Aug
25
2012You probably have no idea who this guy is. I didn’t either until April when my sister brought the first of his 3 books on the New York Bestselling Books list. Pete the Cat.
(this is Bronwyn reading/singing Pete the cat about 2 months ago at naptime)
Since then Mr. Eric has been an obsession. We’ve taken out all the subsequent Pete the Cat books from the library. We’ve borrowed The Big Silly
and sung loudly “I WANT CHOCOLATE PIE!” My mom even got them some great Learning Groove
CDs that come with printable material and lessons.
But nothing compares to seeing Mr. Eric at the local library. It was like a fast forward to their teenage years.
Aeralind sat quietly soaking in the music and struggling with a little bit of over stimulation. But she loved it so much she still talks about it.
But let me tell you, Bronwyn is the type of girl to go body surfing in a mosh pit. No lie. My tall but tiny sprite literally stole the show. Bronwyn stood up doing all of Mr. Eric’s hand motions, jumping up and down, dancing, and scream-singing every song she knew. Every grown up in the crowded room watched Bronwyn with mirth and she scarcely knew that anyone existed but Mr. Eric. (Lord, help us when she has her first crush/heartbreak!)
I promise you, your little ones will adore Mr. Eric too!
Linking up with Julia today.
Jul
26
2012
We just got a copy of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Bronwyn has been expressing interest in learning to write (ahem… throwing fits because she can’t draw letters) as well as memorizing and ‘reading’ books to herself and her siblings. I thought: Well, what have a I got to lose? If she picks it up: great! If she doesn’t: well, she’s got a few years!
. Bronwyn has been expressing interest in learning to write (ahem… throwing fits because she can’t draw letters) as well as memorizing and ‘reading’ books to herself and her siblings. I thought: Well, what have a I got to lose? If she picks it up: great! If she doesn’t: well, she’s got a few years!
For a young reader (and the hesitant parent), this book is perfect! The entire lesson is scripted with text for the parent to read to the child in red. But with a 2 year old there’s one problem with the lessons: the writing section. The girls just don’t have the fine motor skills to write letters (especially Aeralind. Bronwyn can trace large letters on her Doodle Pad)!
Out came the play dough and a pile of tooth picks. I had them trace the first ‘sounds’ they learn (m and s) and then stick the toothpicks in the play dough. It was a heap of fun for all involved 🙂
Jul
01
2012I just did it.
I sold all of my Bum Genius 3.0s on Craigslist.
There’s two years of love on those diapers and they all needed new Velcro. So as the girls began to potty train, I began to pull off the Velcro on the BG’s with the intention of sending them in to get snaps put on them.
Aerie was still in cloth diapers, Bronwyn was in underwear, and Sedryn was wearing a disposable/cloth combo platter. I called Julia while at Babies R Us and asked her if the size medium gDiaper would fit the girls as “naptime” pants so I could send the BG’s in to get resnapped. She said no. But she would gladly send me a supply of size Medium gDiapers for the boy to wear in the meantime.
For three months I hated them. I was trying to use my BG inserts and they just didn’t fit right. All I had was leaks, leaks, and more leaks.
Then Angela gave me a stack of newborn sized prefolds and on a whim one day I stuffed that into my gDiaper cover.
 |
| gDiapers aren’t nearly as bulky as BGs! |
It was love at first stuff… or something. The cotton prefold mean he hasn’t had a single diaper rash and if I ever needed more, they’re super cheap! It also meant I didn’t have to carry a huge diaper bag just to fit 3 ginormous pocket diapers if I wanted to be out for more than 4 hours. I could simply stuff a couple cotton prefolds in a purse along with an extra gPant in case of poop.
So I sold my BGs on Craigslist. And I’m ordering a set of size Large gDiaper with the proceeds.
And I couldn’t be happier with the decision.
Neither could this handsome gDiaper boy 🙂
 |
| (Don’t be jealous… that hair just keeps getting cooler!) |
Jun
10
2012My friend Julia does a great series on things she has found helpful in her mothering journey. I’m joining up today with a quick post on my new favorite breakfast (the girls like it too)!
All winter long we alternate breakfast between oatmeal and eggs.
I’m still on an egg-free diet and, while I have found a million ways to vary up the oatmeal, it’s summer now: not every morning is suitable for hot oatmeal.
Enter granola. It still uses all the basic materials (that I buy in bulk or make at home): oats, honey, and yogurt (a girl has to have some protein to chase twins all day!). But I can serve it cool… and even snack on it mid-day.
I’ve tried a lot of granola recipes, but I’m finding that granola is one of those things where it’s okay to exercise my creative genes. I just sort of go with it. 🙂
Here’s my loose recipe, a couple variations, and a few granola making tips.
Ingredients
- about 4 cups oats (the toddlers measure… it’s never exact!)
- about 1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or not)
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or wheat germ
- 1/2 stick butter (I’m sure coconut oil would be amazing too!)
- 1/2-1 cup honey (enough to make it pretty moist)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250 F
- Thoroughly mix oats, coconut, and wheat flour/germ.
- Dump in butter and add enough honey to make it pretty moist but not super sticky
- Toss in an oiled glass or ceramic baking dish. I use a 9×13 or two extra large loaf pans. Do not use a metal dish: you will burn it!
- Put into oven and stir outsides/bottom toward the top/middle of your dish about every 30 minutes.
- When it turns a tad golden brown, it’s done!
Tips
- If you like nuts in your granola, add them in slices or bits before baking.
- If you like dried fruit in your granola (or chocolate chips), add after baking.
- Feel free to add in some spices of your choice: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamon would all be good.
- Feel free to use some extracts. I’ve used vanilla and almond before. Both were pretty yummy 🙂
Variations
- Chocolate granola: Add enough cocoa powder (the darker the better!) to turn the oat mixture a chocolate color before baking.
- Banana granola: Mash a banana and add with the honey.
I think I’m going to try pumpkin next… wish me luck!
May
12
2012Joining up with Julia again to tell you about one thing that is really helping me with my Mama-ing (and my walk with Jesus). Ironically, it’s a concept that Julia mentioned to me that the girls in my small group have participated in twice now. First, a trailer.
Ahem… well this isn’t exactly how Fight Club goes. But it sure is hysterical 🙂
Fight Club for us is a time where we seriously confront sin and point our hearts to the gospel. Usually one person is the focus, but it’s not unusual for more than one person to leave convicted and repentant of sin.
The Rules of Fight Club
- What happens at Fight Club stays at fight club. (confidentially is protection for us to humbly and openly share our hearts!)
- Everyone is here after the each other’s hearts: if it’s your turn to share then please share your heart and sin in all it’s messy glory.
- We can only ask questions- no stories or advice unless it’s specifically asked for
- Other than questions we can only speak the gospel- to encourage and admonish
- If we’re meeting on a certain subject or for a certain person’s concern, then we can each give a short 1-2 minute testimony (Here’s where I was, here’s where God gripped my heart and showed me my sin, here’s where He’s brought me now).
So why do we call it fight club? Because if you don’t leave Fight Club wanting to punch someone in the face over them pointing out your sin… well, then it either wasn’t your turn in the hot seat or you weren’t truly being humble.
It’s messy. It’s gory. It’s loving. It turns us around. Fight Club is like dumping someone in a washing machine and holding them under until God reveals where He’s working to make that stain clean. I love Fight Club and I love how God’s using it to change the ladies in my small group.
(And I totally still want to punch K in the face over saying that it’s not my job to point out D’s sin. Thanks… I needed that :-p)
