I love Paris

I miss Paris. 
I miss it every day. 
I miss it in the spring, summer, fall and winter. 
That is all for today.

Avacado Pasta

I LOVE this pasta.  Not only is it healthy, it tastes amazing AND it is simple!  I found the original recipe over on Oh How She Glows blog, which is an excellent blog for anyone looking for great vegetarian or whole food recipes.  I have several from her site that I make regularly.  I made a couple changes to the original, but which recipe don't I change? 

2-3 ripe avacados
1 lemon juiced
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 tsp onion powder
1/2 to 1tsp salt and pepper to taste
1/2 Cup fresh basil, MUST be fresh
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2-3 diced tomatoes
12 oz of your favorite pasta, I usually use spagetti noodles

Cook noodles as package directs.  Put garlic, lemon juice, and EVOO into food processor and process until smooth.  Add in seasonings, fresh basil and pitted avacados and process again until smooth and creamy.  Stir in the diced tomatoes at the end, don't food process them.  Toss over your pasta when it is finished cooking.  You don't even heat up the sauce which makes this a super quick meal you can make in the time your pasta cooks! 

Ironing Out The Wrinkles

I have this problem.  It is my ironing board.  It just stares at me smuggly from the center of my laundry room because I am forced to work around its bulking, gloating presence.  I got this ironing board back 11 years ago.  Since I had never ironed in my previous 20 years, not sure why I thought I might start in the next 20.  I suppose young love does that to a person. I envisioned lovingly ironing out my husbands shirts.  That vision faded and the ironing board sat unused for many, many years.  We moved.  5 times.  Along it came.  Lugged to each new place, then promptly tucked it behind some door.  Then last winter I decided to make wax paper hearts with melted crayons and the old forgotten ironing board got pulled out to shine in all its useful glory.  When I attempted to fold it back up, it wouldn't go.  I tried all the usual pounding, hammering, and banging but it would not colapse back down.  So now it sits there taking up half my laundry room filling the room with its arrogance.  Mocking me that it will not be cast aside again.  I have considered just throwing it away but the thing is so big it won't fit in our garbage.  Maybe some night I will have some wine, take it out to the country....okay farther out to the country than I already am....and drop it off.  If it is lucky, a passerby may take pity on it and bring it in. 

Fall is here!

I am not usually one to wish away summer warmth but this year I was ready for it to be over.  Not because I hate the sun and warmth and the glow of a nice tan but because I need clothes.  Not just any clothes.  Clothes that cover me.  Sweaters.  Big, bulky body hiding sweaters...and Jeans.  Ahhh glorious jeans.  Any garment that allows me to cover my arms and legs and doesn't leave me weeping in the dressing room. 

A Higher Education

I have had some interesting conversations recently regarding college.  I must confess that I didn't realize college was optional until I was in my teen years.  My parents had always spoken of it very matter of factly and I assumed that is what everyone did after high school.  Since finishing my own degree I have mostly assumed I would push my children towards college as well.  After spending a lot of time thinking about this I dare say I might be on the verge of changing my mind.  There is a part of me that wants them to go.  It feels a bit like a pat on the back for me if they do attend.  After all, it will be due to the amazing education they receive from me.  Then when I look at the people around me, many who do not have a 4 year degree, make very good livings and don't have that dreaded student loan payment every month.  They are able to support their families very nicely and seem relatively well adjusted.  Then there is me, and many like me, who have that expensive piece of paper that says we have accomplished something and yet do nothing even related to what we are educated to do.  I would not say I regret having my time in college.  It was an amazing time of building friendships, traveling and learning so much.  But when I think about the most important and life alterning things I have learned they have very little to do with where I went to school.  It is all from God.  God is the one who imparts wisdom, joy, peace, and love all of the things I want for my own children.

My Cleaning Nightmare

We are involved in a coop for the next few weeks with some homeschoolers from our area.  It is great fun.  Each week is a different topic and we break the kids up by ages and teach different groups each week.  This upcoming Fridays topic is science.  We are doing all kinds of experiments and I volunteered to have it at our home.  That was a big mistake.  Not because I don't like having people over, because I do very much.  The problem is I wasn't thinking.  We need to use our entire house and our garage for all these people.  This means I have to have the entire house AND the garage clean by Friday.  I have never, in all the years we have lived here, had my entire house clean at the same time much less the garage on top of that.  This means I am in for a nightmare week of trying to keep my kids from messing up what I have finished. 

