Remind me that they're little

When I am tired at the end of the day

When my kids need more of me than I feel I have left to give

When they are whiney and clingy

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they wake up earlier than the sun

When they refuse to nap

When they fight bedtime with every fiber of their being 

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they spill their juice and throw their dinner on the floor

When there are constantly crumbs stuck to my bare feet

When they won't drink milk without chocolate

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they ask me to read to them

When they ask me to play

When they ask me to color

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they jump and shout and run 

When they think poop and boogers are the funniest thing on the face of the Earth

When they play with the hose and mud every time they go outside

Lord, remind me that they are little

When my house littered with toys & Legos

When the dishes are never done

When they laundry pile never goes away

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they ask me 'why' a thousand times

When they forget to do their chores

When their Christmas wish list is at least a mile long

Lord, remind me that they are little

When they crawl in bed to cuddle

When they ask for one more hug

When they crawl into my lap

Lord, remind me that they are little

My time with them is fleeting

And sweet moments come and go

Before I know it they'll be gone

Lord, remind me that they are little

When my patience is running low

When my discipline has been to harsh

When my tired soul just needs a rest

Lord, remind me that they are little

You have blessed me with these children

And put their tender lives into my hands

They've changed my life more than words can tell

Lord, don't ever let me forget that they are little

Dino Playdoh Fossil Busy Bag

I offered my 4 year old some 'brand new play-doh' this afternoon and he practically ran to the table. But when I brought out a handful of plastic dinosaurs for him to play with too you should've seen his face!!! We played together for the next hour making fossils by pressing them into the playdoh on their sides, playing a matching game - I made impressions an he had to make a match, making footprints, plus a lot of roaring and stomping (the dinos) and giggling (for us)! Have fun with your kiddos and enjoy this recipe for playdoh. 

Homemade Jello Playdoh (makes a lot)

2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup salt
6 oz package jello - your choice of flavor
2 Tbsp cream of tarter
3 Tbsp oil
3 cups water

In a large pot sift together dry ingredients. Add oil and water mixing well. Cook over medium high heat stirring  frequently until it forms a dough ball that is no longer sticky. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface and allow to cool until it is cool enough to touch. Knead for several minutes to make sure it is well combined. Allow to fully cool and cut into portions. Store in an airtight container. :)

50 Things to do this Summer for FREE

Summer doesn't have to be expensive, kids just want permission to play, to be loud and to have fun. With a little planning and creativity your summer days can be filled with memories for free!! 

I'd love to hear from you...what's your favorite summer memory from your childhood?

1. Photo scavenger hunt - take pictures of things around your house and have the kids find them. For older kids take close ups so thy have to fugue them out a little more

2. Neighborhood BINGO - write thing you might see around your house on a 5x5 set of squares. 

3. Make your own obsticle coarse and have a relay race

4. Decorate your yard or porch like the beach and pretend you are on vacation somewhere tropical

5. Play make believe while you are on a walk - take turns making up stories about all the things that you see along the way

6. Water Corn Hole - Mark shapes on the sidewalk and see who can land the closest using sponge bombs

7. Splash T-Ball/Baseball - replace your softball or wiffleball with water balloons

8. Impromptu Jacks - with small rocks or pebbles, toss one into the air and try to pick up another one, two, three and so one before catching the one that is falling

9. Make a treasure map (or have your kids make one). Then follow the map to the treasure and X marks the spot 

10. Build a fort and have a water balloon war

11. Draw with chalk on the wet sidewalk

12. Freeze toys into a block of ice and get em back out

13. Surprise the kids with new water guns or a bin filled with water balloons and let them go at it

14. Paint with water and paintbrushes on the sidewalk or construction paper

15. Use a turkey baster to fill up cups. Use a rubber band to mark lines

16. Explore with oil, water and food coloring

17. Gather things to see if they will sink or float

18. Poke holes in an old hose for a wacky water sprinkler

19. Add plastic balls to a baby pool filled with water

20. Have a car wash party - get the bikes, trucks, and scooters all soapy! 

21. Make real fruit popsicles from scratch

22. Have a banana split for breakfast 

23. Have a pizza party with homemade personal pizza and lots of toppings

24. Learn about the different types of clouds

25. Make a summer bucket list scrapbook using supplies you have at home and pictures of all the fun things you did

26. Give your kids a basket of random ingredients and let them make thier own snack. 

27. Plant a flower (or small vegetable like carrots) and have your kids take care of it

28. Make a bird bath or bird feeder from an large over turned pot with the base glued to the top

29. Make lemonade from scratch. Add frozen fruit for a fancy treat

30. Play with bubbles. Try filling a baby pool with bubble solution and make giant bubbles using a hula-hoop. Try standing inside the bubble. 

