At Home with My Kiddos

Memory Verse Monday - Isaiah 41:10 on Fear

2010-03-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lately we have been having a little visitor in our room twice a night. She is very cute in her snowman footy PJ’s and tousled hair but never the less she is not welcome in our bed!

On her first trip to our room she is usually accompanied by the story of her bad dream. Now I do not hesitate for a moment to believe her. It is usually 2:00 in the morning when she comes and she is after all related to me, the queen of crazy dreams. Recently she told us that Grover ate her and it was dark in his tummy! So sad :o(

When you are a kid bad dreams come with the territory. Being small and having a big imagination can make a lot of things scary. So knowing that God is always with you can be a big help.

“Do not be afraid I am with you.”

- Isaiah 41:10 -

The creators of Veggie Tales made this the topic of their very first episode. If you do not know what Veggie Tales is let me first say WHAT!?! I would strongly encourage you to try watching their videos with your kids. The creators of this show are 100% focused on teaching your kids about how much God loves them. Their second priority is teaching them awesome songs that even mom and dad enjoy.

Their vidoes, books and cds are invaluable resources for raising kids who love God. My kids are Veggie Junkies and I am happy about it. Check out their song based on Isaiah 41:10.

Veggie Tales are so wonderful that they deserve their own post so I will have to sing their praises on another day. So for now PLEASE go to your local library or your church library and check out a video. You will be happy you did!

Things for Kiddos Thursday - "I Know a Rhino" by Charles Fuge

2010-03-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

We found this book at our local library 2 months ago. The kids love it so much we keep checking it back out!

I know a RHINO. We like to take TEA. I have two sugars and Rhino has THREE.

I know a PIG and we play in the DIRT. We always have MUD FIGHTS but no one gets HURT.

I know an APE and we keep in GOOD SHAPE, singing pop songs and dancing along to a TAPE.

["What's a tape?", asks Sweet Angel]

I know a HIPPO and when she's not BUSY, we spin round and round until we get DIZZY.

I know a DRAGON. He's scaly and bold. I look after him when he's got a bad COLD.

I know a GIRAFFE and we laugh and we laugh, blowing hundreds of BUBBLES when we take a BATH.

I know a BEAR and when it is SUNNY, we go for a picnic with brown bread and HONEY.

I know a LEOPARD who loves to get dressed. In a suit, tie and top hat, he's simply the BEST.

These are my friends. I know them you see. I know them quite well...

...because they live with ME!

They both enjoy this book very much.

Sweet Angel can "read" the whole book from memory and Little Buddy loudly exclaims all the capitalized rhyming words!

Welcome Home Wednesday - Frosting recipes from Tasty Tuesday

2010-03-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

I'm using my homemaking day to share with you the frosting recipes I use to make my cakes. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. Don't be freaked out by all the BUTTER, SHORTENING and POWDERED SUGAR! That's what frosting is made out of. It's kind of scarry but I'm sure you won't quit eating it. I sure haven't :o)

Buttercream Icing

Cup cakes for Little Buddy's birthday

Buttercream icing using a star tip

Wilton's Buttercream Icing (Stiff Consistency) - Makes 6 cups

1 cup white vegetable shortening
2 sticks of soft butter
4 Tbl water
1 tsp clear vanilla flavoring
1 tsp clear butter flavoring
2 Tbl Meringue Powder (optional, helps frosting last longer)
2 lbs. PURE CANE powdered sugar (or 8 cups)

Cream butter and shortening, flavoring and water. Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together. Blend an additional minute or so, until creamy. I always make 6 cups. It takes 3 cups for frosting the cake and 3 more for decorating.

Stiff Consistency – for roses and other flowers with upright petals.

Medium Consistency – Add 1 tsp of water for each 1 cup of stiff icing. For stars and boarders.

Thin Consistency – Add 2 tsp of water for each 1 cup of stiff icing. For icing the cake.

Chocolate Buttercream

Add 1/3 cup cocoa and an additional 1 to 2 Tbl water to recipe. Mix until well blended.

Royal Icing

Horse cake for my mom

Chocolate Buttercream icing with Royal icing flowers

Wilton's Royal Icing (Stiff Consistency) - Makes 3 cups

3 Tbl Meringue Powder

1 lb sifted PURE CANE powdered sugar. (or 4 cups)

5-6 Tbl lukewarm water

Mix dry ingredients together. Add water and mix 7-10 minutes at low-medium speed until icing loses its sheen. To prevent drying, be sure to cover the bowl with a damp cloth while working with icing.

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. To reuse, beat on low to restore original texture.

Marshmallow Fondant

Cake covered with fondant

I wish I could put up a picture of mine but it has Little Buddy's name on it!

Marshmallow Fondant

¼ cup shortening
1 (16 oz) package mini marshmallows
4 Tbl water
1 tsp clear vanilla extract
2 lbs PURE CANE powdered sugar

1. Microwave marshmallows in a large bowl on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Carefully stir in the water and flavoring and stir until the mixture is smooth. Microwave in small increments until it is a melted. You can stir in the food coloring now if you want. Use the jell kind. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Reserve 1 cup for kneading. (I use my dough hook in my stand mixer.

