Poll Results!

The Question was:

How often do you paint your toenails?

Every couple days. 0%

When I get a chance. 66%

Only with a pedicure. 22%

People paint their toenails? 11%

Very interesting ladies, very interesting!

I hope you all can paint them sometime this week!

Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler

I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Love's best friend Tish. She is from Louisiana and she always has simple ways to make yummy tasting things! She used to run a ranch in Montana, and had to cook for many people at once. She was always in the kitchen, so she never knew the exact amount of time it took to bake it!

1 Stick of Butter
1 Cup Self Rising Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg

1 Fat Can of Peaches


Pre-heat the oven to 350°.

Go ahead and put the stick of butter in the bottom of the pan (a regular cake pan does great) and put it into the oven and melt it. You could also melt it separately and put it into the pan as well, but it will take longer to bake it.

While your butter is melting, grab a bowl and mix up all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients. Pour this mixture all over the melted butter in the pan.

Open the peaches (or apples/blueberries/cherries) and drain off about half of the syrup. You don't want to use more than 1/2 of the syrup that the fruit comes in. Pour the fruit and the remaining syrup on top of the batter. Put it in the oven and bake until bubbly and golden on top.

DELICIOUS!

Breakfast in a Bag

A lady at my church told me about this, and she said I could pass it along!

Breakfast in a Bag.

The ingredients depend on how many people, but here is the basic formulation. Let's use 6 as the number of servings for this.

Start a large pot of water to boil.

Take at least one dozen eggs and put them into a bowl, stir them up so that all the yolks and whites are combined. You can add a little water or milk if you choose.

Take any or all of the following ingredients and dice them up and place them into their own little bowls:

Green Pepper
Onion
Ham
Turkey
Bacon
Cheese
Olives
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Spinach
Cilantro
Garlic

Also have salt and pepper available.

Take a 1 cup measuring cup and a sandwich sized resealable bag and dump one cup of the egg into the bag. Then, add the desired amount of the other ingredients into the bag.

Take the bags, close them up and boil for 20 minutes.

She said this is a great thing to make before church on Sundays.

I am curious if this is adaptable to little glass dishes in the oven. I would love to try some french toast type concoction, with maple syrup and peanut butter in the middle....yum!

Poll Results!

The question asked this week was:

What time is bedtime for your child/ren?

6:00pm to 7:00pm (0%)
7:00pm to 8:00pm (27%)
8:00pm to 9:00pm (55%)
9:00pm to 10:00pm (16%)
Whenever they get tired (0%)

Here is a neat site that talks about sleep and children:

http://www.sleepforkids.org/html/practices.html

Verse of the Week

NIV Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

KJV Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

I get caught up in the day to day things on this earth-laundry, dinner, fixing my silly hair. In this verse, God tells me I need to keep my focus on heavenly things. When I remember to, I enjoy focusing on the spiritual blessings mentioned in Eph 1:3. I have been listening to a study on all of the spiritual blessings we recieve when we trust Christ as our Savior. It has been amazing all the things I thought I knew, but never KNEW.

Many times in scripture, the word "knew" means intimate. Adam knew his wife... Now in that particular context (Gen 4:1) one can figure out what it meant, but practically, the word "knew" means "getting intimate with".

KNOWING scripture and focusing on the truth it teaches us, will help us keep focused on the bigger picture. Study it. Read it. Learn its ins and outs.

I can't wait to post this one on my mirror, to help me re-direct my thoughts this week!

Families Needed!

Today, the boys met with Parents as Teachers, a free service provided by the South Dakota Parent Resource Network. They work with children-newborn to age 5.

Every month, our educator comes to our home and plays with the boys, and answers questions about the boys' development. She lets me know where my children, and most children their age, are developmentally. They can also refer the children to any state funded programs, if needed, such as speech therapy.

Our boys LOVE it, and I get great ideas on how to interact with them. Each month she gives me little handouts on how to deal with common age-appropriate issues, and how to encourage development in common areas, such as feelings, speech, motor skills, etc.

Parents as Teachers are in need of more families! Since kids don't stay pre-schoolers forever, they have kids growing out of their program all the time!

If you have any questions or if you are interested, please call Brandi at 605-348-9276. If she doesn't answer, leave a message, and she will call you back!

Our Tour of the Rapid City Regional Airport

It was a beautiful, sunny South Dakota day! We had quite a turnout at the Rapid City Regional Airport! It was hard to count how many Moms, Dads, Grandmas and Kids we had, but at one time I counted around 60!

