Our Birthday Month

From Thanksgiving to Christmas four of us have birthdays.  Along with the other festivities to those holidays, the b-days keep us hopping.



Jacob’s Birthday is first.  My baby is 6!  I made Angry bird cakes.  I know, but you can kind of tell that is what they are right. 




Bella’s 8th Birthday was Friday.  We made a castle cake for her.  That silly thing took literally all day to make.  The Princess’s dresses were made from Ice cream cones covered with icing.  Perfect for Polly Pocket sized dolls.




Next was Zachary’s b-day, 17!!  He had a brownie pudding trifle for his cake.  This sounds fancier than it is.  Layer brownie pieces with vanilla and chocolate pudding and top with whipped cream.  Very easy and very tasty.  Zach is a chocolate lover.  Friends and Pizza, what a great party.





This is a fun snow picture that happened sometime between Jacob and Bella’s Birthdays.  I hope we get more snow soon.  One last Birthday, mine but no party planned and that is ok.  I am partied out.  Besides “29” is not an important year.  I know, just dreaming.
 

Jeannie

Snowman Fridge

Just a Fun post.  I saw this idea on Pinterest.  Isn’t it cute.  My kids had fun with it too!




Sorry I didn’t close that cabinet on the right.  That is sort of our paperwork cabinet and is in a part of our kitchen that is not normally seen.  I just wanted you all to know that we have messy spots in our house just like you do. 

Have a great Weekend!!!

Jeannie

Follow Up to Girl Power

Last week I wrote a post titled “The Dangers of Girl Power”.  The post talked about how this message of self reliance and strength, that is being taught to our girls. 



I had a comment given on that post and wanted to write a post in response to it.  Her comment was that she learned a great deal of good things also from the girl power message.

Comment:

I'd just like to point out that the Girl Power movement isn't necessarily all bad. I got the Girl Power message - learned to fix stuff, build stuff, get myself out of jams, think for myself...the whole bit.
When I met the guy that is now my husband, he actually found these to be appealing qualities in me.  
My point is that the Girl Power message doesn't have to mean disregarding the contributions of the men in our lives. Like anything else, we need to train our daughters to take it with a grain of salt and evaluate it for themselves.

  I don’t want anyone to think that strength and skills are better left to men.  Oh no!  I just think that we need to find our guide for living a life of strength and courage in the word of God rather than from the world, who has tainted the message.  Proverbs 31:10-31 is the best example of a woman of many talents, strengths and abilities.  The difference is that she was also guided by selfless motives as oppose to the self-centered motives being taught to girls today.  The P31 woman was motivated by a love for God and her family in everything that she did.   


 Just wanted to clear that up!  


Jeannie  

Princess Training

 



I was just out browsing the web and saw that my favorite Character study is on sale.

 

Princess Training 

 

 

Head on over to Under the Golden Apple Tree to order.

 

 

Also, I don't know if you notice but I do not do any advertising for my own benefit.  If I list something like this, it is meerly because I love it and want to pass the greatness on to you.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Jeannie

Microwave Puffy Paint

We found this idea in Family Fun Magazine and the kids loved it.  They ask to do it all of the time.




Here they are in the bowls we made 4 colors.  The kids just painted it on the paper.




Then we microwaved it for 20 seconds and there you go, a 3D art project.



Before and after above.






The recipe is made of:
1 Tablespoon Flour
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking powder
2 Tablespoons + 1-2 teaspoons Water
Several drops of food coloring of different colors.


You can have lots of fun with the colors and talk about mixing colors to make new ones.  You can see above Isabella was trying to make a new color, it is called pea soup.   

These paints work best on heavier paper, like card stock.  We started out on little index cards, they are the perfect size for experimenting.  We used paint brushes, or you can use q-tips as well.  If the paint does not look “done” after 20 seconds on high, put the painting back in for 10 second intervals until they are not goopy any longer.

Happy Puffy Painting!!

Jeannie

My Favorite Thanksgiving Pinterest

I love Thanksgiving.  I have never had a year like this one.  I feel like I have the time and excitement to really do some fun things.  So, a hunting I went for ideas.  Where is the best place to get ideas?  That’s right Pinterest.  These are a few of my favorites.  They are realistic for my time and yet look fun. 



I can’t wait to try these cinnamon candles.  They are supposed to smell great.


 



This first post has 90 front porch ideas.  The second one is a cute kids table idea. We are studying U.S. History this year and just took a look at the pilgrims.



Yummy desserts!  And look my favorite kind of pie, a little of everything.



More kid table ideas.





Fun projects to do with the kids, above and below.







I don’t have any babies but I just couldn’t resist.  I will have grandbabies one day.  So stinkin' cute!!
Come on over to my Pinterest to see the rest of the great things I found.

Jeannie

Christmas Shoe Boxes

Every year we send boxes to Samaritans Purse’s program called Operation Christmas Child.  This year our church had these cute boxes for us to use.  Below you can see what we are sending this year.  If you click on the links below you will find ideas to fill the boxes with.
      


Ideas for girl shoeboxes

       

Ideas for boy shoeboxes

A friend told me that it is a good idea to put a bowl and cup into the boxes.  So many children are in line for food and have nothing to put it into.  Also, many places are very hot and it would be good to have a container to carry water in.

 Here is a place to get a coloring page and letter to send along with your box.  If you have never been involved with this great ministry, I hope that you give it a try this year.  Most places have the drop offs around Thanksgiving.  So you have plenty of time. 

Jeannie

Our New Giant Play Pin

I just love this thing!  When we went to visit my family a few weeks ago.  Mike, my husband was home with the teenagers for a week and a half.  One of those days Mike bought this trampoline.  We have not been able to have one for 10 years.  About 11 years ago we purchased one and the older kids loved it.  I started and in home day care and could no longer keep it for insurance purposes.  So, we finally got another one.  What a great investment.


The kids just play and play on that thing.  The best part is, that I took these picture right out of my kitchen window, just above my sink.  Like I said it is our giant play pin.  The kids play in my sight and stay in one place, just like the very short amount of days that they were in an actual play pin.


I’ll have to get some picture of the big kids playing on it too.  They still love it.  Hope you are have a great day enjoying one of last days of Summer.  I see leaves falling already here in northern country.

Jeannie

We Tried Side Walk Paint

The other day I was following a trail on the web and came across Side Walk Paint at Polish the Stars. 

Today, we tried it out.  What a fun thing to do.   The kids and I both loved making it and using it. 



Here are colors.  It is so simple to make, and I am all about simple.
I mixed up: 12 T of Corn Starch

              8 T of Water

Mix these well then spoon into your container.  Polish the Stars.com suggested a muffin tin.  I think that worked well.
Then add  2-3 drops of Food coloring to each container(add more for darker colors)

You can use paint brushes, or as you see below a cotton glove works well.  The corn starch dries to make an interesting coating on the tips of the glove.





The kids drew and painted Rocks.  The painting rocks was cool the paint sticks really well but then will wash right off.  These were dipped into the paint mixture.



After we were done we splattered the side walk with the remaining paint.  Little Van Goghs in the making.

I think for a winter project this would work really well on Black construction paper.  We have long cold winters here so we are always in need of a project like this.

Have a great Summer day!!

Jeannie