Friday Favorites: July 15

It's been a big week for our family as we entered a new stage of life!

• My favorite of the week (OK, the year) is being a grandma!  So much fun and way less pain involved than becoming a mother.
• Settling back into being at home; including my sleeping in my own bed and using my own shower.  It's the little things that comfort me.
• My awesome neighbor taught me I should have harvested my lettuce sooner; that's why it tasted bitter.  Then she showed me how to harvest the seeds.  I'm ready to try again after the summer heat breaks!

There's other cool things going on in the blog world too.

• I love this all purpose card at Think Fast.
• Check out these black and white parfaits Celebrations at Home shared.
• I Heart Faces has a great post about cake smash photography.  I started reading Your Baby in Pictures by Me Ra Koh.  The post and the book go well together.  I was fortunate to hear Me Ra Koh speak at evo '11.  I enjoyed hearing her inspiring story.  It was empowering to realize creativity, in all its forms, is therapeutic. It helps us to make sense of the world around us and our place in it.  I've always enjoyed photography, and now its more meaningful to give it a purpose and direction through my children and grandchild.

What are you loving this fine Friday?

Bass Pro Shop Family Summer Camp

This is the final week of Bass Pro Shop's Family Summer Camp.  We went last week and had a blast despite a huge power outage.  Read about our fun at Arizona Mama.

Friday Favorites: July 1

Happy July!  What happened to June?  I can't believe it went by so fast.  For most of us here in Arizona, summer vacation is half over even though the heat is just really getting going.  Come on monsoon!  The 116 degrees aren't my favorite, here are some things I'm totally digging.

• Bass Pro Shop has a fun Family Summer Camp on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  We went yesterday and they had workshops on Fishing, Bird watching, Hiking, and Archery.  The kids were also able to shoot a compound bow and a BB gun.  They even let me try the compound bow.  It was so fun!
• Library Summer Reading programs.  The kids redeemed their prizes.  The older ones got movie tickets.  Harry Potter here we come.

There's some fun stuff on the web too.

• Design Dazzle shares a Giant Bubble Kit and a link party.
• Unscripted Sketches is hosting their Christmas in July Bingo.
• Just in time for the 4th, try Two Peas & their Pod's Red, White and Blue Scones.
• Booking Mama reviews yet another book for me to add to my must read list, Joy for Beginners.

Now it's your turn - what are you loving today?

Pushcart War Book Club

It's book club time again, yeah!  I say that like there is a regular and set time for our book clubs, instead of whenever Mom finally finishes reading the book everyone else finished days ago.  (OK, sometimes it's more like weeks.)  Pop over to Arizona Mama and read our latest happenings. 


What are you reading this hot summer day?

Saturday Sentament:Fathers

I saw this quote on Travelin' Oma a couple of weeks ago.  It is one of my favorite fatherhood quotes.

Teaching his children is the mark of a civilized man ~ J. Ganz Cooney

Friday Favorites: June 17

Happy Friday!  This week has been busy and most of my project deadlines end over the weekend.  I'm looking forward to slowing down a bit next week.  We'll see if that happens.  Through the craziness, I have several favorites.

• Grass / Trampoline - The grass is finally in enough to open access to the trampoline which entertained kiddos for long stretches yesterday.  Trampolines + sprinklers = super happy kiddos!
• Silhouette - My super cool toy totally intimidates me.  I'm so excited I used it successfully for a couple of Girls Camp projects.  I'll have to show you next week.
• Plans that come together and people who help make that happen - My kiddos have been so helpful this week, often without even being asked!
• Family Photo Challenge - Don't forget to vote for your favorite picture in our first challenge.

There's some cool stuff going on beyond my little house.

• It's Free Font Friday again at Creating Keepsakes, and they have a digital sticker download you can use on Photoshop.  The Photoshop thing would be cooler if I understood how to make it work.
• Nellie Design has cute printable tickets for Father's Day.  This might work well with our gift for Dad.
• I'm not a fan of creamsicle Popsicle, but I'd try Your Homebased Mom's Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes.
• I heart Faces shares a tutorial on photo editing for those pictures that are too dark.  The even have a linky tool if you want to try your hand at the process.

So what does your weekend hold?  Big Father's Day plans?

Family Night Phantom

Several Mondays ago the Family Night Phantom visited us with a knock on the door, a plate of cookies and this cute poem.  

Family night is here again, time for stories, time for fun!  Here’s a special treat from us to eat together when you’re done.

Next Monday night, it’s your turn to make a treat - not once, but twice.  Then two more families in our Ward will have a snack that’s nice.

Write this message out again, try not to give a clue on who the Family Night Phantom is, the secret safe with you!

The Family Night Phantom

 

We were pretty slow in passing on the fun, but better late than never. We will definitely enjoy more Phantom fun in the future and I thought I'd pass on the fun to you!

