Oh, I found a really cool idea for a new try something new....it will have to wait until we are able to get together with some friends but it looks really cool!!
Make your own burgers...like mixing stuff in the meat and cooking it on the grill!!
This idea was in a Better Homes and Garden, June 2011.
Put about 1/4 lb of meat into a ziploc bag. Have available things to mix in a burger such as cheese, bacon, spices, etc. Put it all in the bag, squish and mix and form into a burger shape and grill.
What a fun idea!! We love feta/spinach burgers so now this allows you to make your own. I would probably do a little smaller amounts of meat to all some mini burgers so you can try a couple mixtures of burgers.
Another fun idea to do with your family or a group of friends...I can't wait!!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Mission work
Two of my family just got back from a mission trip. They were only an hour away but were so busy, I didn't get a chance to talk to them at all so I got all the stories and updates last night.
The Senior High Youth group at our church worked at a small camp ground, changing a dirt drive/water path into beautiful tiered steps with railroad timbers and woodchips. This made an ugly dirt road into a beautiful landscaped walkway.
Where do you see something ugly that you can help make beautiful? Where can you use some hard work to make an impact on those around you?
The Senior High Youth group at our church worked at a small camp ground, changing a dirt drive/water path into beautiful tiered steps with railroad timbers and woodchips. This made an ugly dirt road into a beautiful landscaped walkway.
Where do you see something ugly that you can help make beautiful? Where can you use some hard work to make an impact on those around you?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It takes a village
You've heard the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child" but have you really thought about what that really means? It is an old African proverb where I'm sure their village is very different from what we see as a village. Their village may have been grass huts, close together, working together in all aspects of life such as food, medical, safety.
Think about your village...who is around you, helping you raise your children. Do you ever have to ask a parent to drive your child home from practice? Or ask a family member to replace you at a concert you couldn't attend? Or put down someone as your emergency contact?
These people are part of your village. So many people are part of your children's lives...do you really know them? Do you trust them? If yes, great...thank them! If not, it might be time to get a new village...or expand your village to include people of great influence that will benefit your child.
Think about your village...who is around you, helping you raise your children. Do you ever have to ask a parent to drive your child home from practice? Or ask a family member to replace you at a concert you couldn't attend? Or put down someone as your emergency contact?
These people are part of your village. So many people are part of your children's lives...do you really know them? Do you trust them? If yes, great...thank them! If not, it might be time to get a new village...or expand your village to include people of great influence that will benefit your child.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Puzzle Day
Sometimes toys get lost in a closet or a toy box. I have a friend who rotates toys so there always seems like there are new toys around. She stores a box in the basement and every month or so brings that one up and exchanges the toys that are "old".
Puzzles are one of those toys...bring out the wooden ones they did when they were babies! Time them...see how fast they can get it done now!! Talk about the first time they did that puzzle and how proud they were when they got it right! Talk about what they are learning when they do puzzles-dexterity, hand eye coordination, matching colors and shapes.
Then, get out a 100 piece puzzle. Work together to get it done. Is it faster to work the outside sides first or the main picture?
Then, if they are still interested, get out a bigger puzzle-200-500 piece...this might take several days to finish. If you don't have one that big, check Goodwill or Garage sales...they are always looking to get rid of puzzles.
Work together, come back to it often. When it is complete, use puzzle glue and hang it on the wall. Have fun working together!
Puzzles are one of those toys...bring out the wooden ones they did when they were babies! Time them...see how fast they can get it done now!! Talk about the first time they did that puzzle and how proud they were when they got it right! Talk about what they are learning when they do puzzles-dexterity, hand eye coordination, matching colors and shapes.
Then, get out a 100 piece puzzle. Work together to get it done. Is it faster to work the outside sides first or the main picture?
Then, if they are still interested, get out a bigger puzzle-200-500 piece...this might take several days to finish. If you don't have one that big, check Goodwill or Garage sales...they are always looking to get rid of puzzles.
