Teaching Our Children: About Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Jake teaching the girls about eclipses!
Recently the girls were learning about eclipses for their science unit in school. Even though we had studied that section for a couple days they were not consistently getting the concept. Jake came up with a great visual tool to demonstrate the solar and lunar eclipses so that the girls to remember it more easily. Thankful for a husband who is creative and invests time in teaching our kids! Thanks Babe!
The orange is the moon and the balloon is the Earth. We used a flashlight for the sun!
For kids who are visual learners this is an easy way to help them grasp the differences between a solar and lunar eclipse!
We shut off the room lights so they could see how the sun (flashlight), moon (orange), and Earth (balloon) aligned to make a solar and lunar eclipse.
Solar Eclipse:
During a solar eclipse the Moon will cast a shadow on the Earth. When a solar eclipse happens the moon is in between the sun and the Earth. You can demonstrate this by placing the moon (orange) between the sun (flashlight) and the Earth (balloon). When the Moon is between the Earth and Sun it will block some of the sun from hitting the Earth and cast a shadow. Only the people directly in the shadow can see the entire eclipse of the Sun.
Lunar Eclipse:
During a lunar eclipse the Earth will cast a shadow on the Moon, therefore no light will be hitting the Moon. The Earth will cast a shadow on the Moon because it is between the Sun and the Moon. You can demonstrate this by placing the Earth (balloon) between the Sun (flashlight) and the Moon (orange). Since the Earth is bigger than the Moon the entire Moon will be in its shadow. Anyone on Earth that is on the night side can see the lunar eclipse.
If you really want to “show” the kids more about the Solar and Lunar Eclipse you may be able to catch the next one depending on where you are located and if the weather cooperates for you!
Next Lunar Eclipse: Saturday, April 4, 2015 – It will be a Total Lunar Eclipse and will be visible before dawn from the Pacific Ocean, Americas, Asia, and Australia.
Next Solar Eclipse: Friday, March 20, 2015 – It will be Total Solar Eclipse and will be visible from Iceland, Europe, North Africa, and Northern Asia (unfortunately, we will not be able to see it in North America). It looks like the next one we’ll see from the United States will be on August 21, 2017 which will be visible from North America and South America.
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Gift Giving: Amazon Baby Registry
We have several family and friends who are expecting little ones in the near future! YAY!!! So happy for these dear people and the newest additions to their families. Some of them are having their very first babies while others they are expanding their families even more.
There is a lot of excitement and planning that goes into having a baby. One of the fun events is picking out the various items for the new baby and creating a baby registry. When I was pregnant with the twins I was unable to do the traditional Baby Registry due to 12 weeks of permanent bedrest. I had to rely on family and friends to be my eyes and ears at the store and the rest of the items I had to pick out online. Thankfully there are so many great options for expectant Moms now such as Amazon’s Baby Registry.
If you are looking for an easy and convenient way to set up your Baby Registry try out Amazon’s Baby Registry. It doesn’t matter where your family and friends are located they can easily purchase an item specific for your little one and have it sent directly to you (which can save on the shipping cost).
Here are some great benefits to having an Amazon Baby Registry:
- 10% Discount on Select Items Remaining on you Baby Registry
- 15% Discount if you are an Amazon Mom member
- Universal – anyone that is anywhere with internet connection to access the Baby Registry (convenient when you have family and friends spread out all over the world)!
- Returns are FREE for 90 days
- Add anything from any Online Store to the Baby Registry
- Easily Find & Track Items You Need for Your New Baby
- Browse the most popular baby registry gifts
- Find lists of top-rated baby products
- Gifts can be shipped to your designated Amazon Baby Registry Address
- Automatically generated Thank You list provides everything you need to send your gift-giver a thank-you note
- FREE Super Saver Shipping
- Created and Updated from the convenience of your own home (which is great perk for those who experience bedrest during pregnancy)!
It only takes a few minutes to set up an Amazon’s Baby Registry and you can add items as you need to throughout your pregnancy. Congratulations!!! Wishing you many wonderful blessings as you prepare for your sweet precious one!
Kids “Make Your Own” Fruit Kabobs
Kids make your own fruit kabob bowl! Everything for the kabob is edible!
The other day one of my daughters had to bring a snack to an event. She wanted to bring fruit kabobs. The traditional fruit kabobs would need to be put together in advance plus they use wooden sticks.
My husband came up with an amazing idea! He put dry spaghetti noodles in a ziplock bag inside the bowl of mixed grapes. The kids loved making and eating their own fruit kabobs! They can even eat the spaghetti sticks if they want too! Super easy, yet fun for the kids!
