Are you all done?

When the either one of the 2 year olds get mad, they like to throw a fit.  When that happens we put them in the pack and play because that is the only place they get to throw those fits or tantrums.  After they quiet down I go in there and ask if they are all done.  Most of the time they will stand up and raise their hands for me to pick them up.  Sometimes they have sit back down because they are not quite done yet so I have to check again in another minute or so.

Well the other day we were in the car, listening to the local Christian Radio Station.  I didn't hear the whole message that was being said....lets face it 7 people in the same van gets noisy...but I caught a statement that really stood out to me.  He said, it's like God comes to us and says, are you all done?
I immediately got the image of the twins in my head, and then thought of God putting me in the "pack and play" so to speak while I throw my fit about wanting things my own way....and then a little while later him coming to me and asking me if I'm 'all done'.  Do I say yes and get out, or am I going to respond stubbornly and throw a longer fit?  Why was I in there in the first place?

Hmmmm....this is interesting to me.  And I love how God uses the details of my life to teach me!

It made me think about what I'm being stubborn about with God.  What am I requiring from him that I don't deserve.  Likely everything... :)  But, it;s making me stop and think more about it. 

Isaiah 55:8 tells us,
⁸ "My thoughts are not like your thoughts.  And your ways are not like my ways," announces the Lord.

I don't need to see the whole picture.  God knows what's going on, and what's best and what's going to come of it.  I need to do a better job being patient and trusting him! It's kinda like when I pull the child from trying to touch the hot pan on the stove, and put him in the other room.  He only sees that I took him away from what he wanted to do....not that I saved him from burning his hand!

What is God trying to teach you?  Are you noticing His design and plan for your life, or are you throwing a fit because you don't understand what's going on, and things aren't turning out the way you wanted them too?!  How many times a day does God put YOU in the "pack and play"?! :)

Are you all done?

 

Como Zoo

We had a great time today.  We went to the Como Zoo with all 5 children.  :)  It was sunny all day and once we walked into the zoo it started raining.  Of course I brought all the kids jackets but not us adult's jackets.  We waited around a little bit and then decided to brave the rain.  It slowed down to a really light rain so we headed out.  It wasn't long after that, that the sun came out and it was beautiful weather again just in time for us to leave. :)  lol

TJ was pushing the single stroller with Monkey and Bear walking next to him and I was walking behind him pushing the double stroller with the twins in it.  I'm sure we looked like the zoo at the zoo! :)  haha...we did get a couple looks.  It was kinda funny actually.

The kids were really good, and we even ended up going out to eat on the way home and there were no major fits, or catastrophe's of any sort.  So Praise the Lord!

Here's a couple snap shots... of the animals, and our children....sorry no foster kids are able to be posted.  But I wish I could cuz they sure are cuties. :)  

 

Rhubarb Cake

The rhubarb is in full bloom....so here we go!

Rhubarb Cake

1 Cake Mix....(I used my homemade cake recipe)
4 cups cut rhubarb
1/2 cup sugar
16 oz whipping cream
cool whip (optional to place on your individual pieces before eating)

Make your cake mix and place in the pan. 

Cut up the rhubarb and mix in the sugar.  

Place the rhubarb on top of the cake mix.

Pour the whipping cream over the cake.  I used two small ones this time because they were cheaper than the pint.  Weird I know.

Bake the cake 50-60 minutes.  You have to watch and keep checking with a knife.  When it comes out clean the cake is done.  I baked mine at 375 about 55 minutes.

 

And...it goes in the mouth

I'm sure you've been one of those people, like us all, who have said, what is up with putting every single thing in your mouth?!  Well obviously we are talking about a little kid.  I'm specifically talking about the 2 yr old twins right now.

Not that I didn't know this if I didn't really think about it, but I had a quick realization today.

One of the twins ended up with a bag of m&m's in his mouth and bit through the bag to low and behold find a tasty surprise inside.

Well, obviously the reason is clear why they eat everything...cuz sometimes it ends up as a tasty wonderful treat!  I mean how else can they know if it's going to taste good or not, unless you put it in your mouth first.

Haha


 

Parmesan Bow-Tie Skillet

3 cups bow tie pasta
1 can/jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup Original Ricotta Cheese
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
 
Cook pasta, drain and return to pan, or to another pan.  Add spaghetti sauce, ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan in large skillet.  Cook on medium heat 10 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and cover.
Let stand 5 min. or until mozzarella is melted.  Serve!

