Marker Monday - Bubble Wrap Painting

Every couple weeks Yahoo and I go to a playtime group hosted by Miss Melissa. This playgroup is funded with federal grants. I don't know all the details but I know Melissa always has a great theme and lots of great activity centers for the toddlers to work at.

Last week we celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and we talked about all his books including One Fish, Two Fish. For a painting project Melissa taped down a rectangle of bubble wrap and had a paint and roller to spread on the bubbles. Then an fish outline was placed on the bubbles, rubbed the back well and then pulled off.

Voila!

A bubble fish!

So easy for toddlers. All the kids really got into this project because it was easy and quick and they could see the results immediately. I liked it because it didn't create a huge mess. Definitely a fun project to do at home...once I find some bubble wrap!

Sunday Devotions - God Winks

My Mom gave me this book When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence a couple of years ago full of stories about so called 'coincidences' that the author refers to as God Winks. Today I'm sharing one of the uplifting stories this great little book contains.

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Danielle loved smiley faces. She'd stick them up around her room. Send them in greeting cards. Draw them on correspondence - a round face with two eyes and a smile.

"They matched her personality," said her father, Daniel Heard.

A musically gifted 19 yr. old she was about to journey to LA from her home in Michigan to meet with record producers who thought the songs she'd composed might have commercial appeal.

Then tragedy happened. A car out of control. A head on collision. She died.

We simply cannot fathom the pain borne by her grieving parents and two older sisters. Life doesn't prepare us for that kind of heartbreak.

Nine months later, her father was still feeling agonizing loss. Daniel stood alone on the rear deck of their home, looking off into the woods. It was a dark night. Black clouds filled the sky.

"Oh God...this still hurts. Dear God...please give me a sign that Danielle is okay. That she's with you," he wailed. Then bowing his head, his voice cracking with sorrow, he said, "I guess I'm not worthy."

A glimmer of light reflected from the deck. He looked up to see a wondrous sight - a hole had formed in the blackness of the sky, just enough for the full moon to fit perfectly into it. He stared, recognizing the craters near the top that looked like the eyes of the man in the moon. Then in slow motion, across the bottom of the moon, a narrow dark cloud drifted...and stopped...and turned up its corners.

In a direct, personal communication, Daniel was receiving a godwink.

For a full fifteen or twenty seconds, the full moon was a perfect smiley face, just like those Danielle had always collected.

"I now counsel other parents who are dealing with grief," said Daniel. "I tell them they should expect that their hurt, anger, and sorrow will come in waves. Some days they will be fine. Other days, months later, they'll break down in tears. And occasionally, they'll get a sign - a godwink - to lift their spirits."

If you are looking for an uplifting, inspirational book When God Winks is a good one. It's a quick and easy read and hard to put down.

Dear God, Thank You for your 'God Winks'; the coincidences in our lives when You are speaking directly to us. You are comforting and loving. Help me today to be open to 'God Winks' in my life. Amen.

Why I refuse to eat squash...and other family stories.

Squash.....the mere sight sends shivers up my spine. A detestable vegetable in any form. I LOATH squash.

Why? Because a few years of my childhood was spent among ACRES of this stuff! Not kidding....every day all summer long....squash, squash, squash.

When I was in my middle school years my Grandpa A decided it would be a good idea to raise zucchini and sell it..I'm not sure where he sold it. Frankly, I was 12 and didn't care. Because he had grand kids who could walk and not cut themselves with a knife we were free labor in the fields. He had other seasonal workers who would come and go but my sisters and I were there all the time. If I remember he had about 8 acres...maybe it wasn't so much but in my memory the field seemed huge.



Have you ever raised a zucchini plant? They take up lots of room and the vegetable likes to hide so you have to move around the stems to find the squash. The vines and leaves are scratchy and by the end of the day our arms would be covered in red itchy scratches. Remember it was mid summer and we didn't wear long sleeve shirts to protect our arms. We were stupid.

All morning long we picked zuccs. Around noon or 1 we'd finish picking but we weren't done then. After a quick bite in Grandma's kitchen, where we'd try to lounge around or hide from Mom, we'd head to the shed to wash all those zucchini. Grandpa had a machine where we'd pour the buckets of squash on a conveyor that moved them through to get sprayed with water and then poured onto a round table that revolved. We'd surround the table and pick up the 'green death' and wipe off the dirt and blossoms. Those pretty little yellow blossoms at the end of the squash would get wet and slimy and would make a giant mess everywhere. Our hands were soaked and itched with dirt and slime.

