Kool-aid Playdough Recipe

This is easy to make, and the children love it because it is scented! You can choose the color and scent by choosing a different flavor of kool-aid!

Ingredients:
~2 cups of flour
~1/2 cup of salt
~3 Tbsp cooking oil
~1 pack of kool-aid
~1 cup of boiling water

mix all ingredients in kitchen aid, using dough hook. (you can do it by hand as well.) You will need to push the dough on the edges down with a spatula to blend well. Let mix for about 5 min, then remove and work it for about a minute in you hand to make sure it is all mixed well. Then let the children enjoy! Give them rolling pens and cookie cutters. Store in zip lock baggies to keep it soft. Easy and fun!

Children in the Kitchen~

One of the things I like to do, is to bring my children into our kitchen from time to time to "help" prepare a meal, or bake a special treat. They love to measure ingredients, stir batters, add seasonings and so on. It does make the meal prep time a bit longer of a process for me. However, it is good, not just because they enjoy helping and spending time with me, but they also are learning to cook! Cooking is something that I hope all of my children will be able to know how to do, and do well. Not only does cooking save money, but you control the ingredients that are going into your meals! Even little Justin (my three year old) likes to help with making lemonade or iced tea. Giving children little jobs will help to raise their self confidence and Independence. I think it is far too easy in our society to forget we are our children's main teachers in life. I believe is important that we parents, try to make time to teach our children skills that will help them when they are grown.

~ Easy Stove top Enchilada Recipe~

Easy Stove top Enchilada recipe~

This is a recipe that is so easy, and only takes a few minutes to make. It tastes like something you would get at a restaurant!

Ingredients:
~soft corn tortillas
~Mexican or taco cheese
~taco seasoning
~spray oil
~your choice of fillings...I like chopped onion and jalapenos.

In a small pan, spray a little spray oil. Heat on medium low heat. Spray one side of your corn tortilla with oil, then lay in pan non-sprayed side down. Then sprinkle a little taco seasoning on the top of the up side. After about a minute, flip your tortilla and add a little cheese, and your filling. Let melt, then fold both sides of tortilla with a fork, and set on a plate. After you make as many as you like, top with cheese and your favorite taco sauce. I make my own, from a recipe that my sister, Lori gave me. It is very good, and makes a lot, so I almost always have some in my refrigerator on hand. Then I heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to kind of heat the sauce and melt the cheese. (you can also add refries to the top, or any veggies you want.)

Easy taco sauce recipe~

1 46 oz can of tomato juice
2 Tbsp crushed red pepper
1 Tbsp garlic powder

bring to a boil on stove top in a big pot, then simmer about 10 minutes, stirring every now and then. This is very spicy, so if you don't like it hot, cut down on your red pepper a lot!!! When it cools, you can keep in the refrigerator. This is very good warm with chips. You can also add 3/4 part Mexican cheese and 1/4 part sauce and heat in microwave till melted, stir very good first. This makes yummy Caso dip.

The loss of a dear friend~

Yesterday, my sister in law, called to let me know that one of my dear friends had passed away. Her name was Geneve, and I lived in her basement apartment in Colby, Ks. for about three years. In that time, I spent a great many hours up at her kitchen table, visiting about life. Geneve was full of wisdom, and shared a great deal with me. (she would have been in her mid to late 70's when I lived there.) I had never before had someone that advanced in years as a friend, although, I was so very blessed to call her friend. Geneve lived a long life, full of love and heart ache. Her husband had died when she was still a fairly young lady, and she never remarried. The last few years of her life, she did not feel well much of the time, and I am pretty sure that she was ready to go. I believe she is with God now, and her loved ones who had passed on before her. I was blessed to have known her, and enriched by the stories she shared with me about her life. Although I am sad to never get to see her again on this Earth, I know that we will meet again one day, and she is in a much better place. I will always love her, and she will live in my heart for all of my days.

Be careful with your words~

As a parent, we must be careful how we teach our children. It is important to use positive words, when teaching our children, and choose them carefully. When a child is little, you are their world. They look up to you, and want to be like you. The words we speak to our little ones, can mean a great deal to there little hearts. It is easy to point out what they do wrong, but we must remember to praise them for the good things they do too. This can help build their self esteem and can teach them just as well (if not better) than using criticizing words only. Children are such blessings, and gifts, and we must remember to be careful to build them up, not just tear them down. So the next time you go to the store, and your child is good, make a point to tell them how proud that made you!

