Rain! Rain!

It was a rainy day. Again!

But we had fun anyway. This morning I got out the games and we spent quite a lot of time playing. We started off with Memory. I think Memory is THE favorite game around here.



Michael wanted to play too but he got really frustrated when he had to wait his turn and did a face plant into the cards. Eventually though he seemed to get the idea and did pretty well.




We also played Alphabet Bingo and UNO . . .






. . . played with puppets . . .




. . .did sticker and coloring activities . . .


. . . and played with cars.


And after a good lunch . . .



and afternoon quiet time, the sun came out and we got to play outside.

Homemade Finger Paint

Today the kids painted with homemade finger paint. I made the paint yesterday and put it in the refrigerator until we were ready to use it.

Homemade Finger Paint

2 c. flour
2 c. cold water
2. T. salt
1 1/2 cups hot water

In saucepan mix flour, salt and cold water together with wire whisk until smooth. Add hot water and bring to a boil. Let boil, stirring constantly until thickened. If needed stir again with wire whisk until smooth. Add food coloring or tempera paint to make it the desired color.

I made a double batch of this recipe and divided it into six containers. Then I used food coloring to make the colors I wanted.



Because the batteries in the camera went dead I didn't get any pictures of the kids painting but after the batteries were recharged I was able to take some pictures of the finished paintings. Most of the kids painting were preschoolers and just enjoyed experimenting with the colors and feeling the texture of the paint. They always like painting on paper plates and we used them today.






Our Day

T.(8) is going with her family later this week to Chincoteague Island and she's so excited she talked about it all morning long. She's so excited that she said she thinks if she jumped out of the barn onto the trampoline the way her friend did and broke both of her ankles (as her friend did) she would heal immediately. Since we had no barns or trampolines handy for jumping she had to content herself with jumping off the toddler slide.

This morning was really warm and humid so we put water in the water table for the kids to play in. One of Michael's favorite things to do with the water is stick his head in, then run over to the dirt and watch the water drip off his head into the dirt.



Amanda (10) and her friend C. (11) decided that Micki the pet rat should have a birthday party today. So they invited Giant and Razor the hermit crabs, and their owner, Austin as guests. In Amanda's room they hung shirts as banners, along with some balloons off the curtain rods. They used fruit loops, graham crackers, cantalope, grapes and raisins as refreshments (with a little cat food on the side as a special treat for Micki). Unfortunately the camara batteries died and I wasn't able to get any pictures so I'll leave the scene to your imagination. It was a party I'm sure Micki will never forget.

The older boys Austin (12) and L. (7) decided that pushing each other in riding toys as hard and fast as they could, with no seeming regard for life or limb, would be a good form of entertainment. That idea was quickly put to rest. Fortunately the younger boys seemed to value safety a little more and pushed each other around at a more reasonble rate of speed.


It was extra early when the last of the daycare kids left so we're just having a quiet evening.

Blog Review

Debi Bouffard writes an awesome blog Who Says 8 is Enough? about life with a family of many. Be sure to read all three parts of her story as they will explain so much about her and her family. Her journey through providing foster care, adoption, difficult pregnancies and the joys of family life will bring tears to your eyes.

Debi has a second blog called Necessities of a Quick Cook's Kitchen that is also a great read, providing some great menu ideas and recipes.

And, a third blog called Who Says 8 is Enough Gives Back is a fundraising blog. Debi uses this blog for fundraising for charitable organizations and worthy causes.

Last but not least there is a blog called The Bouf Kids Have Something to Say written by the kids.

I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I have.

Photo of the Day



Romans 8:28 And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.

In church yesterday the pastor talked about faith. He talked about how often we are afraid to do what we know God is asking us to do because we can't see the outcome, the end result. And yet, when we read Romans 8:28 we see that we do not have to be afraid. Knowing that God is working for our good, not in some things, but in all things, allows us to step forward in the confidence that He is not, will not, cannot, lead us into anything that will ultimately bring us anything but good.