2. Rub your hands thoroughly with shortening and begin kneading the sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a working surface dusted with powdered sugar and continue kneading until the fondant is smooth and no longer sticky to the touch, 5-10 minutes.

3. Form the fondant into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. To use, allow the fondant to come to room temperature and roll it out onto a flat surface dusted with powdered sugar.

To color the fondant carefully knead in jell coloring. Your hands will be colored when you are done. You can use gloves if you want.

Gum Paste

Flowers from my daisy cake posted here

Gum Paste

Buy it in a bag from Wal-Mart :o)

Come back tomorrow for Things for Kiddos Thursday. I'm going to share a new favorite book we discovered at our library and are avoiding returning!

Tasty Tuesday - Daisy Birthday Cake

2010-03-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

Last summer my good friend Sara and I took 2 cake decorating classes together. We took Wilton Course 1 and 2 from a local craft store. It was SO much fun! We learned how to make butter cream icing and royal icing flowers. Since then I have been making a birthday cake for each member of our family.

This last weekend we celebrated my mother- and sister-in-law’s birthdays and I made them this daisy cake. It is a white cake with raspberry butter cream filling and marshmallow fondant. The daisies are made out of gum paste.

I made the daisies first using Wilton's Floral Collection Flower Making Set. This book teaches you how to make 19 different flowers. This was my first try. I'm excited to try more.

Roll out gum paste to 1/16" thick

Cut out your daisies

Roll the petals thin leaving the middle thick

Gently draw the lines

Allow them to dry over night in a curved flower tray

Stack them together alternating petals.

Attach using a small damp brush and white royal icing

Wet center with a damp brush

Place a chocolate chip shaped center using yellow royal icing

Shape it into a perfect circle using a your damp brush

Smile at your daughter who is patiently playing while you make a million flowers

Allow to dry for a few hours

Make your marshmallow fondant

Thank your husband for kneeding it for 10 minutes

Refrigerate overnight double wrapped in plastic wrap

Bake your cake

2-6" round and 2-8" round pans

Slice off the tops...

...to make them level

Slice each layer in half

Pipe medium consistency rasberry butter cream around each layer

Fill the inside with thin rasberry buttercream icing

Trace your pan on card board to make a base

Stack your layers

Thow some thin butter cream on the out side using the same color as your fondant

Smooth it out

Don't worry about it being perfect

Roll out your fondant on a surface dusted with powdered sugar

Do not flip your fondant

Keep rotating it often and smoothing it with your hand in a circular motion

Lift with your hands and arms and place on top of the cake

Smooth with your hands

Cut excess with a pizza cutter

Have your husband measure and cut 3 pieces of a wooden dowel

Place them in your cake to support the top layer

Stack them up

Pipe around the two layers using yellow royal icing (not pictured)

Attach the flowers by wetting the back of each flower, the place where you are going to put it and using yellow royal icing

Happy Birthday Girls!

I will post recipes for the icing and fondant later.

Memory Verse Monday - 1 John 4:8 God is Love

2010-03-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s verse is especially great for your younger children. It is nice and short but teaches them great truth. This was Sweet Angel’s very first memory verse.

“God is Love”

-1 John 4:8-

Superman and I try to stress to our children each and every day that God is love and God loves them. One way we remind them is by singing them their own special song at bed time. It is our own version of “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

Jesus loves Sweet Angel

Loves her so very much

He made her eyes he made her toes

He made her tushy, made her toes

Jesus loves Sweet Angel very much!

(We really use her first and last name)

Little Buddy gets his own song too. I think he feels pretty special each night when his mommy, daddy and big sister all crowd around him and sing his very own song.

Ultimately we want our kids to know that God’s amazing love allowed Jesus to lay aside his crown and come down to earth to die for our sins. Our almost 4 year old daughter has known this truth for some time now and last Tuesday she told me that she wanted to pray and ask Jesus to come live in her heart!!!!! It is amazing to me how she can grasp the problem of sin and her need for a savior. It was an incredible privilege to lead my daughter to Christ in prayer!

Sweet Angel right after praying to accept Jesus as her Savior.

*tears of joy…again*

Come back tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday. I will share the 2 tierd fondant cake for my mother- and sister-in-law's birthday this weekend.

Photography Friday – Thinking about Light

2010-02-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of important things to consider when you are trying to take good pictures. Light is one of the most important and I have been ignoring it. Have you?

When I take pictures of my kids I am usually thinking about their smiles and just how gosh darn cute they are! Lately I have been trying to think about LIGHT.

The best light to use is natural light. So go and find a window. Place your kids facing the window and start talking to them. When they give you those cute expressions start to snap away.

Most of us probably think that great lighting follows around professional photographers. Yes I know they have more knowledge on the subject and insanely expensive equipment BUT they also take time to think about light and move their subject if necessary.

I have found that the table a perfect place to take pictures of Little Buddy. Not to mention a good time because he is usually happily eating!

There is a window directly in front of him and two windows on his right side. Those windows bathe him in natural light. You know it’s a good spot when the light shines in his eyes.