I decided to start in our basement since that is an area that isn't used much and won't be challenging to keep clean.  The problem is I only make it down there to clean about once a year and it is scary dirty.  I spent all day cleaning it yesterday and just ended up angry because it is not clean yet.  I decided I must just move on to another area now.  Next up is our bedroom and bathroom.  That is another area that I don't get to often.  I am sure you are wondering what I do clean.  I find it is better if you don't ask such questions. 

Birthdays

It is official.  As of last Sunday I am yet another year older and pretty sure not any wiser.  I am starting to wonder if I will ever have a birthday where I am not painfully aware of each new wrinkle.  Isn't there some sort of government program out there where I can opt out of all future birthdays?  I can still age, but just not have a single day marking the turning of another year.  A day where I am forced to reflect on how I have more aches and pains and am not nearly as wise as I had expected to be.  On the bright side I have 361 more days until I have to think about all of this again!

Crockpot Tomato Bisque

I have a serious, passionate love for my crockpots.  Yes, I have several.  I love to cook but also love to have some nights off from working in the kitchen.  This soup is perfect for that.  This recipe is also perfect for people that work away from home all day because unlike many crockpot recipes, it can sit in the crockpot for 8-10 hours and only gets better.  This is a perfect recipe for summer tomatoes coming in because it uses so many fresh tomatoes.  You will never eat another tomato soup again.

3lbs vine ripened tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Cups tomato juice
1 Cup cooking sherry
3 Tbsp white sugar
1 chicken bouillon cube
Chopped fresh basil, as much as you like...I like a lot. 
3 cloves of chopped fresh garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste

2 cups of heavy cream for serving

Wash and quarter the tomatoes and add all ingredients to crockpot!  Yup that is it.  Cook it on low for 8 hours, or however long you like.  At the end of the cooking time scoop out the large chunks with some sort of straining spoon and blend them in a food processor or blender.  Add it back in and add in the cream before serving. 

My World of Make Believe

In my world of make believe I like to pretend many things but my most favorite thing to imagine is that some day I will travel again.  I used to travel a lot before I had children and settled in for the long haul.  I love to travel, in fact there almost nothing I love more!  Since having children I haven't left the state, that is a lot of years of no travel for this lady.  I say that I am pretending I will travel again because more than likely I won't be able to ever afford to leave a 200 mile radius of my current home.  But lets not dwell on reality, it's a downer. 

Recently my sister told me about a family that had the goal of visiting every state park in our state before their oldest graduated.  My sisters family has decided they want to try and visit 48 states before their oldest graduates.  I have decided to come up with my own dream vacation list.  I am making them as realistic as possible in the hopes that we may actually get to a few of these places.  My oldest is now 6 so that gives us 12 year to get all these trips knocked out! 

1)  Duluth and the north shore of MN.  We love this area and have spent a lot of time there in the past, can't wait to experience it again with my children. 

2) Wisconsin Dells.  This one will be water park mayhem but the kids will love it and I will be thrilled to leave the state again if only to prove it is still possible. 

3) The Black Hills.  I did this one as a teenager and it is a great place for camping restlessly while you worry you will be trampled by buffalo that roam about. 

4) New Orleans and Galveston.  I haven't ever been to either place and it is a cryin' shame I tell ya!

5)  Chicago.  Museums, traffic, Lake Michigan and deep dish pizza. 

6) Niagara Falls, Boston, New York state, Pennsylvania and all that jazz. 

7) The Apostle Islands.  Haven't been there but heard they are fabulous. 

8) Nashville, Atlanta and South Carolina.  Love Nashville.  I have been to Atlanta and South Carolina and there was nothing all that memoriable in either one but I figure they deserve a second chance, mostly because they are about 60 degrees warmer then this state in the winter. 

9) Florida, minus the money sucking, long lined nightmare that is Disney. 

10) Yellowstone. It is an American tradition.