Work together, come back to it often. When it is complete, use puzzle glue and hang it on the wall. Have fun working together!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Let the cake cool
How did you tell your husband you were pregnant? I have heard some fun and clever stories. Some women have such great ideas!
For my third child, I decided to make a cake (we all know how my cakes turn out...but I still did it) and write a fun message on it. Somehow I got distracted and my cake didn't get in the oven on time, which means it got out of the oven late, which means, I didn't have much time for it to cool.
I still tried to get the frosting on, write a clever message and then have it ready to show my husband before dinner that night. I even put it in the refrigerator to cool!
But, it was not cool enough...the frosting melted, the message got smooged...not readable...so I put it on the table and told him the message "9+4=5" He's a Math guy...I thought he would enjoy a math problem...so 9 Months plus our family of 4 would equal a new family of 5!!
He guessed right away that I was pregnant...and the cake was a mess...I tried...it was the thought that counts!
For my third child, I decided to make a cake (we all know how my cakes turn out...but I still did it) and write a fun message on it. Somehow I got distracted and my cake didn't get in the oven on time, which means it got out of the oven late, which means, I didn't have much time for it to cool.
I still tried to get the frosting on, write a clever message and then have it ready to show my husband before dinner that night. I even put it in the refrigerator to cool!
But, it was not cool enough...the frosting melted, the message got smooged...not readable...so I put it on the table and told him the message "9+4=5" He's a Math guy...I thought he would enjoy a math problem...so 9 Months plus our family of 4 would equal a new family of 5!!
He guessed right away that I was pregnant...and the cake was a mess...I tried...it was the thought that counts!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Try Something New Fruits
We've done Try Something New Fruits several times since there are some pretty funky fruits that you probably pass by in the grocery store.
We tried Ugli Fruit which looks very much like an orange without the citrus taste. We've tried Dragon Fruit which is close to a plum and at times had some pretty good sales! And another called African Horned Melon where you eat the slimey seeds inside.
I work in the cafeteria at our school and we have done this for the kids at school. We've tried Kiwi (some kids actually asked if you could buy it at the grocery store--I had to show the fuzzy fruit outside to make sure they didn't look for a green fruit!!) We tried Mango and Papaya.
Some of the kids had tried all three, some had never tried any! What a great way to expose the kids to something new in a non-threatening environment...tasting a tiny piece of each fruit...expanding their palatte.
Where can you do try something new? Can you bring one fruit into work and share with your co-workers? Can you bring an african horned melon to your college roommates and let everyone have a spoonful? Can you bring an ugli fruit to your sports team and give everyone a slice?
Try something new today and share with others!!
We tried Ugli Fruit which looks very much like an orange without the citrus taste. We've tried Dragon Fruit which is close to a plum and at times had some pretty good sales! And another called African Horned Melon where you eat the slimey seeds inside.
I work in the cafeteria at our school and we have done this for the kids at school. We've tried Kiwi (some kids actually asked if you could buy it at the grocery store--I had to show the fuzzy fruit outside to make sure they didn't look for a green fruit!!) We tried Mango and Papaya.
Some of the kids had tried all three, some had never tried any! What a great way to expose the kids to something new in a non-threatening environment...tasting a tiny piece of each fruit...expanding their palatte.
Where can you do try something new? Can you bring one fruit into work and share with your co-workers? Can you bring an african horned melon to your college roommates and let everyone have a spoonful? Can you bring an ugli fruit to your sports team and give everyone a slice?
Try something new today and share with others!!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Surgeries
Anyone around you having surgery? Bring them a meal, bake them some treats, buy a pizza delivery gift card and give it to them.
How can you bless someone today? Thinking of others is a great way to lift your own depression. When you do something for someone else, it seems to bring a sense of relief and accomplishment.
Bless someone today...for your own good.
How can you bless someone today? Thinking of others is a great way to lift your own depression. When you do something for someone else, it seems to bring a sense of relief and accomplishment.
Bless someone today...for your own good.
