Roller-skating ~ Geriatric Style

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The kids have been begging to go roller-skating, literally since last spring. I’ve been deflecting.

Repeatedly.

In my defense, I did take them one day in April, but the rink owners forgot about the homeschool skate and I had a van full of screaming children. Not so fun.

Today, while my husband was off helping at church, I somehow thought it was the PERFECT time to take all four of my non-skating children to the rink.

You do the math and let me know how I was thinking I could keep them all moving and upright. My brilliance at times can be overwhelming.

But those roller-skating rink people…they are the smart ones. I think a tired mother came up with this idea.

 

The girls got brave…

 

And I even had a little break from pushing Kaleb around the rink…

  

The kids had so much fun and as I was pushing Kaleb around he was little squealing and yelling over the music ~ “This is SO MUCH FUN and the best day EVER!!! woohooooooooooo!”

But ohhhhh…my aching back and feet.

After 62 Years…

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My friend Libby posted this on her Facebook page recently and it just made me smile. This couple has been married for 62 years and this was just a ‘spur of the moment’ thing when they walked into the Mayo Clinic for a check-up.

 

 

p.s.

 

If you are actually reading my blog live and in person {as opposed to in a reader}, you might have noticed that I removed a little something in my right sidebar…the BlogHer ads.

It was nothing against the company at all and we parted on lovely terms ~ just some issues on my part that I felt were limiting me in what I could and couldn’t do…and since it’s my blog, I wanted to have a little more say-so. All that to say, with the ads being removed it gives me the opportunity to offer you all a little more too in the way of giveaways and such! And I love being able to share fun things with others, so that really is a win-win for me. :)

 

Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting {Recipe}

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Last year I posted a carrot cake recipe that was great. Today, I’m sharing one that takes that recipe and completely kicks it up a notch.

A-mazing. As in lick the bowl with the frosting clean {and don’t think that I didn’t do that…because I did}.

I’m just telling it like it is.

The cake recipe hasn’t changed any, it’s the frosting that’ll do you in…which means you should make the carrot cake recipe that I posted earlier, skip the glaze and the cream cheese icing from that recipe and just make a VAT of this lovely frosting.

Feel free to print off a 4x6 recipe card for the Carrot Cake with Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting and add it to your ‘try this sooner rather than later’ stash. You can thank me later {after you’ve gained a good 10 pounds}. I’m only sharing it because I love you all so very much…and don’t want to gain weight alone.

Carrot Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

~ 2 cups flour (I use whole wheat)

~ 2 tsp. baking soda

~ 1/2 tsp. salt

~ 2 tsp cinnamon

~ 3 eggs

~ 2 cups sugar

~ 3/4 cup oil

~ 3/4 buttermilk

~ 2 tsp. vanilla extract

~ 2 cups grated carrot

~ 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

~ 4 oz. flaked coconut

~ 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Mix flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together.

2. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk and vanilla together until smooth. Add in flour mixture, beating until blended.

3. Stir in carrot, pineapple, coconut and pecans.

4. Pour batter into three 9 inch round pans {greased and lined with wax paper}.

5. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or til toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool cakes in pan for 10-15 minutes and then remove from pans.

7. Make frosting recipe below.

 

Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

~ 1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

~ 1/2 cup butter, softened

~ 1 box confectioners sugar

~ 4 oz. shredded coconut, toasted

~ 1 cup pecans, chopped

~ 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. If coconut has not been toasted, spread it on a cookie sheet and broil for a few minutes, making sure to mix it while broiling. Set aside.

2. Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy

3. Gradually beat in confectioners sugar at a low speed until light and fluffy.

4. Mix in vanilla and about 3 oz.  of the toasted coconut.

5. Frost cake and garnish with extra toasted coconut.

6. Start planning an exercise routine.

 

When Your 5 Year Old is Bored…

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Do not leave him sitting in front of a laptop. Unless of course you’d like to return and find this…

I love my son…I just hope to redirect his ability to destruct things. Anyone know where to pick up spare keyboard parts really cheap?

Anyone?

Bible in 90 Days {#B90Days} ~ Week 4 Check-in

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Just a quick update this week. No deep notes or thoughts. Basically, I’m about a day behind and sincerely hoping that I can catch up tonight after this post.

Should life go according to plan {haha}.

Laurianna has been reading along with me during the challenge. Not at the pace that I am reading, but she has her own Bible in 90 Days reading checklist for 9-12 year olds that we printed off and she put in her Bible.  Here she is set up next to me and working on her reading {and she got a little behind while at camp}.

Just makes this even more fun for me to read now!

Guinness World Records Joins Chick Fil A Kid’s Meals!!

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You all know that I {heart} Chick-fil-A®. Sweet tea. Waffle fries. Yummy chicken. But perhaps the best of all ~ their kid’s meals ROCK!! Instead of cheesy character toys, Chick-fil-A® offers educational and quality kid’s meal toys.

From July 26th until August 28th {or until supplies last} Chick-fil-A® is partnering with Guinness World Records®  and offering five packs in their Kid’s meals featuring “Do Try This at Home” challenges. We received a sample packet of the items pictured {but no cow ~ sniff} and the kids have been having a blast going through the records and seeing how they compare to some of the records mentioned.

