Easter Egg Hunt

This year we participated in an Easter Egg Hunt and brunch that someone from our church organized.

Here's Treyton, one very excited egg hunter, just before taking off.

Since Brielle was the youngest, she got to have a wee-bit of a head start.

Galina wasn't sure how she felt about that.  Actually, she was sure and she didn't like it.

But she lost no time when they released her.

Brielle has wonderful finding skills.  It's from Bryce.  They both pay good attention to detail.

I would've been scared to stick my hand in a hole like that.  In Brielle's case, ignorance is bliss.

Galina's all business.

She's more of a big picture sort of girl, like her mom. 

And Treyton was in his detective mode having a blast.

He's also good with details.  Except when it comes to unscrunching his socks before putting them in the laundry. 

Look at the teamwork!  Actually the competition.  Keeping it real here.

Brielle stayed out of it.  Smart kid.

Here they are enjoying the loot.

And some brunch.

Happy Belated Easter, everyone!

Say it Ain't Snow

Yesterday I woke up to this.

Yes, it snowed here in Colorado on May 12.  I don't remember that ever happening before, even in Minnesota.  I remember once on May 1st, but never this late!

These pictures were taken around 7:00 in the morning.  It snowed until noon.

Daisy didn't seem to mind.

But the crazy Colorado weather, all of it melted before the next morning.  Now that wouldn't have happened in MN, to be sure!  Their snow LASTS.  But not here.  It was nice enough that we even ate lunch outside in the sunshine!  Happy spring!

Book Review: Off Limits

This book should be required reading for any concerned parent.  My naiveté about sexual abuse has made me an ill-prepared to arm my children in this increasingly dangerous world.  Off Limits: A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse helped bridge this gap for me.  It was a superb book.

Topics include identifying traits of those who abuse, learning the process those abusers use to get a child to submit, equipping children with a plan on how to handle a situation if they encounter one, teaching children about body safety and making your home safe, and  talking to caregivers about safety, to name a few.

The book is filled with nuggets or “safety tips”.  For example, one was making a rule about not keeping secrets in your family.  Surprises are okay, but secrets are not.  Surprises are fun to keep and are eventually told.  Secrets don’t feel good to keep and are not ever meant to be shared.  It’s important for kids to learn the differences and to teach them how to respond to a potential abuser.  The “my family doesn’t keep secrets from each other” comment has actually dissuaded admitted sexual abusers.   They simply found another kid who would keep a secret.

Off Limits also covers on-line predators, an increasing danger with the explosion of media use among older children and teens.  The book even goes on discuss how to help a child if he is abused or how to help children/teens who abuse others.  There are many resources included in the appendix as well.

So thorough, so researched, so informative, so practical.  I strongly recommend Off Limits by Sandy Wurtele and Feather Berkower.

Here's their website for more info: http://www.parentingsafechildren.com/

Grandma Ruth's Peanut Butter Cookies

Bryce's Grandma Ruth is a superb baker.  Her peanut butter cookies are the best I've ever had.  So incredibly scrumptious.  She sent me the recipe and I made them that minute.  Literally!

Grandma Ruth's Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortning

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 egg
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix sugars, butter, shortning, peanut butter, and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refridgerate at least 3 hours.  (Try not to eat too much dough during this time or there will only be 2 dozen instead of 3 when baked....not that I would know or anything.)
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls (I just drop by teaspoon) on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with fork dipped in flour. Bake until light brown, 9-10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. About 3 dozen.

Nothing better than fresh, warm cookies right out of the oven.  Mmmm, mmmmm good.  Thanks, Ruth!

Visitors in our Back Yard

Look who came to visit us the other day.

 A pack of wild turkeys!

 I'm just grateful that Bryce didn't go try and shoot one for dinner.

I am not in any frame of mind to learn how to pluck a turkey.  In fact, I don't think I'll ever be.  But they sure were pretty.  Come again feathered friends!

Crazy Hair

 Brielle's an active sleeper.

You can tell by her hair. 

Creamy Baked White Mac & Cheese

This is awesome.  I normally am not a cheese person unless it's white cheddar.  Or cheese curds at the MN state fair.  So when I saw this recipe using white cheddar, I decided to give it a try.  And being preggo, this is one of the world's most comforting comfort foods.  I ate it for breakfast this morning.

Creamy Baked White Mac & Cheese

2 C uncooked ziti, shells, or elbow macaroni  (I used whole wheat shells and only used 1-3/4 C pasta to make it creamier)

1/4 C butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 C flour

1-3/4 C milk

10 oz block of sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded

paprika

Cook pasta as directed. 

