Family Fun

  • Travel & Vacation: Little Gifts of Love (part 2)

    A package of candy buttons for each girl hanging up on the towel rack

    Two Cabbage Patch Kids Books

    I left two Cabbage Patch books standing up on our dresser for the kids to find.  The note says:

    Be good! 

    Have Fun!

    Obey Grandma!

    I love you so very much!

    Love,

    Mom

    Writing books for the kids

    On the computer desk I left two writing books so the girls could take the time to practice writing their letters neater.  The note read:

    Brina (or Karlie) – Work on your letters! Love you, Mommy

    Two surprise books waiting for the girls in the storage room

    In the storage room I left two books for the girls to read:

    Note reads:   Brina and Karlie, These books are to remind you that your Dad & I love you very much.  We look forward to seeing you soon. Love, Mom

    Heart and flower shaped marshmallows

    I left the girls a package of pink and white hearts and flower marshmallows.  They loved eating these delicious treats.

    A couple new books for the kids

    Note reads:  Brina Bee!  have fun and enjoy your time with Grandma! Look out for Karlie, Skipper, Shipwreck and OverBoard! – Mom  (Karlie had one as well but it fell off the book.)

    I Wonder Why Books little gifts for the girls

    Note reads:  Karlie & Brina, I saw these books and thought of you.  Hope you learn lots and do well in school!  Hugs and Kisses coming your way.  – Mom

    Left these books for the girls.  They love them and enjoy learning about various facts.  Books are one of the girls favorite goodies!

     

  • Travel & Vacation: Little Gifts of Love

     Our girls love horses!

    When I travel or am away from the girls for more than 24 hours I try to do something special for them.  Many times I write a note and put it on their car seat or pillow or a place I know they will see.  However, when I go on longer trips or happen to be away for several days I try to leave little gifts of love to remind them that I am thinking about them even while I am gone.

    I left this Horses! by Kathy Wilmore book for them to read while I was away on a trip earlier this year.  On the book was a bright orange flower sticky note that said:

    Brina and Karlie,  This is a book that both of you will enjoy about horses!  I love you and think about you everyday.  Looking forward to showing you pictures of our trip. Love , Mom

    I wrote the note following the circle shape of the flower so the girls thought it was fun to spin the note as they read it.  They love this book and pull it out often to look at.

    Ice cream cone bubble gum holder!

    Two little ice cream cone bubble gum holders were left hanging off the piano for the girls to find.  Another little gift of love and special treat for my sweet girls.

    Easy craft gift of love left for the girls – Pooh Paint with Water Book

    I found this Pooh Paint with book at Goodwill for 25 cents so I picked it up for the girls.  It was a great simple craft that didn’t make a huge mess for those watching the girls while we were away.  The yellow heart note reads:

    Brina and Karlie, Here’s a “fun” water painting book for you to enjoy while we are away! Love, Mom

    Each girl got a cool new cup with a note inside

    One of the little gifts of love I have done is get them a cute cup with a note inside for each girl.  This is a picture of one of the cups I gave them this year.  They both still use these cups.  The notes inside read:

    I LOVE YOU KARLIE KOOL KAT!!!

    I LOVE YOU BRINA BEE BEE!!!

    Little bucket full of goodies

    I hung one cute little bucket with a necklace, silly bands,  a popup balloon message and a note on each of the girls dressers.  The girls still have those buckets on top of their dressers full of items that mean something to them.  It was a lot of fun putting these together for girls.

    God gives us Courage book

    On Karlie’s pillow I pick a book called God Gives Us Courage.  In the note I wrote:

    Karlie, I know how you love books.  Here’s a new one for you.  Remember God is always with you and we are praying for you! Love, Mom

    Book – God Gives You Patience

    On Brina’s pillow I put a book called God Gives You Patience.  Her green heart sticky note said:

    Brina since you enjoy books here’s a new one for you!  Remember God love you and we are praying for you everyday! Love, Mom

  • I Love You Sweet Girls!

    I love you Brina & Karlie

    Before I traveled to India earlier this year I left a few goodies for the girls including this sign.  They were so excited to see this sign hanging up when they came home from school that day.  They treasured it so much that the sign is still in their room!

    This is a great reminder of how doing something simple like a spray painting a poster board can mean the world to our kids.  It is important to tell our kids that we love them in various ways including writing it down for them to read and showing them by our actions.  How have you shown your kids love today?

  • First Day of School “Love Notes” for the Kids

    Brina and Karlie’s first day of school love notes

    Every year on the first day of school we write a “love note” to the girls.  They always look forward to receiving and reading their notes.  It is something simple to do on the first day of school but it helps remind them of how much we love them especially on a busy day every year.

    Love notes for the girls on their breakfast bar stools

    In our family we try to do as much prep work (make lunches, lay out clothes, set out plates / bowls for breakfast, vitamins) the night before.  The girls know exactly where to find any breakfast notes or surprises.  I have found that by having items laid out the night before the mornings go much more smoothly.  The kids get a great start to each school day and it is less stressful for me.