I zoom in and put his eyes in one of the top corners of the frame observing the Rule of Thirds. (Check out my post on the Rule of Thirds here.)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I'm making a fondant cake this weekend. I'll post pictures on Tasty Tuesday :o)

Things for Kiddos Thursday - Flower Pot Chore Chart

2010-02-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

When I first started doing chores with Sweet Angel we didn't use any sort of chart. This last fall I decided that a chart would help her keep track of her own responsibilities and it would keep me from feeling like I was randomly asking her to do stuff all day long. It is also an easy way to add rewards for her hard work.

Instead of a boring sticker chart I searched on line for a more creative idea. I found the idea for a flower pot chore chart here.

It is pretty simple to make. Here is what you need...

1. Popsicle sticks
2. Card stock (thick paper)
3. Green paint
4. Paint brush
5. Color crayons
6. Scissors
7. Your own chosen clip art

Making the flowers:

1. Choose and print out a clip art flower for your template. (Different kinds if you want)
2. Choose and print out a clip art picture for each chore
3. Paint the popsicle sticks green.
4. Make a template for your flowers by tracing the flower onto card stock and cutting it out.
5. Use your template to trace as many flowers as you need on your to card stock.
6. Color both sides of the flowers with crayons and cut them out.
7. Cut out your clip art pictures.
8. Glue the pictures in the center of the flower.
9. Glue the flowers to their green popsicle stick stems.

Making the pot:

1. Choose a pot. I used an empty sour cream container covered with tissue paper and tied with a ribbon. You could use and paint a real pot if you like.
2. Fill with rice or dried beans.

We don’t do every single chore every day so I put the chores for the day on a poster board right by her flower pot. She can easily see which ones she needs to do.

This flower represents Sweet Angle’s “Morning List.” It is a list a chores she does right after breakfast.

I have a “picture list” of it in her bathroom so she can follow it each day. One day she asked me where my list was. I told her that my list was in my head. She decided to see if her list was in her head too and completed her whole list without looking at the pictures!

If Sweet Angel completes her chores without arguing or complaining she gets a flower. If all her morning chores are completed she earns her reward. After nap she gets to play her Veggie Tales computer game. We made a Veggie Tale reward stick to represent her reward. You could make a pretty star and to represent a reward and let your child choose from a few activities.

I know that this is not a good chore chart for a boy! I have thought of a few ideas for your boys…and mine! He is going to need one soon.

If your boy likes things that go you could do cars and trucks instead. Then use a small shoe box and cover it with black paper and draw lines on it to make it look like a road.

Maybe your son likes animals. Farm animals, dinosaurs or any other animal could be used and the shoe box could be decorated to look like a farm yard, jungle or pasture.

Most of all your child is going to have fun making it and using it!

Do you use a chore chart for your kids?

Welcome Home Wednesday - Chores for the Kiddos

2010-02-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

I think chores serve a very important roll in teaching our children many life lessons. They provide an opportunity for our children to learn life skills, responsibility and discipline. Most of all it teaches them that they are an important part of the family unit. For our home to run smoothly and be a nice place to live everyone needs to do their part. Kids totally love the feeling that they are special and the whole family needs them!

Little Buddy is 18 months old and is capable of doing many things. The main chore he does every day is clean up his toys when he is done playing. Several times a day both of my kids pick up all their toys before moving on to another activity.

There are lots of other chores he does every day. I usually just ask him to help out as the rest of us are working. He loves to help. It is so sweet to see him walk around saying, “helps, helps!”

Here are a few of the things that I ask him to do throughout the day…

Put his PJ’s in the laundry basket
Help put clothes in the dryer
Put his cup in the fridge
“Sweep” the floor
Help his sister set the table

Having your toddler do these “chores” might not really help you much now but it does start teaching him that helping mommy and doing chores are important. That will help you out A LOT later!

Now that Sweet Angel is 3 she does many more chores. Here is a list of her chores (not all of them are done daily) …

Make her bed

Get ready (brush teeth, get dressed, put away PJ's)

Put away her clean laundry

Sort socks

Help dust

Practice dancing

Put away toys

Do homework

Set the table

Clear the table

Put dishes in dishwaser

Do your children do chores? Are any of them different from what I have listed?

Come back tomorrow I will share a fun chore chart that your child can make!

Tasty Tuesday - Pico de gallo and Guacamole

2010-02-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love Mexican food! Do you? I love to make it at home (Tacos, Enchiladas, Tortilla Soup, Quesadillas) and I love to eat it at restaurants (Don Pablo's, Qdoba, Chipotle). Our families love for mexican food is so strong that we even eat it on Christmas!

Every Christmas Eve we go to church with my husband's family and then go to their house for a serious taco spread. My mother-in-law even makes that sweet and tasty corn cake. Oh my!

With all of this taco love I think it was about time I learned how to make Pico and Guacamole!

Pico de Gallo

4-5 roma tomatoes

1 onion

1 lime

3 jalapenos

1/2 bunch of cilantro

Dice the Jalapenos, seeds and all, into small pieces

(It's surprisingly not very spicy with this amount)

Dice your tomatoes too.

