Homemade Craft Recipes

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If you thought you were getting lots of good craft ideas from Ms. Shannon at Teaching Tinytots before, you are in for a bonus round today! We got LOTS of recipes from her to share with you...

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What is mommy school with out homemade craft recipes?

Flour-Based Poster Paint

NEED:

1. 1/4 cup flour
2. 1 cup water
3. Small jars or plastic containers
4. 3 or 4 drops of food coloring or paste (for smelly use kool aid)
5. 2 tablespoons water per container
6. 2- 4 drops of dish soap ( to make it washable)
7. for shiny finish a few drops of corn sryup

TO DO:

1. Measure flour into saucepan.
2. Slowly add 1 cup water while stirring to make a smooth paste.
3. Heat, stirring constantly, until paste begins to thicken.
4. Cool.
5. Measure 1/4 cup paste into each small container.
6. Add food coloring/kool aid
7. Stir well.

*If you want to make a big batch, don't divide into containers!

Store covered.

Stamp Pad

1. Lay some paper towels or napkins onto a paper plate.
2. Pour enough paint to make it stampable but not too much! You might need to spread it around with a paint brush.
3. Now you can stamp anything you want!

Homemade Glue

NEED:

1. 3/4 cup water
2. 2 tablespoons corn syrup
3. 1 teaspoon white vinegar
4. 1/2 cup cornstarch
5. 3/4 cup cold water

TO DO:

1. Mix water, corn syrup and vinegar in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a rolling boil.
3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water.
4. Add this mixture slowly to first mixture, stirring constantly.
5. Let stand overnight before using.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

NEED:

1. 1/2 cup salt
2. 2 cups water
3. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4. 2 cups flour
5. 2 tablespoons alum
6. 1 envelope unsweetened Kool-Aid,any color/flavor desired

TO DO:

1. Boil salt in water until salt is dissolved.
2. Add Kool-Aid, vegetable oil, flour and alum.
3. Knead or process until smooth.

Keeps for two months or longer.

Imitation Sand

Here is a great recipe for colored sand that will keep forever! Great for crafts or sensory tables

NEED:

1. 1/2 c salt
2. 1/2 c cornmeal
3. 1 1/2 tbsp liquid paint
4. ziploc baggie
5. paper towels/wax paper

TO MAKE:

1. Pour all items in a baggie and seal shut.
2. Give to LO to shake up and lay on paper towels or wax paper to dry!

Imitation Glitter

This is great and wonderful to use w/ real LO's that might put glitter in their mouth! Great for crafts or sensory table too.

NEED:

1. salt
2. food coloring
3. baking sheet

TO MAKE:

1. Mix up the amount of salt you want to make and food coloring
2. Mix well
3. Lay out on a baking sheet and bake in oven at 350 for 10 minslet cool and store!

Glossy Paint

NEED:

1. 1 can sweet condensed milk
2. Pink, Blue and green food coloring
3. 3 bowls

TO MAKE:

1. Add enough food coloring paste to get the desired color depth you want and add just a tad of water to make it more spreadable.

Teaching Compassion

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It's that time of year to be thinking about resolutions... Mommy says she's going to focus on resolutions that bring happiness and that sort of thing. I like that idea - I think I'll focus on having fun!

Today's guest blogger is Ms. Prasti, who writes about how to foster compassion in your children. Definitely a worthy concept to think about during your focus on resolutions!

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A number of weeks ago, I made a post on my blog on the idea of teaching compassion and giving in reaction to the oncoming commercialized Christmas season and our society's seeming obsession on getting more. As parents of an budding adolescent and an impressionable toddler, it is a struggle at times to teach them the difference between wants and needs and to first think of others before themselves. And how do we teach them about compassion when most of what they see in society is focused more on putting yourself first before others? I've come to realize that as the primary role models for our children, it is not enough just to talk about these
ideas. It is not even enough to merely talk about what God's expectations are for us in these areas (or all areas of our life, for that matter). As parents, the best way to teach our children about the importance of compassion, giving, and wanting less for us and more for others is to, as Nike says, “just do it.” It's easy for us to provide verbal explanations for why we have to do certain things, but it's a different story when we show our children through our own actions why we do things the way we do. Leading by example is not always an easy task. Sometimes it can take a lot of your time and effort, but I think it's time well spent knowing that your actions are
making an impact in your children's lives.

To take it a step further, not only can you lead by example but provide an opportunity for your child to get involved as well. This is a great way for kids to gain a better understanding of compassion. For instance, our son has participated a number of times in a food bus ministry where they prepare and serve food to homeless people in our city. The first day he participated, he came home saying he wished he could have stayed there and did more. It's a bit harder for our daughter to participate in something of that nature (since she's only 2). Right now, we're starting small....like learning to share, or letting her pick out something to give to someone else. We also get the whole family involved when we do our monthly meal service for a teen mother's program in our city.

As a parent, doing these things is easier said than done. Sometimes I see myself fall into the trap of desiring more for myself and forgetting about the rest of the outside world. It's easy to feel disconnected when I live in a place where everyone around me has a home, two or three cars, a flat screen TV or two, computers, iPods, and all sorts of life's little accessories. And our children probably feel the same way too. But when we consciously involve ourselves and our children in serving people in need, or putting our desires aside to meet the needs of others, then I think as a family we will grow to gain a better understanding of compassion. And our children will grow up to understand that same idea because we have taken the time to teach them in more ways
than words can offer.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-10.

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About Prasti: I have an 11 year old step-son, a 2 year old daughter, and a little bean due in May. I've lived in Northeast Ohio for 3 years where the weather is sometimes too cold in the winter, sometimes too hot in the summer, but always unpredictable :).

Lovin' Mozambique

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One of our favorite bloggers is African Kelli, who lives in the US but has spent some time in Mozambique. And she is guest posting for us today, reminding us of all the reasons we're missing Mozambique!

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The first time I traveled to Mozambique, I was 23, greener than a new shoot of bamboo and completely unprepared for what faced me stepping off the tiny 12-seater plane from Johannesburg.

I'd traveled for 48 hours to arrive in Beira, leaving my home in Phoenix, Arizona to work on a new public health project in rural Mozambican villages. My employer -- a small international health nonprofit -- was interested in establishing community-based health projects to improve the staggering HIV, cholera and malaria statistics.

At the time, Mozambique had one of the shortest lifespans internationally -- just 37 years. I am afraid today it isn't much better. However, the work I was able to do during my five years of managing the project made a slight dent in the overwhelming tide of disease and despair.

