Reflections of Christ

Thanks, Mert, for sending this our way. We loved it.

Click on the link below
Reflections of Christ

It's an artistic presentation depicting the life of the Savior, done with creative and inspirational photography, rather than the usual creative and inspirational paintings or drawings. And it happens to be set to one of my very favorite hymns "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".

Amish Macaroni Salad

I found a macaroni salad that I actually like. I found it on http://www.allrecipes.com/ and it was the highest rated macaroni salad listed. I think the sugar in it makes it deliciously sweet. The kids both ate it semi-willingly, though they didn't absolutely love it. But why would they? There are green things in it.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped (I used green)
2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
2 cups creamy salad dressing (e.g. Miracle Whip)
3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup white sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon celery seed

DIRECTIONS
Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain, and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, onion, celery, red pepper, and relish. In a small bowl, stir together the salad dressing, mustard, white sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seed. Pour over the vegetables, and stir in macaroni until well blended. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Monday Dinner Miracles

Words I never thought I'd hear at the dinner table:

Kinley: Mommy, why didn't you give me lettuce on my sandwich?

Tanner: No sammich, Mommy! Tanno SALAD. (referring to the macaroni salad I made)

On The Hunt

Well, it's that time of year again! Grilling and salad season! I'm on the hunt for some delicious salads to add to our summer menu! Feel free to send along any favorites you have!

Conjunction Junction, That's My Function!

Mommy: Kinley, are you tired?
Kinley: No, I amn't.
Mommy: You amn't?
Kinley: Nope. I amn't.
Mommy: Alrighty then...

Little Gardener

After a trip to Lowe's, a little research on the internet, and a phone call to Mom B. (our personal gardening resource), Kinley and I embarked on a grand adventure this afternoon.

I was born with a Black Thumb, but have been feeling ambitious of late, ready to take another crack at this gardning thing. We managed to kill the petunias that Grandma planted for us two years ago, as well as the tomatoes we attempted around the same time. I'm planning to actually water the plants this year, so that may help. If we can keep the petunias and tomatoes alive this summer, I may become more brave next year. Today was petunia-planting day.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

For our YW activity this week, we had an activity surrounding the concept of Respect. We broke up into three teams, and the teams went on a scavenger hunt to their own homes to gather props for a skit they were to put together. There were some fun 90's glasses that made an appearance!! The lighting in the church is never very good for fabulous pictures, but that's ok.

The first team made the point that we should not judge or make fun of people based on their appearance, either what they wear or any disabilities they may have.



The second group demonstrated the necessity for respecting the hard work that teachers do to prepare lessons for them. They also discussed the importance of respecting the learning process of those around them.

The skit for group #3 revolved around respect within the home, both to our parents as well as to our parents, including respectful speech and respecting the privacy of our siblings.


Of course we finished the night off with some yummy root beer floats!! Very fun night! I love being with the YW!

Greatest Card Game Invention

Hallelujah, we are saved! I bought these little card holders a few months ago and they have become an invaluable resource. I was so exasperated from always having to fix the arrangement of cards in Kinley's hand throughout whatever card game we were playing; it really affected the game-playing dynamic when she couldn't see the cards in her hand, but didn't want me interfering because she's a big girl. Problem solved. $1.75 well spent, I say. I'd give props to whoever recommended them to me, but I can't remember! But THANK YOU! Even Tanner can use the holders.
"Let me see... what do I have here?"

For now, we just give him his own small group to start with and toss him the leftover cards after each hand. He feels like he's participating and he's quite content to stuff, stack and restack many handfuls of cards into his holder.

Young Lady

And to whom does this lovely young lady belong? I cannot believe what a big girl she is becoming.

Finger Food Picnic

We had a very successful Finger Food Picnic at the park this week. It really was a lot of fun and the weather was very cooperative (with a little excess wind). We'll definitely have to do it again! Soon! About 15 moms were able to attend, which means that the children had plenty of friends to run around with. It was really nice to be outside enjoying nice weather and to mingle with the gals. To those who were sad to miss it, don't worry! Let's do it all over again very soon, ok?!

I was also introduced to some yummy new oranges (whose name I can't remember, but that I can apparently buy at Costco). Very delicious, on my shopping list for next time. We ate with fingers and toothpicks. The wind gusts scattered plenty of food for any hungry neighborhood birds. There was a great variety of foods (Tanner choosing anything that looked like a cracker).

Kierra was trying to be helpful and return his sippy cup to him. Since his hands were full, she set it on his plate and he lost his food again (had already lost several plates to the wind). He didn't appreciate the help, but I think she deserves an A for effort!

Tanner: My food spilled on the ground AGAIN!!!!!
Kierra: What in the world is wrong with you? Seriously. You have issues.

Red Light!! Green Light!!
I remember doing this myself once upon a very long time ago. I remember trying to do it once sometime in the last 10 years or so. And puking. My butt doesn't enjoy the same comfort level on the swings either, to tell the truth.
I brought meatballs. Here is the recipe:

Meatballs
Approx 70 frozen meatballs (could do more)
4 cups ketchup
3 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (87 cents at Wal-mart!)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Directions
Mix sauce in crock pot. Add meatballs and stir well. Cook on high for 3 hours. Delicious and easy! Serve on sandwich rolls or with toothpicks.