11) Seattle.  We can stare at all the hippies while drinking coffee. 

12) Forestville and Southeastern corner of MN.  A lovely corner, especially in the fall.

13) Itasca State Park.  For frolicking in the headwaters of the Mississippi. 

14) Puerto Rico.  I have been there but it is worth a second trip. 

So there it is.  A goal of 14 trips to get done in 12 years.  This is by no means everywhere I would love to visit but these are the ones my kids should probably see before leaving the nest and that won't require passports or expensive air fare.  You will notice a glaring hole in the Southwest of the United States.  You may wonder if I have something against this beautiful area of our country and the answer is yes, yes I do.  I have absolutely no desire to go there.  Seriously.  Not sure why and I don't have a single reason.  So if we happen to get to it, the Grand Canyon would be grand but it isn't at the top of my list. 

Girl Time

We are coming up on my favorite time of year.  A time I look forward to from the moment it is over until it arrives a full year later.  It isn't an official holiday or season.  It isn't my massive annual payout from my trustfund, though it might move to the top of my favorite lists if I had one.  It is girls weekend.  Every year for the past 6 years I have gone away one weekend in the fall with some friends from college and it is spectacular.  We window shop and talk until we drop.  We follow that by coffee and talking.  Then dinner and more talking.  Then back to our hotel to stay up late and talk.  Then a nice long walk around a lake somewhere and more talking.  We can talk and never run out of things to discuss!  I am blessed with many amazing friends in my life but this particular uninterupted weekend of relaxation and connecting is really the best time of the year. 

Easy Cheese Danish

This recipe is amazing and easy, sadly it is not also healthy.  I don't make it very often but I do like to surprise my little tater tots with it every so often when they need a little something sweet.  I got the recipe from The Country Cooks blog and I am very thankful!

Ingredients:
For the danishes:

2 tubes Crescent Rolls
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (softened)
¼ cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. butter (melted)
8 tbsp. light brown sugar

Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350.  In a medium bowl combine cream cheese with white sugar and vanilla.  Mix until creamy and smooth.  Separate the two cans of dough into 8 rectangles, sealing the seams of 2 triangles to make the rectangles.  Spoon melted butter and brown sugar onto each rectangle.  Roll each rectangle into a long skinny snake of dough.  Then coil the snake making it into a circle.  Squish the dough down in the middle making a little space for the cream cheese filling.  Put a couple tablespoons of cream cheese filling into the center of each dough ball.  Place then on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes.  Mix up the glaze while the danishes are cooking and drizzle it over warm danishes when they come out of the oven. 

I did make these last time without the glaze and I must say they are much better with it so take the time for that last extra step of scrumptiousness. 

The Killer Hamster

 

This is my son.  Waiting. 

 

 

From the picture and generous supply of weaponry behind him you may thing we are going to soon be coming under attack from roaming savages.  He is actually waiting for his cousins to arrive.  We are lucky enough to live close to them allowing ample tree climbing, arrow shooting, snake catching, field exploring fun together.  These are all the weapons he could find in our home so that he and his cousins could get some good fightin' in.  He has collected a light saber, a dart gun you shoot with your mouth, an bow with 2 arrows, a play butcher knife, a throwing star and possibly most important of all...a hamster.  Okay I have no idea why the hamster is a weapon but he is in a neatly seperated pile with the bow.  Boys, what fun!

Not so Radical

It has been a couple weeks since finishing the book Radical by David Platt.  I started writing a review earlier but I was too angry with the author and my original post sounded more like a mad rant than an objective discussion of my thoughts on the book.  I have calmed down....a little.  Time for a second attempt at my thoughts on Radical. 

I will start with what I do like about this book.  Absolutely nothing.  Only joking, though I may have said that a couple weeks go.  I have had time to let it all simmer in.  I do agree with most of what he says about money.  As believers, our money and possessions are not our own.  Not one single penny.  It isn't a fun truth of our faith but it is still truth and it is everywhere in scripture.  In America we have nice Christian financial teachers like Dave Ramsey to teach us how to be good stewards of our resources, but Christ would have utterly failed his Dave Ramsey money management class.  He wants all of us, not 10%.   