During these years, I traveled back and forth from Phoenix to Beira half a dozen times, making great friendships and strides in the process. Our small health projects fanned out to 11 villages near Beira -- the largest port city in Mozambique.

Village life is simple, sweet and unfortunatley today -- one of complete and total chaos due to disease and poverty. Mozambicans are some the kindnest folk in the world. It is not uncommon to see a young woman with a new baby wrapped in a capulana on her back, in the middle of a rice filed hoing her crops and signing along to herself. Children chase after foreigners, fueled by curiosity and happiness. Folks tend to smile more than not and just about everyone wanted to shake my hand, ask me what I was doing there and understand where I'd come from.

We'd partnered with another NGO to make our projects work and be more efficient. In this process, we helped train more than 150 activistas -- or health promoters -- to go into their communities and speak about HIV, cholera and malaria prevention and treatment. Within this time, we saw a reduction of malaria and a 60% drop in cholera. Simple steps in public health make a huge difference. Teaching folks to sleep under mosquito nets and the cause of malaria made many more tuck themselves and their children under the protective netting each evening. Emphasizing the importance of latrine and soap use to protect the water table and to prevent cholera completely changed behaviors. "Night soil" became less of an issue and children were not being rushed to overflowing clinics in the final and messy stages of cholera infection.

HIV continues to rage through Mozambique. The women I worked with rarely had the option of deciding who they would have sex with. Instead, men dominate and monogamy is not common in village life. However, more and more folk are becoming familiar with HIV and with the life-extending antiretrovirals.

Bill Gates is an amazing man for a variety of reasons, but he has my forever admiration for bringing these expensive and complicated drug regimens to Mozambique. Not only does the Gates Foundation fund GATVS -- HIV clinics -- but they also pay for all antiretrovirals for those willing to take the drugs. These drugs are helping pregnant women keep the virus from their unborn children. They are providing an additional 20 years of life to those willing to stick with the routine. They are not a cure, but they are a Bandaid so this generation can be productive and can raise their children to be disease-free. They provide hope for the future of Mozambique and many African countries.

When I am in Moz, I am more alive. It is hard to put to paper the rush of emotions; I feel connected to my faith with every breath. I feel incredibly and stupidly lucky and grateful for the life I've been given. I feel overwhelmed by poverty and enlightened by the cheerful screams of children running on a soccer field. I feel love and optimism for the orphans of Mozambique. I feel exhausted and embarrassed when I return home. Nothing prepares you for returning to American life -- with its incredible luxuries and extravagance -- when you've spent 6 weeks spending every evening in an orphanage with children clinging to life.

After my trip this summer, I accepted a new position at a different NGO in Phoenix and don't have any immediate plans of returning to Moz. That said, I can easily see myself returning the moment international adoption is allowed. I love that country for its promise and hate it for its corruption. I want the very best for Mozambique and hope to continue my relationship one way or another.

I am incredibly lucky and truly blessed for the opportunities I've been given to travel and work with the poor. Nothing in life is more gratifying.

On The Island

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We have been having quite the adventure. Other than a little tiff about how much luggage we were allowed on our flight (the website told us 3 bags each while the check-in person insisted it was 1, but we ended up not having to pay), our 11 hour flight to London was wonderful.

Being December 26th, there weren't many passengers, so I got to stretch out and sleep over three seats. And I watched Barney on my private movie screen, though the ear phones were a bit of a pain. And I walked around and around and around the plane, checking out all the other kids' dolls. And I ate the crayons in my British Airways funpack, which were far tastier than the food in my kiddie meal. Mommy doesn't know how I know that, since I wouldn't even touch the food. Except the margarine. I ate that margarine straight off my knife - it was soo yummy!

Then in London, we got to ride a monorail between terminals, and then we rode the underground tube to South Kensington, changed trains to Victoria, took a taxi a few blocks to the Victoria Coach Station, and caught the bus to Leeds. And there some friends of Mr. Lynn's picked us up and took us to their home. From the time we got up to the time we arrived at Leeds was about 28 hours - made very exciting by the fact that we had 13 pieces of luggage to cart around in the middle of the night, not including me...

Oh - and it is COLD here! Though I still don't like wearing socks and shoes. And sweaters. Though my Canada hat is pretty cool.

I got to feed carrots to some horses nearby. It is beautiful here. Mommy says it feels like we are on a movie set, with all the old houses and buildings and bridges and walls. Mr. Lynn is taking lots of photos, so we'll try to get some posted one of these days.

We are conserving our camera battery power, since the charger was stolen. I forgot to tell you - on our flight from Maputo to Cape Town several weeks ago, they MADE us check in most of our carry-ons at the door of the plane, even though the plane wasn't very full. And one of those carry-ons was full of things like external hard drives and cameras. And when we picked up that carry-on at the door in Cape Town, the camera cases were there, but Daddy's camera and our video camera were gone, as well as the charger to Mommy's camera (the camera itself was onboard in my diaper bag). A bit of a bummer...

No “Joy Comes In The Morning”?

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Today's guest post comes from Ms. Celita at The Spices of Life. She lives in Italy with her husband and five kids. And her other blog, Days Ease, showcases her beautiful papercuttings.

Mommy says she knows all about mornings like this one, and she's sure you'll get the same blessing from God's whisper that she did.

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Oh, what a relief when a morning starts off right! Today is not the day. There are moments, like today, when I feel like a failure. As a mother, I try to do my best to keep the ambiance of our home even-keeled, peaceful, or at least amiable, especially in the morning before anyone goes to work or to school, or during holidays, special events, or outings. It is impossible for it to be perfect all the time, but when the days are just completely contrary to harmony and there is nothing but bickering, fighting, disobedience, and backtalk, well, there is a limit to how much of that I can take.

It is a little different if some member of my family returns home from work or school and is tired after a LONG day. Though it is still not acceptable behaviour, it is normal to have a shorter fuse and to have a little more trouble curbing a quick, unkind response or the exasperated glare that escapes unawares. This is one thing, but… What does one do when a morning begins that way? When nothing you say is heeded, when disrespectful words spring forth from tongues just too comfortably, when nothing seems to go right- and because of it all, frustration seeps in, swarms around viciously trying to understand it all and recapture some semblance of a restful state, only to become more disturbed, more stressed, more opposite of the original desire?