31. Have a picnic lunch at a new park/playground 

32. Take a new route when you go for a walk

33. Go camping in the backyard - s'mores and sleeping bags required

34. Visit a local garden or farm to learn where fruits and vegetables come from

35. Go to the library for story time or other fun activities they have planned

36. Play tourist in your own town

37. Learn all about the city where you live. Make a poster to show all about it

39. Visit the mint, state capital or museum

40. Ask for a tour of the places you visit to see how things work, like the bowling alley, the library, the post office, the movie theater, a reataurant or even the grocery sore (call ahead to make sure they're not busy)

41. Use face paint

42. Have a backwards day

43. Act out a book you read

44. Have a shaving cream fight

45. Have a 'YES' day - set a budget then anything the kids want goes

46. Learn a secret language like Pig-Latin

47. Leave your kids notes in a secret code all over the house with clues for them to figure out

48. Dance to music turned up REALLY LOUD!

49. Have a theme day (like princesses and knights). Wear costumes and play make believe. Find games and snack ideas to go with your theme online

50. Dance in the rain and jump in big puddles

Divine Intervention

Sometimes when God moves in your life it is as plain as the nose on your face. Other times it is incredibly subtle and because we become so consumed with life happening around us we don't notice until we look back that He had been moving in a strong and powerful way. I have a special place in my heart for women who have had or have considered having an abortion. I was one of those women.

I was in my 2nd year of college at a conservative Christian school, engaged to the man of my dreams when we found out that I was pregnant. I will never forget the terror that entered my heart when I saw those two little pink lines. I told myself that if the baby's heart had not started beating yet that I would terminate the pregnancy and justified it in my mind allowing the world to silence the voice in my heart screaming that I would be scarred forever. I made an appointment at Planned Parenthood. I remember feeling incredibly guilty and ashamed that I would even be there considering the whole thing. When they called my name, they made my fiance stay in the waiting room. They took me back to a private room where they did an ultrasound to confirm my pregnancy. The screen was turned away from me and I could not see anything she was looking at. She said very little except to confirm that I was pregnant - about 5 weeks - but also that she couldn't see the "embryo" which made her think that I may have and ectopic pregnancy. She explained what that was and that it could be fatal to me if I did not "take care of it in time." She gave me a paper that listed symptoms that my fallopian tube had burst and needed to go to the ER immediately, then made an appointment for me to come back to pick up the medication that I could take to end the pregnancy.

We left the clinic and were headed to have brunch with my Dad when my back started hurting incredibly bad (a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy). Afraid that I was in danger we went to the closest ER. Once checked in the pain had stopped by the doctor was concerned that I may have a blood clot so they ordered a cat scan. They warned me of the risk involved with the test during pregnancy but at that time I was still convinced that I wanted an abortion so I went ahead with the test. When they took me into the room in radiology the nurse again warned me of the risks. The first thing that caught my attention was that the nurse and I had the same first name. Uncommon and a bit of a coincidence but not completely out of the ordinary. Then the nurse completely caught my attention and said something that would change my life forever! She came around the the front of the bed so she was facing me, grabbed my hand and looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I can't help it because I am a mom. Are you sure you want to do this?" I said that I was (refering to the cat scan), and she replied, "I will cover your belly with two leads just to be safe." then continued with the test. A while later the doctor came in to report that they had found nothing wrong but told me to come back if the pain returned. No mention of the risk of an eptopic pregnancy whatsoever. When we left the hospital I grabbed my fiance's hand - he and I both knew that we couldn't go through with an abortion.

God intervined in my life that day and saved the life of my firstborn son!! Looking back I can now see His loving hand so clearly that I get chills. Unexplained back pain - the nurse who shared my name - a maternal plee. When all this happened it had been less than 2 years since my own mom had passed away from cancer. My heart was still broken and I was ultra-sensative to the honest and compassionate words the nurse spoke that day. She was talking about the cat scan, but in my heart God was crying out a plea to the life decision I was about to make.

On this Mother's Day, my heart is overflowing with love for my children, sorrow that my mom is not here to share in our joy, and an eternal gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who loves all His children even the unborn from the moment they are concieved and will move heaven and earth to keep them safe. My heart aches for the millions of women who are reminded today of children and babies that they have lost, and pray that they too can find rest in the God who loves them and holds them close to His heart, waiting - crying out to them to lay down their burdens and find peace. Happy Mother's Day & may God bless each of you on this special day!

Mommy Time-Out Ideas

I teasingly posted on my Facebook page that I was going to put a cooler full of ice cream and chocolate on my porch to enjoy every few hours to escape from the chaos of mothering. While it seems funny you have to admit that it sounds enticing doesn't it?! I rarely get a break - and without an excuse to be alone even my break time involves my kids. It's like some sort of tracker beacon was implanted after childbirth...the kids are content so I slip away for just a moment - even just to pee with the door shut - and instantly they are calling for me, banging on the door to find me! SERIOUSLY?!