My very favorite tip from the book was deciding on an amount of money you need to live and then give away everything above and beyond that you make.  This doesn't mean not giving from the money you make below that number, just that you ask the lord to show you how much is enough.  My favorite story was his church asking how many children were waiting for foster care in their area and then the congregation taking every single child.  That is beautiful.  It also makes me think that it is possible he has helped usher in a real change with his church. 

Now onto why I had so many issues with this book.  First, David Platt comes off as a gigantic hypocrite, and I can say this because I know a thing or two about being a gigantic hypocrite.  I am of the camp that if you are going to write a book about giving up everything you have in this world to serve the lord among unreached people groups you should have actually done it!  David Platt, on the other hand, gets to travel the world doing missions all while also owning a home and pastoring a mega church.  He has the luxury of not having to choose between two lives.  He attends a very wealthy church, a fact he likes to mention often, which I am sure makes raising money for him to travel the world quite easy.  In fact he harshly criticizes the average American for not giving it all up while regularly giving free passes to members of his own congregation.  He tells us that doing things in our own areas is not enough, we are to travel abroad to reach the unreached.  Then gives many examples of friends who still make a lot of money and use that money to send others or members of the congregation that have started missions in their own area.  It doesn't sound like they are following his prescription for a radical life.  I also got the unpleasant feeling you only have to be radical if you don't have money.  If you do have money you get to live relatively comfortably and get the joy of furthering Gods kingdom.  In his defense he does adamantly proclaim that you do not need money, resources or a lot of people to accomplish Gods purposes.  I whole heartedly agree.  Then he goes on to give example after example of people who succeeded who have money, resources and numbers on their side. 

There are some other issues I take with his book but most stem from his tone.  I am all for correction done well, we are in need of some serious correction in our American church system.  He is obviously very passionate and I feel that his harsh tone may stem from some guilt over his own internal struggle with his situation as a pastor of a mega church in this country.  He is very critical of the American christian while exalting believers in other countries and their struggles.  Believers in other countries struggle with removing their blinders as much as people in our country.  I agree ours is a self centered and materialistic society and it is so ingrained in our faith I often wonder if it will ever be fully removed.  We all have sin and we all come from cultures that pollute our faith and all need the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and make us new. 

What boggles me about this book is the overwhelming positive response to it. I can't figure it out. I have heard of so many who absolutely loved it but seen absolutely zero difference in their lives. I am not sure how we can love a book about giving everything up unless we are so delusional we think we are already doing that.  It might just be me, but I don't always get excited about the truth of who God is calling me to be because it can be a very painful process.  It goes to show that people still don't get it even after it has been laid very plainly before them.  This isn't about following the steps Mr Platt lays out at the end of his book.  It is about a real heart change and only God can do that. 

Ultimately I think the author does feel passionately about his topic and has likely heard from God.  If I could ask him one question it would be why do you hang on to your mega church?  Why not build up the body and send them out to live out the call of God in their lives and serve others?  I haven't seen how his church operates but it takes a tremendous amount of time, money and energy to keep up a church system like his.  My hope is that with his understanding of the problem, he is helping raise up a body of believers that follow God and not a single pastor.  A body that functions in the way God intends where they hear his voice and act.  My fear is that he is no different than any other mega church pastor where his congregation sits comfortably listening to the truth but never hearing.  That he will become a pastor who heard a word from God once and took it half way, then made it into a system to follow because it is easier than teaching people to hear from God and live it out.      

  

Cilantro Lime Rice with a bonus Guacamole Recipe

This is by far my favorite rice recipe.  By itself it is yummy but what I love to do most with it is make it into rice bowls.  They are amazing!  I add in my own homemade guacamole, some sort of spicy grilled chicken, Mexican cheese, fresh tomatoes and you could add what ever else you enjoy!  Mix it all together and you have an incredible meal.  You are going to want to send me gifts of thanks for this one.   

