Kids

  • Easter Celebrations

    It has been a super busy 2012 with all the traveling and activities.  I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, but I have been a little behind with my blog updates.  Easter week we spent part of our time in Charleston since it was the girls Spring Break and the other part in Greenville.  Here are a few highlights from our 2012 Easter Celebrations:

    Easter Eggs being dropped by a Hot Air Balloon at Rock Springs.  It was fascinating to watch all the eggs falling from the Hot Air Balloon.

    We were in Charleston the week of Easter so we went to an Easter story time at the small “village” library in Mount Pleasant.   It was a cute little library and the people were super sweet.  The girls loved listening to the librarian read Easter stories!

    Our neighbors brought over these super cute Easter goodies for the girls when we got back from Charleston.  It was a little toy and candy combination which was a huge hit with the girls.  It had a bunny rabbit on a bicycle carrying an egg full of jellybeans. Thankful for our neighbors, it was a thoughtful gift.   The expressions on Karlie and Brina’s faces in this picture crack me up!

    Easter basket goodies!  Some fun socks, games, candy, and goodies to celebrate the Holiday.

    Trail of Easter Eggs from their bedroom door through the kitchen all the way to the table.  The girls were so excited to discover them that morning.  You know your kids are getting older when they “ask permission”  before picking up and opening the trail of Easter eggs.

    Neat craft the girls did in Sunday School.  They took a bowl added some dirt, used a twisty tie and sticks to make a cross, a rock, and half an Easter egg.  They planted grass seeds in the dirt too.  It was a wonderful Easter craft for the kids!  Both girls could explain the significance of the cross, tomb (egg), and the rock.  The girls loved this activity and I give whoever came up with this idea a double thumbs up!

    Karlie on focused on hunting Easter eggs

    Brina found a blue egg hidden in the grass

    The extra special “car” eggs had a surprise in them…..loose change!

    We had fun coloring eggs together as a family on Easter Sunday, here’s one carton full of eggs we did.  Thankful for a time to relax and enjoy some time with the family while celebrating the Easter Holiday.

  • Never Alone

    It has been a full week of activities, guests, work, and so much more.  There have been many moments of celebration and joy as well as some moments of  great tears.  During this week we received news from three different families about the loss of one of their children.  After processing the news it can be tough as a friend knowing the right  words to say and finding ways to be an encouragement to the family during such a painful time.  Earlier this week while I was going through my email I came across one from DaySpring that has stuck in my mind and I want to share it with you.  This little piece was such an encouragement to me during unusual week.  It is called “Never Alone”

    Never Alone

    You’re never alone. God is with you.
    He knows your name.
    He numbers the hairs on your head.
    He understands the cares in your heart.
    Every morning, He’s by your side.
    Every night, He watches over you as you sleep.
    There’s never a moment you’re not in His thoughts…
    never a day you’re not in His care.
    You’re never on your own.
    He whispers to your heart, “You’re forever My own.”

    I wasn’t planning on sharing this but after all the events that have unfolded in the past week (including the loss of three young children) I think it is important that we occasionally see some words of encouragement.  I do not know what you are going through today, but whether you are on a hilltop rejoicing or in the valley with tears in your eyes we can take comfort in knowing we are never alone.  Even though life has a way of throwing us curve balls and taking us through trials that are painful we know that each one was placed in our life for a specific purpose.

    Take time to focus on the amazing blessings you have given then spend a few moments thinking of ways you can make a positive impact on the lives around you.  After brainstorming pick one activity and do it for someone else whether it is saying “congratulations” or words of “sympathy” let someone know you care about them.  It can be as simple as an email, phone call, text, meal, flowers, or card and will probably only take you a few moments but it can make a powerful impact in the life of another person.

    I apologize for my absence these last few days.  It has not only been a tough week with all the tears but we had Jake’s sister and her family staying with us who are missionaries to Indonesia which brought much joy and laughter to our week.  I am thankful for the many wonderful times and memories we created together over the past week.  It is my intention to be back on schedule next week, I soooooo appreciate all of you checking in on me and your patience.   You are a tremendous blessing in my life, thank you!

    Photo by Noel Reynolds

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Love notes for the kids at school

    One of the best parts about sending the kids to school with a lunch is you can include some special goodies or notes for them as a surprise.  After using the sandwich containers a few times I discovered something really neat…..they are perfect for “love” notes.  If you have smooth sandwich containers that you send to school with your kids or to work with your husband grab a dry erase marker and write a quick note for them.  I will often write a little note for them and erase it before putting it in the dishwasher at the end of the day.  I keep the marker on the refrigerator so I can get it easily while I am packing lunches for the family.  This takes only a couple minutes and means a lot to your family.  A short and sweet note can be the extra boost of love and encouragement they need throughout the day.

  • Travel & Vacation: “We Love You” Folder

    Jake’s Folder of “Love” Notes

    Awhile ago the girls and I made a “We Love You” folder for Jake to take with him when he travels.  Even though we love the opportunities when we can go with him it is not always possible to go with him on every trip.  When he goes on a trip and we cannot tag along we send our “We Love You” folder with him along with notes or drawings from each of us.  Jake enjoys seeing the pictures and reading the notes while he is away.  We have a blast putting something special in the folder for him.

    Here are a few examples of items we have put into his “We Love You!” Folder:

    Love note to Jake

    Karlie’s love note to Daddy

    Brina’s love note to Daddy

    Drawing from Karlie

    Sweet note from the girls

    Note to Daddy from Karlie

    Note to Daddy from Brina

    I Love You note to my Handsome Man!

  • Fresh & Healthy: School Lunchbox Meals

    School lunch goodies

    The girls enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables and other goodies in their school lunches.  Along with the mix of character bags and containers their lunches usually have something different in it everyday.  I have found that the tube yogurts are very nice for the girls lunches because they are easy to use (no spoon is needed, especially since somehow they manage to lose those on the way to school).

    • Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwich
    • Fresh Green Grapes
    • Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
    • Fresh Apple Peel Confetti Crisps
    • Homemade Banana Bread
    • Yogurt Tube
    • Cars Marshmallows
    • Cherry & Lemon Jello
    • Pink Lemonade

    Fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our “Wits & Wagers Family Game” Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Ashley Genovese

    for winning a copy of

    Wits & Wagers Family Game by North Star Games!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy Playing Your New Game!

    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.

  • Book: “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann Wyss

    Before I headed out on my India adventure I started reading one of my favorite books as a kid to the girls, Great Illustrated Classics The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss.  My Mom finished reading the book to the girls while I was away and then watched the movie with them.  Karlie was convinced that she was ready to live on an island in a tree house after reading the book and watching the movie (although she said it would be ok if the pirates didn’t come).

    It has been a lot of fun reading the girls some of my favorite books as a kid.  They love listening and enjoy the adventures the stories take us on.  This book is about the Robinson family that gets shipwrecked on an island.  The family learns to live off the land, build a home in the trees, and their journey.  It is full of great adventures as the family explores their new home.  If you have kids that love being read to this is a fun book for the whole family.  Plus after reading the book you can watch the movie which is always something great to look forward to as well.

  • No Eating Turtles…..Well Most of the Time!

    Mint Chocolate Chip Turtle

    Occasionally the girls have fun making little “creatures” with their food.  Recently, they decided to make turtles out of their mint chocolate chip pancakes.  They used peanut butter for the eyes and cheese sticks for the legs.  It is always neat seeing them get creative with their food especially when they eat all their breakfast!  Do your kids get creative with their food?