Gone Fishing!

Well due to me not feeling to good for the last few weeks, I have some catching up to do with this blogging stuff.  I am hoping that what I had was just swine flu so that I won't have to look forward to it again next year.  I don't have allergies.  I don't have allergies.

On April 25th the local fire department held a Fishing Derby.  Even though I wasn't feeling good we went to see what it was all about.  We didn't have any fishing poles but some nice people who have reach there limit for the day let us use their fishing pole for a while to see if we could catch anything.  It was fun to be able to fish for a time and to have the kids try out fishing.  Here are some pictures of the day.

The picture below shows what they really enjoyed doing there.

Well that was our day fishing.  We enjoyed the short time that I could handle being there.

Lizzie Turns 31!!

Well I figure that since I did a Jamie update for his six month birthday and I didn't for Lizzie that I should give a little update for her for her seven month birthday.

She has most recently started to talk a lot, although I am still trying to figure out half of what she is saying.

She can be as cute as they come, or as demanding and whinny as you would expect a two-year-old to be.  Hence why she got to try on her swimsuit before going to bed one day.

She loves to clean and will clean most anything she can.

I found out yesterday that there is one thing in which her cleanliness bug doesn't hit and that is when it comes to jumping in puddles.  For once she wasn't bothered that she was wet up to her knees.

She is very good at finding things and getting things for me when needed.  

(She doesn't just find the things with the candy inside.)

She (like Jamie) enjoys her pre-dinner snack of spinach, however she is not quite as willing to eat anything placed in front of her without bribery.

Both Lizzie and Jamie have become very helpful in setting and clearing the table.  

They would really like to load the dishwasher too, but I have yet to figure out how to have them help much with that.

Well that is a little bit of what my little girl is doing now.

We love her and are grateful to have her in our family!!!

Jamie Turns 18!!

My little man turned 18 months today, 

so I figure that I should write a few words about why I love him so.

He is always ready to give a smile!!

He also loves to give snuggles and kisses!!

He loves to play . . . 

and explore the world around him.

He is working on growing up big and strong by eating his spinach (and almost anything else that you give him, except dessert) . . . 

and exercising just like mommy does with her big ball.

He loves to push buttons and would do it all the time if I would let him. 

He is growing so fast.

He is starting to walk like a big kid, and has lost his steps of faith.

He has even started talking, saying almost everything that Lizzie, does just not quite as clearly.

Well that is our little boy full of giggles and fun,  energy and curiosity, determination and strength.

We love you Jamie!!!

Happy 18th!!!

My Crazy Kids!!!

While I was blogging I thought that I would put up a few more pictures of the kids.

Lizzie with her hair all full of static from playing on the couch. 

On Tuesday, the kids once again decided that they had to clean the crayon off the wall, yes it is still there.  Side note:  Sunday while Brian and I were cooking they decided to color on the stair wall, thankfully though it came off much easier off that wall.  We only needed to use a wet rag. 

After cleaning one of the children decided to climb on the table, when I went to get the camera, encouraging the behavior, the other joined him.  Yes, that is right the first one to climb on the table was Jamie.  

Also as you might have noticed from the above pictures, we now have carpet in the playroom.  It got put in on Tuesday as well.  We wanted something fun and colorful.  After looking at many different kid type rugs, like the kinds with the roads or different games to play, I found this carpet that just has circles.  I was so excited, I think that it looks great and fun!!!

Finally, a movie of my kids kissing goodnight.  Oh how they make me laugh some days!!!

Happy Easter!!!!

Well we had a great Easter here and I hope that all of the rest of you did also.

WE started on Saturday with trying to find an Easter Egg Hunt, but I guess due to the rain they didn't have it.

So we went home and dyed Easter eggs.

Then it was time for lunch and a nap.  While the kids were sleeping the Easter Bunny came to our house.  Jamie woke up way before Lizzie and did very good at not finding to many eggs.  We had to hide them inside as the weather was rainy and cold.  When Lizzie finally did get up they had a great time finding all that the Easter Bunny had left.

Along with the candy and eggs, the Easter Bunny left Hullabaloo (a cranium game for kids), and two opairs which are connectible fanny packs, so that I can have the kids on a leash without them getting to made, I hope.  I figure if they have snacks in there packs they will like them even if they have to be attached to someone.  We will see how they work after they get used to wearing them separately.  

The kids really seemed to like the egg hunt and amazingly found them all!!!

To finish off the day we made Easter Cookies (recipe in the post below).  There were different things for the kids to do, so we took pictures.

Sunday was a very nice day.  The meetings were very spiritual and well done.  The rest of the day was spent making and eating a big Easter dinner.

We love you all and hope that you had a great Easter as well!!!

Easter Story Cookies

This is my favorite Easter Eve thing to do.  While looking for the recipe so that we could make them tonight I found this great sight that even has links to the scriptures.  This may be to late to help anyone this year, but at least next year I will know where to find it. 

Easter Story Cookies

to be made the night before Easter

You need:

1 cup whole pecans

• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important - don't wait until you are half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  Explain that on the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9

 http://my.homewithgod.com/mkcathy/holiday/eastercookies.html

First Hair Cuts and More Carpet!!!

Well after months (probably almost a year for Lizzie) of my husband trying to convince me that the kids need a haircut, I finally got brave enough to do it.  Jamie's hair was just past his shoulders and he looked much like a girl if dressed in pink.

And here is what it look like afterwards.  I was amazed at how still he sat in the beginning for me to cut it.  However it is still a little long around the ears and lopsided, but who expects a child's haircut to be perfect.  At least he looks a little more manly.

I cut a little bit off of Lizzie's hair, too.  Her hair can really go crazy, especially in the front where it kept getting into her eyes.  I don't have a before picture because I wasn't really expecting to cut it.  I am happy that I did though.  I took just a little bit off the back and cut the front so that the longer hairs wouldn't get into her eyes.  Thankfully her hair is curly so it is hard to see if I messed it up.

Friday, they came and put the carpet on our stairs!!!!

Oh it feels so much better and is nice to feel better about letting the kids play on them.  They really seem to enjoy the softer stairs and will go up and down them often.