 

Pork Loin Rub

2lb Pork Loin
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water

Combine the seasonings.  Rub into the Pork Loin.   Place in the crockpot and add about 1 cup of water. Cook in the crockpot on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.
(the rub mixture is per 2lbs of roast, so the bigger the roast increase your rub measurements.)

 Mix the seasonings together.

 Rub the mixture into the pork loin.

 I got a sirloin which is cut in half so there was more rub covering to give the flavor.

 One half of the loin after cooking.  A beautiful brown color on the edges.  

Nice and tender on the inside.

After cutting I used the extra juice from the crockpot to pour over the meat.

Some of it shredded to eat with buns as a sandwich, the other half cut to eat plain.

But it was so tender it just fell apart when you tried cutting it. Yumm!

 

Addition Flash Cards

I made these addition flash cards for Monkey to work on his number facts.  He does really well with adding, but some of them he has to take the extra time to really think it through.  So I wanted him to work through flat out knowing them without having to take those extra seconds to think it through.

So here they are...Download the file here.

Addition Flash Cards.

Next I'm going to work on the subtraction set.  Look for that later. :)

Yes I made them red.  Someone told me red is a better color for kids with learning disabilities to focus on better than black.  So I'm trying it out.  You could always print it grayscale if you didn't want to use red ink for printing this.

I made the file 8 up on a page, but then decided to scale it down a little more.  So I printed them 2 up so there actually 16 on a page.  Still a manageable size, but you have the option of what size you want to print them. :)  Enjoy!

 

I go to the Rock

Do you ever have a song finally strike you a different way after the thousandth time of hearing it?

Here's one for me.


Where do I go?  When there's nobody else to turn to?
Who do I talk to?  When nobody wants to listen?
Who do I lean on, when there is no foundation stable?
I go to the Rock.  I know he's able, I go to the Rock.

I go to the rock of my salvation.
I go to the stone that builders rejected.
I run to the mountains and the Mountain stands by me.
The earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the solid Rock I stand.
When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the rock.

Where do I go, when the storms of life are threatening?
Who do I turn to, when the winds of sorrow blow?
Is there a refuge?  Yes, there is.  In the time of tribulation.
When my soul needs consolation. I go to the Rock.

I go to the rock of my salvation.
I go to the stone that builders rejected.
I run to the mountains and the Mountain stands by me.
The earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the solid Rock I stand.
When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the rock.


Psalm 62:6
He(Christ) alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.

Rhyming

Match the Rhymes.

I got these from a kindergarten workbook like the type you get from the store.  I cut them out and made boxes for them in a file folder.  It's great for them to look through and find the matching rhymes on their own.

Time to Rhyme! :)


 

No Time Pesto Pasta

I made a quick new recipe last night.  It was so easy and SUPER Delicious!

Here it is....

Pesto Pasta

1/2 (16-oz.) pkg penne or rigatoni or ziti
1/2 cup pesto sauce (half of a 16 oz jar)
fresh chopped red pepper
1 4oz pkg. Feta Cheese with Basil & Tomato
Cook Pasta and drain.  Return to pan(I used my wok instead).  Add the cut up red pepper and the pesto sauce.  Mix together and let warm together the noodles and peppers.  Stir in the cheese last.  Serve immediately!

TJ gives this an 8 out of 10!  He wanted me to make it again today.  The kids ate it all up with us.  I think next time I'm going to have to double the recipe. :)



 

Double Trouble

I've been learning what it's like to have twin 2 year olds. :)

Here's some observances that you may or may not already know from your own twin 2 year old experiences.

-They like to fight over the same blanket, when there is another one right there.

-If you have any towels hanging over the oven handle or by the sink or something it will never stay there.  I'm finding them on the floor all over the house.  And I tried not having them there, but then I wash my hands and there's no towel. ;)

-They like to open and shut and open and shut every door in the house.

-They may be small, but they eat alot!

-You go through a ton of diapers!  (Wow!)  This may also be magnified for me because I've never had to buy diapers before and now I have to buy for twins, plus pull ups for a 3 yr old. :)

-There are constantly toys all over the floor.

-They still put everything in their mouth.

-The will dump the whole bucket of legos out just to use the bucket as a hat, then walk off. :)

-They still love peek-a-boo

-If you forget to lock the water on the fridge door they will find it and enjoy a little shower.

-Likewise, if you forget that the water on the fridge IS locked it will take a v.e.r.y. long time to be able to fill your cup! (I was standing there talking and not watching the fridge.....looked over a little later thinking I was going to pull out a full cup of water and there was nothing in it!)