Wisdom
Proverbs 8:33
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
don't squander your precious life
Your life is precious...so precious...don't waste it...make the most of every day...hug your family
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
don't squander your precious life
Your life is precious...so precious...don't waste it...make the most of every day...hug your family
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Camp Day
Today is the last day of school here and the kids are SO excited! I'm excited, too, since I won't have to get up at 6am tomorrow to get kids on the bus at 7am!! Now starts the summer and all the summer activities!
Our girls started going to camp when they were going into 3rd grade. It was only for 2 nights/3 days but it was scary to think about them being on their own during that time! We started practicing them washing their own hair and taking care of other bathroom needs all by themselves.
For kid's day that summer, we had a practice camp day! (All ideas came from a Family Fun magazine article)
I woke up the kids by singing (and that's worse than a bull horn!!) and they got up and got dressed and cleaned their room and then had breakfast and then we went right outside. We hooked up with the neighbors they joined us on and off for our camp day.
We started by having a mini-scavenger hunt. I gave each child a dixie cup and they had to find things that were small enough to fit in the cup...little flowers, grass, leaves, even bugs that might fit in it. We spent about 30 minutes walking around the yard and then we all dumped our cups on the driveway to see what we found...including bugs...fun!
Then we went inside and had a fun time dancing to songs.
Then we had some lunch and some rest time.
In the afternoon, we made campfire hats. We cut green foam into a hat, then put yellow and orange triangles to look like fire and then we glued sticks and pompoms on the end of the sticks to look like sticks with marshmallows over a fire. They were adorable!
We had a campfire snack starting with a blob of peanut butter, stick pretzels for the "wood" of the fire, tootsie rolls as logs, peanuts as rocks around the fire pit and candy corn fire. Also adorable.
At night, we had an actual cook-out with the neighbors, roasting hot dogs over the fire. What an awesome kids day! How can you prepare your little ones for summer events?
Our girls started going to camp when they were going into 3rd grade. It was only for 2 nights/3 days but it was scary to think about them being on their own during that time! We started practicing them washing their own hair and taking care of other bathroom needs all by themselves.
For kid's day that summer, we had a practice camp day! (All ideas came from a Family Fun magazine article)
I woke up the kids by singing (and that's worse than a bull horn!!) and they got up and got dressed and cleaned their room and then had breakfast and then we went right outside. We hooked up with the neighbors they joined us on and off for our camp day.
We started by having a mini-scavenger hunt. I gave each child a dixie cup and they had to find things that were small enough to fit in the cup...little flowers, grass, leaves, even bugs that might fit in it. We spent about 30 minutes walking around the yard and then we all dumped our cups on the driveway to see what we found...including bugs...fun!
Then we went inside and had a fun time dancing to songs.
Then we had some lunch and some rest time.
In the afternoon, we made campfire hats. We cut green foam into a hat, then put yellow and orange triangles to look like fire and then we glued sticks and pompoms on the end of the sticks to look like sticks with marshmallows over a fire. They were adorable!
We had a campfire snack starting with a blob of peanut butter, stick pretzels for the "wood" of the fire, tootsie rolls as logs, peanuts as rocks around the fire pit and candy corn fire. Also adorable.
At night, we had an actual cook-out with the neighbors, roasting hot dogs over the fire. What an awesome kids day! How can you prepare your little ones for summer events?
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday Mistake
So, I was going to be the frugal mom and make cakes for my kids birthdays...how hard can it be? I had the time so why not? What could go wrong?
I even had heart shaped pans...how cool am I?? So, I made the cake and as it was baking, I tinted the frosting! My middle daughter wanted Purple....Red and Blue...right?
So, I took my cake and put my purple frosting on the cake. We invited the neighbors over for some cake and ice cream and they started asking "What's wrong with the cake?"
I looked at it and said "What do you mean?"
They said "It's flat...and grey!"
So, I didn't use a mixer and the cake wasnt' fluffy...
And my mixing of red and blue didn't turn out too purple...more greyish purple...
So, I stopped making cakes and gave the box to the neighbors...until my middle daughter learned to cook from her Aunt and Uncle and she makes her own birthday cakes...