Finley chop your onion.

Chop up your cilanto too.

Mix it all together

Squeeze in the juice of a lime

How easy is that?

So I've heard from some people, like The Pioneer Woman, that you can just mash up avacado and throw in some pico to make good guacamole. But I'm not so sure about that. The best guac that I have ever had was made by my good friend Jennie. She has kindly allowed me to share this recipe with you! Thanks Jennie!

Guacamole

3 ripe avacados

2 cloves of Garlic (1 Tbl minced in a jar)

1/4 red onion

1/2 bunch of cilantro

4 dashes of Tabasco

2 tsp worschester sauce

1 tspSalt

1 lime (not pictured)

1 serrano chile (also not pictured. hmm?)

Cut open the avacadoes and take out their pits.

Scoop out the avacado into a bowl.

Mash them up.

Finley mince the serrano chile.

Chop up the onion.

Then chop the cilantro

Mash all of the ingredients together and squeeze in the lime.

Enjoy!

Store it in the fridge with plastic wrap completely covering it and touching the top.

I have mentioned how much love my Tupperware Quick Chef???

It was given to me as a Christmas gift by my good friend Abby a few years ago. It has quite litterally changed my life...in the kitchen anyway! [Check out Abby's blog here.]

My family and I like our onions chopped very finely.

You could even describe it as...pulverized.

Do you have any idea how long it takes me to chop onions this small with a knife? Oh the crying! Chopping them this way is quick and easy and the whole thing goes right in the dishwasher.

Come back tomorrow for Welcome Home Wednesday. I'm going to share my thoughts on chores for kids.

Recipies for printing...
Picco de Gallo

4-5 roma tomatoes

1 onion
1 lime
3 jalapenos
1/2 bunch of cilantro

Dice it all up, squeeze in the lime and enjoy!

Guacamole

3 ripe avacados

2 cloves of Garlic (1 Tbl minced in a jar)
1/4 red onion
1/2 bunch of cilantro
4 dashes of Tabasco
2 tsp worschester sauce
1 tsp alt
1 lime
1 serrano chile

Mash it all together, sqeeze in the lime and enjoy!
For tips on picking a ripe avacado click here.

Memory Verse Monday - Review

2010-02-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

I think it is just about time to start reviewing our verses. If we keep chugging along memorizing week after week we are going to start losing some of the great truths we have hidden in our hearts. I'm also going to throw in a few pics of the kids because blogging without pictures is boring!

Cute Pic of Little Buddy

This is a great exercise for Mommy! Our minds are a little more tired, old and filled with other things then our children. I think you will be pleasantly surprised this week when you ask your children to recall these verses. Give them the first few words and watch them rattle off the whole thing!

Sweet Angel pretending to be Miriam (Moses' sister)

It will be quick and easy to say these verses together a few times each day. If you are new to my blog read here about Memory Verse Monday and the importance of memorizing Scripture with your children.

"Do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous and willing to share."

- 1 Timothy 6:18 -

Children obey your parents in The Lord for this is right.

- Ephesians 6:1 -

"Do to others what you want them to do to you"

- Luke 6:31 -

“Be joyful always; pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 -

Playing in the first snow of the year. October 15th! Down the Road "1 Thess-a-what?" might get lost but the truth will be remembered loud and clear!

Notice the lush green grass under the freshly fallen snow.

Come back tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday. Pico de Gallo and Guacamole...oh my!

Re-post of Thursday WITH pictures

2010-02-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well the pictures are suddenly working so I re-posted Thursday's entry. Check it out here.

I am still researhing WordPress. We will see what happens. Any words of advice about Blogger, WordPress or switching blog sites?

Blogger is still giving me grief!

2010-02-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Blogger is still giving me grief!!!! I'm sorry there is no post today. It is really late and I'm still not able to upload pictures. I think I will spend this weekend figuring out this problem and maybe switching over to Wordpress.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Things for Kiddos Thursday - Playing store with coins

2010-02-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

Re-Post of Thursday's blog WITH pictures!

Original Post on 2/18/10

I have been teaching Sweet Angel all about coins lately. She has their names down so we have moved on to their worth. Playing store seemed to be the perfect game for practicing monetary worth. We play store all the time so I just added a few elements to a familiar game.

Here is what you need…

Merchandise (we used small toys)

Sticker price tags

Marker

Coins

Bag for the purchased items

Purse or wallet

Shopping basket or cart

Cash Register

(Anything that will sort coins will work)

Label the toys with prices

Have your child read the price tag, name the coin and tell you how much it is worth.

Remeber to take turns being the shopper and the cashier.

Have Fun!

Welcome Home Wednesday - Making your days more productive

2010-02-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

So I’m sitting here at the end of a very unproductive day watching American Idol and blogging about… being productive. Hopefully this will be a good reflection for me and I will take my own advice. Although in my defense I am getting sick and was not feeling so hot today!

I have 2 tips that help me focus and get things done.

Tip #1 - Wear your tennis shoes.

When I put on my shoes I walk faster and don’t sit down. It puts me in the mindset that I am cleaning and doing noting else!! It’s simple but very effective.

