Tricky

Here is a sample of another exhausting attempt to get 

4 whole eyes to look at me while I take pictures.

Not one I tell you.  Not one!

(At least they are cute.)

Now, when you look at these two, does it look

to you like they need anything?

Really need?

Am I asking you a trick question?

Yes I am.

No!  Of course they don't need anything!

So I have been pondering and throwing an idea

around to Shawn the past few weeks.

What if we only give our kids 3 gifts each this year?

(You have to know that my husband loves gifts.

It would happen to be his top love language, you know

from that book that everyone has heard of.)

Like gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold = the gift they want the most.

Frankincense = a gift they need.

Myrrh = a gift to be given away.

So I got crickets, nothing, notta out of him.

Not a no, but not a yes.

I know he was struggling internally.

Saw it, felt it.

Want to know a great thing about our church?

They don't let you get away with thinking about yourself

too much.

On the drive home Sunday afternoon I casually asked what he 

thought about the sermon?

He said, "the kids are getting gold, frankincense,

and myrrh."

And because my kids are animal lovers we are

buying two goats for them.  To be shipped 

to a third world country and provide up 

to 16 cups of milk per day!

You can check out this amazing opportunity to 

change a life, or a village, at 

WorldVisionGifts.org

Here is a portion of Isaiah 58 that I have been reading

over and over this week.  

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
   and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
   and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Three Cheese Stuffed Pasta with Meaty Tomato Sauce

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Here is another rockin' recipe from none other than the 

Pioneer Woman herself.  Did you watch her throw down

with Bobby Flay?  She reminds me so much of me.  A little

nervous and awkward in front of a crowd.  I think 

that's why women love her so much.

She's just real folk ya know?

I tried her Three Cheese Stuffed Shells with Meaty Tomato Sauce

this week and the husband gave it two thumbs up.

I'm on a roll.  Do you think I should ask for a raise?

Most of her recipes make too much for our family

for one meal so I always keep these little tins handy

and stick half in the freezer for one of the many days I don't 

feel like cooking.

Here is the recipe or you can click here for her play by play.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces, weight Jumbo Pasta Shells
• 30 ounces, weight Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 8 ounces, weight Parmesan Cheese, Grated, Divided
• ½ cups Grated Romano Cheese
• 1 whole Egg
• 12 leaves Basil, Chiffonade
• 2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ½ whole Medium Onion, Chopped
• 5 cloves Garlic, Minced
• ½ pounds Italian Sausage
• ½ cups Red Wine
• 1 whole 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 whole 15-ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta shells for half the cooking time; make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add Italian sausage and brown, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Pour in red wine and let it cook for a minute or two.

Pour in cans of crushed tomatoes and stir. Add sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check for seasonings; can add crushed red peppers if you like a little heat.

In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, half the Parmesan, Romano, egg, salt and pepper, basil, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Stir until combined.

To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with sauce. Fill each half-cooked shell with the cheese mixture. Place face down on the sauce. Repeat with shells until cheese mixture is gone. Top shells with remaining sauce. Sprinkle on extra Parmesan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for His word.

SIMPler

Part of our plan for a simpler, more focused on other things besides, well you know, Christmas stuff, was buying a very small tree. The hastle of the huge tree and dragging boxes of dusty ornaments and crap i just threw into a box last year because i wanted my house back to normal in 30 minutes stresses me out every year. So I got this fake little beauty at Home Depot for cheap. And the most amazing part? I carried it out of the store in one hand and put the two parts together in one minute! I stuck it on an end table to give it some height and tonight we will decorate!

The kids love it and haven't said a word about the size!

There you go.

Legos and Time Management

Do you like to play certain things with your kids

and despise playing other things?

For example: If I have to help Dora

and Diego rescue ONE MORE HELPLESS animal I 

just might lose my mind.  Seriously.

As a mom, I'm good at certain stuff and really bad at 

other certain stuff, like imagining I'm in a rainforest

on a boat trying to save a thirsty and abandoned 

baby anaconda in my living room.

But legos?

All

 Day 

 Long

Baby.

And that's about what it took to build

la casa de legos.

Chocolate Mounds {Math in the Kitchen}

Whether you are homeschooling your children or not,

I believe we should all be a part of our children's education. 

I've heard two great pieces of information over the past couple of years.

1. The most important thing you can do for your child's education 

is to help them fall in LOVE with learning.  This means you have to 

really get into it.  They will mimic your passion or lack there of.  

Example:  When you read them books really try to get into the book and 

into the characters.  Help your child's imagination explode.

2.  Basic and complex learning tools aren't just in text books.  They are all around.  

Look for ways to incorporate learning into every day activities,

like going to the bank, studying a flower, or baking goodies!

Side note to any homeschool mom(including myself): don't stress! You will be a better 

mom and teacher if you aren't wigged out about making sure you are doing

enough.  Just try to be intentional about your days.

Here is a fun {and slightly messy} recipe that your kids will love {helping} you with.