Is that wrong? Look at what a beautiful job she does...my flat grey cake pales in comparison to her weaved frosting cake...she does beautiful work!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Try Something New Party
I think my very favorite Try Something New was an entire dinner we did with the neighbors.
I was looking through a Taste of Home magazine and the two page spread was Burgers and they gave recipes for toppings for burgers as well as different recipes for the actual burger--one being a burger made of ground chicken!
Each of the families took a burger and/or topping and we made sliders to give people the opportunity to try all the different burgers. We put out the toppings and we put out recipes for what should go on each burger if they wanted to follow them and let everyone enjoy and try some new burgers.
It was such a fun day and it was really fun to try all the different burgers and the best thing is that they were really good!!
A fun day, great company and good food...it was an incredible memory that I hope I never forget!
I was looking through a Taste of Home magazine and the two page spread was Burgers and they gave recipes for toppings for burgers as well as different recipes for the actual burger--one being a burger made of ground chicken!
Each of the families took a burger and/or topping and we made sliders to give people the opportunity to try all the different burgers. We put out the toppings and we put out recipes for what should go on each burger if they wanted to follow them and let everyone enjoy and try some new burgers.
It was such a fun day and it was really fun to try all the different burgers and the best thing is that they were really good!!
A fun day, great company and good food...it was an incredible memory that I hope I never forget!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Families in need
Last night, a family in town had a house fire-a very scary experience where the mom and 3 kids got out just in time.
We've had a small fire in our home...it is scary...and you feel lost...you can't go home, you don't have anything around you that is yours. It is stressful.
People all around you are so willing to help, but you don't know what to tell them you need. Obvious things like clothes and a home are the first things you can think of and people are so willing to give you those things that it can be overwhelming.
My older daughter's Girl Scout Troop has very willingly offered to help organize the donations that come in...to think of others...of those in need.
We've had a small fire in our home...it is scary...and you feel lost...you can't go home, you don't have anything around you that is yours. It is stressful.
People all around you are so willing to help, but you don't know what to tell them you need. Obvious things like clothes and a home are the first things you can think of and people are so willing to give you those things that it can be overwhelming.
My older daughter's Girl Scout Troop has very willingly offered to help organize the donations that come in...to think of others...of those in need.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Crayons
Wisdom filled words: Don't put a crayon in the dryer...
It stains the clothes in the dryer and makes a huge mess of the dryer, causing lots of extra runs of the dryer with a junk towel to make sure the crayon mess is all gone...
Just sayin'...don't do it!
It stains the clothes in the dryer and makes a huge mess of the dryer, causing lots of extra runs of the dryer with a junk towel to make sure the crayon mess is all gone...
Just sayin'...don't do it!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Just Because
One time for kids day, we did a "Just Because" birthday party!
It wasn't anyone's birthday, we just had a party "just because."
I have three beautiful girls who love pink and lots of girly things...and I kinda like Spiderman! Do you think any of my girls like Spiderman? Or picked a Spiderman theme for their party? Nope!
So, when we did our "just because" party, I choose Spiderman!!
So, we made a cake and decorated it like a web. We made a Pin the Spider on the Web, we colored Spiderman Shrinky Dinks, we invited the neighbors over and I got gifts for everyone (instead of bringing gifts, they went home with one!)
When my kids asked why we were doing this, I answered "just because!"
What fun thing can you do with your kids...just because?
It wasn't anyone's birthday, we just had a party "just because."
I have three beautiful girls who love pink and lots of girly things...and I kinda like Spiderman! Do you think any of my girls like Spiderman? Or picked a Spiderman theme for their party? Nope!
So, when we did our "just because" party, I choose Spiderman!!
So, we made a cake and decorated it like a web. We made a Pin the Spider on the Web, we colored Spiderman Shrinky Dinks, we invited the neighbors over and I got gifts for everyone (instead of bringing gifts, they went home with one!)
When my kids asked why we were doing this, I answered "just because!"