Tip #2 – Write a short to do list at the end of each day.

I have a small notebook sitting on my night table. Right before I go to bed I make a short list of tasks to complete the next day.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep with all the things running through my mind. Girls have a hard time turning it off. Superman is very understanding about this but he does not experience anything of the sort! All he needs to sleep is for his head to hit the pillow.

Please note this is not a picture of us. Superman has hair.

Most of us spend half the day deciding what is the most important thing to do first and consequently get nothing done! Writing a list the night before allows you to hit the ground running. Especially if you put your shoes on ;o)

When I say short list I mean SHORT list. Don’t write down 12 things to do. You will never get them all done and then you will feel terrible. A list of 3-5 things is more than enough.

I like to write down tasks from 3 categories.

1. Daily or weekly chores
2. A one time project
3. The important stuff

If you spend everyday just completing chores you feel like you are always running in circles. Adding a project helps you feel like you are actually making progress...and you are! Including the important stuff makes sure that you are focused on what really matters.

My list will usually look something like this:

Tuesday June 2nd

1. 1 load of laundry
2. Mop the floors
3. Organize the coat closet
4. Play Barbie’s with Sweet Angel
5. Go to the Park

Your list might be longer if you want to include everyday chores on it. Things I do everyday include…Make bed, sweep floor, clean kitchen, take out garbage, etc. If you love to cross things off lists go ahead and write ‘em down and cross ‘em off!

Here’s hoping that we all have a productive day today!

Come back tomorrow for Things for Kiddos Thursday.

Tasty Tuesday - Peanut Butter Cookies that will change your life!

2010-02-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

These peanut butter cookies have just made my list of favorite cookies ever. They are thick soft and oh so chewy! The secret ingredient is a cup of honey. Yep I guess that would do it!

Here is what you need:

Cream together the shortning, butter, peanut butter and honey.

Add the eggs.

In a seperate bowl wisk all the dry ingredients together.

Add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture and beat until incorperated.

Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and roll in sugar.

Bake for 10-12 minutes (or until slightly puffed and golden) in a 350 degree oven.

Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy with a cold glass of milk!

Come back tomorrow for Welcome Home Wednesday. I am going to share 2 simple tricks that help have more productive days.

Full recipe for printing...

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar
1½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ cup vegetable shortening
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup honey
2 large eggs
Sugar, for rolling the cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the shortning, butter, peanut butter and honey. Add the eggs.
3. In a seperate bowl whisk together the dry ingredients.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture and beat until incorperated.
5. Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and roll in sugar.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly puffed and golden.
7. Remove form oven and allow to cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cook completely.

Source: Annies Eats

Memory Verse Monday - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 on Prayer

2010-02-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Teaching your children the importance of prayer is way up there with teaching them to read and memorize God’s Word. Super man and I want our children to learn the importance of praying continually. It is such a comfort to walk through each day connected to God our Father. He calls us to pray without ceasing!

“Be joyful always; pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 -

We have found that the best way to teach...well anything but especially this… is to lead by example. We pray about everything that happens throughout our day.

Little Buddy can’t sleep? Let’s ask Jesus to help him rest.
Having a tough morning because Sweet Angel is being disobedient? Ask God to help her obey.
Is Mommy cranky and tired? Ask Jesus to help her feel better and to give her patience!

I love it when I catch Sweet Angel saying little prayers throughout the day. There is almost nothing that warms my heat more than when she suggests that we stop and pray!

This is a cute little prayer book for Toddlers. It contains prayers for many situations that you can use as a guide as you begin to teach your children to pray.

Look at these cute pictures!!

"...Please help me to treat other the way I would like them to treat me..."

"...When I am afraid I will trust in you..."

"...Keep me from doing wrong things on purpose..."

"...Help me not to wory about anything but to pray about everything..."

Come back tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday. I'm going to do a little baking. Num Num!

Valentine's Day Wreath

2010-02-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

I'm skipping Photography Friday this week to bring you some Valentine Cheer. Now I have to say that Valentine's Day is not my favorite holiday. It never really struck me as something special we should celebrate. I have decided that I feel this way for 2 reasons. #1 I have the most thoughtful caring wonderful man in the world who does sweet things for me all the time. #2 Our anniversary is in January so we just celebrated our love for each other a few weeks before.

So when Valentine's Day rolls around I'm happy if we get to go out together leaving the kids with the grandparents and he gets me a heart shaped box full of chocolates. No fuss people, no fuss!!!

This changed a little when my daughter got older and started doing crafts and enjoying holidays where she receives candy :o) Now Valentine's Day is fun for me because we get to talk about how much we love our family and friends as well as do fun heart shaped activities!

I found this great idea for a Valentine's Day Friendship Wreath on one of my favorite blogs "No Time For Flashcards". Sweet Angel made this wreath using pictures of our whole family!

Here is what you need...