If you've ever had the blessing of being away from your kids for even a few hours to just sit and be alone you will agree that a relaxed mom is a more patient and more fun mom. My husband can always tell when I haven't been getting enough time to myself and has been know to kick me out of the house for an non-negotiable "mommy time out" right smack dab in the middle of one of my rants. Have you been there? Please tell me I'm not the only one. Here is a fun poster that I created just for you to download and stick on your fridge! (Click on the image below for a free printable PDF file)

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

This is a recipe that happened by accident when I modified the ingredients on a popular one I found online. The results were amazing - this is going to replace my old recipe!!

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 to 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
2 cups all purpose flour
3 cups dry oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups mix ins (my favorite is dried cranberries)

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large mixing bowl beat together shortening and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add vanilla and eggs, mixing well after each addition.
2. Add dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until moistened.
3. Add yogurt 1/4 cup at a time until cookie dough sticks together and is no longer crumbly.
4. Place spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. Allow to cool for several minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Store in an air tight container. (Yields: 6-8 dozen 2 inch cookies)

Bulk Oatmeal Bran Muffin Mix

I almost always add bran and oats to my muffins to bump up the health factor so when I made my last batch of bulk mix I added it right to the mix! Why didn't I think of that sooner?!

BULK OATMEAL BRAN MUFFIN MIX
4 1/2 cups flour (may substitute half wheat flour)
1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c buttermilk powder
4 cups Kellogg's Bran Buds cereal
4 cups dry cooking oats
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 Tbsp baking soda
1/2 Tbsp salt
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

MAKING MUFFINS
2 1/2 cups Oatmeal Bran Muffin Mix
2 eggs
1/2 to 1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mix-ins (fruit, nuts, candy pieces)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix together bulk mix, eggs, oils, vanilla and 1/2 cup water. Add water a few tablespoons at a time until your batter is fully moistened but still thick. Thick batter makes tall muffins ;) Gently fold in fruit, nuts or other mix ins as desired. Fill greased or lined muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. TIP: a standard ice cream scoop is just the right amount of batter for one muffin cup! Use one with a sweeper arm for super-speedy filling!!

Invitation to paint

During nap time spend a little time setting up this fun painting experience for your little ones that is unexpected and will encourage creativity.

SUPPLIES:
Butcher or packing paper (found mine at the PO)
Paint
Random supplies to explore/paint with (cotton balls, feathers, qtips, plastic forks and spoons, sponges, etc)

SET-UP:
Tape a large sheet of packing paper to your kitchen table or floor and place dollops of paint in the center. Set painting supplies alongside and allow your child to explore freely.

First Time Monthly Meal Planning

There are so many methods and opinions about meal planning - what is best, what saves the most money and time, which is the easiest. When we were a family of 3, I shopped weekly and seldom used coupons, mostly just buying what our cravings told us. We spent $500/month on groceries (plus $200-300 eating out). When my family grew to 5, I got serious about couponing and sale shopping - I even had a massive 3" coupon binder and a stock pile filling up the coat closet in our kitchen. We spent $400/month but a lot of the items just cushioned my stockpile and took forever to get used. I did save A TON of money, but too often got sucked into the deal and overspent on things that we wouldn't use right away.

Currently, a family of 5 (almost 6) I shop every other week and plan my meals first based on what I have in the pantry, then by what is on sale and/or I have coupons for. I no longer have a binder, but a simple clutch and still save $50 on average every trip ($100/month). Another big change that I have made is that every two weeks I buy a share in a local produce co-op. For just over $30 I receive over 50 lbs of amazing fruits and veggies. Between groceries and produce I currently spend about $350-400 for our family of (6).

Recently, a friend and I were comparing methods and I got curious if I could save even more by monthly meal planning and shopping only once a month. I planned 25 meals (5 leftover nights), made a shopping list that was a little bit intimidating and set out to SAMS Club to shop. An hour and a half later I came home with my car loaded to the brim and everything I would need for the next 30 days. Here were the results...

MEALS (DAYS) PLANNED: 30
TIME SPENT: 2 1/2 hours (1 hour meal planning, 1 1/2 hours shopping)
MONEY SPENT: $350 (plus an additional $60 for the 2 produce co-ops I will participate in)
MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM: 16 pack of razors for my hubby ($45)

PROS: Less time spent at store and meal planning, ingredients for 25 meals on hand, less trips to the store means money saved on impulse purchases.

CONS: Less variety of items at bulk store, more purchased than needed at times, not able to use coupons, some items needed to be purchased at grocery store (multiple stores), obligated to prepare meals that were preplanned or repurpose ingredients into new meals.

If monthly meal planning sounds like something that would work for your family here are the printables that I used to keep me organized.
Monthly Meal Calendar
Shopping List_Large