What fun thing can you do with your kids...just because?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday's Effort
Have you ever been super excited about an event-a birthday party, a school event, a kids meeting, date night, any kind of get-together! These can be very fun and the excitement building up days before the event can be part of the whole experience.
Talking about the event, getting excited, imagining how much fun it will be makes the event even more exciting! Until...
Have you ever made a mistake on a date or time of an event?
Have you ever lost an invitation?
Have you ever forgotten?
And the excitment of the event is crushed...
It happens...you won't let it happen again...it was a mistake-you feel horrible, but it was a mistake...ask for forgiveness and move on-don't dwell on it-it happens...to everyone!
Talking about the event, getting excited, imagining how much fun it will be makes the event even more exciting! Until...
Have you ever made a mistake on a date or time of an event?
Have you ever lost an invitation?
Have you ever forgotten?
And the excitment of the event is crushed...
It happens...you won't let it happen again...it was a mistake-you feel horrible, but it was a mistake...ask for forgiveness and move on-don't dwell on it-it happens...to everyone!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday--a day late--what's on sale?
When we do try something new, we like to be practical! We've had try a new cheese on our list for a long time...but it is so darn expensive that we just have not done it!
So we have had a try something new that is "what's on sale this week?"
My girls were having some friends over and they wanted to do Try something new but we didn't have any specific ideas so I ran to the grocery store and looked around. Keebler cookies were on sale for $1 so I bought several different kinds-Mint, filled, sticks, etc.
We had the neighbors over again-since, it would be a real shame to try to finish several bags of cookies by ourselves-and we each tried the individual cookies. It was a sugar filled snack and I think we went through almost a gallon of milk but their friends what try something new was all about and I think each person went home with a bag of their favorite cookies-or at least a small bag with a variety!
Keep an eye out while you are out and about--have you ever tried that before? Would you like to? It might be the perfect thing to do for Try Something New--I will talk about our try something new dinner next week--super fun!!
So we have had a try something new that is "what's on sale this week?"
My girls were having some friends over and they wanted to do Try something new but we didn't have any specific ideas so I ran to the grocery store and looked around. Keebler cookies were on sale for $1 so I bought several different kinds-Mint, filled, sticks, etc.
We had the neighbors over again-since, it would be a real shame to try to finish several bags of cookies by ourselves-and we each tried the individual cookies. It was a sugar filled snack and I think we went through almost a gallon of milk but their friends what try something new was all about and I think each person went home with a bag of their favorite cookies-or at least a small bag with a variety!
Keep an eye out while you are out and about--have you ever tried that before? Would you like to? It might be the perfect thing to do for Try Something New--I will talk about our try something new dinner next week--super fun!!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Blessing Others
One of my favorite ways to bless others is to make cookies and drop them off at the Fire Station.
We have been blessed to have a quick response from the Fire Dept for a small house fire and they have held a special spot in my heart ever since.
The electrical fire happened around dinner time and even though it wasn't a big fire, the firemen were there for about 3 hours and our neighbors brought out bowls of chili for the firemen to have while they took a break. What a blessing for them while they worked!
I like to bring the cookies to the fire department--just because--they don't expect it and sometimes they are surprised "Really-for us? Thanks!"
Who has blessed you? Who can you bless by baking some cookies? It won't take long...the hardest part is getting out of the house and going up to the door and delivering it...sometimes that is scary but the reward will outway the risk!
We have been blessed to have a quick response from the Fire Dept for a small house fire and they have held a special spot in my heart ever since.
The electrical fire happened around dinner time and even though it wasn't a big fire, the firemen were there for about 3 hours and our neighbors brought out bowls of chili for the firemen to have while they took a break. What a blessing for them while they worked!
I like to bring the cookies to the fire department--just because--they don't expect it and sometimes they are surprised "Really-for us? Thanks!"