Pictures of friends and/or family. (Old Christmas photo cards work great.)Heart shaped cookie cutters or some kind of heart pattern for tracing. Unless you are really good at drawing hearts. I found mine at Wal-Mart for $3.
Empty cereal box
Pink and Red paint
Paint brushes
Scissors
Glue
Ribbon

1. Trace a heart around those smiling faces. I used 2 different sizes to add interest to our wreath.

2. Take the next larger size cookie cutter and trace it onto the cardboard box for your child to paint.

3. While she paints, cut out the pictures.

4. Cut out the colored hearts and glue the pictures onto them.

5. Draw and cut out a ring. You may use paper plate instead if you like.

6. Tie a ribbon around the ring.

7. Glue the pictures on to the ring.

8. Place something heavy on it while it dries. I used a small cutting board with a heavy candle placed on top.
She loved it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Come back on Monday for Memory Verse Monday and more resources for raising godly children.

Things for Kiddos Thursday - "Snuggle Puppy"

2010-02-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is coming up this Sunday so I thought would share with you a sweet little book for your sweet baby valentines.

Sandra Boynton is a wonderful children's author. She has written many lovely little books that my kids love. "Snuggle Puppy" is a perfect book to read or give as a gift on Valentine's Day. It's the story of a mommy puppy who wants to tell her baby puppy just how much she loves him.

So she sings him the snuggle puppy song...

Oooooooo. Snuggle puppy of mine. Everything about you is especially fine.

I love what you are. I love what you do.

Fuzzy little snuggle puppy I love you! (Kiss)

Here are a few pictures of Sweet Angel reading "Snuggle Puppy" to Little Buddy.

"Oooooooo snuggle puppy of mine."

"Everything about you is especially fine."

"I love what you are. I love what you do."

"Fuzzy little snuggle puppy. I love you! (Kiss)"

What is your favorite Boynton book?

Come back tomorrow for more Valentine's Day fun!

Welcome Home Wednesday - Winning the Battle Against Laundry!

2010-02-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Now that we have covered meals and grocery shopping we might as well move right along to....LAUNDRY!

I know that most of us don't want to think about it... but it has to be done! I have noticed that kids and babies add a lot of love to a family as well as A LOT of laundry. I have been trying out new schedules and ideas to help keep it all under control. It was only recently after I was able to close my music studio that I feel like I have finally conquered it and it feels great...most of the time. Here are a few tricks that have helped.

#1 The Laundry Sorter
Now my laundry sorter is not nearly this beautiful. I would love to have this one but you know what, it is in my closet and holds my dirty laundry. So oh well. In fact mine "laundry sorter" is just 2 plastic hampers. One for colors/darks and one for whites/lights. And do you know what? They work great!!!

It's self explanatory. All you do is sort the laundry as you go. Stand in front of the beautiful laundry sorter that you ordered off line and sort as you get undressed and throw on your sweats. At the end of the day grab your dirty towels from the kitchen and bathroom and throw them in.

#2 Wash a load when one of your hampers is full - first thing in the morning.

The other great thing about the laundry sorter is that when it is full you just take it to the laundry room and throw it in. My laundry room is on our second floor with our bedrooms. Nice huh? So it only takes me about 1 minute to toss a load in and get it going.

Since I am home all day I throw it in before we go down for breakfast. I can usually get it in the dryer and have it ready to fold by bath time. My kids love taking baths. Little Buddy and Sweet Angel would stay in there all day if I let them. So it is a perfect time to visit with them while they play and I fold laundry.

If you work out of the home there are other options. Maybe throw it in first thing when you get home and are changing into your comfy clothes. Ask an older child or your husband to switch it to the dryer. It will be ready to fold by the time you sit down to watch The Office.

Do whatever works for you. As long as you are doing the laundry daily as soon as you see that your basket is full enough to make a load.

#3 Put it away RIGHT AWAY

This one is that hardest for me. I think the only thing that works is channeling your inner mother. Or maybe giving yourself a reward.

It's simple, put it away RIGHT AWAY. If you are folding while watching TV require yourself to put it away during the first commercial that you are done. If you are folding during bath time, or when ever, do it before you allow yourself to start a new activity. You will thank yourself later! I promise. Now that you are doing 1 or 2 loads a day this step really is not all that bad.

3 Tips to make it even easier:

1. I require my 3 year old to put away her own laundry. It's a simple chore that helps Mommy out A LOT.

2. When folding your laundry try to sort it out by person, type and drawer. I even stack it in the basket in order of whose dresser and which drawer I go to first, second, third...

3. Have a stack of hangers with you when you fold. I would rather spend time putting clothes on hangers while watching TV than standing in my closet.

#4 Keep the kids' laundry separate

I do my kids laundry separate from ours. It really is so much easier to sort out clothes when you are only sorting 2 people and not 4. They each have a small hamper in their room. I also use their hamper as laundry baskets for their clean clothes. That way Sweet Angel can carry her pink basket to her room and put it all away while I do Little Buddy's. Easy.

What tips do you have for winning the battle against laundry? Share your tricks and/or battle wounds.

I hope this helps you. Laundry is a battle we all have to fight. And I hope now you feel like you have better weapons to fight with!

Come back tomorrow for Things for Kiddos Thursday. I will be sharing a valentine craft.