Make your own foaming hand soap~

I like to make my own foaming hand soap for a couple of reasons. The first being, it cost a lot less and is not hard to do. The second reason, is that it is hard to find foaming hand soaps that are not anti-bacterial. My mom, who is a nurse, had told me it is best not to always use anti-bacterial soap. What you need is a foaming soap bottle. You can buy these, or you can go to your favorite bath and body store, and when the soap runs out, keep the bottles. Not all bottles are as good, some shoot the soap out when you use them. I like the ones from Bath and Body works the best. Next, you pick your favorite refill soap at a store like Target. (They have many choices on scents and colors now in refills) Take your empty soap bottle and fill it about 1/4 of the way with your regular soap, then slowly add water to fill most of the bottle up. (leave a tiny bit of room on top to shake it.) Next, put your lid on, and shake to blend. Then I sample it, to make sure it is not to thick or thin, and most of the time it is just right. If it is too thick, simply empty a bit, add water, shake and try again. If it is too thin, empty a bit, add a tiny bit more of soap, shake and try again. You can even use shampoo, if you want a certain scent that refill does not offer. It is easy and you can have your favorite soap always on hand. It truly does save a lot of money!

Our Busy Day~

Yesterday, was a very busy day for our family. School started for three of our four children. It was Tristyn's first day of Jr. high school, Megan's first day of kindergarten, and Lauren's first day in 1st grade. Steven and I got everyone breakfast, showered, dressed and out the door on time! I am happy to report, all the children had really good first days! After taking the children to school, Justin and I ran some errands. I got him some cinnamelts, which made him very messy. He is at the age where he wants to do everything himself, so he insisted that he would clean up with the wet wipe. To my surprise, he did a great job! After errands were complete, I cleaned the house from top to bottom. I had been not feeling 100% for a couple of days, so the house was extra messy. It was great when it was done though.
Yesterday, was also, Steven and my anniversary. We did celebrate by going out for dinner. It was a really nice treat. What a busy, but fun day we all had!

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade~

This is a big hit with not only my children, but with quite a few of my children's little friends as well. It taste so much better than the "fake" stuff, and is not any more expensive to make, then buying soda pop. (Which is not as healthy of a choice.) We make this more during the summer, but we do make it all year long. It goes great with pizza or cook outs!

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Recipe

6 lemons
1 and 1/2 cup of sugar (you can taste it, and decide if you wish to add more.

Squeeze your lemons with a simple lemon juicer (I got mine years ago at Wal-mart for something like 3.00)

Strain the juice when pouring into pitcher, to remove the seeds

add sugar and 2 quarts of water. (this is just a normal sized pitcher, like you would use for 1 pkg of kool-aid. )

mix with spoon, and serve over ice. This only takes a few minutes, and is really a treat!

Vacation photos 2009

Photos from Vacation 2009

~Vacation 2009 to Florida~

This year we took a trip to Florida. We stayed in a nice little condo in a town called Ormond Beach, Fl. Tristyn and I were the only ones who had ever seen the ocean, so it was rather a historic moment for our family. The ocean is so beautiful, with it's waves that tickle your toes. The smell of the salty water, and the warm sand that cushions your step as you walk and take in the lulling sounds the waves make as they rush to the shore. There is truly nothing like it. Our condo was on the ocean, and we went daily. While in Florida, we also went to Walt Disney World and Epcot. (Two places, I was blessed enough to live by for part of my childhood.) We rode on rides, gazed upon palm trees, and spent a week of relaxing, quality time with each other. The children enjoyed swimming at the pool, and playing in the ocean, while I enjoyed eating new food and just having a change from my everyday mid-western life. It turned out to be a great vacation for us all.

Childhood~

The older I get, the more dear to my heart, my past becomes, as well as the days that pass now. I understand, just how fast the days bloom and fall. Childhood days are dear to my heart. Awakening to hear the muffled voices of my parents coming from the kitchen. Christmas morning, when my siblings and I would rush to our living room to see what treasures our stockings contained. How magical the little things seemed from the eyes of a child. Looking at photos of toys from the past, can even bring those memories back more vividly. Loved ones, who are no longer with us, that used to smile and great us for Christmas dinner... I was blessed to have two parents who provided for my siblings and I, a safe, happy home life. They just celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary this month. I try to remember as each day comes, that the times we share together with family and friends, are so very precious, and should never be taken for granted. Each day God gives us is a gift, and a blessing. I am blessed to have four beautiful children to help teach and guide for a short while. So when I hear the running through the house, and the sometimes loud little voices that fill our walls...what a blessing. Some would say how can you stand the noise, but to me, it is music to my heart.