Who has blessed you? Who can you bless by baking some cookies? It won't take long...the hardest part is getting out of the house and going up to the door and delivering it...sometimes that is scary but the reward will outway the risk!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday Words of Wisdom
My very favorite book of the Bible is Proverbs because there is so much wisdom and I like to read the proverb of the day--today is May 25 so I read Prov. 25. Here's the small bit of wisdom I pulled out:
Proverbs 25:8 "Don't jump to conclusions--there may be a perfectly good explination for what you just saw." (Msg)
How often we jump to conclusion based on our small minded knowledge when we really should take a step back and look at the bigger picture before we react. I know I do it a lot and this is a reminder to take a breath before I react to something I see.
Have you ever heard an argument and assumed one of your children started it because 99% of the time they are the one who usually starts it? Don't jump to conclusions-ask questions and find out what happened...you might be surprised...
Proverbs 25:8 "Don't jump to conclusions--there may be a perfectly good explination for what you just saw." (Msg)
How often we jump to conclusion based on our small minded knowledge when we really should take a step back and look at the bigger picture before we react. I know I do it a lot and this is a reminder to take a breath before I react to something I see.
Have you ever heard an argument and assumed one of your children started it because 99% of the time they are the one who usually starts it? Don't jump to conclusions-ask questions and find out what happened...you might be surprised...
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Kid's Day--Color day
So, one summer, we had Kid's Day.
I had heard a speaker say a great thing to do in summer is to make a Kid's Day. You get all your cleaning done, errands ran, outside work done and have the kids help with all of this by telling them, "If we can get this all done now, we can have an entire day that is Kid's Day later in the week!"
So, I decided to try that!
I didn't do a great job getting everything done before our actual Kid's day but I tried and when it came to kids day, everyone was ready for a day of fun!!
One day, we had color day! We picked yellow. I think we even tried to dress in something yellow...or have something yellow on our shirts.
We went to the farm market and bought yellow snacks...Yellow apples, yellow rasberries, yellow candy (even popcorn can be considered yellow!)
Then, we went to Michael's and bought some terra cotta pots and some yellow (and a few other colors) paint. Then we swung over to Lowe's to pick out some yellow flowers.
We came home, painted our pots and planted our yellow flowers and ate our yellow snacks.
We had a fun yellow day!
What color will you choose?
I had heard a speaker say a great thing to do in summer is to make a Kid's Day. You get all your cleaning done, errands ran, outside work done and have the kids help with all of this by telling them, "If we can get this all done now, we can have an entire day that is Kid's Day later in the week!"
So, I decided to try that!
I didn't do a great job getting everything done before our actual Kid's day but I tried and when it came to kids day, everyone was ready for a day of fun!!
One day, we had color day! We picked yellow. I think we even tried to dress in something yellow...or have something yellow on our shirts.
We went to the farm market and bought yellow snacks...Yellow apples, yellow rasberries, yellow candy (even popcorn can be considered yellow!)
Then, we went to Michael's and bought some terra cotta pots and some yellow (and a few other colors) paint. Then we swung over to Lowe's to pick out some yellow flowers.
We came home, painted our pots and planted our yellow flowers and ate our yellow snacks.
We had a fun yellow day!
What color will you choose?
Oooppsss...Monday's Post
Sorry, forgot to do Monday's post so you get two today!
Monday is Made (a Mistake) an effort Monday....
Ever made a mistake? I've made plenty! But, it was all part of an effort being made to try to be a good friend, a good neighbor, a good wife, a good parent, a good sister, a good daughter. I tried-I made an effort, but sometimes it doesn't go as planned.
For example, I was going to teach my girls to plan dinners and help make them so I gave them a kids cook-book and they could pick out anything they wanted and we would shop together and we would make the meal together.
Sounds like an awesome plan, right?
It went well for my oldest. She picked out Hot Dog boats and strawberry soup. O.K....I can do this. We bought hot dogs, made it into a boat by cutting cheese into a triangle mast and putting it on a toothpick--it didn't stand up like the picture but you could kind of get the idea. Then the strawberry soup was interesting but good--I've never made it before so it was fun to try something new (it must have been Friday).
Then it was my middle daughter's turn. She picked out fondue so we went to the store (or maybe two stores) and found all the weird cheeses you need and all the goodies to dip and we cut the cheese and the goodies and very slowly melted the cheese and got ready to eat.
