Friday's

Favorite Sport: Soccer

Favorite Soccer Team: Arsenal

Famous Soccer Player you want to meet someday: Robin Van. Persie

Favorite TV show: International Soccer or Nickelodeon Channel

Favorite Book or Series: Wolf Brother

Current Book: Seekers - The Last Wilderness

Favorite Song:

Favorite Soccer Cleats: Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly  3

Favorite Vacation Spot:  Home, because it gets boring if we go somewhere else for too long

Favorite thing to do on school break: play soccer and go fishing

What is your favorite thing to do: play world cup soccer in backyard

 

I-Man invited about 30 kids and 27 showed

They played all afternoon and into the evening

 Pizza, Hotwings and Nacho's were the food of choice.

The night ended with fireworks in the cul-de-sac.

Happy Birthday I-Man



Joyschool - Fun With Dough

I taught Joyschool at the end of January

and took some fun pictures of the kids making creations

out of bread dough. 

It was our manipulative unit that day.

Here is all the kids making their creations

G. J. - Caterpillar

J-Man - Dough on a stick

A.N. - little caterpillar

J.L. - Lots of Little balls for a long caterpillar

L. L. - poked a lot of holes in the dough

M. R.  - lots of little holes in the dough

M. F. - Butterfly

All of the creations on the pan ready to bake

The kids eating their creations and smoothies. Yum!