Sigh… BIG sigh…

Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale…

Echoes of a morning begun with shouting, crying, and disciplinary action overwhelm my mind. It is not pleasant to look back on, and I wonder if it will be better when we are all together again later in the day. The ordeal leaves me concerned that my children will forever remember the bad that occurs in our lives more than the good. It makes me wonder if they will grow up hating me for trying to stand up for what is right. It makes me sad that right now, in this moment, my “enemies” are not strangers from the outside, they are my own beloved children.

What happened to those days full of laughter, smiles, and just relishing time together? Being discouraged makes me question if it will every be that way again.

And yet, my perspective MUST change.

As my mind rants and raves over every detail, a small reminder whispers its way to my heart…”remember…”

Distracted with things and emotions seemingly stronger, it takes a while to realize it and give attention to it.

“Remember…” the whisper comes just slightly louder.

Okay, WHAT!!!??? Remember what?

This is what I felt whispered to my weary, sore heart...

Remember:

* You are not alone, for I have promised to “never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

* There is no trial that comes your way that you cannot overcome in MY strength. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

*Your failure wasn’t in having a bad morning, as much as it was from your not surrendering the day over to ME before it actually began; so, letting My Spirit be absorbed into your attitude, your words, your heart and mind. That is part of what if means to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength…” (Mark 12:30)

You got too busy for Me. Even though you prayed, it was routine. Even though the words were from your heart, your heart was not in it.

* Motherhood is your job, your calling, and there is so much importance in the duties that come with it. You have to direct, guide, train, encourage, discipline, and so much more, and the irony of it all is to LOVE in the disciplining, in the moments of firmness, in the difficult teachings and learnings. It is not easy, but, again, trust and surrender to Me, and ask Me. I will give you wisdom, creativity, that extra measure of patience and love, and the just-right words. I did it for Moses. “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) So, what I have done for others, I will also do for you.

I love you, and as much as you love your family, I Love Them MORE.
So follow your own advice: trust in, cling to, rely on, and believe in ME. That is faith…

* Being “content in all circumstances” (Philippians 4:11) does not mean having no hard times or not feeling in hard times. It DOES mean trusting and surrendering to a most Faithful God whose Love Endures Forever, in good times and in bad.

So, that was one LONG whisper. It was what I needed to remind me that I need to re-give it all back to Jesus: my concerns, my hurts, my fears, my expectations, my desires, my all. I need to let go and allow my heart to be soft and open. I need to trust my precious Lord.
Yes, I failed, but… it passes. And, after I become more responsive to the prodding of God, He does help me. And, “Joy DOES come in the morning”… when I let in the Light and Love of The Son.

Scotland Bound

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By the time you read this, I will be on my way to Scotland for a week! I wanna ride my motorbike, but Mommy says I have to take the airplane like a normal person. I think the motorbike would be WAY more fun than sitting still in a seat for 11+ hours.

It's gonna be cold, I'm told. But maybe I'll get to be a princess in a castle or something. Or even better, a heroine in a REAL dungeon. So far I've just had to play at being in a dungeon using my child safety gates.
I'll tell you all about it. Promise!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I did - even if I'm on a food strike and didn't eat much. There is too much to do to worry about eating! Tannie Deirdre & Oom George and Emily and baby George were all here for lunch, as well as Oupa and Ouma and Ouma Flora and Mr. Lynn. And I got some cooking dishes and a puzzle book and a sheep purse.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

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Snow!

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Did you know I have actually seen snow? Even though it was already May when we were in the US for a month, we drove between Roseburg and Redmond (Oregon) a couple of times, and that means going through the mountains. It was snowing hard when we drove past Diamond Lake the first time, though Mommy says I might have been asleep then. But I know I was awake going through Santiam pass on the way back, because we had to stop by a snow-encircled lake to change a very poopy stinky diaper of mine. It's even on video!

No chance of seeing snow in Mozambique, but here's a couple of photos from our guest poster to get me dreamin', anyways! It is way tooo hot in this place sometimes... And I really wish I could snowboard - I bet it's a lot like skateboarding or skimboarding. Wishin' you all a white Christmas, or at least a hot chocolaty Christmas!

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Good Morrrrrning Mozambique! (and people of the world everywhere!)

My name is Sheila, I'm guest bloggin today. (Everybody raise their glass and say, "Sheila!" ) I'm from Ohio...a long...cold....way off from Mozambique. I have a blog over at http://www.maviefolle.com/ should you ever want to visit. I write like I talk, so you'll see many punctuation errors & gramatical errors....but, like they say....that's how I roll.

So. We've had only a few inches of snow this season, so far (about 10 in total)....and my kids are all desperately hoping that this is going to be very snowy like the forecasters are predicting. (Yes, I have weird kids, they actually like the snow. Not shoveling it mind you...just playing in it and watching the tv for a notice that their school is closed because of it)

Here's a little taste of the snow we had last year.

This was in March of 08. I believe when this storm was finally over we had about 26 inches. (falling at a rate of 2 inches an hour)

We were running out of places to shovel it from out of the driveway! So the kids decided to pile it up on the front lawn and build their own little snowboarding ramp because the roads were to hazardous to travel to the actual ski resort.

Lots of hot chocolate, lots of fun and best of all, no broken bones! Happy Winter everyone!

(oh, btw, I see I spelled 'gramatical' wrong, above. lol.

Water Muffins

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I love love love water! Yesterday we went to the beach at Kleinmond, and I got to play in the water there. Then we came back to Ouma's house and I watered all her plants and the lawn and the pool and my feet and the patio with her hose. Of course I was sopping wet afterwards.


Today it is raining, so I don't even need a hose to get wet.

Speaking of getting wet, here is my recipe for Water Muffins.


Needed:

1 Muffin Tin
1 Big Mixing Bowl
1 Small Mixing Bowl
1 Measuring Cup
1 Big Wooden Spoon
Water
Ice Cubes (optional)


To Make:

1. Set the temperature to a nice warm day.
2. Have Mommy fill the Big Mixing Bowl with water (and ice cubes, if used).
3. Use the Measuring Cup to carefully fill each muffin cup with Water to exactly overflowing.
4. Pour the remaining Water into the Small Mixing Bowl.
5. Stir the muffin cups and Small Mixing Bowl with Big Wooden Spoon.
6. Put Water into Measuring Cup and taste it.
7. Pour all Water on the floor for easy cleanup.
8. Dance on floor, carefully to avoid falling.
9. Mop floor with Mommy's assistance.