She asked me "Are you sure this is right?" I said "Yes, this is exactly what the menu says". So we sit down to eat and she dips some bread in the cheese, takes it to her mouth and tastes a tiny bit and spits it out and says "Yuck!!" I asked her what was wrong and she said "It's not like the one we had before!"
Well, the one we had before was a dessert fondue with chocolate...
Did she really think I was going to make chocolate fondue for dinner?
I tried...I made an effort...but we stopped kids dinner after that...
Monday is Made (a Mistake) an effort Monday....
Ever made a mistake? I've made plenty! But, it was all part of an effort being made to try to be a good friend, a good neighbor, a good wife, a good parent, a good sister, a good daughter. I tried-I made an effort, but sometimes it doesn't go as planned.
For example, I was going to teach my girls to plan dinners and help make them so I gave them a kids cook-book and they could pick out anything they wanted and we would shop together and we would make the meal together.
Sounds like an awesome plan, right?
It went well for my oldest. She picked out Hot Dog boats and strawberry soup. O.K....I can do this. We bought hot dogs, made it into a boat by cutting cheese into a triangle mast and putting it on a toothpick--it didn't stand up like the picture but you could kind of get the idea. Then the strawberry soup was interesting but good--I've never made it before so it was fun to try something new (it must have been Friday).
Then it was my middle daughter's turn. She picked out fondue so we went to the store (or maybe two stores) and found all the weird cheeses you need and all the goodies to dip and we cut the cheese and the goodies and very slowly melted the cheese and got ready to eat.
She asked me "Are you sure this is right?" I said "Yes, this is exactly what the menu says". So we sit down to eat and she dips some bread in the cheese, takes it to her mouth and tastes a tiny bit and spits it out and says "Yuck!!" I asked her what was wrong and she said "It's not like the one we had before!"
Well, the one we had before was a dessert fondue with chocolate...
Did she really think I was going to make chocolate fondue for dinner?
I tried...I made an effort...but we stopped kids dinner after that...
Friday, May 20, 2011
Try Something New Friday
This is my favorite family fun idea I've had...Trying something new...ranging from going to your favorite ice cream place and getting something you've never gotten before-hence-trying something new!
My favorite one we've done (although there are several that are high up on my list) was Try Something New Apples. We bought one of each type apple at the grocery store, brought them home and washed them and then cut them into small slices. We invited the neighbors over and we all sat outside and tried the apples.
We made a graph that listed the names of everyone there down the side and the name of each of the apples on the top and we rated each of the apples. We listed what each apple tasted like-whether they were sweet or sour or juicy and we rated each one on a scale from one to five, one being our favorite and five being worst.
Each of the kids (and adults) were able to share what they liked best and it was suprising to see that we all have different tastes-some liking the sour, some hating the sour!
After trying all the apples, my girls became very opinionated on what kind of apples they would eat. My littlest one was at the neighbor's house and was asked if she wanted an apple for a snack. She asked my neighbor what kind of apple it was. She was told "Red Delicious" and she responded "No thank you, I only eat Golden Delicious". I was not to happy to hear that I had turned my young child into an apple snob!!
But, it was a small price to pay for some family fun...and neighborly fun!
So, buy some apples (or wait till fall when they are in season!!), invite some friends over and let everyone have a choice in what they like best!
By the way, I also like Golden Delicious!! (Maybe I'm the snob!!)
My favorite one we've done (although there are several that are high up on my list) was Try Something New Apples. We bought one of each type apple at the grocery store, brought them home and washed them and then cut them into small slices. We invited the neighbors over and we all sat outside and tried the apples.
We made a graph that listed the names of everyone there down the side and the name of each of the apples on the top and we rated each of the apples. We listed what each apple tasted like-whether they were sweet or sour or juicy and we rated each one on a scale from one to five, one being our favorite and five being worst.
Each of the kids (and adults) were able to share what they liked best and it was suprising to see that we all have different tastes-some liking the sour, some hating the sour!
