Valentine's goodies, part deux

Since it's almost St. Patty's Day, I figured I should go ahead and post the rest of my Valentine's fun.

We made these "hugs" to mail the grandparents.  Super cute, easy, and fun.

Fun twist on the good ole "egg-in-the-hole" breakfast

PB & Nutella sammies for lunch

pink fudge to share with friends

and oh-so-yummy ravioli for dinner

And of course, the precious card we sent to our friends

We had a fun heart themed day this year! Thanks Pinterest for the ideas and Emily Elrod Photography for the pic.

Valentine's goodies part 1

Our family doesn't typically do much to celebrate Valentine's Day.  I mean, I love my people EVERYday and I certainly do not want to pay extra to love them on February 14.  I have come to realize, however, that we are missing out on some fun, creative opportunities by ignoring the day all together.  So this year, I'm doing things a little different {don't worry honey, I'm not blowing the budget on pricey gifts}.  Some things must remain secret until after Valentine's Day, but we made a yummy treat today and I wanted to share.

My kids are suckers for Oreos, especially the ones with the colored "stuffing."  I discovered these yummy vittles on a quick grocery run the other day.

When I saw that the filling was pink, I had an idea {scary, I know!}. I assembled the materials and workers in the kitchen this morning and we came up with these tasty Valentine's Day Oreos.

You will need:
*Oreos (flavor of your choosing)
*red candy melt (almond bark or melting chocolates would work too!)
*cookie "bling" to decorate with (we used several varieties of sprinkles from the Wilton sweetheart jar)
*small bowls (one each for cookie melt and each type of bling)
*spoon (to stir candy melt)
*wax paper

I gathered all of the materials first as the candy melt begins to harden pretty quickly.

1. Choose your cookie bling and place in small bowls for easy dunking. (Note: the colored sugars didn't turn out so well.  We had much better success with the jimmies, nonpareils, and heart mix.)

 2. Melt the candy melts in a small bowl in the microwave (make sure to follow the directions on the package).

3. Dip half of the cookie into the melt, making sure to get a good layer of gooey yumminess on the cookie. (You could dip the whole cookie, the final product would just be much sweeter.  Dipping only half also allows a nice dry area to hold on to.) Remove any drippage before moving to the next step - this will prevent the candy melt from falling off into your bling bowl and "wasting" it.













4. Dunk the ooey, gooey end of cookie into the bling bowl.  Tilting the bowl to collect the bling on a small area and gently tapping the cookie into the bling yields a better result than swirling it around, again, minimizing "waste."

My little people were more than happy to take care of the non-usable bling! Waste not, want not!

5. Place cookies onto wax paper until hardened or until you can no longer stand the wait.

6. Enjoy - in moderation, of course! We wouldn't want you to explode from the yumminess!

More Valentine's fun to come soon...





   

Ummm, yeah

{DISCLAIMER: I am 34 weeks pregnant and a little prickly these days...this is also a very important soapbox topic for me, so proceed at your own risk.  And don't say you weren't warned!}

So, the kids and I have been getting this question a lot lately, "Did you have school today?"

I'm realizing that I don't like this question so much.  Well, at all, actually.  I get a little defensive.  Kind of perturbed.  And sort of dumbfounded.

I mean, I kind of get it - we homeschool and most people that I know don't.  It is a very different world than most people that I interact with live in.  An unknown creature of sorts.

I also understand that the question is perhaps just a well-meaning attempt to interact with us in this area of our lives or simply to make conversation.

Duly noted.

However, it still bugs me.

I mean I wanna answer, "Well, uh, yeah.  It IS a school day, right?"  Or, "have you ever spent all day with a 4 and 6 year old and not taught them something?!" Or maybe even, "Yeah, the state says I HAVE to!"

But I refrain.  I try to remind myself that just because people are asking about our school doesn't mean that they are being critical or judgmental.

Let me elaborate.

You see, homeschool is NOT just "school at home."  We do not follow a rigid 8AM-3PM schedule like most traditional schools.  We don't have to enter the sacred "classroom" and pull out textbooks or worksheets to begin our learning.

Currently, as I type, my kids are indeed sitting at their desks in our classroom.  However, Thad is in his pj pants with no shirt and Hud is in mismatched T-shirt and shorts.  They are coloring their AWANA verses for this week while belting out their favorite VeggieTales Silly Song {The Song of the Cebú, for those curious ones out there.}

One of the beauties and chief reasons we chose to homeschool was for the very things that make it "not school."  Yes, we teach our kids reading, writing, and math.  We keep attendance.  We will take "a test" at the end of the year.  We even have an official "classroom."  But that is quite possibly where the similarities to traditional schools end.  We often have science conversations at the dinner table or in the grocery store. We sometimes learn about math while folding clothes.  We can watch a NatGeo show in our jammies and cover biology, Bible, social studies, and geography all in one 30 minute segment.  {Are you getting jealous yet?}

Sometimes we do follow a structured plan (I personally love Sue Patrick's Workbox system and have my own version set up for both boys in the classroom).  On those days, our routine may closely resemble that of a traditional school.  I spend countless hours researching, cutting, laminating, and reading up for those activities, much like I did in preparation for my kids when I taught in the public school system.  