Kinley's Pony Story

This is a story (complete with illustrations) that Kinley made up at Joy School this afternoon. I should mention that we've been on a "My Little Pony" kick recently. I love the creative activities they do at Joy School."The little ponies got princesses when it was dark with lots of stars and there was the moon and it was green. They met a unicorn and they asked him to help them find the green moon and then they made the moon white again. The end."

I love the green moon in the picture! My little author!

Kinley's Curious Words

Kinley: Caterpillars make racoons and become butterflies!
Mom: It's called a "cocoon", not a racoon.
Kinley: I know, but I can't say that.

And she always calls squid "squigs". I haven't corrected her because it is so cute!

Ah.... SO Much Better

Life feels better and everyone in our house is happier when things are done in proper order and balance. Today has been much better inertia-wise than yesterday. I started cleaning at 7:02 and didn't even boot up the computer until after I had completely finished cleaning the upstairs and put away the laundry back-log. The kids did their chores and Kinley and I completed her reading lesson (while Tanner prowled around my bed with a stinky diaper). We've worked together, played together, and read library books together. Now the kids are playing by themselves in the basement, freshly bathed, and I still have time to scrap. But this isn't the sour-tasting guilty-scrapping. This is job-well-done scrapping :) So much more satisfying! I've still already managed to spend too much time on the computer, but I am an addict, you know.

Lazy Jane

I've been soooooo lazy the last few days. Tomorrow I need to wake up with some ambition! Maybe do the dishes at least? Thanks, DeAnna, for help this afternoon with the one load that did get done! I'm all about inertia... I need to hit the ground running first thing in the morning or I'm a turtle the entire day. A grumpy turtle, usually. Idleness doesn't fill my soul with a lot of happiness and joy. I did try this morning, but then I got derailed when my kids didn't get enough sleep (something about a great plan to deny them naps yesterday so they would sleep longer? Baah!) so they were whiney and demanding and difficult to please until I lost my temper, which made me mad. Do you ever get mad because you got mad? I hate that!

The Kissable, Scrappable Face!

Credits: Background paper, teal paper, and red paper for arrow from "Wishing on a Star"; Circle stitching from "Believing in You"; word art and large corner star from "Super Stars". All items from Gina Marie Huff of Weeds and Wildflowers Design. Green polka paper from Sweet Shoppe Design and Little Dreamer Designs Charity Collab kit "Stand Up" to benefit "The Alliance for Climate Protection". Font is Pea Jenny.

He's So Spoiled

But it's really not my fault, you see. It started at an early age. With this face.

The Family Dice Game

I'm in charge of the literary exposure and reading skills for the kids and Justin (the professional accountant) has always been in charge of numbers and computations. A year or more ago he came up with a simple game that he and Kinley love to play together.

Take two dice (Di? Whatever.) Anyway, you need two of them and you take turns rolling them. The winner is the first person to get a combination that adds up to 7. They usually play best two out of three games. Very fun, good for math skills now, counting skills earlier, and I've started playing with them recently. LOL, Kinley taught me how to play this weekend. Even Tanner can participate in his way. It's good for his counting practice.

Fun, easy, quick, cheap, educational game!

My Silly Boy

Credits: Font is "Pea Amy", background paper and heart from "Spreading Cheer kit" by Gina Marie Huff of Weeds and Wildflowers design. All other papers from Sweet Shoppe Design and Little Dreamer Design's Charity Collab kit "Stand Up" to benefit "The Alliance for Climate Protection". Stitching is mine.

Quick Pages

Michelle Coleman of Little Dreamer Designs has posted some Freebie Quick Pages designed by ME! :) They were so fun to make and I was so pleased that she liked them enough to post them. I feel positively giddy! I used her "Sweet Chic" kit, plus some dragonflies from her "Sweet June" kit and her new "Floral Spray Brushes". I really love the feminitity of her designs, don't you? There are four quickpages total: Square, rectangle, with brushes, and without.

Go to Michelle's Blog to download them! If you download them, PLEASE be sure to thank her for allowing the use of her beautiful creations to make these free Quick Pages! It was very generous of her!

Never All the Way Better

My eye has been acting up off and on this last week. I was up most of last night with it. Then I was up with whatever else happened to come to mind to worry about. Does everything seem so weighty and stressful to everyone else at 2 in the morning?? In the middle of the night, if I start thinking about something as ridiculous as realizing I chose theater tickets for the same weekend as Youth Conference, I can count up to a thousand anxiety-ridden sheep or more! Add in the adrenaline of waking up with a fist in my watering, pain-lanced eye, and it's a sleepless night. Life always seems more manageable in the morning. Why is that?

