Trevor chose "narwhal" for Letter N of The Cursive Project. As I mentioned in that first post, Trevor drafted the whole A-Z list ahead of time, so I've had plenty of time to think up a craft for each letter. Some have been easy, while it's been a major struggle to think up a cute, original craft for others. I was stumped about how to make a narwhal, until the day Steve offered to do a grocery store run to pick up the only two things we needed: bread and milk.
I do 99% of the grocery shopping, and when I do, I always get a full cart's worth. Rather than do a quick run for two little items, I'm more likely to do without them until my next major grocery store trip. Steve doesn't mind running to the store; in fact, since he works from home, he often welcomes quick errands that give him a reason to leave the house. Anyway, my point is that Steve went to the grocery store to get two items. He has never, EVER, come home with just the items he planned to buy. He almost always comes home with treats that I never buy, things that aren't on sale, etc. We all know this, which is why Trevor is happy to accompany Steve to the grocery store and doesn't always choose to go with me: Daddy says yes to everything Trevor asks for, and Mommy does not. This time, in addition to bread and milk, they came home with Twinkies.
I can't remember the last time I had a Twinkie, as it's been years (probably the last time Steve brought some home from the store). I don't love them, and if I'm going to indulge in a treat, I'm not going to choose one that's only so-so. As Steve and Trevor were enjoying their after-lunch Twinkies, it struck me: a Twinkie would make an excellent narwhal!
Time to create! We looked at photos of narwhals and talked about what we could use for each feature. After digging in the pantry, we came up with our supplies and got to work. Here is my Twinkie narwhal:
This is Trevor's. He preferred a toothpick for the horn instead of the twisty candle.
The eyes are mini chocolate chips and the fins are Melt 'n' Mold wafers that we carved down with a knife.
We were both really happy with our narwhals except for the color. Narwhals are dark and speckled, not yellow and cake-like. Perhaps if we used a pastry brush to add cocoa powder to the Twinkie? Yes! Much better.
Finally satisfied with our narwhals, I lit the candle.
A great start to the second half of The Cursive Project!
The whole grocery experience you described is the same in my home! I truly think it's the way men and women are wired! My husband offers to go grocery shopping when I'm tired but I won't let him because of the reasons you said: comes back w/ things I would never buy and doesn't bargain shop. I think men just have a "get in, get out" mentality and that's their only goal! I do buy the occasional treat... but w/ my husband treats are the majority of the groceries, LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love Twinkies and your project is cute...as long as I try to pretend that is NOT a whale! Yikes! ::shudders::
Love the pizazz you added w/ the lit candle!
too cute
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm pretty sure Josh and Steve are cut from the same cloth! I try really hard to go to the grocery store by myself! :) These are so cute! I haven't had a Twinkie in probably 20+ years, but now I kind of want to try one again!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I laughed so hard when I read your post. My mom and dad were exactly the same. My sister and I could get my dad to buy us just about anything at the grocery store, but my mom always stuck to her list and sale items and NEVER swayed! Also, I absolutely love your narwhals! They both are cute and very clever, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! You are so clever and I'm sure the kids loved it!!
ReplyDelete~Kim
Ohhhhhhhh these are adorable!!! And funny thing .... when we both go to the grocery store, we end up spending a TON of $$$$ because I find things Brian never thinks of! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable!! Trevor is lucky to have such a creative Mom.
ReplyDeleteSo cute!
ReplyDeleteLove that you have someone willing to run to the store to get a couple of things..:)