Chocolate Mounds

What you need:

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 pkg. (8 squares) semi-sweet chocolate

2 1/2 cups corn flakes

1/2 cup dried cranberries (we had Craisins)

24 holiday marshmallows

wax paper or foil covered cookie sheet

1.  Crush peanuts into small pieces.

I divided them in half and gave Berklee and Hayden one ziplock bag each 

and a {small flashlight} each to pound away.  I had to think fast and

a hammer wasn't an option.  ~And the flashlights still work.  Whew!~

2.  Melt your chocolate according to the directions and then add all of your 

ingredients to the chocolate.Kids love pouring.  I don't get it, but they do.

It doesn't have to sound formal but when you are measuring out the ingredients

show them what you are doing and give a simple explanation.

Example: Ask your kids to look at the recipe with you and point to the measurement.

Read it out loud and then have them help you find the right measuring cup or spoon.

If it is a half of a cup ask them what two halves would make.  

Kids are sponges and believe me, they learn from these simple little conversations.

3.  Mix everything together and then spoon out about 24 clumps of 

goodness onto a wax or foil lined cookie sheet. Have your kids count out 

the spoonfuls with you.

4.  Top each mound with a marshmallow. I had 24 clumps so I had each 

child count out 12 marshmallow. And they ate about every other one.  :)

5.  Refrigerate for 1 hour and then enjoy!

**For a quick gift you can buy a large jar from the 

dollar store and fill it with all the ingredients.

Add a cute tag with the assembly directions and a bow or ribbon.

Put the dry ingredients as the bottom layer.

Then a piece of wax paper or foil. (use the base of the jar to cut to size)

Unwrap the chocolate squares and use as the middle layer.

Add another piece of wax paper or foil.

Throw in 24 marshmallows for the top layer!**

Make these in advance and then grab and go!

Magnetic Paint and School Room Progress!

 We are making progress on the school room!  I debated on whether to splurge on this

paint.  {It is $30 for a quart.}  But I am so excited that I did! 

 I am using the magnetic paint as the base coat for the large main wall.  It is fast 

drying but smells terrible.  We had some major ventilation going on today.

I wish this picture showed the ENTIRE collection

of my husband's fishing poles.  You would be 

so jealous!  {Not.}

 

I figured there will be a lot of things I want to put on the walls throughout

the years but won't necessarily want hundreds of thumbtack holes so 

voila!  Magnetic paint.

 And it works!   Now for the top coat!  Aren't you just thinking of a million 

things you could do with this stuff?

I'm Big, My Bike is NOT Cute, and I am Mean NOT Funny!

Luggage

Do you think we could count this as a carry on?

In related but unrelated thoughts, parenting is hard. So many options and unknowns and comparisons and methods. One thing I know
for sure though. God tells us everything we need to know in His word. Yes, parenting books are helpful and can give us some great information, but we have to be careful that all of the "advice" we get from every which way doesn't trump the only author that knows the beginning and the end. The one who created us and our children.

My husband often counsels parents on how to "parent" their children. Like any other man my husband has flaws, but I believe parenting just might be his greatest strength. He is patient and loving but also firm and direct. He takes the time to follow through and most importantly he is consistent which is the hardest thing for me. When I get to my wits end I will look at Shawn with a scrunched up, haggard looking mom brow and ask for advice. One of these times happened a couple of weeks ago and what he said stuck like gorilla glue.

He said, Tanda, give them as many chances at home to obey you as you are willing to give them when you are in the middle of a busy grocery store or at the birthday party or restaurant, etc...... Life will become much easier for you. I promise.

Permission Slip

I sometimes have conversations (in my head) that go something like this......
"Exactly how many days has it been since I washed my hair?

Hmmm.  I don't know.
Was it Saturday, so I could be good for church on Sunday?
No.
Was it Friday night before date with the hubby?
Um.  No.
Was it Thursday before Bible study?

Dang!  I am so gross!
By golly I deserve to take the time for myself to shampoo
and condition my hair and dry it and FLAT IRON IT!!!

Yeah, and I'm not picking up another toy or washing another
sippy cup until I don't feel like a grease monkey!!!
What has motherhood done to me?"

MOM!!! (screaming toddler)

I'll be right there.
:(

Coffee Filter Wreath Tutorial {Anthropologie Style}

So here is the wreath tutorial. I got this great idea from The Nester.

But I will say that I accidentally made an improvement

to The Nester's project.

Doesn't this just say Anthropologie? Now I will confess that

I have never actually been inside this store for three reasons:

a. we don't have any in Oklahoma that I'm aware of,

b. I couldn't afford to buy a single item in the store, and

c. I don't travel much (at all) so I probably won't get the thrill

anytime soon.

But I have seen some pretty amazing pictures of the decor

in this place. A-mazing. For your enjoyment, this first picture

is one of their window displays using, I think tissue paper,

but the second and third pictures are coffee filters!

Like I said, pretty amazing!

Anyhow, now that I have set the bar really high for myself,

here is what you need. And here is where my improvement

came in. The Nester used a packaged wood/like wreath

but all I had was a styrofoam one in the craft/linen/christmas gift closet.

