Cutting Wheat

I'm behind again, so I figure the best place to start is with the most recent and work backwards. We'll see how it works. :)

It's Harvest time "around these parts" and Chuck is glad to have a part helping a local farmer and friend. I think he'll always be a farmer at heart, so he really enjoys being in the field.
The kids love the chance to go "help" him. They love watching the huge machine cut the golden wheat and really love getting to taste the yummy meals that go along with helping harvest, but I think their favorite part is being with their Daddy uninterrupted for hours.
I like it because the blue Kansas sky, tractor colors and golden wheat make a beautiful backdrop for pictures. So get ready for a whole lot of pictures. :)

Our Youngest is Four!

Wow, am I feeling old these days. Our Baby Anna has turned four and our oldest is just about to turn ten - yikes! Four. She has gone from a toddler to a preschool-aged little girl. Her birthday celebration began a couple of weeks before the actual day. While we were in Illinois for a short visit, Mom decided to have a little celebration so they could share in the fun of seeing her open presents.
She was so excited. She kept saying "It's not my real Birthday, just a celebrate!"Here she is admiring Grandma's beautifully decorated table and "patiently" waiting for the "celebrate" to begin.
She's had a lot of fun playing with (and wearing) her wonderful gifts. Thanks Mom & Dad and Uncle Curtis and Aunt Jessica!
*side note* Yes, she is dressed as Dorothy. She was pretending to be "somewhere over the rainbow" since we were away from Kansas! :)

For her real day, April 30th, We had a small party with more family. Anna has two cousins on the Lambert side that have birthdays within a couple of days of hers. She was able to celebrate with Emma who turned 13! We had a good time even though we were missing Culley who turned two on May 1st. The happy birthday girls.

This year I attempted the largest and most complicated cake I have yet. Anna is very into the movie Tangled (Disney's version of Rapunzel that came out this year). So somehow (thanks to the world wide web) I got the idea to make a cake that looked like Rapunzel's tower.Anna and her "cake."
The top of the tower was the only part made of actual cake, the rest was made of crispy treats and ice cream cones and covered with fondant. It looks like Rapunzel is ready to dive out of her tower. ;)After a near catastrophe with the "grass" (made of delicious green cake) :) cracking and the tower almost falling to its death, I threw out the cake and made rice crispy treats that were able to hold up the tower.Phew! Success.Ready to dig in.
A little playing first!
Here are a few Anna-quotes I jotted down a while ago:
"I wish God named me Picky-Picky, but He didn't. He named me Anna."
"I don't look like Anna today, I have braids."
"Momma, can you call me Teapot?"
"I don't like our house because we don't have enough remotes. We need twelve."
"Mommy, you're such a good cooker!"
"God always forgives us. You do too, right, Mommy?!?"
"I wish I could be a pirate! Then I would never get in trouble!"
Caleb sneezed on Anna's hand. In a disgusted voice she exclaimed "YUCK! You blessed on me!!"
As we were driving into the sun, Anna said "Oh man, the sun is in my nose!"
"Hi Mom! Nice to meet ya!"
"Hosanna. That's my last name. It really is."
"Mommy, if someone says 'you're naughty, I'm going to take you in the deep water to get you eaten by sharks,' that's not nice, right Mommy?
"OH fanks Mom! You saved my life!!" (I helped her get off of a chair)
"Mom, I wish your name was Hey. I would say 'Hey.'"
"I've got something in my teeth. Can I have a pickle?" (toothpick)
Oh sweet girl, we love you so much. We can't wait what God has planned for you!

A Visit From Grandma

A couple of weeks ago, we were blessed to have my mom come visit for the week. Chuck, along with my dad and brother, made his annual trip to California to the Shepherd's Conference (there are downloads from this year's conference if you're interested - the guys are always so challenged and encouraged). Mom and I thought since we would both be without our men, it would be the perfect time for her to come visit.We took advantage of the nice weather one day and had a picnic at the park. Caleb even got out of school early that day so he got in on the fun too.
The week started out with Aly wanting Mom to teach her to sew. This is one area I will always think of as an area that I let my poor mom down. She is a wonderful seamstress and would have loved for me to share that passion with her. I have not. I am finally to the place, though were I would like to begin sewing some easy projects. I was glad to let Aly enjoy learning to sew from my expert mother. She has enough passion and desire to learn to sew for the both of us!The first project was sewing straight lines on fabric which turned into a perfect accessory for Anna.