Tasty Tuesday - Homemade Lasagna

2010-02-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

So I have heard a rumor that most moms either don't serve their family lasagna or buy it frozen from the grocery store. Is this true? Now I know that lasagna is not the easiest thing to make or the fastest thing to make. But my family really enjoys it when I do. Super Man especially loves it when I make lasagna because this is his mother's recipe. She is so awesome!

If you are one of those mom's who is intimidated by lasagna, I say to you...YOU CAN DO IT!! I love this recipe because it is easy and delicious. It pleases everyone with its classic homemade taste. I actually prefer it to other more fancy lasagna recipes that call for things like italian sausage and ricotta cheese...boo!

Another great thing is that you can make this ahead of time. Just put it in the refrigerator overnight or in the freezer for a while. Usually by the time Friday rolls around I want to make something nice for my Superman. So I make this at nap time and instead of baking it I put it in the fridge. It's ready and waiting for me too bake at dinner time.

Here is what you'll need...

1 lb ground beef
3-8oz cans tomato sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground oregano
1/4 tsp salt
8oz box of lasagna noodles
8oz shredded swiss cheese
12oz carton cottage cheese

Whoops looks like my carton of cottage cheese is too big.

Guess I will just have to add a little extra ;o)

1. Brown ground beef. Drain grease.

2. Stir in Tomato sauce, salt, pepper and oregano. Heat to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Cook noodles as directed.

4. In an ungreased 9x13 baking dish, alternate 1/3 of each:

Noodles

Swiss Cheese

Cottage Cheese

Meat Sauce

End the last layer with 1 1/4 cup of meat sauce

5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before cutting.

Come back tomorrow for Welcome Home Wednesday! We are going to tackle that pile of laundry.

Memory Verse Monday - Luke 6:31 on The Golden Rule

2010-02-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

This week's verse is the golden rule. It is a wonderful verse to memorize because it applies to almost anything...sharing, respect, giving, loving, kindness and much MUCH more!!

"Do to others what you want them to do to you"

-Luke 6:31-

This verse will be so helpful to Sweet Angel as she spends her days playing with and around her little brother. When you are 3 it is hard to think about how tricking your brother into giving you a toy might not be a nice thing to do. But considering how it would feel if it was done to you really does the trick :o)

This is the beginning of learning how to consider others and become less selfish. I love it when I catch her putting Little Buddy's needs above her own. It makes Mommy so very proud!

Reading God's Word

When Sweet Angel was dedicated to the Lord at our Church she received many gifts. The best one by far was this children's Bible given to her by my wonderful in-laws. They desire for her to know Jesus just as much as we do!

There are many different children's Bible's out there but we love this one. It has great pictures, is easy to read and has a large number of Bible stories.

It has all of the main stories like Noah and the flood...

...and Jonah and the whale.

But this Bible is extensive and also includes stories that I didn't even remember like the story about the young king Josiah.

We read one story each night at bed time. I would strongly encourage you to do this with your children. It doesn't take long to read and we do our best to point out the moral of the story. You don't have to be a theologian to do this. We stress things like: God loves you, God made everything and everyone, God answers prayer, God can do anything and God has a plan for you.

When we get to the end we just start right back over again. I'm sure we have been through the whole thing at least 4 times. I have noticed that the more we read her the Bible the more she wants to read it! She takes it out and tells me all about the stories. She even likes to read it to her beloved bear.

The best part of all is that each night she is reading and learning about her savior Jesus!

Come back tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday! I am going to share a great homemade recipe for a meal that lots mom's buy frozen :o)

Photography Friday - Getting Those Coveted Blurry Backgrounds

2010-02-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Like I said last week I am not a trained photographer. I'm just a mom who wants to take great pictures of my kids because they are the most beautiful kids on earth!

I have been reading and do you know what? I have found out how to blur the backgrounds of my pictures!!! How very VERY exciting. It’s all about aperture and depth of field. Now if you want all the technical reasons go ahead and search on-line. But if you just want to know how to do it read on...

Me practicing out side while playing with the kids in the snow.

By the way this picture was taken in October...What!

The easiest way to blur the background of your photo is to shoot in “Aperture Priority Mode”. On most cameras it will be on your dial along with "Automatic" mode and others like "Sports" mode. Take a deep breath and do something a little daring...turn that dial away from "Auto" and switch it to the "A" for Apeture Priority Mode. (Mine says "A" but yours may say "Av".)

Now all you have to do is decide how blurry you want your picture. There should be an "f number" (real photographers call it an "f stop") that you can change. It will say "f 4.6" or something like that. The smaller your "f stop" the blurrier the background. So read your manual and figure out how to make that number smaller.

The great thing about Aperture Priority Mode is it will take care of your Shutter speed and ISO for you. If you take pictures manually you have to know all about how the Aperture, Shutter and ISO affect each other. Apparently they are all connected in a triangle. But you don’t need to know that if you camera has this setting. This is awesome for me especially since I’m still pretty fuzzy about what ISO is!!

Me Practicing while Little Buddy plays with trains

Now here comes the tricky part. When lining up your shot you have to make sure you have a good enough background. If you subject is right in front of something it really doesn’t work very well. Bring it out away from the background.