Family Home Evening: Service

Apparently I really needed to hear a lesson on service. Our Relief Society lesson was about kindness; which evolved into a lesson on service.  Then one of the kiddos did a lesson on service using the first experience for Good Works in the Personal Progress book.  I love the challenge of recognizing and acknowledging service others give to you for two weeks.  We talked about the times we give service without even realizing it and how much those seemingly little things can mean so much to those being served.  There are other times when we need to be aware of specific ways to serve; instead of asking "What can I do to help?", just offer "I'm bringing dinner tonight".  


We played I Never for our activity.  Everyone started with 10 M&M's.  The first person stated something they had never done, everyone who had done that thing has to eat an M&M.  The goal is to be the last one with M&M's.  Loosing never tasted so sweet!


Speaking of sweet, we had double chocolate cookies for our treat.  Those of us who bore our testimony at church had double treats.

Summer Sizzle

As the sidewalks sizzle in the Arizona heat, how do we stay sane during the summer daze?  

• Time for sleeping in and slacking off (to some extent)
• Every morning, we strut our stuff and sweat to stay in shape
• Showers and solace take us til lunch
• Afternoons are devoted to summer reading programs, summer camp, book club, summer school and hopefully scratching something off the summer bucket list
• And if that doesn't stretch me to the limit, I try to sneak in a cleaning project, a sweet new recipe and sewing lessons
• As soon as the sun starts to set, we sometimes settle down with a good flick or other celebration.
• Add the summer stuff to the rest of life's responsibilities, no wonder I'm stressed!

Chocolate on my Cranium is hosting Wordfull Wednesday.  The challenge is to use alliteration to share a typical summer day.

Family Home Evening: Faith

One of my children started his Family Home Evening lesson with the question, "What is Faith?"


His sisters piped up with,"Faith is a seed, if planted it will grow." And,"Faith is a feeling within my heart, when I do right I know."


The girls knew that quoting a Primary song wasn't exactly the answer my son was going for, but it was a fun way to start a discussion on what faith is, how it helps us, and why we need it.  I love that my children have fun learning together.   

We played Don't Eat Pete. I just love games that involve eating M&M's!


Our treat was my favorite homemade chocolate cake with homemade chocolate frosting.  My favorite part of this cake was that one of my girls made it for me.

Family Home Evening: Adam and Eve

One of my younger children taught our lesson about Adam and Eve.  He started with the scripture Genesis 1:26 - 28, then asked what creations are we grateful for?  He shared some facts about Adam and Eve.

• After Adam and Eve received physical bodies, they lived in a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden.
• Adam and Eve were married for eternity by Heavenly Father.
• Fruits and flowers grew easily in the Garden of Eden, and all the animals were tame.
• Adam and Eve did not know the difference between good and bad.
• Adam and Eve could not have children.
• Adam and Eve could eat fruit from every tree except one.
• Adam and Eve ate the fruit from that tree.
• Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden
• The whole world changed; Adam and Eve had to work hard to get food, weeds began to grow and animals became wild.
• Adam and Eve then began to have children.

We talked about their lives after they left the Garden of Eden and how it was all a necessary part of the Plan of Salvation.  I'm grateful for the time my children put into their part of Family Home Evening. Not only is it nice to not have all the responsibility myself; it is also reassuring that they are learning and striving.


Our activity was a modified version of Phase 10.  The kiddo in charge chose the order of the phases we played.  I still lost.


The agony of defeat was lessened by the Frozen Lemon Pie we enjoyed for our treat!

May Craziness

Recently a friend said "May is as busy as December with all the end of the school year activities."  Combining the May craziness with It's a Crafty Life's Ten on Tuesday, here's my list of what exactly makes this May so crazy.

1. Mother's Day
2. Eight family birthdays
3. Science fair projects
4. Choir concert
5. Rube Goldberg project
6. Planning Girls Camp
7. Vacation planning
8. Baby Shower planning 
9. Way too much planning
10. Reading Celebrations

How's your May going?  What's making it crazy for you?

Cinco de Mayo

One of my simple pleasures is celebrating with my kiddos.  Whether it's like today, or even celebrating 30 minutes to play Just Dance 2.

We kicked off our Cinco de Mayo celebration a couple of days early by making these cool tissue paper flowers.  They were a little more challenging than the directions made it look, mostly separating the layers without ripping the paper.  I wish I would have seen this tutorial first.  Our second attempt was a little easier, but we still had to be gentle fluffing them.

While you are in the Cinco de Mayo mood, check out my post on the subject on Arizona Mama.

Upcoming Events

I've been focusing on the myriad of upcoming events.  Between now and when school gets out, we have one free weekend.  And our summer is packed and planned.  There's parties, Cub Scouts, Girls Camp and a family vacation.  Overall, there is way too much camping type activities.

How sad is it that school's not even out yet, but I'm already looking forward to the start of the next school year just so I can relax!


Here's a "U" blogger participating in the A to Z Challenge:

• Urban Psychopomp

Don't forget today's the last day to enter the Movie Quote contest!