Then she was ready to go. Mom helped her make her very own bag.
BEAUTIFUL!
While Mom had the sewing machine out we had a long list of mending to do. It's nice having your own personal seamstress! The first (and probably most important) item on the list was Anna's "Dorothy dress." Our little Dorothy was very happy to have her dress fixed. Mom fixed a couple other clothing items, hemmed pants and jeans, made curtains and another favorite was pillows for the boys.Caleb has the "cool football players don't smile for pictures" look down!Mom and the kids with all of their projects.
We were all so thankful for ALL of the things Mom did for us while she was here! Thank you, Mom. I am so grateful for you and all you taught me and are teaching me. I am continually humbled by all the ways you sacrifice of yourself for us and others! Thank you for a great week (and a sparkly clean house)!!

Free Jeans!

I have written about deals before and have thought about sharing more about good deals but didn't think my two readers (my mom and father-in-law) would care to read about it. :) But this week at Target, the deals are too good to let slip by without sharing. Last night the girls and I headed "to town" and got some great deals. My favorite was getting FREE jeans (don't have a picture of those)! They also had some great coupons for their Target brand -Up&Up- making for some really cheap cleaning and health supplies.
I bought all this for only $2.11!! I saved $23.87!

I will break down how I got the jeans, but will link to people who are much better at this than me for the other deals.

Here are the details on how to get your free jeans:
*Print the coupon from Target's website ($5 off women's denim): It will be easier to find if you click on the apparel section to the left.
*Target has several styles of jeans on sale ~ I found a pair for $4.98 ~
*Used the coupon.
*FREE jeans! I loved seeing the receipt "...denim $0.00..."

Here are a couple of different places I have seen a breakdown of the other Target deals this week (only good through this Saturday).
From Deal Seeking Mom
From Money Saving Mom and another deal from Money Saving Mom on frozen foods.
And from Moms By Heart.
Hope that helps, Steph. Anyone who has any questions, email me. :)

The Vision of a Three Year Old

Last week I mentioned that Anna had found a picture in this cute cupcake book that she thought we just *had* to make for Valentine's Day. Well, Aly joined in and they were bound and determined to recreate the beautiful "box of chocolates." So, after some prodding I agreed and they set to work.

The inspiration:

Rising to the challenge:
Beginning the process:
Taking a break to make sure it's tasting alright:
Let the decorating begin:
The first decorated "piece of chocolate":(Just as she had found the picture and knew we had to make the box of chocolates, Anna picked out the piece of chocolate she wanted to create and off she went. She got the supplies and made it all by herself.)

The masterpiece:
Pretty close.
It's such a neat thing for me to watch these sisters enjoy doing things together.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1John 4:9-11

So thankful on this day to have a Savior who loved me enough to pay the ultimate sacrifice for me. I am so blessed to have been given this great Salvation and the ability to live an abundant life by nothing I have done. By this we can then love others. What a great opportunity on this "day of love" to especially shower our loved ones with a little extra special attention. I of course believe every day should be full of showing others Christ's love, but Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to really pamper those we love most or reach out to those who need the love of God.

Some quotes from our evening "family worship" time (Valentine Edition):
"What is the thing you love most about our God?"
~Anna: "The pretty sky God gave us."
~Jake: "God created the world and He made us."
~Aly: "He makes us beautiful sunsets."
~Caleb: "He gives us second chances, His holiness and His forgiveness."

One of my favorite hymns seems so fitting to reflect on today:

The Love of God
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Our Favorite Snow Ice Cream

I'm so thrilled to finally have a SNOWY day that amounts to significant snowfall! I've been longingly looking at the beautiful pictures taken of the blizzard in Illinois last week, wishing for some snow of our own.We did have snow last week, but only a couple of inches and it was so bitterly cold, we didn't enjoy it too much. One of our favorite things to do with the freshly fallen snow is make snow ice cream. I've tried several different recipes and they have been ok, but quite a bit of work and the kids weren't that impressed. Well, I finally found a recipe that is easy and delicious. I think I got it from International Delight Facebook page?

Anyway, it is simply:
A lot of fresh white snow. :)
Some coffee creamer (I happened to have this flavor on hand that I got free). :)
Mix it all together.
Viola!

Staying Warm

Last week we had a bit of snow and very cold temperatures. School even got called off due to the sub-zero wind chills. So, we did our best to make the most of being inside.
We went swimming at the college. The kids thought this was the best treat ever!
Our kids love to play out in the snow (so do I). This year they even made their first snow man without my help. But since it was so dangerously cold Tuesday and Wednesday, we had to play in in the snow. :)



Bringing the snow inside was definitely a warmer way to have fun in the snow!
For supper that evening, we had taco soup and snowflake quesadillas. Yummy!

The kids enjoyed making their snowflake shapes out of the tortillas. They thought they were the tastiest quesadillas they had ever eaten. :)