Easter

I love this picture. I'm not even exactly sure why--it would be better if this had happened while there were still eggs in the lawn and he was standing there not knowing where to start or something, but at least it shows what we did this past week! It was so fun having an Easter egg hunt with a toddler! He got so excited about the eggs and I got excited about taking pictures of him. :)

I'm loving being a part of this project 52: glimpse into motherhood, check it out here!

Homemade Yogurt

Homemade yogurt? I've been skeptical but this video clip shows how and it looks good! Make your own cream cheese even? I think this is great to know for food storage. If I ever get my year supply--I'll be trying this out!

Upside down and backwards

Ever since this sweet boy was born he has had a cowlick that makes his hair look like it is growing upside down (it really swirls!) and sideways. I love to play with his hair, and when he was a baby I would move my finger in the pattern of his cowlick. I can never get his hair to look right, but I love his cowlick. :) He has a swirl in the front of his forehead and in the back near his neck. If you look really hard, in this picture you can see the swirl and the side of his forehead where is grows sideways. :) I hope whoever he marries someday way in the future finds his cowlicks as endearing as I do..is that weird?

If you want to be a part of this great Project 52 as well, go here!

Project 52: At Play

This picture is dark but I love it! I feel like it shows how much he loves to play. He will always come find me when I'm doing something else and say "Mommy, do you want to play ____ with me?" (fill in the blank with horsies/trains/dinosaurs, etc) Or he'll say "Let's play!" and bring me a toy or grab my finger to take me to the toys. What a sweet boy. I love that he wants me to play with him.

If you want to see more motherhood moment pictures or join in yourself go here!

Easter Story Cookies

I found these at The Idea Room...and I'm hoping to try them this year!

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar

zipper baggie
heavy wooden spoon
tape
A Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

NOW GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9

Project 52: Growing Up

My little boy is all little boy and not baby at all anymore. It makes me sad that he has to grow up so fast! I think it is cute how he takes his own shoes off now. He uses one foot to step on the back of the other shoe and then does it again and they always end up in this sort of position when he is done. I had to take a picture of it to remember this little moment of cuteness that I love observing. :)

If you want to see other pictures of motherhood or join in adding your pictures, go here!

Orange Julius

More like orange dream. Making this recipe took me back to my childhood. I remember my parents making orange julius...and early on in this pregnancy I was craving that--it was so weird because I knew that I wanted the orange and milk together. And so I called my dad and asked him about it--he told me they had used a mix, so I had no recipe to go off of. Since then I came across this recipe and finally tried it tonight. Yum... just right. Orange and milk together. :)

Favorite Place

I love that this sweet little boy loves to cuddle with us still. This is my favorite place for him to be--only with me instead of with daddy, but I can't really take a picture of us like that. When he snuggles with me like this we are reading books and I love it! Maybe I should try to keep the camera close by so I could snap a picture somehow. :)

I'm taking part of this awesome project 52! If you want to join or see other great pictures, take a look here!

Book Lists

I recently had this crazy idea. After reading a friend's blog back in January where she shared a list of the 52 books she read during the year...I kind of want to read 52 books in a year too!
At first I thought it was crazy...but then I thought about it some more. I already love reading and she didn't read a book each week of the year. Some months she read 8 books and others she read 2. So far this year, I'm only three books behind...
So far I have read (not in this order...this is just the order I remembered them):

The Count of Monte Cristo
Princess of Glass
Revolution
Mansfield Park
Room with a View
Wuthering Heights
Bridge to Terabithia
Tuck Everlasting
The Gable Faces East

I also found this list of Newberry Medal award winners and books who didn't win but were honored...I think that is a great list of quick reads that just might make it possible for me to really read 52 books in one year!

And since we are talking about book lists...I found this great link to book lists for kids!

Jelly Roll Cupcakes?

I recently went to a baby shower where they served gourmet cupcakes and I tried one that was Jelly Roll...it was amazing! Probably the best cupcake I've ever had! This recipe looks like it could be similar! I can't wait to try it out!