Qualities Of A Great Friend…
Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro
The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now. They love it! It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too. Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.
- Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
- Book to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
- Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
- Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
- 2 to 4 Players
- Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
- Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Silly Clown Snack
Clown snack
The girls love it when they get simple silly snacks. One weekend evening recently we were especially busy, by the time we got home it was already bed time so while they jump into the shower I made a quick supper for them to eat. They gobbled up this silly “clown” as they named it.
Even though it only took me a few minutes to put something together it is somehow more special when it is shaped differently. Plus it seems like they eat a little better when their food is a little entertaining because they are so busy looking and talking about it before they know it the food is gone. Included in this snack is one hotdog, one hotdog bun, ketchup, mustard, one cherry tomato, two pringles chips, and one purple green bean cut in half.
Chalk Drawings
Chalk Saturn
Our kids love playing outside! 🙂 Now that the weather is starting to get warmer they are beginning to enjoy some fun Spring time activities like riding their bikes, scooters, roller skating, chalk drawings and more. You can tell at least one of the kids still loves anything related to space from looking at her chalk pictures. Thankful for warm weather and time to have fun with the kids!
Colorful chalk sun
Everyone loves rainbows
And hearts…
Our family
Heart Reflections: You Can Do Nothing
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
I am in the process of reading several books right now and I came across this verse twice last week (probably a subtle hint or gentle reminder for me, hmmm…). It is one that I have read many times throughout the years but the part that really struck me this time around was “apart from me you can do nothing”. So all the time I spend trying to accomplish tasks in my own strength is worth nothing? I really don’t want to waste my time, do you?
How often do I try to do everything in my own strength or at least I want to feel like have some sort of control over what’s going on in my life? More often then I want to admit! What I really need to focus on is staying connected to the vine and drawing my strength, nourishment, support, and guidance from the one who really is in control of my life.
Our family has grown many gardens so I am aware of the plant growing process. When a piece of the branch or plant gets separated from the vine it dries up and ceases to produce any more fruit. The vine is what brings the nutrients from the roots to the branches without it there would be no fruit. I don’t want to shrivel up, but rather I want to grow, flourish, and thrive producing a lot of fruit. The main question to myself is – am I taking the steps to have that good fruit in my life by drawing my nutrition from the vine or am I starting to shrivel?
I am praying that this verse will be a reminder to all of us of how important it is that we get our daily strength from the vine. No matter what your circumstance is today you can be encouraged that God is in control and he will give you the nourishment you need for today. Eventually you will be begin to God working through your heart and life to produce an abundance of beautiful fruit. Take little steps today and start drawing nourishment from the vine. Spend some time praying, listening to a sermon, reading the scriptures, or singing praise and worship songs to help replenish your heart and keep you connected to the vine.
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of April 3 – 9, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Boston Butt Roast – $1.49 lb
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – $1.99 lb
Sirloin Steaks – $4.99 lb
Pork Steaks – $1.79 lb
Jamestown Bacon (10 p0unds) – $21.99
Country Style Pork Ribs – $1.69 lb
Hillshire Farms Sausage (14 oz) – $1.99
*Pick 5 for $19.99 promotion on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.
Fridge and Freezer
Home Churned Tub Spread Margarine (45 oz) – $1.99
Coburn Farms Yogurt (6 – 8 oz) – $0.45
Fairgrounds Bologna (1 pound) – $0.99
Produce
Fresh Cantaloupe – $0.99
Green Cabbage – $0.39 lb
Idaho Potatoes (10 pounds) – $2.99
Grocery
Ginger Evans Granulated Sugar (4 pounds) – $1.99
Golden Baked White Round Top Bread (20 oz) – $0.99
Mantia’s Spaghetti Noodles (16 oz) – $0.89
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce (28 oz) – $2.39
Kurtz Hamburger Dill Slices (32 oz) – $1.69
Heinz Ketchup (38 oz) – $1.99
Hamburger or Hotdog Buns (8 count) – $0.99
Ginger Evans All Purpose Flour (5 pounds) – $1.79
A.1. Steak Sauce (10 oz) – $2.99
Sunny Delight (48 oz) – $0.99
Portside Chunk Light Tuna in Water (5 oz) – $0.69
Betty Crocker Hamburger or Tuna Helper (11 – 12 oz) – $1.79
Kiggins Frosted Flakes Cereal (17 oz) – $1.99
Tipton Grove Apple Juice (64 oz) – $1.59
So Cheesy Mac & Cheese (12 – 14 oz) – $1.39
Duke’s Mayonnaise (32 oz) – $3.29
Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 3/10 Smart Source (Expires 4/7/13)
$2.74 each after couponWylwood Canned Vegetables (14 – 15 oz) – $0.49
Save A Lot Today Soda (2 liters) – $0.89
Crystal 2.0 Purified Drinking Water (24 pack, 16.9 oz each) – $2.29
Del Pino’s Pasta with Meat – $o.79
J Higgs Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.49
Save A Lot Today Soda (12 pack – 12 oz cans) – $2.89
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
Starting to Plan the Kids Summer Break
Even though we have only just hit the Spring Season and entered into the month of April we are already making plans for this summer. I was looking back through our schedule last year. It was packed full of fun, adventures, and a lot of great memories.