After wiping them clean, the zucchini would be sorted by size, packed in boxes and refrigerated until Grandpa drove them off somewhere. Remember, I was 12, I didn't care where they went. As long as they were gone.

And the next day....we did it again because zucchini has to be picked everyday, Sundays too, until they stop producing. Sometimes we even picked them twice a day. I really wasn't very fond of Grandpa in those days.

After a few summers of zucchini, Dad decided we'd raise some squash ourselves. But we switched to acorn squash. These didn't have to be picked everyday but we did have to weed and spray them. When it was time to pick these we had to use pruners. They weren't as itchy and they didn't need picked as often but they were heavy and still needed to be cleaned and we didn't have a machine to help us do it. And those buckets of squash were heavy!

The thing about raising squash, or any vegetable, is that not everything that is picked can be sold at market. Some are too big or small. Some are odd shaped or have damage from bugs or don't have a stem. Stems are important because squash without stems don't last as long before spoiling. So growing up we had a lot of extra squash. And we had to eat a lot of squash.

I have finally started eating zucchini again, and I like it, but to this day I still can't eat acorn squash. A few years ago I tried it thinking, "I'm older. I like vegetables. I can get over the past and eat acorn squash." I bought one, baked it with butter and lots of sugar and dug in. Nope. It was awful and went to the trash. 

I've forgiven Dad and Grandpa for all the squash my sisters and I had to pick during our childhood. In fact, it was good for us. It helped instill in us a good work ethic. But I still haven't forgiven any of my parents or grandparents for making us EAT it!

*My mom and other descendants of my great grandfather Wallace Bolinger are getting together at my mom's local town library and sharing stories and photos of relatives in the past. Hopefully Mom will think this story worth sharing. :)



Foody Friday - They Draw and Cook - Tuna Rolls

One of my favorite blogs to read is They Draw and Cook.

People illustrate their favorite recipes and submit them to the site. I believe the creators of the site are in the works to have some of the recipes published into a book. My favorite aspect is the illustrations. Sometimes I get so caught up in the artwork I don't think much about what the recipe actually is. I tend to save the images on my hard drive with the intention of trying the recipes out but I often forgot. But this week I made up my mind to try one out. Rollos de Bonito. I love the two kids peeking over the table edge.

The only problem I see with some of the 'recipes' is that ingredient quantities aren't included. For these I had to guess and tweak the recipe as I went along. Here's what I ended up with;

1/2 cup tuna, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 t. minced garlic, 1 T heaping parsley, 1 egg, 5 strips of bacon,

3 slices of toasted bread, 3 T flour and 1/4 cup of milk.

I mixed it all in a bowl first.

Then worked it up in a food processor. Doesn't look real appetizing does it?

Then I formed little logs on my sprayed cookie sheet. The recipe also called for wine at this point, I guess to splash on top, but I didn't have any so I omitted this step.

I baked them at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. They don't look that great but they smelled wonderful! Ha ha, after I ate one I realized this is nothing more than a baked tuna patty. See, I was so caught up in the pictures I didn't think about what I was making! 

 I think I should have added some seasonings though or shredded cheese and maybe had some sort of dipping sauce to go with it. Yahoo loved them though which really surprised me! She walked around eating them like they were chicken nuggets. In fact I'm going to try them again but substitute chicken for the tuna and see how it works.

Photo Thursday - A Day in the life...

Good March morning!

Energetically working on an art project.

The never ending blanket.

Sick day, stuck in bed.

Driving by a grass fire. Didn't have to drive through the smoke, yay!

Posing with Mom....I love kisses!

What is your day like in pictures?

Outrageous Kid Parties

Yahoo's 2nd birthday is coming up soon and I was searching the Internet the other day looking for some cake ideas and maybe some simple decorations. Nothing fancy. We aren't having a party, just cake and desserts after dinner.

However, while I was searching I was really surprised at how crazy some parents get over their kids birthday parties! This clip from the Talk really shocked me. Watch the first minute at least, a ball gown for a 6 year old?

Okay, that mom in the beginning was just nuts. How can you justify spending that much money on a 6 year old! I didn't spend that much money on my own wedding!