1 1/2 Cup Basmati or Jasmine (I usually use Jasmine for all my recipes because I buy it in large bags)
1 Tbsp butter
1 small lime
1/2 tsp sugar
Fresh cilantro, chopped
salt to taste

Rinse the rice or soak for a few minutes.  This is suppose to make your rice less sticky, but I am not sure I can tell the difference.  Try it and see what you think.  Melt the butter in a sauce pan and then add the rice and sugar.  Stir around coating the rice and letting it get aromatic.  Yes, aromatic.  Squeeze the lime juice into the rice and stir a bit more.  You can add another lime if you like.  Add in 3 cups of water and the amount of salt you like.  Cover and bring to boil.  Do not stir and do not remove the lid after you add the water.  Reduce to simmer when it starts to boil and cook 15-18 minutes until done.  Add in the cilantro at the end.  I usually use about half a bunch. 

I am going to throw in a bonus recipe because this rice gets even better mixed with fresh guacamole.   I tried out a few different mixtures to get this one right, but it is easily adapted to your own tastes.

2-3 ripe avacados
1/4-1/2 Cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt
2-3 cloves of fresh garlic minced
1/2 red onion, chopped small
1-2 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
1tsp cumin, salt and pepper
2-3 romas diced

Mash up the avacados and stir in all ingredients, saving tomatoes for last.  Fold in the tomatoes at the end so they don't get too mushy. 

Awwwwww!

I am not one to brag about how beautiful my children are, or maybe I am, but who could resist such sweet little blessings.  We recently had an evening out exploring and picture taking.  Here are some of my favorites. 

My littlest love taking the time to smell the flowers. 

My lovely little wild flower



And last but not least, my handsome little fellow



This picture below is my smallest showing me how she raises her shoulders.   Serious cuteness follows:

 

 

These little folks light up my life!



Botanist Extraodinaire!

This past year I have finally gotten around to working on the landscaping near our house.  Prior to this we had a "multi-purpose area".  That is a nice way of saying one section was a sand pit for my children to drive their trucks in and in the other part, 8 foot weeds for lurking snakes.  I admit, not the most desirable arrangement unless you are a snake.  I am finding that I have had so little success with planting in the past that I am not quite sure what to do with the plants that are flourishing.  I had no idea how much there is to know about maintaining them.  A friend told me I should give them plant food so I bought a watering can and fed them.  Several had an adverse reaction and it killed large sections of some of the plants almost immediately.  Oops.  Yesterday I decided it was time to trim back some of my over grown plants but I don't actually own any gardening tools.  I had to trim them with my kitchen scissors.  Then the scissors broke in half so I switched to a knife.  Despite my every effort to kill all my plants, these fellows are quite hardy and looking lovely still.  The best part is all the flowers.  Right now my Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas are blooming and they are beautiful!  Nothing brightens up a filthy home like a vase full of flowers, at least that is what I tell my husband when I explain why I don't need to clean.  

Happy Homeschooling

Since today was our first official day of school I thought it would be a nice time to reflect on some of the reasons our family loves homeschooling!  

One of the best things about homeschooling is being a part of a community of people who prioritize family and relationships.  I am very lucky to be a part of a group of other Christians who have chosen homeschooling.  Our being home affords us the opportunity to develop friendships with these other families.  Though diverse in specific beliefs, I know that they all love the lord and actively pursue God and that makes all the difference.  When we get together for various events we can pray together, laugh, work through troubles and just share our lives together.  It isn't something many people are lucky enough to be a part of, but we are and I don't take that blessing lightly. 

Being with my children all the time.  Yes, this also falls under the category of the less fun things about homeschooling but it is more often than not a great aspect of homeschooling.  I am there for everything.  I get to see where they need more help, share in their victories, teach them everything I know, help them find their passion and pursue it, snuggle as we read and watch them blossom.  There is no way to describe how this feels, it is far to complex for words but I am so grateful that I do get to experience this. 

I get to relearn everything I have forgotten, which is more of it than I care to admit.  I love reading books that I read as a child and many more that I never did.  I am learning right along with my children all day long and loving it. 

My children have hours a day to explore the world around them.  In today's activity filled schedules this can be hard for parents to squeeze in.  Our being home allows us to have time, every day and often hours a day, to be outside exploring.  I personally believe this is such an important time of development for them and am so thankful they will have all these tree climbing, swimming in the lake, hiking through woods, riding bike, snow fort building, bug catching memories.  In fact as I write this the older two are laying high in a tree laughing together.