-no matter what they are still so cute, lovable and precious!
Matthew 19:14  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them."
Mark 9:37 "Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me doesn't welcome only me but also the One who sent me."

 

Candles

I haven't had much time on the computer lately....and randomly I was thinking about something that happened to me a long time ago and thought I could atleast find a quick moment to post it on the blog.

So today's helpful hint....

Don't burn a free standing candle where a ceiling fan is on!  :)

I learned this the hard way.  I had a free standing candle....so not in a jar or anything.  It was a partylite tall candle on a glass base.  I had it burning and in the living room where the ceiling fan was also on.

Later I noticed there was wax dripping all down the side of the candle, but not just a little bit.  A huge amount of wax, and it was dripping down the wooden end table, and some splattered on the wall and even got on the carpet.  So....don't learn the hard way. :)  If the candle is not in a jar of somekind make sure you don't leave it burning while in the same room as a running ceiling fan.  Candle wax is not fun to try and get out of carpet.

This happened to me about 8 years ago....not sure why that just popped in my head today! ;)



 

Letter R

Have fun with the Letter R!

Letter R Memory Verse

 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8

A-Z Collage Sheets.
I printed these 2 up on a page.

We used the R that we already had printed from our A-Z Collage Sheets.

I got these wooden blocks from hobby lobby, and had him place them on the letter shape.  

Just another way to have fun while learning how to shape the letter R!

After doing this all week, I had him do it the last day with out the paper underneath.

Color puzzle.  Download the file here.

I printed them 2 up to make them smaller and to use less ink and paper. :)

A-Z Handwriting worksheets.  

I put them in a sheet protector so he can use the same sheet every day of the week!

Letter Hunt Worksheets.  Download the file here.

Print and use a sheet protector so you can do it every day of the week.

 Using the Rainbow color match to put in the rainbow color order.

 Letter R size Sort.  Download the file here.

Letter R Puzzle.

(I used the A-Z large floor mats as puzzles) 

This way it doesn't have the lines already in the file and you can cut it however you want.  I wanted to do at least 8 pieces.  I might change it up to more or different shapes or something for a later puzzle...we will see!

 Letter R cutting practice.  Download the file here.

Rainbow Counting Cards

This is different than most the rest...you can cut in half and make the counting cards into a puzzle type of game also. 

Use these in 3 different ways.  First you can just put them in numerical order.  Then I have larger clothes pins that I have written numbers on, so they use those to match the number.  And then I bought some smaller clothes pins and that one he puts that many pins on the number card.  

We also lined them up this way and counted by 2's!

See all these examples in picture form in the Number Order Games Post.

Letter Matching.  Download the file here.

Print the letters only once with all these files.  I just laminated the letters instead of attaching them to anything else.  This still makes them durable and long lasting. :)

Capital/Lowercase Sorting.  Download the file here.

 Print smaller size to save on ink and lamination. :)

Roll a Rainbow.  These games are my son's favorite. :)

Download the file here.

Download the file here.

We used our homemade pompom magnets for these.

 We got these rocks while we were in Duluth.  There were all these different colors as we walked along the shore so I brought them home for the kids.  First of all they love playing with rocks and they are free.  So you can't beat that.  Plus I knew we were going to work on the rainbow so this was perfect.

 And then we used those blocks and put them in rainbow color order.  Fun little activities. :)

 Coloring our own rainbow.

I made my own circle the letter files.  (example shown)

Download my A-Z Circle the letter file.

You can print them full page or 2 up.  

We used pencil on this and did it as a one time use.

 Or you could put them in sheet protectors and do the same sheet over and over again. :)

(no picture this time)

Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom every day.  

And at the end of the week put the letter R on your coconut tree!  

I used the A-Z Collage Sheets.

I put them 4 up on a page so the letter would be small enough for 

them all to fit on our little coconut tree. 

 

Poke it pages!  

(you're right, I didn't take a new picture so pretend it's the letter R!)

I made this file myself because I wanted all the letters in one file.

Download my A-Z poke it letter file here.  

Take a thumb tack and poke the letter R.    

Make sure to do this while on the carpeted floor. :)

Bean Bag Toss.  

Capital letter file.  Lowercase letter file.

Have fun aiming for the letter R! 

(Yes, I'm not going to take new pictures each time so pretend the bean bag landed on the letter R!)

Alphabet Sorting.  Download the printable file here.

And just for fun, a beautiful rainbow we had outside our house this last week! 

Wow, isn't God amazing?!