Bag of dry spaghetti noodles for the kids!
Bowl of three different types of grapes for the kabobs!
Song: Thrive by Casting Crowns
We were made for so much more! Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the busy activities of life that we forget we are here for a reason. Anything truly is possible when we seek God’s wisdom in our lives!
Here in this worn and weary land
Where many a dream has died
Like a tree planted by the water
We never will run drySo living water flowing through
God, we thirst for more of You
Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desireJust to know You and to make You known
We lift Your name on high
Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thriveInto Your word, were digging deep
To know our Fathers heart
Into the world, were reaching out
To show them who You areJoy unspeakable, faith unsinkable
Love unstoppable, anything is possibleKids in the Kitchen: Winter Rice Krispy Treats
The girls made these super cute rice krispie treats. They made and decorated these special treats to share with friends. Thankful for kids who love to spend time in the kitchen. It is great seeing their creative juices flowing!
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Gift Giving: Amazon Wedding Registry
In 2015 we have several family members and friends who have set the big wedding date! WooHoo! So excited for these amazing people and for their upcoming weddings. Thankful that they have found that special someone to share their life with and look forward to seeing the awesome memories they will create over their years together.
There is a lot of excitement and planning that goes into a wedding. Even though several of these events are still months away they are already in full planning mode! One of the fun activities is picking out the various items for their new home. Creating a Wedding Registry is a wonderful adventure for the couple.
One great place to set up a registry is Amazon’s Wedding Registry! It is easy to set up and adjust as you figure out what you want and/or need for your new home. Also, the new couple may have many family and friends who are spread out all over the world who will want to get them a gift for their Bridal Shower and the Wedding. Amazon’s Wedding Registry makes it easy for the new couple as they prepare for the big day as well as for those wanting to get them a gift. The gift can be sent directly to the couple which helps save on shipping costs too!
Here are some great benefits to having an Amazon’s Wedding Registry:
- 10% Discount on Select Items Remaining on your Amazon’s Wedding Registry
- LARGE Selection of Items
- Universal – anyone that is anywhere with internet connection to access the Wedding Registry (convenient when you have family and friends spread out all over the world)!
- Returns are FREE for 90 days
- Add anything from any Online Store to the Amazon’s Wedding Registry
- Easily Find & Track Items You Need for Your New Home
- Browse the most popular wedding registry gifts
- Find lists of top-rated wedding and household products
- Gifts can be shipped to your designated Amazon’s Wedding Registry Address
- Created and Updated from the convenience of your own home
It only takes a few minutes to set up an Amazon’s Wedding Registry and you can add items as you need to. Select from a large variety of household items (kitchen, dining, bedroom, bathroom, living room, decorative, organizational, gift certificates, and many more)! Congratulations!!! Wishing you many wonderful blessings as you prepare for new life together as a married couple!
My Sweet Cleaning Crew
Mopping the kitchen floor!
Every day I am reminded of how blessed I am. The other day one of the kids made a mess on the floor and I asked them to vacuum it up. The next thing I knew both girls were vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and cleaning the house. They started with cleaning up their little mess, but continued on into the kitchen sweeping and mopping the floor. Next they went on to clean the bathrooms.
I cannot tell you how it makes my heart happy to see the kids willingly cleaning up not only their mess, but cleaning up other areas of the house. While this happens more often now that they are getting older it is not always the case. Sometimes when I ask them to pick up an item that they got out or clean up a mess they made you would think I asked them to move Mt. Everest with all the grumbling…..
When they do get into the cleaning zone it is amazing how much they can accomplish in just an hour or two. Thankful for my sweet cleaning crew and their willingness to pitch in to keep the house in a more livable condition. My husband is wonderful about pitching in to cook, clean, or fix items around the house too. I am blessed!
Scrubbing the floor!
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
This week my menu planning will be a little bit different than usual. I will not be sticking to the normal meat or theme for each night this week. I was able to clean out our pantry last week and upon completion of that task I realized there are some items we need to use up soon. There were several items that got pushed to the back of the pantry or shelf that will be expiring soon so I will be trying to incorporate those items into our menu plan. Hopefully, I will be back to our normal menu schedule soon! Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Three Bean Chili, Stoneground Wheat Bread
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Beef Enchiladas, Mac-n-Cheese
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken & Gravy, Biscuits
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Chicken Tortilla Soup, Mixed Vegetables, Italian Herb Bread
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
