fun-bobs

My kids are generally pretty good eaters. But oh my, lately they have no interest in anything healthy. Snack time rolls around and all Caden wants is "somesing cunchy", which pretty much means he wants some type of sweet treat. Hannah isn't much better. I'm pretty sure it's just because this time of year there are so many sweet treats to be had that all the other healthy options just don't look quite as appealing. I'm not worried about it, I know they'll be back to their regular eating habits again soon. But in the meantime I do want them to eat something healthy every once in a while.

Hannah has been very into cooking and baking lately. She LOVES to watch foodnetwork and is constantly explaining to me how to make something. So, I figured if she was involved in making the healthy snacks that she'd enjoy eating them a lot more. So we decided to make little kabobs on toothpicks. It was just a square of cheese and a green grape. I remembered doing that with the kids when they were younger because they both loved (still do) eating food with a toothpick. And guess what? It worked! They both LOVED the idea and Hannah was coming up with all sorts of other things we could make into kabobs. Like red pepper and cheese, meat and cheese, strawberries and kiwis, black olives and cheese. Do you notice a theme here? We like our cheese! Anyway, Caden couldn't say kabob and kept asking us if they were "funbobs", and the name stuck!

Merry Christmas...a little late

I never send Christmas cards. I always intend to, every year I say "this is the year", but it never happens. Until this year! So, although I do not have a fun letter updating all of you on our family happenings in 2010, I do have a picture, and that's more then I can say I've done in the past nine years.



God has continued to pour out his blessings upon our family. That doesn't mean that this year has been without struggle, but we can see God's hand working in our family and we are so thankful for all the ways he provides for us. The biggest way was in the sending of his son Jesus as a baby to take away our sin and give us God's righteousness! What could be better then that!

Christmas Craft

Writing this blog has been on my to do list since...let's see, November! But then somehow, as it always does, life got crazy and blogging got pushed to the back burner. So whilst it may be a little late in the season to start this craft, I decided to blog about it anyway because it was so much fun to make and because I know your kids will love it!...and you will too.

Every year at Thanksgiving Chris's mom's side of the family gets together and after our turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie the ladies make a craft. This year we made an advent calendar. Well, they made advent calendars and I sat at home taking care of my little pumpkin Hannah who was sick with pneumonia. But anyway, I made one that night at home. I was so excited to get started once I saw theirs that I stayed up until 1 am working on it!


Here's what you need

mini muffin tin (which you can purchase at Walmart for less then $5.)
card stock, decorative Christmas paper, stickers and embellishments
adhesive magnetic strips
glue gun or tape
plate stand

You begin by making 24 squares out of card stock (2 1/4 inch).
Then add whatever embellishments you want.


Cut two small pieces of magnet and attach them to the back of each square.


Finally, fill each muffin tin with a piece of candy or a small piece of paper with a Christmas related activity for the whole family to enjoy.


Here's some ideas.

Watch a Christmas movie
Bake Christmas cookies
play a game as a family
Buy a gift for a family in need
Listen to Christmas music
Do a random act of kindness
Decorate a gingerbread house
Send Christmas cards
Read the story of Jesus birth

The Three Pilgrims - by Hannah Wassenaar

Once upon a time there was three little pilgrims. Samoset was their friend. The three little pilgrims had to work as hard as they could. They wanted to have a great time there and it was soon winter. Samoset helped them learn how to build houses and corn. Mary was one little girl, then Samo and then Pagana. Mary worked so hard that she got a little sick but she did not die. Soon there was other little girls and a lot of moms and dads died. Samoset wasn't way to sad about the parents, he was still glad the children were there. He would have been so sad if the kids would have died.

There was a bad ship coming across the sea. Suddenly the ship turned and Samoset was glad because he had heard that many bad ships were coming to America. But that boy (Pagana) wasn't telling the truth, he was telling a lie. That boy was now dead b/c he got really sick. The boy loved Jesus though but he disobeyed him a little, he tried not to but it happened. Samoset was very happy that the boy loved Jesus like him. He taught the children how to plant corn and zucchini and healthy tomatoes.

Samoset was a friend of all the little children. Suddenly there was bears all over the place and Samoset was glad he built houses and Samoset shooted the bears and they had bear meat for dinner and pumpkin pie for dessert and cornbread for the little side dish. Samoset was very happy that he obeyed God and worshiped him and went to church and liked God and not Satan.

The End.

The First Thanksgiving - by Hannah Wassenaar

Once upon a time there was a big town that the Indians called America. It was almost winter when they arrived. They had to build little houses and they did not have ovens or soft, comfy beds. They didn't have grills or backyards either, it was just plain little houses.

There was a man named Samoset. Samoset got kidnapped and he sailed across the ocean and got kidnapped way on the other side of the ocean. Then he went to another place where the people were nice. At last his friend found an American. Was Samoset going back home? He did not know if he was going home but he believed God.