    The girls always like to read their notes on the first day of school

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

     This past week the girls started school again and yes Mommy shed a few tears.  I had a blast with the girls this summer, it went by too fast (my babies are growing up).  They both were excited about starting school and had a great first week.  I was able to go on a “big” girls weekend away trip to hear Beth Moore speak in Charleston.  Thankful for the opportunity to get away with friends and be refreshed spiritually.  Thank you Jake for watching the girls while I was away this weekend, your the best.

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids – we squeezed in a couple more before school began
    3. Girls Packed and Ready to Start School on Tuesday
    4. Get into the School Routine – its started but not sure if we are completely adjusted yet, ha

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Attend a Beth Moore Conference with friends – great weekend trip!

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – got it planned out but had a make a couple alterations during the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule – it was a crazy busy week didn’t get it done
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for upcoming Alms & Legs Meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – went over budget as I stocked up on school lunch food
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – on hold
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – we found a car! WooHoo!!!!
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – on hold temporarily

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Greenville Drive Baseball Game with Family
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    5. Doctor Appointments
    6. After School Activities
    7. ENT Surgery & Recovery

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over.  It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Get caught up on blog items

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out  Alms & Legs Team Meeting Notes

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

  • Book: “Very Charleston” by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

    Our family loves traveling together and whenever Jake goes to Charleston for work we try to tag along (works better when schools out).  We have a lot of great memories in Charleston, South Carolina.  Over a year ago we got the book Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler.   This book has been a huge hit especially with the kids.  It is packed full of great information about Charleston.  The illustrations are detailed in beautiful watercolors.

    • Historical facts – Civil War, Citadel, Slavery, Crafts and more
    • Places of Interest – Forts, Beaches, Churches, Museums, Plantations, Shopping and more
    • Popular Local Festivals
    • Interesting People from Charleston
    • Famous Places to Eat & Traditional Charleston Recipes
    • PACKED full of great tidbits of information about the Charleston area

    This is an excellent book if you are planning on traveling (or moving) to Charleston.  It’s enjoyable to read and you’ll learn pieces of history too.  Every time we go to Charleston we bring this book along to read together.   Our kids LOVE it!

  • Recipe: Strawberry Banana Bread

    Strawberry Banana Bread

    There is something about the smell of banana bread baking in the oven!  Sometimes it is good changing things up a little bit too…..like taking our family banana bread recipe and adding strawberries to it.  I recently had some extra bananas and strawberries that needed to be used up.  For a change of pace I decided to do a Strawberry Banana Bread which was a huge hit with the family.  The base recipe is our family recipe – Nancy’s Banana Bread with just a 1/2 cup of pureed strawberries for an added touch.   This recipe is easy to put together and delicious too.

    Strawberry Banana Bread:

    • 2 cups Flour
    • 1 tablespoon Water
    • 1/2 cup shortening
    • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • 1/2 cup pureed Strawberries
    • 2 Bananas, mashed

    Mix all the ingredients together.  Place in greased and floured bread pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

    You might also like our Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe too.

    Loaf of the Strawberry Banana Bread

  • Fresh & Healthy: First Day of School Lunch Box Meals

    Karlie and Brina’s lunch for the first day of school

    Another school year has started…..we had a blast this summer.  Their school lunch boxes are metal with a chalkboard on the inside so I can write them a message.  For the first day I wrote “Happy First Day of School Brina & Karlie. We love you!”  The girls pack a lunch Monday through Thursday on Friday they eat their lunch at school as a special treat.  Most days the girls pack their own lunches but with the first week being so busy I got them started until they adjust to the new schedule.  Each day they get a protein, fruit, vegetable, dairy, drink, and snack (sometimes I will through in an extra snack or treat if I know we have activities after school).

    Karlie’s lunch box has a shiny red race car with her name on the car and tracks

    Brina’s lunch box is covered in hearts and her favorite colors (orange and pink)!

    Each lunch box has their design and names on both the font and back as well as the sides (see picture at bottom for the side view).  The lunch boxes were a “surprise” for the girls.  They were thrilled to get these to use for school.  I was pleased with how they turned out too.

    Ready to be packed

    Lunch Goodies:

    • Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza
    • Berry Blast Fruit Mashups
    • Peach Yogurt
    • Fresh Carrots
    • Cherry Fruit Twist
    • Peanut Butter Crackers
    • Cinnamon Teddy Grahams
    • CapriSun Sunrise Juice
    • Million Dollar Mint

    Lunches all packed, in the fridge, and ready to go for tomorrow’s big day!

  • First Day of School 2012

    Karlie and Brina ready for their first day of school 2012

    How is it possible that school is already starting again?!  It seems like summer vacation just started and in a blink of my eye it is now gone.  The girls started school this Tuesday.  They were sad to say goodbye to summer and all the fun adventures that we had together but at the same time they were excited to start school again too.

    They each picked out their own backpacks, school supplies, and clothes that they wanted to wear on the first day of school.  This is the first year that they have separate teachers.  So far they have been thrilled with having different classrooms.  It has been more work for Mom and Dad because even though they are in the same grade the teacher policies, homework, and many other activities are different.

     

    Karlie’s all ready to go!

    Brina is ready for me to finish taking pictures so she can go to school!

    I am praying that this school year is an amazing time of growth for both of the girls.  It is hard to see my baby girls growing up so quickly.  They are an amazing blessing in my life and I love them dearly.   I look forward to seeing all the awesome things they will learn this year!