A New Springtime

Monthly May Recap

School:                                                            

DH got me this new copy machine for school, it has made my job so much easier. At a moments notice  I can just press print and presto I have the papers I need.

WW II studies continued with, "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry, this was a 3 CD set from our local library. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of afternoons. I also found...

this movie at GW, it was a good way to wrap up our studies. I am so ready to be done with the study of the wars and I know why I have avoided them in the past. My older boys did a lot of reading on their own about the subject. They were into learning about the tanks and the weapons. I am glad we used: "V is for Victory", "Sadako, and the Thousand Paper Cranes", and "Number the Stars". These books gave us sense of what it was like to be living at that time and gave us a relationship with the characters who experienced these events, it wasn't just a bunch of facts in the latter two books mentioned. I am satisfied with the results of this unit.

Family Events:

May 13th B-Day!

May 13th, My flowers from Mother's Day!

May 18th another B-day! Pink Lemonade Cake and Frosting!!

Family Fun:

Brother to Brother!

Brother and Sister!

Mom's Sewing Projects:

Shorts for Baby

Library Bag for Big Sister

It's been busy so far and one more birthday to go on May 24!

A Cupcake Afternoon

The girl's made cupcakes today, using their ingredients and baking goodies they got for Christmas. They did a great job measuring, mixing, pouring and all of those good things it takes to make the sweet treats.

 
Baby Elle was so excited and couldn't wait to help. She was eagerly waiting with her wooden spoon in hand.

 
Abba Do was a natural with the mixer and notice brother boy lurking in the background trying to get in on the action.

 
Here they are working dilegently filling up the paper cupcakes while the first batch was baking in the oven.

 
Ready, set, frost!

 
Here is my favorite part, adding the sprinkles. It was a great afternoon activity with the girls, we all had a wonderful time!

 
The finished product was not only pretty but they were tasty as well. Good job girls!

Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord, Psalm 34:8

 Each year I try to pray on a theme for Christmas. Last year, I was inspired with the words,"Let Heaven and Nature Sing". I made my God- children and the kiddos God parents boxes filled with things to feed the birds, etc. This year, I prayed and I felt the Lord said, " Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord" ( Psalm 34:8). Immediately, I started to think of tasty treats and things I could put together to represent this scripture passage.

                                    

I filled a bowl with things my God- children can make and eat afterwards.

 
 I wanted my God-children to know we can use all of our senses to praise the Lord and that everything can be made into a prayer, even baking goodies! Most of these items came from the Dollar Tree store.

• cupcake mix
• gingerbread cookie mix ( Target $1.50)
• pot holder
• measuring spoons
• measuring cups
• spatula
• mixing bowl

 I will also add a gingerbread cookie cutter and frosting, total cost $11 with the paper shredding and cellopane bag.

 
A handmade tag and a few index cards (mock recipe cards) explain the purpose of the baking kit. I also threw in a few Andes mints to add some green color to the red. I hope this Christmas all of your senses come alive to worship God and taste and see His goodness!

 

Preparations Complete

Thanks be to God everything is done except the turkey. I am so thankful to be able to do this for my family. Our neighbor who is 91 will be blessing us with her presence. Her caregiver brought her over last year and we enjoyed her company. She was friends with the elderly woman who was the previous owner of our home.

  This is the dining room. We always eat dinner in this room but its not always this dressed up. My children helped me so much today. Before cooking we started by cleaning the living room, and the rest of the downstairs. My nine year old commented ," Hey mom we had 12 hands today. " We sure did and we needed everyone of them. We put on some Christmas carols and some Jim Croche. How I love to listen to songs that were my moms favorites. I always love listening to those 70's tunes.

This table will be for the two girls. They feel pretty special having their own table. It is right at the end of the other table in between the dining and living room.

This is the dry sink with all the goodies on it wrapped up safe and sound even though the two grown ups have been sneakin' a cookie or two for stamina.

  Here is the sideboard where all of the food will get set up. We aways do the food buffet style.

Well, to all of you who worked so hard and made great sacrifice and investments for your families this week, I salute you. May you have a day filled with the abundance of The love of Jesus and may He be with you on this Thanksgiving Day! I am so thankful that He is Lord!

A Day Full Of Fun

  Today when I woke up, I woke up to shouts of " It's Snowing Outside." I thionk my kids actually like the winter better than summer. After breakfast everyone put on their snow gear and out they went. Making snow balls, snow angels, and sliding. Since we live on the bottom of a mountain we have a great hill to slide on right outside of our door. This was one of the reasons I wanted to buy this house.

Here are the kiddos doing their thing. I always get so much enjoyment out of watching them play in the snow. They are so joyful and the play goes on for hours peacefully which is not always the case. I guess since there are no toys involved there are no fights over whose are whose.

  Since the kids were doing there thing I decided to get busy on mine. Two days until the big day. I did all of the baking today. The kids requested apple pie and the hubby wants his favorite pecan/ sweet potato pie and then a batch of sugar cookies to fill in the blanks. I love this pie topper I found at a local farm store. It's got apples for the cut outs in the pie.

  Here is the way to my husband's heart. A friend of mine actually made this pecan/ sweet potato pie for his birthday and I had to learn how to make it. It is usually his one request for his birthday, Easter, Thanksgiving,  and Christmas. It is actually very easy to make. The pecans are the topping mixed with brown sugar, maple syrup and a few other yummy ingredients.

  These are the finished product side by side sitting on the sideboard. I don't think there safe from wondering eyes and watering mouths so I will cover them and warn any potential intruders.

Here is Hannah taking a break from her snow adventures. She is warming up with some hot chocolate. Ahh, what a life! She looked at me  while drinking and said, " Arer my cheeks still red?" Hot chocolate and snowy days, what a perfect pair.

  I have alot of helpers and I think I know why. There are many fringe benefits when it comes to frosting cookies. A few spinkles, afew broken cookies, and not to mention sticky fingers with yummy frosting.

Some of the cookies actually made it on the plate. My great friend, Anne actually gave  me this recioe about 9 years ago when I first started to really work on my domesticity. She is my sponsor into the Catholic Church and my advocate for so much more. I am thankful this Thanksgiving for her example of a faithful Catholic in today's world! I heard Hillary Clinton say," Would you rather of had me stay home and bake cookies?" well I say eat your heart out Hillary it takes real  woman to do so.

I wanted to get this shot because of the plate the cookies are on. I recieved this beautiful plate after my grandmother's death. I love to use it because I know my grandmothwer is always with me still especially when I'm baking. She used to always show me how to how to make goodies.

I have so much to be thankful for on this up and coming feast. I thank Jesus for His love and faithfulness to me and my family and friends and to the whole world. He is a good and gracious God. May  you recieve His blessings this Thanksgiving  Day and Always!!