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On to other things - a big thanks to Ms. Shannon from Teaching Tinytots at Mommy School for this Proximidade award! She's shared a number of craft ideas on our blog as a guest poster - with a few more coming up soon - so check out her blog for even more ideas!
If you haven't heard of the award already, the award description and rules are as follows: This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.


So I hereby pass the award on to the following eight bloggers...

1. Maria at Very Blessed Mommy
2. Andrea at The Laughs Will Go On...
3. Heather at The Extraordinary Ordinary
4. Lara at Play, Explore, and Learn
5. Allie at No Time For Flash Cards
6. Messy Fun Mommy Life
7. The Days of the Knights
8. Jen at One Moms World

Feel free to pass on as you like! And hoping you all are skating towards an exceptional, breezy, exhilarating Christmas...

Reindeers & Snickerdoodles

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I've finally figured out all about reindeers (not rain dears) and that silly Rednosed Reindeer song. So I was excited to hear about this toddler craft idea from Zander's Mom! Seeing as it's getting real close to Christmas, if you're looking for some quick and easy Christmas ideas, this one is perfect.

And of course Snickerdoodle recipes are wonderful anytime of day or or year...

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It's holly jolly Christmas time again. I haven’t decorated a lot the past couple of years because Zander was so small. Last year he was just walking and was getting into everything and I thought the decorations might be more temptation than I was willing to deal with. But, this year, I went ahead and put up our fake tree and some other decorations. So far he’s only done minor damage….

I remember when I was little and made some homemade decorations. I don’t think any have survived. But it did make me want to make something for Zander. I found a reindeer ornament that I thought was absolutely adorable….and oh so simple.

Items you will need are:

Dark brown cardstock paper
Light brown or tan cardstock paper
Some red and black cardstock paper or similar
Glue
Ribbon or string

1. First I traced Zander’s foot on a piece of the dark brown paper. Then I cut that out.
2. Second, I traced Zander’s hand on a piece of the light brown paper. I folded it over so when I cut it out I had 2 handprints.
3. Then, I glued the hand prints onto the top of the footprint….like antlers.
4. Then I cut out 2 black eyes and a red nose and glued those on the footprint.

VOILA! I have a reindeer.

I punched a little hole in the top to add string and hung it on our tree. Or, you could glue a magnet on the back to hang on your fridge.

I also wrote his name and the year on the back so I could remember how old he was when his hands and feet were this size.

He didn’t have a lot of participation in making this….but he liked having me trace his hands and feet - especially his feet…..although it tickled him so he kept moving them.

From Zander and Me

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I love baking this time of year and it seems my favorite cookie for Christmas is the Snickerdoodle. These are super easy to make and soooo delicious.

Here is my all time favorite recipe:

You will need the following:

1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon


1. Mix thoroughly butter, oil, sugar and eggs.

2. Blend in flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt.

3. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.

4. Mix the 2 tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl; roll rounded dough balls in this mixture.

5. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.
(Do not overbake, even if you think they aren't done, they will harden as they cool.)

From Home On The Range

Enjoy!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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About Zander's Mom: I'm a single mom to Zander, my 2 year old son. We also have Anakin, our dog, and Demitra & Gideon, our cats. I'm having fun living my second childhood since having Zander....rediscovering how to have fun....most of the time anyway. ;) Our blog link is: http://zanderandme.blogspot.com/

Homemade Ornaments and Gift Bags

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It may be sunny and warm here, but we are still working on getting into the Christmas spirit. We have a Cambodian crocheted nativity set that Mommy and I play act the Christmas story with every other day or so.

Today Ms. Maria shares some fun Christmas craft ideas for kids!

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Simple and inexpensive are two goals I always have in mind when planning crafts for my kids and when making gifts. This project covered both of those objectives, provided us with two separate crafts, AND made numerous Christmas gifts. I love when that happens! I love even more when I find the main part of the supplies I need, brand new, at a garage sale! That means I've been holding onto 4 packages of clear Christmas bulbs for nearly 5 months now but considering they were 25 cents per package, well worth it!

Since the kids are 2 and 4, I did the honors of pouring the paint into the ornaments myself, although my 4-year-old did help a little. However, choosing the colors was all them, and honestly that was the most important issue for them anyway. For some of the ornaments we mixed colors, some were one colored, some had mixed colors and glitter, some just glue/a drop of water/glitter, some one color paint and glitter, you name it, they created it. Using a mini funnel made it easy for the kids to help pour the glitter into them too. Basically you pour the paint, put a paper towel or rag over the opening and make sure they hold it there while they GENTLY shake the bulb to mix it up. It's a great lesson in handling things with care so as not to break them. We escaped with 20 bulbs unharmed(we had already gifted some before I took the picture), not even a crack.....by a 2 and 4 year old....not too shabby! We left the tops off for them to dry overnight and have been admiring them until we finally decided to wrap them this morning.

As for the wrapping part, since we are giving single ornaments to 18 different recipients (the kids each kept their favorites) I decided to be thrifty with the gift bags as well. I picked up a package of 50 white paper lunch bags from Wal-Mart for less than two dollars, and let the kids paint them and use stamps to decorate them. After they dried I folded the tops down twice, punched 2 holes in the top a couple inches apart, and strung a long, thin ribbon through. I love how they turned out with a simple bow tied on the top and long curls hanging down. I thought about making gift cards also, but then I remembered the many packages of sticker name tags I picked up on clearance after Christmas last year and they worked just great stuck onto the back of the bags.

Back in July when I picked these glass ornaments up and thought "Oh, these will be so cute to throw some paint in for gifts!" I had no idea they'd be popping up in magazines and websites galore this season. I feel so unoriginal now! Just yesterday I picked up our local newspaper to see a huge picture of some just like these and a how-to article from the art store in town that made them. Of course theirs were done with some fancy schmancy paints that only cost $32.95.....for the starter kit.....not including the ornaments! Well, we used the kids' tempera paints, Elmer's glue, and garage sale ornaments(they were brand new in the box!), and no one will ever know the difference! In fact, I think that everyone who receives these will love them because not only were they made with love but they were even wrapped in something a little extra special!

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Maria is married to her best friend and stay-at-home-mom to her 2 and 4 year old. Having overcome infertility and miscarriages before being blessed with them, she truly appreciates the opportunity she has been given...to be a mother. She can be found blogging at http://veryblessedmommy.blogspot.com/ sharing her everyday experiences with mothering, crafting, teaching, and baking, just living a simple life and loving it!

Seven Factoids

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I have been having lots of fun filling up my water bucket in the pool and watering all of Ouma's plants. And watering my shoes. And watering Daddy's feet.