I'll be on the couch tonight. I need to be crammed into a space, mostly on my back, where I can't roll enough to stuff my fist in my eye for a whole night. I need 8 solid hours of nothing but not laying on it or messing with it or rubbing it, and it's much harder in the openness of the king-sized bed. That should bring it back in line. Until next time :)

A Man Possessed

My friend Allison has a townhouse just like ours. She mentioned the other day some details of the reorganization she's doing at her place. I thought they sounded like promising ideas, so in passing, I emailed the boss, wondering his opinion on such changes?

Little did I know what I was igniting! He woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to make all the changes this morning. I begrudgingly signed on as day laborer, with the ever-enthusiastic Tanner and Kinley in tow.

Voila. My new hobby room!! Previously known as "the office", this swank little room now boasts the presence of an almost-forgotten sewing machine and yards of comparably ignored flannel and cotton. I left Kinley's craft table beside it so that we can hobby together sometimes.

I absolutely never ever went down to the "sewing room" because it was so tucked away and inconvenient. Now my sewing machine can call to me from a much closer venue, when I have my back to it at the computer scrapping or blogging. Justin's not so sure about this part of the plan, but it's done! And he'll be happy for me to put the sewing machine to better use, since we paid an arm and a leg for it and it's been gathering dust since we finished the basement!

What are we doing with the sewing room? It is now the playroom!! Yay!! We went through all the toys, took an embarassing amount to the D.I., and gave the keepers a happy new home in their new playroom! We left the teeny tv down there in that room. It doesn't mean they are allowed to watch it whenever they feel like it, but just in case they ever sneak it, Daddy took off all the stations except Disney, PBS, and the Discovery Channel. Smart Daddy!!
We had a huge decor-destruction party in the main part of the basement. The kids were thrilled to finally be allowed to tear down the Wallies! It's been a dream of theirs ever since they went up!
Why in the world did Justin agree/want to do this in the first place? Number one, he loves dejunking and he knew that if we did this, I would go through all the toys and toss the ones not worth saving. He was right. But the main reason is that he wanted to take back the big room in the basement. That thought made him positively giddy. My major benefit, of course, is watching the office ever so slowly, but ever so surely transform into my own private "hobby den". I like that :)

When he's excited about something, boy he really sees it through! I could never have done this without his participation; he was amazing! It took me a little while to get into the spirit of the adventure, but I'm very glad we did it.

Oh, and in other exciting decor news, I finally have the spring pots back up above the kitchen cupboards. Iwas just waiting to have Justin around to haul them up the stairs for me. I could have done without the exasperated eyerolling that came with it, but he hauled them up and that's what's important :)

FREE Children's Theater Tickets!!

As some of you know, BYU is putting on a "Theatre for Young Audiences" production of Esperanza Rising in June. We went to their Jungle Book performance and loved it. Since we just finished the book together, I planned to get tickets for Kinley and myself, but have been lazy (and wasn't ready to fork out the $12.)

Let it be known that occasionally procrastination really pays off!

Today I went to the library and right on the desk in the children's department there were some yellow bookmark-shaped flyers that said "write down a book you've read recently and get two free tickets to Esperanza Rising." Seriously? So, I wrote down Esperanza Rising (I was feeling the irony) and they handed me two free tickets to the matinee performance of my choice!

No catch, no paperwork, nothing exciting. I just wrote down a recent book title and got free tickets! Woo hooooo!!

FREE LUNCH TOO
There is also another little yellow flyer near the first one that says "Lunch and Learn -- For free lunch and activities with the cast before the matinee performance, register online at http://performances.byu.edu/ Activities start at 1pm." Kinley loved meeting the cast of the Jungle Book. This will be so fun!

So, there you go. Run to the library and get your free tickets!

**If I remember correctly, it is for children 4 and over!! Maybe it was 3? I don't remember, but I know that 2-year olds and under for sure weren't welcome at the last performance we went to!

Vivian Revisited

Credits: Papers, clip and bow from "Schnookums" kit by Laura Deacetis. Font is Pea HeidiQ

Cousins

My sister and I often laugh at how similar these cousins are. 500 miles and 5 months apart, they have many uncanny similarities. Including, it would seem, in zebra clothing, activity choices, and camera cheesiness!

Vivian Park Trip

Ahh... my therapy of choice... Credits: Papers and ribbon from "Sweet Chic" kit by Michelle Coleman. Font is Pea HeidiQ

Joy School

I taught Joy School this week for my final rotation. Hallelujah, I'm done for the school year! Jealous, ladies? I know you are!! This week was about imagination and creativity. Our girls have very active imaginations, which was so fun to explore! Making puppets and doing a puppet show seemed appropriate for the concept, so I swapped this activity for one of the ones in the lesson, since I had the materials for this one and not the other.
Little fun activity idea. Find a blank wall (not difficult in my house) and tell them what wonderful things you see on it. Let your imagination run wild. Then ask what they see on it and you may just be completely amused and impressed with what they come up with! I know I was!

Park Adventures

On one of our trips to the park, I over-estimated the temperature... a friend loaned Kinley a coat they had in their van. Tanner didn't mind. He's tough like Mom!
He's become quite the little poser, pausing to mug for the camera!
Little Diva
Hanging out with friends
Bark in the shoes...
Being self-sufficient on the swings. I like that!