I also came across this post on a chat board.
 I know everyone is very busy lately but can we talk about our LO's first birthday party? This is my first child and I am feeling overwhelmed by the thought of her turning 1 soon. We are planning to have her birthday party at our house. May be 40 adults and 19 kids. I don't know how we are going to handle those kids. I just finished guest list and menu. However, I still have to send invitation/evites. Our parties are usually around meal time so we will have lunch for our guests. DH have decided to buy some toys and a diamond ear rings for her. I know she is her princess LOL. Since this is my first child, can you ladies please help me with some party preparations by sharing how's your birthday preparation coming up?


1) What is theme of your party?
2) What do you put in goody bags?
3) Sams club, Publix, or some other place for birthday cake?
4) Any party games for kids/adults?

5) What is your menu?

Diamond earrings for a 1 year old?? Dang! It took me till I was 34 to get diamond earrings! And 60 guests??? For a first birthday? Why? She won't even remember it!

I have a friend in Virginia who was shocked when her 7 year old son received birthday party invitations that included where the birthday child was registered for gifts! When she in turn sent out invitations for her own son's party with a 'no gift' request she had other mothers call and ask if it was a typo!

This year, since starting school, Yip and Yap have gone to a few birthday parties which included their whole kindergarten class, 18 kids, being invited. It always surprises me at these parties when 18 kids show up and the birthday boy/girl receives 18 presents and not just small book or Hot Wheels cars but some gifts were pretty big items.

Yip and Yap and I have already discussed their 7th birthday. They'd like a party, which is fine, but I can't justify asking every kid in their class to bring two gifts to fill up our house with toys which they probably won't play with. I don't see any problem with the 'no gift' request. I see birthday parties creating greedy little monsters out of kids! What is the point of inviting friends for a party? Do we want to have fun with our friends or rake in the booty? The boys and I have decided that for their birthday,at the end of the summer, we'll invite kids over for an art party where we'll have different art supplies and crafts set up and everyone can create their own masterpiece to take home. 'No Gifts' enforced. Does a fun party have to include tons of presents or fancy expensive attractions to keep kids busy? I don't think so.

We've never been a huge birthday party family. Some cake, ice cream and a few presents with grandparents and family in attendance. Yahoo's 2nd birthday won't be huge, and she definitely won't be presented with diamond earrings! She might have her uncle Marlboro Man in attendance but that will be the only family since everyone else is 1000 miles away. She's getting a couple toys and a big girl bed that's it. I did find a simple cake idea that Yahoo will love!

Using Mr. Potato Head parts for the cake and cupcakes. Too cute! (and easy) Plus Yahoo can help with decorating her own cake.

I think the Talk is right, these huge parties are more for the parents than for the kids. I can't justify a huge party when kids are so young they won't remember it. Now when they turn 13 or 16, that's a different story. I think a big party with lots of friends is a great idea but still I don't plan on spending tons of money, or asking others to, on my kids' birthday parties. No ball gowns. No crystal carriages. No pony or hot air balloon rides.

What is the craziest kid birthday party you've ever been to? What's your stance on the 'no gift' policy at parties? Am I wrong? Would you or have you throw a huge party for your kid's birthday?

Taco Trailers

Let me introduce you to a frequent Kansas landmark.

Taco Trailers.

These are trailers that I assume have been renovated to prepare and serve food. I admit, I haven't been a customer at a Taco Trailer.

I've seen Taco Trailers in at least four different Kansas towns.

They are out at all times of the year. They aren't like carnival vendors who travel to carnivals and fairs. Nope, the trailer above has been in the very same location for as long as we've lived in Kansas. I've noticed some move around to different locations in the same town but they are always around somewhere.

They are in odd places too. Usually you'll find them stuck at the edge of a parking lot or in an empty lot. I've seen one parked at the edge of a highway between a road and a bean processing plant.  

Some are nicer than others. I can't comment about the food quality because I haven't been able to bring myself to eat from one.

There's just something about them that seems....weird. 

Maybe I'm just displaying my ignorance of Hispanic culture here. And there is a large Hispanic population in Western Kansas. None of these trailers are pizza or Greek...always tacos. Why are there so many around and in odd places? Is it because there is a lack of authentic Mexican fast food? I don't think I've seen a Taco Bell out here at all come to think of it. I know, I know Taco Bell isn't authentic Mexican food. 

What do you think? Do you have anything similar to this where you live?