It's been a while since we talked about Operation Love Zimbabwe. We are still planning a 2-week giveaway to inform blog readers everywhere about the tragedies that are taking place in Zimbabwe - like the cholera epidemic that has killed 1,000 or so people already. And we want to let them know how they can help.

We've got a couple of guest posts about Zimbabwe lined up and lots of great gifts, too. We can't wait to start giving them away! Of course, we are always looking for more...

And we're having to move up the date a little. Cuz we are going to Zimbabwe ourselves now, you see. Right at the beginning of February. To run an orphanage and farm there. So we'll have to get this giveaway underway and done before then so we can make sure everything gets shipped out in time. This operation's now planned for January 18-31st. We'll give you more details as the time gets closer.

Once again, thanks for everyone who has helped keep this blog going with guest posts this month! You are all very much appreciated.

Just wanted to share a few photos of some of my crazy stunts while we were packing things up in Mozambique...

And we're still catching up on some memes and awards. Thanks to Simply Stork for this 7 factoids meme. So here are 7 factoids about us:

1. We like to read. Both of us. My favorite book at the moment is Happy Birthday, Moon. I love how the moon talks back by echoing everything Bear says. And Mommy is currently trying to make it through Turnbull by Agnes Sligh.
2. I was born in the water. But I don't like getting my face wet. Though I do love the ocean and swimming in the pool. Mommy doesn't mind getting her face wet, but she doesn't like deep water at all.
3. Our toenails are red. Except mine look a little messy, and one of Mommy's toenails is quite smudged from when I stepped on her foot while the polish was still wet. I LOVE red toenails now!
4. We like listening to Christmas music! I sing along to "Away in a Manger." Mommy's favorite at the moment is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns. And we both like Boney M's "Mary's Boy Child." Oh, and I really like Charlotte Church's Christmas CD. And my cousin says studies on mice show that 75% have an increase in brain function after being subjected to Christmas music continuously for a month.
5. We like berry flavored lip gloss! My Mozambique cousins got me started on lip gloss, and I am quite good at putting it all over my chin now. But Mommy puts hers on for me so it goes directly on my lips instead of my chin. I like smacking and licking my lips!
6. We don't go to bed on time at nights. Here it is 11:38 p.m. right now.
7. We ate lemon popsicles for supper tonight. I love popsicles! Especially after running around outside flapping my arms in the wind and spinning in circles. And then I got a bubble bath afterwards to get all the stickiness off.

And we are hereby tagging the following:

1. Give Me a Second To Think About It...
2. Ma Vie Follie
3. Somebody Loved
4. See Kori Rant
5. The Laughs Will Go On...
6. If Mom Says OK

Tag! you're it...please tell us more about yourselves if you don't mind :o)
This is how it works.

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6)
3. Write 7 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Why We Honor the Name of Charlotte Moon

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How did you choose your children's names? This was a big challenge for us before Esmé was born. I had very stringent criteria - not on the top 100 list, not belonging to anyone I know, must have a nice meaning, and shouldn't be easy to make into a playground taunt...

Today's guest poster is Jennifer Sabin from Family Musings. Here her husband shares the meaningful story behind their beautiful 1-year-old Charlotte's name.

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Charlotte “Lottie” Moon was born in 1840 to a wealthy Virginia family. Her mother encouraged her education and although it was unusual for a woman of her time, Lottie learned eight languages and earned a Master of Arts. Lottie’s intelligence and sense of humor attracted the attention of a Harvard professor who asked her to marry him. But Lottie turned down marriage and spent her life as a missionary to the Chinese people.

Single women were not usually sent as missionaries, but Lottie believed there was no barrier too great for God. She found financial support from Baptist women in Virginia and she moved to China. She served through three wars. During the Boxer Rebellion, she disguised herself as a Chinese man and snuck behind enemy lines so she could minister to suffering people. Later, during the Chinese Revolution, she took on duties as a hospital administrator when she found a local hospital had been abandoned by fleeing doctors.

Lottie spent her life trying to make the glory of God known. She worked tirelessly, and she wrote letters home encouraging more Christians to take seriously the call of Jesus to demonstrate God’s love throughout the world.

After the Chinese Revolution, a famine struck China. Lottie continued to put the needs of others above her own. As she saw people starving, she gave away all she had to save them. She spent the last of her own money buying food for others; she gave until she had nothing left to give. As she slowly starved, her Christian friends grew worried about her deteriorating health. They tried to send her back to America to recover, but it was too late. On Christmas Eve of 1912, Charlotte Moon died; she weighed less than 60 pounds.

But, that ending is not sad or tragic because Lottie did not really lose anything. She lived looking toward eternity, and now she lives forever. She lived and died believing the words of her Savior who promised that God sees our actions, knows our hearts and rewards those who love him. Lottie lived the command of Jesus: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life” (John 6:27).

We chose the name of Charlotte Moon for our daughter because we pray our Charlotte will have the same wisdom, strength, determination and faith as her namesake. We pray her name will be her constant reminder of the singular focus that should drive the Christian life. And we pray her name will also serve us as a constant reminder of our role as her parents—to teach her to love God with all her heart, all her soul, all her mind and all her strength, and to love her neighbor as herself. Whether God calls her to live that love in a far-off land is His choice.

Bruce & Jennifer Sabin

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First posted November 27, 2007