Samoset, at last after 33 days, was back home but there was no on one there. Samoset felt sad. His houses were broke and during the winter when he was gone everyone had died of a sickness.

But then he heard kids; he heard grown-ups and pilgrims coming through the woods. Suddenly there was a crowd of people and Indians. And they were carrying 18 huge turkeys, pumpkins and corn and 8 squashes and zucchinis. Samoset was very happy that he had trusted God. The people helped Samoset rebuild his houses and they became friends. From now on the pilgrim people will be his friend. Samoset will never forget that day and that his friends had helped him. Jesus had helped Samoset during all those hard times.

The End.

Florida

I love my kids dearly, but let's be honest we all need a break sometimes right? Well, I got mine about two weeks ago when I flew by myself to Florida for five days. Do you know how easy it is to fly through security with only ONE pair of shoes to remove?? ...And to sit on the plane by myself in quiet and read a book...not one, but two entire books read in peace! And to eat meals, the entire meal, while it's still HOT! Oh man, it was Heavenly! There was no rushing around taking kids potty, brushing teeth, wiping snotty noses, combing hair, making sure we were out the door in time so we could be home in time for naps so we could avoid major melt downs! It was just...easy! It was wonderful to spend time, uninterrupted talking with my mom and sister and loving on sweet baby Kate! The only thing that would have made it better was having my sister Maria there! We missed you!

I was feeling slightly guilty for having such a great time without my family. But then I realized, it's OK to take a break sometimes! In fact, it's GOOD! By Monday morning I felt completely refreshed and ready to be a mommy again. I was ready to be hugged and cuddled...and yelled at and puked on! I just needed that little break.

And THANK-YOU mom and Dad for the ticket! What a blessing!

Here are some pics of the trip.









Isn't she SUCH a little cutie? She's a perfect mix of Kev and Jen. And by the way, Jenny is doing a GREAT job of being a mommy! Kate is one lucky little girl!

school

As you can see Hannah is loving Kindergarten. She was so excited to go to school on Friday that she sat outside waiting for her ride to come.

Let me back up. Wednesday was Hannah's first day of Kindergarten, it went really well. Chris and I both got to take her which was nice...mostly for me. When we got to the school I about lost it, but I managed to keep it together. Once we got to her classroom we were able to go inside and help her put away her school supplies, chat with the teacher and take pictures. We had written her a note at Kindergarten roundup and I was able to read that to her. They also gave me a Kindergarten Mom's Survival kit with tissues, Hershey kisses and a note about praying for you child. She was happily coloring a picture when we left. I did shed a few tears back at my car. I don't really know why because I wasn't feeling sad. I think I was just overwhelmed with emotion. I look at that little girl and see so many ways that God has been faithful to our family. I also was just so thankful that I was leaving her at a Christian school where I know that Christ is the focus.

The entire way home from dropping off Hannah Caden kept saying "I love you mommy. I love you. I love you too." I love that boy! After playing legos with Caden I checked my email and had a message from a mom of one of Hannah's preschool friends. She told me that her daughter was in the same class as Hannah at Trinity! ...And asked me if I wanted to carpool. Um hello, YES! Again I was just so thankful how God was working out all these little details on the very first day of school.

Hannah was all smiles when we picked her up, telling me about how there were 6 boys in her class and 13 girls and how she was so impressed with Maiya because she JUST turned five and she could already do the monkey bars. Doesn't take much to impress a five year old.

Well, bedtime was another story. Partly I think she was just overtired, but she was crying about how she would never have lazy mornings watching cartoons with mom and Cade. I assured her there would be plenty of summer mornings, Saturdays and holidays for watching cartoons. My goodness, she probably watches cartoons one morning a week. Maybe. But now she has to start freaking out about not watching cartoons!

The next morning she seemed fine. I kept reminding her that I couldn't walk her into school that day, she had to do it herself. She was fine. Until we got to school. I dropped her off and she started to cry, she was scared to walk in with all the big kids. I pried her off me and told her she HAD to go in. I mean, I was in a line of cars with a hundred kids being dropped off, I couldn't sit there and console her for five minutes. She walked into school crying. All by herself. With all the big kids. My heart was aching for her because I remember those feeling all too well myself. I prayed and prayed that she would be fine and it wouldn't send her entire day into a tailspin.

Thankfully, someone helped her get to class and she was completely fine when I picked her up. Now we've started carpooling with Maiya so she has someone to walk in with. Already by Friday morning she was begging to please go to Kindergarten and she can't wait for Monday.

So we survived the first week. Yes, there was lots of melt downs after school from being WAY to over tired. She hasn't quite adjusted to falling asleep early enough but I know we'll get there. I am overwhelmed with God's faithfulness to us! It's amazing to watch your kids grown up! Such a blessing they are!