When I was showing off the beaut to my friend after I was

finished she suggested that I could stick different holiday

or floral picks in the wreath for each holiday or season!

Great Gadsby that's a good idea!

So fold your coffee filter in half like so.

And then in half again like so.

Now a dab of glue will do ya. I put mine pretty close together.

It doesn't have to be perfect and you will need to fill in some gaps.

Mine could actually use a few more coffee filters to make

me completelyhappy. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. This is a great website for kid's craft ideas and they

actually featured this post on their site yesterday!

Out-takes From the Park

We went on a lovely little stroll through Martin Nature Park on what might have been one of the last few days of perfect fall weather here in Oklahoma.

Berklee doesn't really know what a normal smile is anymore. She just turns on the silliness to the 10th degree when the camera comes out. Acutally, they are both very silly these days and my recent pet names for them are Silly 1 and Silly 2. I'm very creative.

I especially love the picture where Berklee is holding a machine gun to Hayden's head. (Kid's these days!)

Kid Craft Inspiration

Sometimes a little inspiration is all you need.

You probably have everything you need for these 4 crafts laying

around in your dining room (poor woman's craft room) right now.

Top Left: Counting, Shapes, and Color. Kids love to use glue so indulge them.

Top Right: Just get creative with a butterfly. Talk about what symmetry means.
Boys can also make manly butterflies with blacks and blues and reds.

Bottom Left: Props to my creative babysitter. I usually

leave some items laying around on the days she comes to watch

the kids because I know she will come up with something great like

a paper tissue/clothes pin/pipe cleaner butterfly.

Bottom Right: I found this cute little pinecone turkey craft at this link here.

Perfect for a festive Thanksgiving table!

And here is a peak at a wreath I threw together

today using~ahem~coffee filters.

A post about this to follow.

Now go make a mess with your kids!

Mega Meatball Subs {breakfast style}

Have I ever told you that my husband is a {very} picky eater?

In case I haven't. He is. Worse than my 2 and 4 year olds.

So when I find a gem, I know it is a gem if he likes it.

This meatball sub recipe is from the Pioneer Woman herself.

Sometimes her recipes intimidate worse than those door-to-door

college girls who sell children's encyclopedias.

Anyhow, Shawn requested that I make this twice in one week and

we actually ate the leftovers for Sunday breakfast.......is that too

much information? I feel ashamed telling you that but I don't know

why.

Anyhow, I changed the recipe slightly by using whole wheat hoggie

bread instead of the mini bread rolls she uses in her recipe. Who

wants to feel like a pig eating 5 mini meatball sandwiches when you

save time and just eat one giant one?

Click here for PW's full recipe. And ENJOY!

{Isaiah's Story Video Post}

The anthem (if that is what you call it) of our small

church is to live life on mission. As a body of believers

and as individuals. The question frequently posed

to us is, "where are you in your story?"

Every week we watch a short video of members

or acquaintances of our church who are living

on mission. The video's are always about individual

people or families doing extraordinary work in God's

kingdom.

Almost every week I cry, in a good way mostly. :)

{James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep

oneself from being polluted by the world.}

Isaiah's Story from 31Films on Vimeo.

the wheels on the bus......

go round and round.....





This school bus t-shirt may just be the best thing EVER.
It was originally purchased at a garage sale
By the mother of my dear friend.
Her son wore this shirt and loved it.
My dear friend then passes this shirt on to
our mutual lovely friend.
Her 1st son wore it.
Her 2nd son wore it.
Her 3rd! son wore it.
They loved it.
My lovely friend passed it to us
and we are currently loving on the
school bus shirt.
My amazing friend and her chubby
cheeked mister will be getting everything
next, including this genuine vintage
school bus shirt!

Random Post Monday

Hayden riding his big boy bike that he has since named Rocket. It is actually too big for him but we couldn't resist this garage sale find and he was DE-termined to ride him no matter how many times he got bucked off. This is one proud little fella you see in this picture!



How sweet are these kicks below I got for Berklee at Goodwill! They were brand spankin' new for 3 smackaroos!! They are about a size too big which means they will be perfect for next spring/summer. More and more I am realizing how wasteful I am with what God has given us. The Lord has continued to impress upon my heart that it is not about this world but the next.



I took the kids to the Military museum which is over by the zoo, sorta. You know, so we could talk about history and my kids could start experiencing some hands on educational homeschool curriculum blah blah blah kind of thing. FYI. That place is not for children 4years old and younger. It was dark and creepy and guns and knives and bloody war scene reenactments were everywhere. We would have the same quality experience if I would have taken them to a haunted house.





We camped out. In our backyard. More helpful information for you. Check the weather report first. Friday night, the night of our said campin experience, was dreadful. Saturday night was beautiful!!



And stay tuned. I am renovating Shawns's former office into a school/playroom on like a zero dollar budget. This is what I am working with. So far I have scored some free storage and free paint. (both not pictured) If you would like to make a donation please contact me!!! :)







Have a happy week!