I attempted to get good pictures, and I sure missed Laurel!

Here we are listening to Mason talk about what we will be doing and where we will be going:



We got to visit the ticket area and the baggage area. Next, we got to ride the escalator up to the concourse. We were not allowed to go through security, since it would have taken all day (all of those SHOES!).

We got to ride a bus to tour the other areas of the airport, including the private and corporate airplanes, hangers, mail delivery airplanes, repair shops, fuel stations and the Airport Fire Station, which is a division of the Rapid City Fire Department. (We have a tour scheduled for there as well...watch your email inboxes!)

I tried to get everyone in the picture, but my camera isn't able to zoom back that far!



While at the Fire Station, we got to watch the Fire Engine spray water through the Snozzle. This Engine can carry 3,000 gallons of water, and is capable of spraying it all in 2 minutes!



This sprayer can go inside of the plane and acts like a big sprinkler:



We got to drive past the Life Flight Airplane and Helicopter:





We also got to see the South Dakota National Guard Huey Helicopter:



Next, we got to board a North West Airlines airplane:



Even though you don't see heads in all of those seats, we FILLED IT UP:



As we left the plane we got our wings and got to view the cockpit (the plane was so full, the flight attendant had to sit up front with the pilot):



As we stepped out of the jetway (the hallway between the airplane and the concourse) we had several strange looks when kid, after kid, after kid, kept coming out.

Try to imagine THAT flight!!!

We ended our tour back down near the baggage area. It was a great tour and all of the kids (and the grown-ups too!) seemed to have fun!

Thank You to Jeannie for setting this up for MOPS! Thank You to Mason Short for being our tour guide and showing us around! Thank You to Bus Driver Mike for driving the Bus!

Thank You to the Rapid City Regional Airport for having us!

Poll Results!

The question asked was:

What activity do you do most with your child/ren during the summer?

Camp
Swim
Go to the Park
Go to a Friend's House and Play
Other

A couple Moms said Camping, and one said Swimming, but the majority of our Moms said Go to the Park (66%).

Rapid City has many parks, and I thought I would pass along the link to the Rapid City Parks Website. Many of the parks on the list do not contain playground equipment, however, if you keep a kickball or Frisbee in the vehicle, you could always have something to do if you are going to a new park. The city also has 5 parks or areas that you are allowed to have your dog with you, off leash.

This amenities page (you will need Adobe Reader to view it) will show you which parks have what.

I have also taken my boys to the school playgrounds. During the summer they are not used. One of our favorites is up on the north side of town. (If my memory is right...) It is at Knollwood Elementary (off of Herman Street, off of Anamosa). There are several neat things there, mostly for 3-5 year olds, but there are some things for the younger kids to do. My favorite is the slide. It has no sides, and your legs go on the outside. I will post a picture of it soon.

Spearfish also has a great park. If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest the Spearfish Park, near the Fish Hatchery.

For those Moms who said they liked camping and swimming, if you so choose, please comment on your favorite camping and swimming spots. It is nice to hear other Mom's opinion on what they like and why! And for you park goers...please comment on your favorite park as well!

Apple Cake

I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Love, who got the recipe from her Father-in-Love. She makes this cake every time we go and visit, and any time they come to visit us. I am not a baker, but I haven't messed this up yet. I am a dump and pour kinda gal, and this is a great starting point. It takes a bit more effort, and a bundt pan, but this thick, yummy cake is well worth it! I did bring it one time to one of our meetings. I had pictures of the process at one point, but I lost them somewhere on this silly computer! Sorry!

GRANDPA'S APPLE CAKE

3 Eggs
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Oil

2 Cups of Flour-slightly heaping
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 Green Apples
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
1 Cup Plumped Raisins*

*Before you do anything, grab a small pan or teapot and heat up 2 cups of water. Put the raisins into a bowl. Once it the water is hot, remove it from the heat and pour it over the raisins and let them sit and soak. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to plump them-the longer the better! If they are not plump, the cake just won't be the same.

Move your oven rack to the center and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil or grease the bundt pan.

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until combined. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Next, dump the flour on top of the wet mixture, and make a little volcano-like hole in it. Put the Salt and Baking Soda into the hole, and mix the dry ingredients together briefly with a fork before folding them into the wet mixture.

You can use a mixer to combine those ingredients, and either way, it will be a thicker batter.