There are also many days when we won't step foot in the classroom.  We may even be running around town like chickens with our heads cut off, all day {GASP!}.  But those days are no less school days, right?  We are soaking up the world around us and learning appropriate ways to interact with the people and things in it.  We have great conversations while standing in line or sitting at a stoplight.  And talk about learning to develop and practice fruit of the Spirit?!

But this type of "non-traditional" learning lends itself to lots of questions, plenty of opinions,  and judgement.  From others as well as yourself.  There is lots of self-doubt as a parent and teacher of homeschooled kids.  Am I doing it right?  Am I gonna ruin my kids?  Are they learning ANYTHING?!?!?

If my goal is to raise my kids to know about, love, and serve Jesus (which, by-the-way, it is), then I shouldn't be limited to the four walls of a room to do that, right?  I don't have to have paper and pencil, books and worksheets.  It doesn't really matter that Thad has taught himself to multiply but is refusing to read (true story!) or that some days Hudson spends countless amounts of time walking in circles, accomplishing almost nothing.  

I am learning that I HAVE to be sensitive to God's leading and direction for our school and trust that He knows better than me and my lesson plans anyway!  He is the One who instructed us as parents to teach our kids (Deut. 6).  He called me out of the public classroom to come home and teach my kids.  He chose me to raise my kids and is continually preparing me to do that in a way that honors Him (Eph 2:10).  I cling to that promise daily, sometimes, hourly!

So next time you wanna ask if we had school today, DON'T!!! 

Only kidding.  Sort of.  I will do my best to see your heart and curiosity for what it is.  I will try to answer you politely.  

Just know that the answer is an emphatic and resounding, yes!  Yes, we did have school today..

Quick as a wink

I've been hesitant to post this due to the fear of hate mail, but I need to share my excitement:

Hudson is potty trained!

Just like that. All on his own. My sweet little 2 year old. He has done it! No more diapers, no pull ups, (not even the swell diaper covers sweet Holly let me borrow!) just ole fashioned undies for him.

This should do wonders for the grocery envelope!

The clothing envelope is another story...clothes don't fit quite the same without diapers and one pieces aren't very potty friendly. Never fear, the clothing exchanges and our MB outlet trip are just around the corner!

For now, the sweet bliss of diaper free living - at least for a while :)

Potty training woes

Upon our return from our recent missions trip, our little one made the first move towards using the potty. He has been interested for a while, but I have been dragging my feet. It is just easier to go out in public with him in a diaper. Not cost effective, but easier.

No more. "Tee tee potty Mommy" is the new mantra at our house.

That's cool. I'm game. We tackled that task rather quickly and painlessly with kid #1, so I'm ready, right?

WRONG!!!

Thad was an equal opportunity accident haver. Anytime, any place, any attire. If he was gonna wet, he wet. We just set a timer for every 15 minutes (crazy, I know) and carted him off to the throne. Most accidents were cleared up within a week.

My sweet, precious dimpled Hudson is totally different. His little brain has quickly registered the bathroom signals and he relays the message to us, usually in time. With one large exception...if he has on any type of clothing, all bets are off. Diaper, undies, and training pants alike have all fallen victim to this exception.

The result? A stark naked baby. He is parading around the house and yard (back yard, of course) sans clothes and loving every minute of it!

Perhaps this is just a ploy to be naked...hmm...is he playing me? Am I being duped? Has my two year old constructed a masterful plan and succeeded?! AHH!!!

I digress...

We are praying potty training comes quickly, but in the mean time, don't stop by unless you are prepared to see our precious Streaker!

First things first

Don'tcha love it when God uses your kids to teach you a lesson? I mean to smack you right in the face with truth - that kind that makes you feel rotten and useless and undeserving of God's love.

Don't worry, this is not a pity party.  But it is a conglomeration of weeks worth of putting the pieces together, so bear with me! There is a pretty picture in the end.

(The great thing is that in His love and mercy, we aren't left to wallow in the mud. Nope He lifts us out, helps clean us off, and offers the opportunity for us to try again.  And again.  And again.)

There has been much spiritual talk around our house lately. I mean, we talk about God a lot, but some pretty deep thinking and mulling over has been going on. Pa is praying hard about his ministry to the youth and the church as a whole - what God's purpose is for him here. I've been praying hard about my role in his ministry - am I only supposed to be a mother during this season or has God carved out something more for me? We've been brainstorming, sharing ideas, dreaming of the "perfect" ways to reach out and touch the church for Christ; it's been pretty cool.  I have been doing some reading (I know, ME?! Reading and writing!  God MUST be moving in my life!)  and have gotten some great ideas about girls' ministry, moms' ministry, and ministry to parents of youth.   I have allowed myself to stay up at night and run through plans in my head.  I toss things out at Jason going 100 MPH just to try to process it all.  