Picnic at the park~

Yesterday on our way to the air port, we stopped at a nice park to eat our lunch. We ate partly from food I packed for us, and partly from drive through food. It always amazes me how food just seem to taste better when eaten outside. While there, we saw people of various ages enjoying a nice outdoor lunch. There is something about parks that I just love. Watching people spending time together, and enjoying being outside. There is just, something refreshing to my soul about being at a park. I especially love going to parks in the fall and spring. That is when our Kansas weather is, in my opinion,is the most beautiful. Although it was hot outside yesterday, all the shade trees, make an amazing difference! One of the things my family and I enjoy doing, is finding new parks to enjoy. We like taking little day trips, to towns near by. What I love the most about picnicking at the park, is the quality time you can share with your loved ones, and it is free fun!!!

Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

Yummy Pizza dough

1 cup warm water
3 tsp of yeast (or 1 pkg)
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp of sea salt
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 1/2 cups organic unbleached flour

mix in your kitchen aid for a 3-5 min with bread hook, or knead by hand. You can let it rise a while, but I just form it on parchment paper for pizza, right away. Then you can rub the top with Olive oil, pizza sauce, cheese (I like to use a little cheddar on the top of the mozzarella) and any other toppings you like. Bake on 400 degrees for 10-15 (I like to check it after 10 min.)

This will make two Pizzas, or you can use half the dough to make cinnamon balls. Melt a little butter in a bowl, and in another bowl, mix brown sugar and a little cinnamon. Take a pie pan, and spray with oil, then shape dough into little balls, dip in butter, then sugar, and lay in pie pan. Bake on 400 for about 12 min or until done. Top with frosting, and you have breakfast, or a dessert!

Historic St. Augustine, Florida

This morning we got up, and did a little school work in our school room! One of the neatest things we came across today, was in our new historic places book, the first thing to learn about was St. Augustine, Florida. We were just there for a visit in May of this year. The children were able to see and learn about one of the oldest towns, and actually see many historic places while there. After our little school room session, we made beds, and tided the house. then for lunch today, we made pizza. This is usually our Friday night meal, but we will be gone all day tomorrow, so we had it today instead. Rather than making two pizzas today out of the dough, I actually made tomorrow's breakfast with the 2nd half. I rolled little pieces of dough, and dipped in butter, then in brown sugar and Cinnamon mixture, baked on 400 for about 12 min, and drizzled frosting over the top! Easy, and now we can eat and run tomorrow morning! I had to sample it, to make sure it was good...and all I can say is it is yummmmmmmy!!! I will post the recipe for the pizza dough. It is the one I almost always make, and it is good. Now the children are playing and coloring, and I am going to work on our family's never ending laundry. :)

Natural Furniture Polish

Here is a very good, and easy recipe for a wonderful furniture polish.

Mix: 1 quart warm water (1 quart = 4 cups)
2 Tbsp vinegar
2 tsp good cooking oil
7 drops of essential oil of lemon (optional)

Quality Vs Quantity

The world we live in, can be such a fast paced place. A place where so much is disposable. Where many choose quantity over quality. So I ponder, how do we slow down, and get back to more of a simple life style? We may wish we could change the world, but that is most likely not going to happen. (at least not quickly, if ever.) We can however, make choices in our own homes, that make a difference. We can choose to recycle. We can choose not to waste the gifts God has put in our lives. When I say gifts, I am referring, not just about material items, but time in general. Everyday that we wake up, and are healthy, is a huge gift! I think if we will set boundaries for ourselves in all areas of our lives, and then be willing to adjust them as needed, we can fine tune our own lives to fit the lifestyle, each of us want to live. Of course, that lifestyle is different for everyone, based on personal preference. Some of the things, I try to include in my own life, is being frugal with my resources, making healthy home cooked meals for our family, and using organic items as much as I can. When planning our weeks, I try to include activities for my children that will not only be educational, but expand their horizons of the world we live in. I think, planning is huge in living a good life. I now plan menus for two weeks at a time, and it makes shopping easy, saves money, and I never have to wonder what is for dinner. I do the menu in pencil, that way, if we want to adjust it, it is easy. This morning we made strawberry jam. It was surprisingly easy, and Megan really enjoyed helping me! One of the things I have learned, is that a little effort, can make a huge difference! So I like to try new things, and believe that we are never to old to grow and learn...so long as we can keep an open mind and heart.

Our field trip to Yoder, Ks.

Today the children and I took a field trip to Yoder, Ks. Yoder is Amish town, founded in 1889. They have a web page at http://www.yoderkansas.com My family and I enjoy going there, and just taking in the slow pace of life, that can be found there. Today we drove around the country for a while, and then went to eat at our favorite place, the Carriage Crossing Restaurant. (We even had pie for dessert!) It was such good food! Next, we went to the little post office there, and mailed a package. (When I say little post office, I mean little!) Before we departed the beautiful, peaceful little town, we stopped and purchased a jar of home-made jam, to give to my Grandma Kelly. It was a nice time for the children and I. If you are ever near Yoder, Ks. it is truly worth checking out!