Melt butter, stir in S&P.  Add flour and cook over low heat stirring constantly until smooth.  Remove from heat and add milk.  Return to burner and gradually increase heat as you stir constantly.  When mixture boils, continue to stir for 1 min. then remove from heat.  Stir in shredded cheese.  Add cheese sauce to pasta and stir thoroughly.  Bake 375 for 25 min.  Sprinkle with paprika, then bake another 5 min.  (I broiled in for a few min after this...superb!)

Parents Visit

Over the kids' spring break my parents were able to sneak away for three days and come out to visit us.

 The kids were so excited.

 They even brought some Easter basket gifts.  Galina got this dancing ribbon and had fun twirling with it.

 Treyton enjoyed his pirate accessories.

 He got the eye flap thing down real fast.  Like the sword down the pants?

 Grandpa sure enjoyed cuddling with Brielle.

 Grandpa likes to cuddle with anyone.

 See what I mean?  He's been that way his whole life!

 Grandma even got some cuddle time in with our star cuddler.

We had a low key but very enjoyable visit.  Missing you already!

Chicken Tacos

I've been really nauseas since getting pregnant with our fourth (and final) baby.  One thing that has been appetizing is chicken tacos.  Here is a delicious yet simple way to make them.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
1 envelope taco seasoning
6 pieces chicken breasts
1 (16 oz) jar salsa

Put in crock pot and cook low for 6-8 hrs OR high for 4-6 hrs.  I usually shred chicken and let it cook a little longer to get the flavors to marry.  Enjoy!

Review - Booga Booga Land

Booga Booga Land is a silly video which name and concept caught my attention right away.  It's a DVD series which is supposed to follow the same plots as parables from the Bible.  This particular DVD is broken into three episodes which follow the parables of the lost pearl (Squid Sushi Loses His Marbles), the soil and the seeds (Wally the Waiter), and the wedding banquet (The Flaming Monkey).  The main characters are silly animals including Marty the Monkey and Gerard the Giraffe.

I couldn't help but think of Sponge Bob Square Pants while watching the video with my kids.  Same sort of funny humor and pace of story.  But with a Christian twist, loosely.  Unfortunately, I couldn't grasp the message of the three episodes even when looking for it.  For kids, I think it would be extremely hard to learn anything from these stories.  It was a stretch, unlike Hermie and Friends, Veggie Tales, or Gigi videos.  As an adult, I love the idea of using parables and changing them to teach the same lesson but in a different way.  But this video series just didn't do that as I had expected.  But I must say, my kids did enjoy them for the silly humor, fun characters, and humorous events.

I was given this DVD from Tommy Nelson Publishers to watch and review.  All opinions are my own.  I was not paid to do this review.

Church Sign

Gotta chuckle at this one...

Elliot Quote Explained

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Faith is being ready to give up all your own desires for God. And it is in giving them up, that you will truly have your desires fulfilled. God is not a spoilsport. He doesn't want you to give up your dream, and have it replaced by something lousy. God wants you to give up your puny little dream, and look up, and see his dream for your life. His dream for your life is the most exciting, most fulfilling, most exciting thing you will ever do. That's because God's dream for your life perfectly matches exactly who you are. God wants your best. He wants the best from you, and He wants to give the best to you.

by Graeme Codrington @ Youth Talks

Elliot Quote

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot

Valentine's Parties

I really love Valentine's Day.  And not just because of the candy.  I just love...love!  It's a fun thing to celebrate. 

This year we were invited to Galina's friend Violet's house for a tea party.  Sallina, Violet's mom, is blessed with the gift of hospitality beyond belief.  She loves having people over and we love going there so it works well.

Here's what the spread looked like.  So cute!

Here's Treyton, Elias, and Brielle along with Sallina.

And Miss Violet with her tea.

Boy did Galina get a kick out of all the fancy things!

Brielle enjoyed the food.

Even Treyton got into it!

Mommy even swiped some candy from her baby.

What a fun tea party.

The kids also had parties at their school which I had to miss most of due to Brielle's nap. Thankfully there were a couple moms in each class who were willing and able to volunteer to make it happen. But I showed up at the end. Here are a few shots from those.

Don't you just love celebrating love?

Phone Number Tip

Teaching kids their phone number can be tedious.  But it's important for them to know.  Especially if you are Galina and like to run off and get lost. I read a clever tip somewhere: teach them through song.  Use the tune of "Camptown Races Sing This Song, Do Dah, Do Dah".  I tried it and after two trips in the car they almost had it.  And you'll have it in your head for at least 8 hours, guaranteed.

Penguin

Galina brought home this cute penguin craft from preschool after their penguin unit was over.

 They used a paper bag for the belly stuffed with newspaper.

With added feathers, feet, beak, and eyes, this penguin is easy and fun.