But, it has been just that. Talk. Lots and lots of talk. No feet to the thoughts.

And it's driving me nuts.  You see, I'm a doer. Well, delegator really - I like to tell other people what to do and watch them do it.  Anyway, I like to see things DONE not just talked about.  

As of late, we have been in a period of waiting.  

Waiting for the green lights.  

Waiting for affirmation.  

Waiting.  

Waiting.  

Waiting.

So what's the hold up?  "I am so eager Lord.  I'm ready to do this thing.  Let's get on with it!"  

In true God-fashion, He answers me with a smack in the face. (He knows I'm stubborn too, so He leaves no room for questions or interpretations.  Just shy of writing it in the clouds...) And what better way to do that than with my beautiful children, right?

My boys are driving me nuts!  There are fighting one minute, laughing the next, and screaming at me moments later.  They have a very distinct love-hate relationship with each other (and me for that matter).  Thad is proving to be particularly testy, challenging everything from dinner plans to the underwear I've grabbed out of the basket.  No answer is simple.  No obedience is immediate or comes without a tussle.    I find myself yelling and speaking harshly.  Grumbling under my breath.  Arguing with a 4 year old!  I am indeed weary and heavy laden.  I am grumpy and complaining and have little time for positive interaction with my boys. Most of my time is eaten up with correction and redirection.  I'm plumb exhausted.

Now, what does this have to do with anything about ministry?

In my hurry to get something good going at church, I have let something better slip by at home.  I've been to the Word and other resources on behalf of my "public" ministry, but have totally neglected the most important - the ministry in my own house.  

The hold-up has been me.  I have been in God's way.  My self-sufficiency in parenting has all but blown up in my face.  My reliance on self has meant that God had to slow down my plans to get me back on track.  Praise Him for desiring to do so!

He's gotten my attention and is realigning my priorities.  Though I still have big dreams for the girls at our church and hopes of living them out soon, I am working on nurturing my own kids first.  I am studying a book called Equipped to Love by Norm Wakefield (WARNING: do not read it unless you are prepared to be radically changed) and praying that God will allow the truths from that book, (truths from God's Word pulled apart by the author of the book) to penetrate and change my heart.  

Will you join me in praying for a changed heart?  That the Lord will teach me to love my family with His love and not that of the world?  That I will stop looking for what I can get out of my loved ones and begin searching for what I can give?  That I will not seek fulfillment from anywhere other than my Creator?

Falling on deaf ears?

Thad has a clock in his room and strict instructions not to come downstairs before 7AM. For the most part, he is obedient to this rule. Thursday morning, however, he chose poorly.

I jumped as a pair of tiny freezing hands were placed on my arm. Groggy, I glanced at the clock. 6:24. I open my eyes just wide enough to see two small boys peering back at me.
"Up Mommy. Up!" says my smallest of offspring (he is precious, but a little less so at 6:24 in the morning.)
"Can you get us some juice and chocolate milk?"
"It is NOT 7 yet."
"Appa juice Mommy"
"Not til 7"
"Please"
"Pease!"
"Mommy cannot be nice before 7. Please go away." I immediately felt guilty for my word choice, but what I heard next broke my heart.
"Mommy isn't ready to get up Hudson. We gotta go away." Sounds much harsher out of the mouth of a four year old.

There is no magic in 7AM, but I have convinced myself that it is a reasonable time to rise and anything earlier than that is simply unacceptable. Surprisingly, they chose obedience and indeed went away. What happened next blew my mind.

I heard some shuffling around in the kitchen and decided I should try to listen to them. "Gonna have to get a juice box Hudson." Thad was searching for some source of liquid refreshment. After he found it I hear "Hudson, gotta find the blue thing. Without it you can't have a juice box. You'll make a mess." Thad is diligently searching for Hudson's juice box holder but coming up empty. "Sorry buddy. Can't give you a box without the blue thing. You'll just have to wait for Mommy to get up." Long pause "Wait let me check the sink." I hear more shuffling. "Got it! Here Hudson." After a few quiet moments, presumably spent drinking from the juice boxes I hear, "You have to be really careful with this key Hudson. It belongs to Mrs. Mary and if you lose it, we won't be able to get into her house. Be careful, okay?"

At this point, I am so stunned, that I am fully awake. Jason is stirring, so I know he's awake too. "Did you hear any of that?" I asked him. "It just proves that he does listen to you," he responds. There's my proof. Though they often argue with me, choose disobedience, and quarrel with one another, my early morning eavesdropping session showed they have been listening. Maybe they are saving it for a rainy day or early morning, but it's in there!

Later, after putting the bar stool back in it's place (the source of the shuffling sounds) and hanging Mrs. Mary's key back on the hook (that thankfully wasn't lost), I told Thad I was proud of his big brother skills. Frustrated that they were showcased before 7AM, but super proud!