Parenting

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We went to the beach yesterday and I had lots of fun boogie boarding and jumping the waves with Daddy! It was cold but so fun, I didn't mind at all!
I did hurt my elbow, so I've been saying owie a lot and crying and not doing anything with my right arm. But this morning I was back to picking up the cat and dragging her around the house. We went to the doctor and waited in his office for 1 1/2 hours (where I threw my bottle around and blocked the front door and insisted horses were donkeys), and he said there was really nothing wrong (something about dislocating the elbow but not really a dislocation that should be better by itself in another day or so), so I can't manipulate my parents too much anymore.
Thanks to The Mommy...Etc for tagging us on this meme!
Here goes...The Family Photo comes first:
1. How many kids? One
2. Ages? Esmé is 20 months.
3. What time does our day start? Since we are on holiday with no regular routine, this is a great question that I'd love the answer to! Usually somewhere between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
4. Breakfast? A few spoons of oatmeal, a few bites of a hot cross bun, a grape and a half, and maybe some dry cat food.
5. Does she watch TV? We didn't have it while in Mozambique, but she watched her Barney DVD over and over and over and over, plus some other DVDs and short online videos at from totlol.com. And now we're getting acquainted with South African television...
6. Favorite activities? Watching Barney, going to the beach, playing with Barbies and other babies, naming objects and things in pictures, coloring/painting/cutting/writing, washing dishes and sweeping and otherwise "helping" in the kitchen, skateboarding, and doing tricks with her Daddy.
7. Do I get a break during the day from Esmé? Who needs a break??? Well, not at the moment. Except for naptime, I guess... If I'm lucky, that is about 3 hours. In Mozambique Ms. Cathrine watched Esmé in the mornings for about 3 hours, too, so I could get my Maranatha work done.
8. How do we end our day? Depends on if Esmé is crashing yet or not, seeing as we're not on a regular routine at the moment. If she's doing okay, it's bathtime, medicine and toothbrush and lotion and brush and jammies, and then reading a few books (or maybe the same book over and over). I always include at least one Bible story and usually limit it to 5 books. Then a short prayer and I nurse her (still, yes, I know). If all goes well, she falls asleep, otherwise I lie next to her for hours singing to her and trying to keep her laying down on her bed.
9. Best parenting advice/tips? Please, give me some! I don't feel wise enough to pass any on at this stage! I guess I've got advice for newborns, and after we pass through the terrible twos maybe I'll be able to pass on some advice for this stage. Hindsight is 20/20 and all...
10. PASS IT ON: Z's Mom, MessyFunMommyLife, Grasping for Objectivity, Teaching Tinytots, and Here to There.

Living Overseas

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Living overseas is very educational! Mommy wants me to be very smart (and well-versed in toilet paper use), so that's why we're over here in Africa...

Today Ms. Heidi shares some of the things she's learned. Mommy says she can most definitely relate - she hasn't unpacked her hair dryer once in the past year or so - it's too complicated to find a transformer to plug it into...

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Things I’ve learned from living overseas:

1. Wad it, roll it, stuff it, or glue it, but ALWAYS have toilet paper on your person.
2. Eat all the beef jerky and Sam’s Choice peanut butter cups you can while in the states because you’re going to miss them.
3. Hairstyles vary widely outside of your own country; therefore, forego packing the hair dryer and stash some chocolate instead. Or a book in a language you can actually read.
4. Bribe, plead, threaten, or beg, but ALWAYS have the doctor prescribe Phenergan. For the kids. To knock them out on 30 hour plane trips.
5. If that doesn’t work, you can take it yourself. Someone’s got to have some relief.
6. It looks glamorous on TV or at church services. In real life it’s not.
7. Sometimes that ever-present toilet paper comes in handy as a nose plug. Especially in confined places and Squatty Potties.
8. Internet is one of the greatest things known to mankind.
9. God has a sense of humor. Okay, I probably suspected this while in the states, but overseas living has confirmed it.
10. In spite of the Phenergan moments, being in the center of God’s will is absolutely the most exciting and rewarding adventure you will ever have. Albeit sometimes stinky….

About Heidi: I am the mother of three, wife of one, and a cross culture worker, currently living in Asia. I blog about life overseas, faith, kids, and yes, squatty potties at www.momsministryandmore.blogspot.com I’d love to have you visit me!

Flashes of Farewell

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We are having a breezy balmy day here in the Cape... I went to church this morning and made friends in my class. After class I got into the manger with the baby doll that is pretend baby Jesus.

Then Mommy & Daddy had this funny idea that I would sit still through church. Not me! So they got lots of exercise running after me. Though during the children's story I got to walk up front all by myself. Daddy finally came after me when I disappeared for a little bit, but I was just inspecting the textures of the wall up front.

Mommy's been collecting tidbits of memories from our last few days in Mozambique. Here are some of those memories...

1. Pondering star-studded skies through coconut palm fronds.
2. Watching our own personal fireworks display as a big transformer blew and burned.
3. Getting ready for bed by flashlight.
4. Cold baths/showers.
5. Fresh fried doughnuts outside Shoprite.
6. MCel vendors in yellow vests jumping in front of our car as we drive.
7. Mango juice dripping all over my clothes.
8. Living out of suitcases.
9. Bartering for unnecessary batiks from street vendors while eating pizza at Mimmo's.
10. Watching Groban leaving the yard to go back to his owner - with his head high and tail wagging.
11. A last swim in the pool.
12. Ignoring the chaos while listening to my MP3 player.
13. Hiding behind packing boxes and walking through mazes everywhere.
14. Trying to find stuff that had been accidentally packed away in boxes.
15. Playing with Grandma & Auntie Susan and my cousins while Mommy and Daddy are busy.
16. Playing Barbies with my cousins while ignoring the chaos all around.
17. Saying goodbye and haggling over pay with Ms. Cathrine and Ms. Precious for the last time.
18. Police trying to wave us over after running a yellow light on the way to the airport - Daddy just shook his head at him and kept driving.
19. Sleeping in the car at the airport loading zone while Daddy got our baggage checked in, and then almost getting ticketed for being too long in the loading zone.
20. Paying $250 for excess baggage since South African Airways didn't want to honor our British Airways ticket baggage limits.
21. Learning to fasten my seatbelt on the plane - over and over and over.
22. Learning to butter my bread on the plane.
23. Practicing my new jumping skills on the plane. (That wasn't turbulence, folks...)
24. Eating chips with my new (boy) friend on the plane.
25. Watching South African TV.
26. Internet/Barney withdrawal symptoms.
27. Making the transition from buying grapes for outrageous prices to buying mangos for outrageous prices. We are gorging on grapes right now in the Cape.

Toddler Twister

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Now this is one game I HAVE to get Mommy to set up for me! This looks like awesome fun, and easy enough for me AND my monkeys to figure out...


Thanks again, Ms. Shannon from Teaching Tinytots!


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We played a long game of toddler twister last night. Even their stuffed animals got into the act:


For those who are wondering, this is how you make toddler twister:


NEED:

1. twister game mat
2. twister spinner
3. red, blue, green and yellow construction paper cut into squares to fit the back of the spinner
4. glue
5. scissors

TO MAKE:

1. take the spinner out and pop the spinner out
2. glue your construction paper squares onto the back of the spinner and let dry
3. when dry pop the spinner back in so it is facing the solid color side

Now spin and have your LO's go and stand on that colored circle or they can put a stuffed animal on that color square!

Driving

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Mommy won't let me drive yet. I don't know why. Daddy lets me do it, and I can get where I'm going just fine! But Mommy just says not to rush - my time will come.