Add the Vanilla and Cinnamon. I use about two teaspoons of cinnamon, since I like more cinnamon flavor.

Take your Green Apples, wash them and peel them, if you wish. I don't peel mine, but I'm weird (aka lazy). Core them and slice them. I don't cut mine up ahead of time since I have to wait for the raisins. I also don't like to look at brown apples! I generally have about 8 apple slices per apple. Next, cut the slices the other way and make small pieces, and throw them into the bowl.

Add the chopped nuts (walnuts work well) or you can use 1/4 cup of ground flax seed (in place of, or as a substitute for half of the nuts.)

Drain the raisins and add them and use a spoon to stir and fold all of the ingredients together. If the mixture seems too thick, you can add a half cup of applesauce (or one of the individual size servings) if you have it on hand. You can also use a bit more oil. I will take my spoon and take a scoop and hold it upside down over the bowl. It shouldn't cling forever, but it shouldn't run right off either.

Spoon the mixture into the bundt pan and wipe off any excess from above the batter line. Put it into the oven. Close the door and set the timer for 1 hour. Do not open the door to check on it or the cake will fall into itself.

When the timer goes off, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR! Turn off the oven, and set the timer for 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off the second time, it is time to pull it out of the oven. Allow it to cool on a rack in the bundt pan for a few minutes, then you can take it out. I just lay a plate over the top and then flip it over and shake a bit.

It is FANTASTIC warm from the oven, but my husband and I argue whether or not it is even better the next day!

Verse of the Week

NIV: Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

KJV: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians is such a great book. A book of joy. I love turning to this book when I am having a bad day, since it builds me up in Christ. This upcoming year of MOPS, we will be discussing "ADVENTURES IN MOTHERING". During these meetings, we will be having loads of fun and gain lots of knowledge. However, in our homes and lives, not all adventures will be planned, fun, or exciting. Many will be demanding, complicated, and frustrating.

I remember the first time I went through the haunted train ride at the County Fair. I was very young (before I trusted Christ's finished work on the cross as payment for my sins) It was so exhilarating knowing that I was in for something new and exciting. Almost the whole time I was spooked and frightened. The only thing I focused on was the fact that I was going to make it through, since I had watched the kids go in and out many, many times.

Being a mom has that same feeling at times.

"What ever made me think I was capable of doing this?"
"How will I deal with these children when they get older?"
"What am I doing?"

God has given believers the necessary skills to cope with all sorts of adventures that will come our way. The Scriptures are our instruction manual on how to cope with these scary rides. Scripture even states that the trials that we go through help us grow (Rom 5:3-4). Then, when we see someone going through the same, we are able to serve and help them.

I am going to write out this verse and put it on my mirror. Think on it. Pray about it. I hope you will as well!

Poll Results!

The question asked was:

If you had 2 hours to yourself, what would you do?

The options were:

Pamper Myself, Take a Nap, Go on a Date, Take a Long Bath, Go for a Walk

41% of you ladies said you would like to pamper yourself!

Try it! Leave the kids with family or a friend (make it reciprocal!), or a sitter if you can afford it, and go pamper yourself! You can even have someone take your kids to the park for you, and you can sit home and do your pampering in the comfort of your own home!

Here are a couple pampering ideas:

If you have a membership at the YMCA, you could go to a yoga class and relax or get into the Hot Tub or Steam Room. - Child Care is right there!

You could go up to your favorite book store or coffee house and sit and read a magazine or a book.

Go to the park with your portable music player and lay on a blanket and listen to music.

Here are some other great ideas:

http://www.flylady.net/pages/pamper1.asp
http://www.flylady.net/pages/pamper2.asp

I hope you all take some time to utilize any spare time you may have this week!

Verse of the Week

NIV: Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
KJV: Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings or disputings:

Sometimes I kid around with my boys, saying that God's Word says I am supposed to do things by myself because one child is always arguing and one is always complaining. Mr. Murmur and Mr. Dispute.

It is in our nature to do these things, as evident in our lives as mothers, wives, and even from the mouths of our children.

This week I pray we all can concentrate on this verse and set the example for our children and our spouse. Let's bite our tongue, be thankful for what we DO have, and pray about how we can apply this verse to our lives.

I am going to write this verse out and tape it to my bathroom mirror, where I can see it when I first wake up, and before I go to sleep, and, as any child with a preschooler knows, the hundred times in between.