Recipe of the Day

Hamburger (or Turkey, or Sausage) Chow Mein

1lb. ground meat
1 cup rice
2 cups water
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 small can cream of mushroom soup
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the above ingredients in casserole dish and bake at 350 for 1 hr. When serving sprinkle with soy sauce and top with chow mein noodles if desired.

How We're Enjoying a Rainy Day

I'm truly amazed at how long the kids can entertain themselves with fuse beads. We've been making fun designs with these off and on for several years and they don't seem to get tired of it. It's interesting to see the different designs each child makes and the effort and time they are willing to put into it.

And then there was a "wedding." I'm not even going to try to explain all these pictures because I didn't understand half of it. But they sure were having fun!






Balloons provided an energy outlet without danger of the kids knocking something down, breaking a window or hurting each other.



And snuggling together in a chair to play a few video games is always fun too.

A Few Updates

Here are a few updates on some of the fun Austin and Amanda have been having.



The grass that Austin planted in the cricket terrarium is beginning to grow. And he added another cricket to keep the first one company. In this picture there is one on the cardboard roll and one in the bottom left corner.


Razor, Austin's hermit crab continues to do well in his new home and Austin is a very good caretaker. I'm still surprised at how interesting it's been to have a hermit crab. I guess I thought they just spent their lives hiding in their shells but Razor is an active hermit crab.
Micki, the baby rat is also doing well. This is the home Amanda has set up for her. The bathtub is her water dish and the Little People figures are there to keep her company. We will definitely have to get a bigger home for Micki but for now she seems comfortable. She spends a lot of time riding around on Amanda's shoulder.



We found some helicopter pictures that Austin liked so I printed them for him. He colored them and we added them to his helicopter display.

Morning Glory

I have a special place in my heart for Morning Glories. I remember when I was about seven years old I would have to go check on the Morning Glories behind our house each morning before I went to school. Even if it meant I nearly missed the bus. I knew that by the time I got back home that afternoon the blooms would be faded and withered. I loved seeing the new blooms each morning.

Morning Glories remind me of the fact that when I wake up each morning I have the chance to "bloom" anew even if the day before seems to have turned out wrong and the color has gone out of it. It is a big encouragement to me to know that God gives me a chance to start fresh each morning.

So when Austin showed me this picture he had taken of a flower he had found beside our front porch I just had to share it.

A Rat and a Hermit Crab

Amanda has been asking for several weeks now to go to the pet shop and with everything going on the last few weekends we just haven't made it. Well, yesterday we finally got there. And we came home with two new pets.

I was pretty sure I knew what Amanda would get as she's had these before and loved them. And sure enough after looking around awhile she chose a young pet rat. Here are some pictures of Amanda introducing Micki to Michael.




Micki and Michael weren't too sure they liked each other.


I was a little surprised at Austin's choice of a pet but he's really enjoying it and I have to say it is turning out to be a more interesting pet than I thought it would be. I always imagined hermit crabs always hiding in their shells but this one has been quite active, even when being held. Here's Austin holding Razor, the hermit crab.





Both kids used their own money they earned to buy their pets and the needed supplies.I'm sure we will have many adventures to share with everyone with the new members of the family.

Helicopters, Crickets, and Bananas

Austin has had a couple of interesting projects going this week.

His first project was his helicopter display.

First he used fuse beads to make a whole fleet of helicopters. He really enjoyed designing and making these.




Then we used light colored string to hang them from a corner of the downstairs hallway so they could fly.


We found some helicopter pictures on internet that I printed for him to color and he's going to add those to the display when he finishes them.

Another of his projects this week has been making a cricket habitat. We made some insect habitats earlier this summer but they didn't turn out very well. So we rethought the whole idea and now we're trying again.

First he took and empty container (this one is an empty K-Nex container) and put in a layer of potting soil.


Then he added some grass seed

and watered it.




We put the cricket in his new home ( I hope he doesn't eat grass seeds) and added some bread crumbs and a hiding place.








The cricket is in the top right corner in the top picture and in the top left corner in the bottom picture.




Hopefully the grass seed will grow and Mr. Cricket will have a nice, comfy home.