These are just some of the many reasons I love the choice we have made to teach our children at home.  I know every family has to do what works best for them and that this choice isn't for everyone, but I am so happy that it works for us!

Rice Pilaf

I have decided to continue on with my rice theme and post a recipe for pancakes.  Only kidding, more rice of course.  This one is for Rice Pilaf and it is a very versatile rice.  It goes great with most anything!  I will sometimes makes a bigger batch of this and use the left overs to make up a casserole or a fried rice.  My friend Lisa does a similar recipe and pre-measures her rice and seasonings into a baggie so that she only has to throw it in a pot when she is ready.  Clever Lisa!

1 1/2 cups long grain Jasmine
2 Tbsp butter
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced small
3 cups chicken broth

Heat the butter up in a pan and saute the onions for 3-4 minutes.  Add in the rice and garlic and cook for a couple minutes until the rice is fragrant.  Add in broth, cover and bring to boil.  Without removing lid, reduce heat to low and cook for 15-18 minutes until done. 

Farmer me

My sister was out of town recently and I, as selfless as I am, decided I could handle doing her chores for her one day.  She has a sheep farm, how hard could it be?  I found the hopper which is where the grain is stored.  There is a small trap door in the bottom and all the grain sits above it in a giant steel drum.  The little trap door was stuck so I yanked which opened a flood gate of grain.  I had the standard farmer response....screaming, because as everyone knows screaming slows down a Niagara Falls of grain.  You would think a bin whose only job is to dispense grain would be more user friendly.  When I finally figured out how to get the door unstuck and close it, I had dropped a small field worth of grain onto the ground below.  My son and I got to spend an hour scooping it into buckets.  The highlight for my son was watching me accidentally pick up a dead rat with my bare hands.  That experience will be seared in my brain for some time to come. 

We then got to hop on her 4 wheeler and drive out to another pasture to feed some sheep.  She assured me the rams wouldn't bother us when we went out there.  She was wrong.  All my talk to my son about staying away from them because they are dangerous must have worked.  They chased us while he screamed "THEY ARE COMING AFTER US" and "THEY ARE GOING TO EAT US", repeatedly.  I may have to tell him that sheep don't generally eat people.

The final task was untangling their 100 pound monster of a dog.  She had wrapped herself around a crab apple tree which had very low branches.  I had to crawl under the tree, nearly losing an eye to all the sharp branches, on my hands and knees while the grateful giant molested me. 

My sister should probably not leave town again. 

School days, School Days Good Old Golden Rule Days

I got very motivated last night and planned out much of our upcoming school year with the kids.  I was very excited and decided to have a little test run today.  Do you think it is too late to enroll them in public school this fall yet?  Alright not really but it was eye opening.  Not sure if it is them not used to a scheduled day at home or my 4 year olds many meltdowns or their ages or lack of sleep or the 20 month old who is so jealous she won't allow me to look at her siblings or my crazy hormones.  There were approximately 17 meltdowns, and that was just me.  It can only get better from here, right?

Mexican Rice

I am a lover of rice.  More specifically, flavored rices.  Coconut, cilantro-lime, a nice pilaf.  This is my go to rice for most of my Mexican dishes.  Go head, try it.  I promise you will like it.

3Tbsp butter
1.5 cups long grain jasmine rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Rotel with green chilies
1 (4oz) can green chillies
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 small onion minced
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1.5 cups shredded monterey jack cheese

Heat the butter and minced onions for 2 minutes in sauce pan.  Add in Jasmine and garlic and cook a few more minutes until fragrant.  Add in all other ingredients except cheese.  Put lid on the pot and bring to boil, then reduce heat to low for 15-18 minutes.  Do not remove lid or stir.  Mix in the cheese at the end.

Books make my world go round

I have decided to write the official, very best of the best children's book list.  I can see you now with that "oh geesh not another best kids book" look on your face but it is true.  You know how I know that this is the very best list?  Because I wrote it.  Okay honestly I know this isn't a complete list of all the best kids books, there are far too many for one list.  These are some of our favorites and I have read them with my own children many times over.  This particular list is for the age range of 2ish to 6ish.  It could probably go as high as 33 since that is how old I am and I love all these books as much as my children! 