Quotes Contest

The kids and I love to quote books, comedians and You Tube videos; but we quote movies the most.  In A to Z fashion, here are some of our favorite movie quotes.  There's only one movie per letter, but none for X - Z. A few of them are a little obscure, but what do you expect from us?  I want to thank my kiddos for their help with the contest.  We might have to do another round in the future because we left out so many great quotes.


Email your answers to raejeaneasyaspie at gmail com, by Monday, April 25.  If you have the most correct answers, I'll mail you one of our favorite DVD's.  If there is a tie, we'll have a drawing to break the tie.  It's not a big fancy prize, mostly just for fun.  The winner (and the answers) will be announced on Wednesday, April 27.

1. Excuse me.  Did you bring here? Did you rub my lamp? Did you wake me up? And all the sudden your walking out on me?  I don't think so, you're getting your wishes. So SIT DOWN!
2. Crazy old Maurice!
3. Why do we even have that lever?
4. Aaaaaaaaaaaassssssss yooooou wiiiishhhhhhhh!
5. Corn, corn, corn, nothing but corn.
6. Excuse Me!Well that's too darn bad.
7. He touched the butt.
8. That was totally wicked!
9. You broke my smolder.
10. It's so pink and fluffy I'm gonna DIE!
11. Who's evolved?
12. There is no price for awesomeness... or attractiveness.
13. Why do you have two noses?
14. Float like a Cadillac, sting like a Beemer
15. Let's go get some honey buns!
16. Pinned ya! Pinned ya again.
17. My evil stepsister, you've seen Cinderella, right? Let me clue you in, I win
18. I'm tired, and I'm hungry. And my tail's froze. And my nose is froze. And my ears are froze. And my toes are froze. 
19. What do you want to do? I don't know... What do you want to do? Now don't start that again!
20. You better be back by Christmas!
21. You know, there's nothing more pathetic than a flame retarded dragon. 
22. You bedazzled my football!?!
23. Where is My hair brush?

 After you email me your entries, share your favorite movie quote, and then check out this "Q" blogger participating in the A to Z Challenge. (For some strange reason there aren't too many.)

• Queen of Procrastination

Paper Folding

 Look what I found in the garden today!  We made these cute little caterpillars, a butterfly and a flower as our activity for Family Home Evening.  I love simple projects that turn out so cute.  We had a fun family activity and shared our creativity.  (And I got to take more pictures of my lettuce and carrots still growing strong!)

The first couple of markers I pulled out to decorate my butterfly wings were pretty much dead, so I tested the rest of the markers in the bucket.  How's that for multitasking? One of my kiddos helped me clean up the part of the craft area where the construction paper lives too.  Projects and purging in the same day!  Perfect!

Here's a few "P" bloggers participating in the A to Z Challenge.

• The Pink Zebra
• People Watch
• Paper Swamp
• Party Smarty Pants

Family Movie Night Solutions

Am I the only one who has dealt with the drama of which movie to watch for Family Movie Night?  I posted a few suggestions over at Arizona Mama.  I'm a firm believer in not killing the party before it even starts with a bunch of whining and arguing.


I'm having a lot of fun with the A to Z Challenge.  I thought I'd share a few of the over 1200 blogs participating - just some that start with the letter "F"

• Fresh
• Flash Fiction
• From These Hallows
• Fur Will Fly
• Frankly Creative

Easter Week

A couple of years ago, I started thinking about how short changed Easter is compared to Christmas.  At Christmas we celebrate for a whole month. Before this realization, we celebrated the Easter Bunny on Saturday and focused on the spiritual on Sunday.  Even then, Sunday was mostly a family dinner with a little discussion about our Savior and an Easter lesson for Family Home Evening.  

We're still building our Easter week tradition - it's actually eight days, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.  We use the book A Christ Centered Easter for some of our stories, scripture references and activities.  I continue to collect stories and we experiment with activities that bring the spirit and focus our hearts on Christ.


Today, I will pull out the Easter decorations.  The children and I will decorate with bunnies and eggs, and our hearts will remember the most beautiful of the gifts of spring.

General Conference Preparations

General Conference is this weekend!  I love General Conference and I love that my children love General Conference.  We make it a special weekend of traditions and food.  OK, most of our traditions center around food.  Since they are traditions, we will be writing in our journals and playing Conference Bingo.  I even found some new bingo sheets!

The only questions I really have is our breakfast menu.  I'm seriously thinking these Chocolate Muffins from Your Cup of Cake will be in the line up!  I will probably also make biscuits and chocolate gravy.

Picture Book Classics

There's been quite a bit of chatter over at Arizona Mama about some of our favorite kids books.  You know I had to get in on the action.  Narrowing my list down was harder than I thought!  Check out my list and see how it compares to your family's favorites and be sure to leave me a comment with the ones I forgot.  I'm sure there are a bunch!