Well, today we've got a guest post from Ms. Sheila, who lets her kids drive. Well, at least one of them...

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Good Morrrrrning Mozambique! (and people of the world everywhere!)

My name is Sheila, I'm guest bloggin today. (Everybody raise their glass and say, "Sheila!" ) I'm from Ohio...a long...cold....way off from Mozambique. I have a blog over at http://www.maviefolle.com should you ever want to visit. I don't have any babies, as mine are all teens now. (Yes, you may say a prayer for me, thank you).

My Middle Child is now learning to drive. (Did I already request prayers?) We practice driving in cemeteries. It's the ideal place because they have little 'streets' there, some stop signs, forks in the road and basically it's pretty dead there. I mean, you can't kill anyone. And this idea works out well with my own obsession with cemeteries. I love to walk around them and check out the graves and the history.

So when I feel the pressure on my chest from her happily taking a turn a little too fast, we can get out, take a break and check out some unique headstones. Life is good.

When I taught my oldest to drive 2 years ago, it was very scary. For some reason she couldn't get it into her head that you needed to slow down a little bit when turning a corner. I'd start out calmly saying, "Okay, now braaake.....brake....(panic sets in) BRAKE BRAKE BRAKE!" She's say...."Oh, don't worry, I know what I'm doing". I think I may have aged 5 years in that 6 months of training. And I now understand why they put those little handle bar thingies in the car by the top of the door.

My youngest will learn to drive in just 18 months. He is just like his father. He can't stand crowds, or waiting for anything over like a minute. My husband has decided that HE'LL teach the boy to drive. Which, for all my complaining on having to teach both girls, makes me even more nervous than the thought of me having to teach all 3.

See, Shane (my hubby) did the majority of our driving on a 2-week road trip out west (the western US). By the end of the 2nd day, after the kids helped him pry my foot out of the dashboard (you know....I was looking for that invisible brake) I was a nervous wreck. He doesn't like trucks.....on the highway.....and MUST...at all costs....NOT be behind them. Or next to them. And no one can drive slow (slow meaning the speed limit + 10 mph)

So I'm not entirely sure I want him to teach the boy to drive. I don't know if the world can handle two of them.

Blue Boat

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We are in South Africa (probably until just after Christmas)! Near Cape Town, staying with my Ouma. And my cousin Emily, who is just one month older than me, came to visit and go swimming with me today! She has a baby brother, just born in November. I like to watch him sleep and to tickle his toes to see if I can wake him up. I'm not so keen on sharing things with my cousins yet, but we're working on that.

We've got lots to say about visiting the zoo yesterday and then the plane ride from Mozambique, and playing with my cousin, but this internet is outrageously slow, so we can't upload photos yet. But since we've been so behind in blogging lately, we've got plenty of blog fodder to keep you entertained for a little while... Plus lots of guest posters - thank you all very much!

So for today, here is something Mommy wrote earlier about my favorite blue boat, pictured here riding on my ocean felt piece.

She had her little plastic blue boat in hand as we walked out the front door. The big blue pool caught her eye, and with determination she beelined for it, ready to sail her bitty boat in its expanse.

Close behind, I was prepared to grab her as she lowered the boat into the water. She stepped down onto the first step and squatted, getting her diaper wetter than it already was.

Not wanting to necessitate any valiant rescues, I picked her up and set her on the pool side, trying to redirect her to the mangos, the bunnies, the roses, the cabbage in the garden.

The draw of the blue expanse was just too much. So I gave up and carried her, much to her dismay, back indoors where she could explore in relative safety.

She remained determined to put that boat in water! So I pulled out a big plastic tub, filled it with water, and set it on the kitchen floor.

After several minutes of happy play, she chanced onto another safety hazard. Dipping the boat into the water, she filled it and dumped its contents on the floor. Now the floor was slippery! She danced, relishing the extra movement provided by the skid factor.

As I admonished her to stay still and stepped around the corner for a mop, she careened out of control and landed on her head with a minor thud. Sobs filled the room.

A few hugs and kisses later, all was better, and the blue boat was banished to the bathtub with no fuss.

Why are we so attracted to blue boats? And deep pools? And dancing out of control?

Why do we see God’s gentle guidances and reprimands as being so harsh?

And why are we so upset with God when we land on our head with a thud?

Microwave Bisquick Playdoh

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Here's another fun thing to do by Ms. Shannon at Teaching Tinytots.

To make microwave Bisquick playdoh, you'll need:

1. 2 cups Bisquick
2. 1 cup salt
3. 2 cups water
4. 1 TBSP cream of tartar or alum
5. 1 TBSP oil
6. food coloring or kool aid, or add cocoa, peppermint, pumpkin spice, or whatever strikes your fancy, too!

Pour ALL into a MICROWAVE safe bowl and microwave for 3 minutes. Stop and scrape and stir the bowl.

Microwave for another 3 mins scrape and stir.

It should be ready for kneading now; if not, cook for another minute or so!

This is the closest I can get to real playdoh! Can't get that great fresh playdoh smell, though! Did you know they did a survey and that is the most recognized scent that brings back fond memories?

Beira Photos

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Daddy was up in Beira in October, doing some work on a new school there. Here are several random photos from his trip that I thought were cool and wanted to share them with you.

Though I wouldn't want to ride in most of these boats...

These are some huge pretty fish!

This was some fancy building that was never finished, and now is occupied by just about anyone who fights their way in. I wonder who's collecting rent?

'Tis the Season

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Meet Ms. Jennifer, mom to Charlotte Moon, who is just a little younger than me and just adorable - I'd love to play with her! You can see more on her blog: Family Musings.

Anyway, she is guest posting today about some great gift opportunities, so if you're having a hard time coming up with just the right Christmas gifts, we've got the answers here!

And did we mention before that World Vision is the largest charitable organization still operating in Zimbabwe? Thanks, Ms. Jennifer, for highlighting these opportunities.

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Each year, there seems to be an increasing awareness, at least among people I know, that we should do more for the less fortunate that surround us. But it can be hard to determine how to help people best. One way my family has decided to help for the past several years, is through gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalog.

Following the style of major retailers, I present to you my World Vision picks for gifts by recipient category.