And now for the bananas. This was my little project and it, um, really didn't turn out so well. I had some extra bananas that weren't being eaten so I thought I would make some dried banana chips with them. I've never done this before so I found some information on internet and thought it looked pretty easy. And it probably is . . .but this batch was not edible.

Here's how they looked when I started out, just before I put them in the oven.



And many hours later, this how is how they looked when I took them out.




I tried one and they tasted even worse then they looked. Oh, well, I guess I'll try again another time.

Some Thoughts On Domestic Violence

The adult daughter of a friend was murdered last week and it has rocked a family who loved her to the core. While I did not know the daughter personally and do not know all the details, I do know she was killed by her boyfriend. She was taken from her son and and daughter and a family who loved her.

When her mother came to my house to tell me what had happened it was hard to believe i was talking to the same person that I see every day. The talkative, energetic woman I knew seemed merely a shell of her former self. She was trying so hard to hold herself together that she was not allowing any emtion at all to show. Her voice was low and monotone. Her face was sallow and expressionless. It ws as if the pain was so overwhelming that it had simply shut her down. She did cry a little when I hugged her, then pulled away and left.

And, once again, while I do not know all the details of this tragedy, it has made me think a lot about the sadness caused by domestic violence. And I wanted to say, needed to say, if there is anyone out there reading this who is in a situation of domestic violence-there is help out there for you. I know it’s hard. Iknow there is always the very real and well-founded fear of retaliation from the abuser for reaching out for help. I know because I have lived through some of that myself. While not as severe as many situations, it was an issue and was rapidly getting worse. I know the fear of not being able to make in on my own with two small children. And I know that when I let others help me I was able to come out on the other side.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship please know this-

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

YOU DO NOT DESERVE THIS.

YOU ARE A SPECIAL PERSON OF GREAT VALUE.

Please, reach out. Tell a family member, a trusted friend, a counselor or someone else you can trust. Take the first step. It is hard but not harder than living through the nightmare of an abusive relationship. Take steps to keep yourself safe as well as you reach out for help. there are resources available to help you through this process and I am listing one of those resources below.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

1-800-787-3224 TTY for the deaf

This site provides options for help, personal experiences of others who have lived through domestic violence, and news items related to domestic violence.

The Tree

As the tree spreads it’s branches and reaches forth it’s leaves to absorb the radiance of the sun

May I also reach for you, oh God, and absorb the beauty of Your love.

And as the tree reaches out it’s roots deep into the earth for the nourishment to grow and live,

May I as well reach for and receive the strength and sustenance You so richly provide.

And as the tree in turn provides beauty, shelter and shade for many living creatures

May I also be a source of blessing and comfort to all those around me.

Simple Pleasures

As I’ve been spending time wiht the kids the last couple weeks I’ve been thinking how much I could learn, am learning, about finding pleasure in the simple things life has to offer. Here is a sample of some of the things that I have seen bring huge smiles to the kids faces recently.

A pretty flower.

Spending time with friends.

Enjoying a quiet moment with nature.

Helping someone else keep their footing.

Blowing dandelion fluff has to make anyone smile. Don't know why, it's just the way it works.

A beloved pet.

Good food!

A good book

And, while this dead centipede found in my bathtub difinitely did NOT put a smile on my face, it did put one on Austin's do I included it. I just hope I didn't take a bath with it that morning. Ugh!

Now the chance to do this WOULD put a smile on my face.

Yummy Snack (Or Breakfast)

Amanda requested Apple Zucchini Bread for snack today so this morning I made five loaves of it ( a double batch). It’s a popular bread here and never stays around very long. I am hoping to put two loaves in the freezer for later, but . . . we’ll see.

By request I am posting the recipe. Hope you enjoy it

Apple Zucchini Bread

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 eggs

1-1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

1 cup shredded peeled apples

1-1/2 cups chopped pecans ( my kids don’t like pecans so I don’t use them, but I’m sure they would be delicious)

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In another bowl beat eggs. Add oil, sugars, and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in zucchini, apples and pecans (batter will be stiff). Spoon into three greased 8-in. x 4 in. x 3 in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.