Me Practicing while I have a tea party with Sweet Angel.

Notice the really nummy chocolate chip banana bread in the blurry background.

I hope you are able to try this out this week! It is so cool when it works!!

Come back next week for Memory Verse Monday! I will also share another resource for raising godly children.

Things for Kiddos Thursday - Cooking Beans

2010-02-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Cooking beans is an activity that both Sweet Angel and Little Buddy love to do. It's easy and entertains them for a long time. Last time we played Little Buddy cried when it was time to put it away!

All you need is:

A large sheet or blanket

A bag of dried beans

Cooking pans and utensils (play or real)

I store the beans in a Tupperware container out of sight. If they see it they want to play!

Spread the sheet out on the floor. Have a quick discussion about no throwing or eating the beans. Let them start cooking you dinner.

Sweet Angel likes to make me a "birthday cake". They both sing to me and I blow out the "candle".

What activity do your kiddos love that is able to entertain them for a long time?

Come back tomorrow to check out Photography Friday!

Welcome Home Wednesday - The Grocery List

2010-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Menu planning and grocery shopping go hand in hand. There is 1 thing that can make your shopping trip SO MUCH FASTER! A good grocery list.

To make a good grocery list you need 3 things:

1. Meal Plan
2. Grocery list template
2. Running Grocery list

Great news, the first thing is already done! Last week we learned how easy it can be to make a Monthly Meal Plan.

Next you need the grocery list template. I have made a custom grocery list that lists Wal-mart's grocery store aisle by aisle. (Click on the link to view it.) I have it typed up on the computer so I can print out a stack and store them in the cupboard by my recipes. Not only does it make shopping faster but it also helps prevent impulse buys.

You can down load my template if you wish. You will need to adjust it to which store you shop at. (Also note that I make it in Excel but print it without grid lines. That way I am able to write more under each section.) When making my template I leave bigger spaces for aisles that I usually need more in. Notice that there is lots of space under "produce" and 1 space under "pop/chips."

The last thing is your running grocery list. Keep a magnetic note pad on your fridge. I hang mine on the side of my fridge right next to my meal plan. As you run out of items write them on this list. You may also like to make it into 2 columns. One for the grocery store and one for another store you frequent like Target or Sam's Club.

Here we go again step by step...

STEP 1: Add the items on your running grocery list to your grocery list template. Record them in what aisle they are in at the store.

STEP 2: Take out your Meal Plan and recipes. Starting from the top look at each meal and its recipes. Record all the ingredients you need for them one by one. Again place each ingredient in its correct aisle.

STEP 3: Go to the kitchen and look around. See what you need for staples. Hopefully most of this will be taken care of by the running grocery list.

STEP 4: Grab a Caribou Coffee on your way to the grocery store. You deserve it!

Where do you like to grocery shop and why? Do you usually bring a list?

Come back tomorrow for Things for Kiddos Thursday! I'm going to share a fun activity that both my 3 1/2 year old AND 16 month old love to play.

Tasty Tuesday - Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

2010-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is a healthy delicious meal that my whole family enjoys. I especially feel good making a meal with so many vegetables in it. I have adapted this recipe from Allrecipes.com. I love finding recipes from this site. The star rating system and comments are very helpful.

Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

2 cups jasmine rice (uncooked)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 Tbl cornstarch
4 Tbl soy sauce, divided
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3 Tbl cooking oil, divided
1 can baby corn
1 can sliced water chestnuts
Broccoli
Carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup chicken broth

1. Cut the chicken into small cubes, place in a ziplock bag. Add cornstarch and toss to coat. Add 2 Tbl soy sauce, 1/2 tsp ground ginger and 1/4 garlic powder. Toss to coat. It looks really slimy so I didn't take a picture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Start cooking your rice. I like using jasmine rice but you can use whatever kind you like. Just don't tell me if you use minute rice...yuck! Since rice usually comes in a bag try storing it in a Tupperware container. Cut the directions off of the bag and tape it to the side. That way you always know how to cook your rice and are not messing around with an open bag. Another great thing to do is store a measuring cup right inside.

3. Chop up as much broccoli and carrots as you like. Make sure you chop the carrots up pretty thin so they cook faster. Open up and drain the baby corn and water chestnuts.

4. Heat 2 Tbl of oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Stir fry chicken until no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Cut open the largest piece to check for doneness. Remove the chicken and keep it warm.

5. Add 1 Tbl of oil to the skillet. Stir fry Broccoli and carrots for 4 minutes.

6. Toss in the baby corn and water chestnuts. Stir fry for 2 minutes more or until all the veggies are crisp tender.

7. Put the chicken back in and add the chicken broth.

8. Next stir 2 Tbl corn starch into 2 Tbl soy sauce. Pour it into the skillet. Mix everything together and cook until thickened and bubbly.

9. Serve over your delicious rice. Add more soy sauce at the table if desired, I do!

Do you serve your family Asian food? It is a great way to get kids to gobble up their veggies. This and sesame chicken is pretty much all I make, but I would like to change that!

Come back tomorrow for homemaking ideas on WELCOME HOME WEDNESDAY!