After trying all the apples, my girls became very opinionated on what kind of apples they would eat. My littlest one was at the neighbor's house and was asked if she wanted an apple for a snack. She asked my neighbor what kind of apple it was. She was told "Red Delicious" and she responded "No thank you, I only eat Golden Delicious". I was not to happy to hear that I had turned my young child into an apple snob!!
But, it was a small price to pay for some family fun...and neighborly fun!
So, buy some apples (or wait till fall when they are in season!!), invite some friends over and let everyone have a choice in what they like best!
By the way, I also like Golden Delicious!! (Maybe I'm the snob!!)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Smile, say hello and give a compliment
This is Thinking of Others Thursday. How many people do you run across everyday and never really look them in the eye, smile at them or say hello? And how can you be a blessing to them? Compliment their hair? Tell them you are happy to see them? Give them a hug?
When we start thinking of others, we think less about ourselves and the feelings of depression and down on ourselves seem to melt away...all because we are focusing on others.
Challenge yourself to touch the lives of 5 people today! Who can you bless?
The Bank Teller
The Bus driver
Your teacher
The receptionist
Your locker mate
Your co-worker
Your neighbor
Your friend
Your pastor
Your Mother
Your sibling
Your spouse
The cashier
Your enemy
Smile, say hello, compliment them...bless them...you'll feel better.
When we start thinking of others, we think less about ourselves and the feelings of depression and down on ourselves seem to melt away...all because we are focusing on others.
Challenge yourself to touch the lives of 5 people today! Who can you bless?
The Bank Teller
The Bus driver
Your teacher
The receptionist
Your locker mate
Your co-worker
Your neighbor
Your friend
Your pastor
Your Mother
Your sibling
Your spouse
The cashier
Your enemy
Smile, say hello, compliment them...bless them...you'll feel better.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sharing our fun and adventures with you
Welcome to 5 days of fun for families!
I hope you are able to take some ideas from this blog to have fun with your own family and friends. Grandparents, this is a great place to look for fun ideas to do with your grandkids! Teachers, there are some fun ideas to do in your classroom! Church youth groups, there are some cool ideas to do with your youth groups! Anyone working with groups of people, this is a great resource for some fun activities to do with your group!
Most of the ideas will work for a family of four as well as a group of 20 or more! Read through the ideas and then adjust them to fit what you are working with. If you have any questions how to do that, ask me! I'll help!
I'm going to try to stick to a strict schedule of blogging everyday, M-F!
MONDAY will be Made (a Mistake) an effort to do something fun but it didn't turn out very fun...
TUESDAY will be Kid's Day or Just Because Day
WEDNESDAY will be Words of Widsom
THURSDAY will be Thinking of Others
FRIDAY will be Try Something New Friday
Ideas, confessions, things I've learned, being a blessing to others and stepping out of your comfort box and trying new things...if you would like to see these things, keep coming back to see what's going on in the 5 days of fun for families.
I hope you are able to take some ideas from this blog to have fun with your own family and friends. Grandparents, this is a great place to look for fun ideas to do with your grandkids! Teachers, there are some fun ideas to do in your classroom! Church youth groups, there are some cool ideas to do with your youth groups! Anyone working with groups of people, this is a great resource for some fun activities to do with your group!
Most of the ideas will work for a family of four as well as a group of 20 or more! Read through the ideas and then adjust them to fit what you are working with. If you have any questions how to do that, ask me! I'll help!
I'm going to try to stick to a strict schedule of blogging everyday, M-F!
MONDAY will be Made (a Mistake) an effort to do something fun but it didn't turn out very fun...
TUESDAY will be Kid's Day or Just Because Day
WEDNESDAY will be Words of Widsom
THURSDAY will be Thinking of Others
FRIDAY will be Try Something New Friday
Ideas, confessions, things I've learned, being a blessing to others and stepping out of your comfort box and trying new things...if you would like to see these things, keep coming back to see what's going on in the 5 days of fun for families.
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