With no further introduction and in no particular order:

Bear Snores On- Karma Wilson

It Could Alwasy Be Worse- Margot Zemach  I must admit the title appealed to my pessimistic side but it is an excellent story about appreciating what you have. 

The Story of Ferdinand- Munro Leaf

Slinky Malinki- Lynley Dodd

I've Lost my Hippopotamus- Jack Prelutsky A hilarious collection of poems my 6 year old can't get enough of!

Madeline- Ludwig Bemelmans

Fancy Nancy- Jane O'Connor- My daughter takes all of her style tips from Nancy. 

Rikki Tikki Tembo- Arlene Mosel

A Giraffe and a Half- Shel Silverstein

Where the Wild Things Are- Maurice Sendak

Giraffes can't Dance- Giles Andreae

The Incredibly Book Eating Boy- Oliver Jeffers

How to Catch a Star- Oliver Jeffers

A Sick Day for Amos McGee- Philip C Stead- My current favorite

The Napping House- Audrey Wood

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain- Verna Aardema

The Gruffalo- Julia Donaldson

Bad Kitty- Nick Bruel

Roar of a Snore- Marsha Diane Arnold

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear- Nancy White Carldstrom

You are Special- Max Lucado

On the Night You were Born- Nancy Tillman



Now if you have children in this age range and are missing any of these books, I suggest you purchase them all immediately.  If you do not have children but think you may some day, purchase them all immediately.  If your children are grown and out of the house, buy them anyways.  You can relive your own childhood.

Deceiving Recipes

I am what you might call a head over heels new recipe junkie.  Always on the look out for that perfect new recipe.  You know the one that is fabulously healthy and tastes like it isn't.  It takes 3 simple ingredients but used in this new spectacular combination my taste buds sing with joy.  On top of all this, it only takes 6 minutes to prepare!  Okay I maybe have never come across anything like this and if I were to create such a dish I would be loved by all mothers for years to come.  I have tried many, MANY new recipes over the years.  Some amazing and some that make me wonder if I will ever be able to get that revolting taste out of my mouth. 

During this quest I have sought out many resources but none as worthless as pinterest.  Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoying pinning the night away as much as the next person but I am finding that most of the recipes are being over-sold, and that is putting it nicely.  I am not sure why this is.  At first, I believed the descriptions.  Maybe I had faith that others wouldn't exaggerate on something as significant as a recipe.  Maybe prior to this pinterest recipe they had only eaten fast food tacos.  Maybe others don't take it as seriously as myself.  Who knows.  What I do know is that if I had a dollar for every mediocre recipe I have tried on that site that was described as "THE BEST such and such I have EVER tasted" I could....well....probably buy a fancy coffee but you get my point.  From here on out there will be a much more rigid standard by which I choose a new recipe from pinterest.

Toymageddon

The other night I was yelling speaking with a firm tone of voice to my children about their smelly disaster zone bedroom, when it occurred to me that I needed to stop with the threats and start with the action.  I sent them out and loaded up piles of toys and hid them away.  I was sure this would lead to them feeling remorseful and wanting to keep their room clean.  I was wrong.  They did not seem to notice in the slightest.  This could only mean one thing, they still had too many toys.  I took away more.  They still do not care.  Children 2: Mommy:0

Time for my semi annual blog post

It is May and seeing as I have been exceedingly neglectful of this little blog in the past year I decided to throw my blog a bone.  This past week I have been thinking a lot how quickly life can change.  Not my most cheerful topic, none the less it is what has been on my mind.  One doctors appointment can scare the dickens out of a person and make you realize just how precious all the time and health can be.  This got me thinking about all the people I know who have dealt so beautifully with the big loops life has thrown them.  Seeing them and their attitude give me hope that when life does give something I am not expecting, maybe I will be capable of the same joy in trials.  I am sure they are not joyful all the time, there must be many tears.  But maybe these people have learned how to live by faith because that is all they have.  They can't fix it.  They can't do anything about it.  They can only trust that they are in the hands of God through all of it.