I'm starting a new trend around here. I'm going to start listing a few of my favorite things on Fridays and inviting you to join me. In doing this I hope to:
Give you another opportunity to learn more about me ( I know. You're excited aren't you.)
Learn more about you
Enjoy the things I've been blessed with
Today I'm sharing my coffee mugs. I love me a good coffee mug. The kind I like best are bold in color, big in size, and full of coffee. With a little sugar and cream. Please.
Because I like so many different styles and colors and I couldn't just pick one, I decided to pick 'em all! Not really. But kind of. And because my SIL works at Starbucks I get to whine and make sad eyes at her while pointing to cute mugs until she gets the hint and picks them up for me.
Yay for SIL's who work at Starbucks and are easily manipulated!!!
Anyways, back to the mugs.
One of my very favorite things about my mugs is watching my friends and family choose a mug to drink from. (I'm real hostess-with-the-mostest. I let/make people get their own coffee.)
Those who frequent my coffee cupboard frequently have their favorites. The newcomers ooh and ah over the different designs.
I'm not sure I have one favorite. I think it would hurt their feelings if I did. We're close like that.
Want to share a favorite thing? Leave a comment or, if you blog, write about it and link to this page. Don't forget to come back and link up with Mr. Linky!
In an attempt to expose our kids to regular Bible study and prayer time we've been having Circle Time together. It's an idea I learned while reading through some Montessori information.
With my personal twist added in there.
My MIL got this children's devotional for us:
The kids love it. They are learning about Jesus by looking at nature. The lessons are short and sweet and there are questions that help them think about what they've just learned. We try to read a lesson every time we have circle time.
We make time to sing a few songs. The kids love ring-around-the-rosy. Very spiritual. I know. And Father Abraham. Yay! for me. Or not. Because I think my kids are the cutest I recorded them singing Father Abraham. Just for you. Because I'm giving like that.
We also take time to pray together. Being as the kids are 7, almost 3, and one-and-a-half there is usually lots of giggling and silliness. I still feel like they are learning an important discipline.
One thing we've not done, that I plan to soon incorporate, is a time for silence. Listening. Being still.
This will be interesting because of the age thing. I figure we'll start with a few minutes every time and work our way up. We'll see how it goes!
I've never really liked children's Bibles. Call me a terrible parent (and a 12 year old) but I would rather read Captain Underpants all day then sit through the stories in the children's Bibles. I've always felt that they were missing something. Watered down. Simplified. They lack the spark that ignites a passion for the Word of God.
So when my MIL gave this one to our kids for Christmas a few years ago I thought, "Another book to add to the Goodwill pile in a few months."
And then we read it.
Oh my granny, I love this Bible! Every story that's told comes back to the point that the Bible is a story about Jesus and His love for His Bride. How exciting!
I love that the stories from the Old Testament come alive through the parallels being drawn. For me! I love that when my kids are old enough to read a Bible by themselves they will already have this idea firmly planted in their little hearts and the stories won't seem obsolete. They will have a better understanding of what they are reading. I can't recommend this version enough. Perfect for children and adults!
And since I love it so much I'm giving one away to one of you! Here's what you do:
Leave a comment here on this blog post and you'll be entered to win. To earn four more entries you can:
Facebook about this giveaway
Twitter about this giveaway
Blog about this giveaway
Follow my blog
Make sure you come back here and let me know when you've done any of these. Remember to leave a separate comment for each! The giveaway will end Sunday night at 7pm, PST. So get your comments in by then.
I know that we still have about a month before school starts, but I assure you that this is one class you'll want to take year round.
I recently found out that I am allergic to soy and eggs. This has caused some major changes in my shopping and cooking. But the biggest (and saddest) change has been the lack of chocolate around the PnP Castle. Because SOY IS IN EVERYTHING! It's been so long since I've had chocolate that I'm convinced my body is shutting down.
So, for health purposes only, I decided to make a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
How do you make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies without soy and eggs you ask?
Well, I purchased these soy free chocolate chips, which taste exactly like regular chocolate chips. They are a little on the spend-y side, but a momma's gotta do what a momma's gotta do. Which means making these babies last!
To replace eggs in baking there are a few options: egg replacers, or 1/4 cup veggie oil or applesauce per egg. I chose applesauce. Because I'm healthy like that.
So, I made up my favorite recipe. And then I had an epiphany.
No eggs = no salmonella poisoning=eating all the cookie dough!
I think my body is on the mend. I know for sure when I finish of this plate of cookies.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Mix together: 1/2 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar.
Add: 2 eggs or egg substitute, 1 tsp vanilla
In a separate bowl mix together: 1&1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt. Add to creamed mixture.
I am a believer in starting kids early on helping out around the house. Hazel and Amelia started helping clean up toys around 9 months.
Abiah was three when he came to live with us and he was able to pick up his toys already. Shortly after he moved in he was making his bed and using our compact vacuum to vacuum his room and the hallway.
Now he uses the big vacuum and is responsible for his room, the front room, the hallway, and the kitchen. Hazel now uses the compact vacuum and her job is to vacuum the living room. Which she's pretty good at. When she want to be.
Abiah has also recently started learning to fold towels. While he does do a good job, He. Takes. FOREVER.
Hazel and Amelia have always shown an interest in the laundry. But that usually looks like them spreading it all over the living room and kitchen.
Or using towels for Dolly blankets.
Or wearing our underwear on their heads.
A few weeks back I came into the living room to find Hazel into the laundry. Again. She told me she was "foding lawndwy." And indeed, she was.
She had a lopsided pile of folded clothes sitting next to her.
A few days later she folded her t-shirt. Perfectly.
So I decided to have her fold the kitchen towels and dish rags.
Without any instruction she grabbed to dish rags and started folding. I was so impressed I grabbed my camera and got this video.
Did you see those kids in the background? Who's kids are they anyways?!?