As I get ready to plan for this summer I am remembering all the good stuff we were able to do last year. Although, I cannot know for sure what this summer may bring I am moving forward with the planning. The picture above shows the girls brief version of our calendar for July 2012. The calendar was simple but it helped them keep track of the big events and activities that were coming up. We kept it on the fridge so they could see it whenever they wanted, typically they would cross out the days as they ended.
What we would like to do:
- Travel – last summer we visited Charleston, Florida, Kansas, and Colorado. We are not entirely sure what it will look like this summer but we are hoping to go to at least Charleston and Kansas again. Thankful that the girls travel well! 🙂
- VBS – the girls love VBS and have a great time. It also provides great opportunities for learning too. We would like to attend at least one VBS program this summer.
- Camp – last summer the girls attended Swim Camp as well as Horse Camp. We would like for them to go to at least one camp this summer. They are currently signed up for WeDo Robotics Lego Camp at Roper Mountain Science Center and Swim Camp.
- Participate in the Library Summer Reading Program – the past 3 years the girls have participated in the Summer Reading program and have enjoyed it (as a bonus they usually earn rewards & free tickets to special events which help motivate them even more). We plan to participate in the program again this summer!
- Learn & Explore – we went to several educational places over the summer like Roper Mountain Science Center, Battery Park, took a Historical Carriage ride in Charleston and more. We plan to do more educational adventures this summer, some may be the same or similar, but we are hoping to branch out and try some new activities too!
- Relax – all the activities above are important but it is also valuable to have some time built in to rest, free time, play, and relax whether that means swinging, playing in the yard, drawing with chalk, hanging out with family, friends (and pets), riding bikes, roller skating, riding scooters, etc…
It doesn’t seem like a lot of activities but if you figure in the traveling and the fact that we only had two months of summer vacation we really did pack a lot into it. We hope to make the most of our summer break this year by planning some of our adventures in advance. It will be nice to catch up with some family, spend time learning, and make some great memories. What are your summer plans?
I’m Alive by Peter Furler
When I was locked inside my head
When I was lost in a maze of doubt
You called my name and woke me up
You called my name and led me outAnd when I chased one more mirage
‘Til I was tired and parched again
You gave me one more cup to fill
And sent me one more desert rainI’m alive, I’m on fire
And my spirit burns with desire
You set me alight, bright eyed
And with no way to hold it inside
I wanted to thank You
Thank You, thank YouI wanted to thank You
Thank You, thank You
I wanted to thank You
Thank You, thank You
I wanted to thank You
Thank You, thank YouGiveaway: $10 Hobby Lobby Gift Card
I am excited to announce a new giveaway on Blessings Multiplied! The winner of this giveaway will receive a $10 Hobby Lobby Gift Card! The best part about this card is you can use it for crafts, home decorating, educational items, seasonal items, birthday gifts, and much more. Spring is here and Mother’s Day is coming up soon so maybe you want to get something for your home, Mom, next craft or something just for fun. Here’s how to enter the giveaway:Enter the Giveaway (up to 4 entries per person)!
- Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied. Put a separate comment for each way you follow Blessings Multiplied (Email, Twitter, or Facebook) plus an extra entry for your bonus answer! Each comment counts as an entry into the giveaway.
- Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email
- Follow on Twitter – @BlessMultiplied
- Like us on Facebook – BlessingsMultiplied
- BONUS – you can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing what type of items you enjoy picking up at Hobby Lobby.
All comments must be made by April 30, 2013 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing. Good Luck!
The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.
CONGRATULATIONS to Our Target Gift Card Winner!
The name has been drawn for the giveaway!
CONGRATULATIONS to
Myeshia U.
for winning a
Target Gift Card!
Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!
An email has been sent to you with more information*
Enjoy your next trip to Target!
Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!
*Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced. Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize. The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.