For Him -

• Microfinance: World Bicycle Relief - Help fund a revolving loan which will allow 10 people to purchase a bicycle so they can transport their goods to various markets. ($200)
• Train a Farmer - Is your man the 'salt of the earth' type? Then this might be the gift for him! Help a farmer father in a third world country learns the skills he needs to provide for his family long-term. ($35)

For Her -

• Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls and Women - If a family sells their daughter into prostitution, it is often done out of desperation. That family needs food or medical care for another member. WV has shelters to take these girls in and rescue them from 12+ sexual encounters a day. Women who make it out of the sex trade often need medical treatment and education. Your gift will help provide these essentials so they can start a new life.(Starting at $25)
• Feed a mother and her children - We count calories to lose weight... mothers in Angola count calories to make sure they gain enough weight. ($50)

For Teen Girls -

• Girls and Women Education Fund - Many teenage girls have no idea that there are other girls their same age that don't have the basic skills of reading or writing. Open their eyes to the bigger picture with this gift. As a former educator, this one really hits home. Many times, girls in third world countries must stay home to care for their younger family members and miss out on the valuable skills and tools an education would provide (Starting at $25)

For Teen Guys -

• Fishing Kit - For most US teens, if they fish, it is for fun or for sport. But that is not the case for guys in developing countries. Their family needs the fish they catch, to eat and to sell. ($40)
• Computer and Technology Fund - Internet 2.0 hasn't reached everyone yet. But you can do your part to help students and workers have a brighter future with all of the right tools. ($100)

For Children -

• One Chicken - Little ones always love cute, baby animals. Honor the children in your life by sharing a baby chicken with someone in another country. Chickens are a source of revenue when they lay eggs, which can help sustain a family in hard times. ($13)
• Two Soccer Balls - Playtime is important for every child. In developing countries, children often make balls out of whatever they have on hand - twine, twigs, trash. Plus, this gift is matched so it is really like giving away four soccer balls. ($16)

For Teachers -

• Art and Music Instruction - Creative outlets are important for everyone, maybe even more so for those stuck in poverty. Being able to express oneself is freeing, and may even lead to a home-based business. It can also foster emotional development. ($20)
• Two Bibles - There are many ways to educate people, and World Vision also provides Bibles to those who want them for their religious education. The Word of the Lord never goes out in vain and these Bibles will be cherished by the individuals and families that receive them. (Starting at $36)

For Co-workers -

• Ten Fruit Trees - Make one gift that covers your entire office. I am sure they will appreciate this more than that fruitcake or tin of popcorn you were thinking about. ($60)
• $350 in Necessities - Many people also wonder if they can help out those below the poverty line here in the US. And the answer is yes. World Vision has programs here too. I particularly like this one because it takes a relatively small gift and, through matching grants and in-kind gifts, turns it into a much larger one. ($25)

I hope you have been inspired to do something a little different this year. Even if you just grab a stocking stuffer from World Vision, you will have made a difference.

I've listed the suggested donations for each of these items, but there is some flexibility. You can also search for gifts by price level if some of these are too steep for your situation. Click on the links to learn more about how the money you give will help those in need.

Also, once you've selected and paid for your gifts, World Vision also gives you the option to print out very nice cards that you can use to let the intended recipients know what has been done in their honor.

Scuba Expert

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We went to Ponta do Ouro again the first weekend of November! Daddy has been working on his scuba certification, and now he is duly certified.

He got to find Nemo.
And look like a fish and play with the fish.
Plus I got to play on the beach a lot! I love the beach!
Making footprints with Daddy is lots of fun!

Super Easy Beanbags

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Hey! I've been a little out of sorts watching everything disappear into boxes around here and even having to sleep in a different bed. But I had a really good nap today, so I just might survive!

Oh, and an update? Mommy says we are on the way to Zimbabwe, where I'll get to play with other kids at an orphanage there! We've got some details to work out and a few trips to take before we get there, but I think that's where we're going...

In the meantime, here is a guest post from Ms. Shannon. Mommy gets lots of cool ideas of things for me to do from her blog, so we're excited to share some of those on OUR blog!

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Hi, I'm from TeachingTinytots. I have 2 wonderful girls that I love! I was a preK teacher for 11 years and worked in all the age groups during that time. I loved teaching my oldest before she went to Catholic school. She is doing wonderful in 2nd grade. I teach my youngest at home and plan to until she goes to Kindergarten. I started working on my Early Childhood Degree before I got pregnant and hope to finish after my youngest goes to school. Please check out my site: teachingtinytots.blogspot.com

S loves bean bag games. I will be posting lots of bean bag games over time, so here is a super easy super fast way to make them.

You'll need:

1. An old sock that no one wears (w/o any holes)
2. Ziploc baggies
3. Rice or beans

To make them:

1. Fill the baggies w/ about 1/2 c of rice or beans.
2. Seal shut.
3. Now place into the foot of the sock and tie the leg part into a knot so it is closed and the baggie of beans can't come out.

Now you have some beanbags ready for use whenever you need them!

Trippin' to Tofo

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A VERY long time ago - way back on the first weekend of October, we took a really long trip to Tofo Beach. Daddy was working up in Beira and on his way home, so me an' Mommy an' G an' R drove the whole seven hours up to meet him.

On the way, we had a flat tire, but G is an expert and got the spare on just fine, with only a couple of curious bystanders checking us out.

Here are me an' G an' R chillin' at the bar above the beach.
This is me an' Daddy way way out in the ocean catchin' some waves.

This is the restaurant/bar above the beach.

This is the "chalet" we stayed in. G an' R stayed in a little hut with a donkey camped in front. Seriously.

This was our morning visitor in the self-catering "chalet."

This is the view from our "chalet" (looking away from the beach).

This is me taking a bath and helping myself to some shampoo.

This is Mommy washing my hair. She doesn't undestand why I don't like water in my face when I have no problem getting ocean water in my face with Daddy.

This is me perfectin my skimboarding pose. Workin' it!

OK, now I got it right!

Update

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Esmé's Mommy here.

Our internet access ended a little sooner than planned with a crashed modem last Thursday! So I'm just squeezing in a quick update at my sister's house before rushing back to the chaos of our home.

Yes, we are still packing up. We are officially no longer working for Maranatha. We're not quite sure where we're headed yet, or we would have told you sooner. Honestly... So right now we're trying to figure out what to do with our stuff. Fun!

I will be trying to get a few posts and guest posts scheduled and check in with you again a little later, hopefully when we know a little more.

Now it's back to sneezing at dusty boxes and running through mazes and trying to find food to eat and dishes to use as we work to empty our house as much as possible!

Oh yes, I am still looking for some guest posters this month if you are interested! And if you've emailed me on this already, thanks so much - I will get back to you shortly!