One of our kid’s favorites has been the timer and “Do Try This At Home!” disks. The 30 second timer comes with a set of 6 disks with different activities such as “how many jump-rope skips can you make in 30 seconds?” or “how many golf balls can you hold in two hands for 30 seconds?”

The girls turned on the timer and started right in on hopping on one foot…

There are four other Chick-fil-A® Kid’s Meal items that include:

~ A set of Guinness World Records®  cards that have world records set by animals. The cards also include a tanagram on the back.

~ A World Record sports and game booklet which has records broken by athletes around the world. The booklet has two score wheels so you can track the “Do Try this at Home” challenges.

~ A ring of cards that shows Guinness World Records®  holders along with challenges and ideas on things to do at home.

~ A booklet of hobbies and pastimes with challenges, including one set by the largest cup of lemonade ever from Chick-fil-A® operator!

“We hope reading about the Guinness World Records®  achievements and attempting some of the fun activities will inspire kids to strive to set their own records in life,” said Angela Savage, Senior Kids & Family Marketing Consultant for Chick-fil-A, Inc. “The warmer summer months are the perfect time to encourage children to be active and get outside to play with their parents and friends.”

If you receive the same activity twice, you can exchange the duplicate for another activity during the promotion. After the promotion is over the activities can be ordered on line from the Chick-fil-A® shop while supplies last!

When Mommy Refuses to Buy Flip Flops…

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If you are a mean mom {like me} and refuse to buy your daughter another pair of flip flops, she might take matters into her own hands…with a Sharpie.

 

Lunchboxes for Back to School Time!!

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I’m hosting a great giveaway today on my homeschool blog for some Easy Lunchboxes and a cooler bag. Be sure to stop by and enter to win a set ~ and see my thoughts on them!

Just an Old Princess in a Black Shirt

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While Rick was out for a walk with Kaleb, they passed a flower garden with some blossoming day lilies. Kaleb asked if he could pick one for Mommy.

Rick told him he couldn’t {since it wasn’t our garden}.

K: “But I have to pick one for Mommy! She’s a princess!”

R: “Mommy is a princess?”

K: “Yeah. She’s wearing a black shirt.”

R: “Princesses wear black shirts?”

K: “No, princesses wear pretty blue dresses. It’s wonderful.”

Later when Rick was telling me about what Kaleb had said, Zachary was listening and said ~ “Jesus made us ALL princes and princesses.”

We kept walking and Zachary came up to me and put his arm around me and then added, “It doesn’t matter if you’re old or not. You’re still a princess.”

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!

Book Giveaway: A Time to Embrace

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Their marriage has only recently survived a near-divorce. John and Abby are reveling in the miracle that God performed in their marriage when things grow difficult in other areas of their lives. John’s career as the head coach for the high school appears to be at an end. As he and Abby struggle to find answers to what will come next, tragedy strikes.

An accident in the middle of the night brings physical devastation to their lives. Will they be able to move forward in their lives, forgive and bring healing to others around them, or will guilt and regret overpower the miracles they know God can do?

My Thoughts

I have always loved Karen Kingsbury’s books and somehow missed the Timeless Love series. Even though I didn’t read the book prior to this one, A Time to Dance, I was able to pick up the storyline without any problem.  This particular story is one filled with grace, forgiveness and the power of faith ~ I loved it!

The Timeless Love series have recently been re-released with new covers {very nice, I might add} along with an update from Karen in the back as to where the characters in the story are today ~ always fun to see how she envisions them a few years down the road! :) The book also includes a reading group guide.

Find Out More

~ Visit Karen Kingsbury’s website

~ Join Karen’s Facebook fan page

~ Buy Karen’s book at Amazon

The Giveaway

Would you like to win a copy of A Time to Embrace? I have one copy to mail to one of my readers! Leave a comment on this post ~ be sure there is a way for me to contact you. The giveaway will be open until Tuesday, July 27th at 8pm.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Bible in 90 Days ~ Check in Week 3

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This past week I somehow thought that I would have all the time in the world to read and even manage to sneak ahead. We were on vacation and missing two of our kids at camp…and while I was able to spend a few days reading in bulk, the majority of the days were spent playing and having fun.

Which was really ok by me!

Turns out, when all was said and done, I’m only a few chapters behind where I should be. Hooray!! I only made a few notes this week…because really. There’s only so much in Leviticus and Numbers that grab at you, other than the repetition and the endless ways of sacrificing.

The two things that I noted:

~ Israel’s history would have been VERY different {non-existent even} if some of the rules put into effect in Leviticus had been told earlier {Leviticus 18}. Verses 9 and 18 about marrying a sister and/or not being able to marry sisters would have nixed the relationships of Abraham & Sara and also Jacob and Leah/Rachel.

~ Numbers 29:7 just hit home with me this week {being on vacation and al} ~ You must deny yourselves and do no work.

I brought along a DVD for the kids to watch during our trip {captive audience and all} ~ the latest What’s in the Bible DVD, Wandering in the Desert. All about Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Truthfully, I was giggling and laughing along with the kids since I had finished reading most of the stuff ~ and if anyone can make you laugh at those three books of the Bible, Phil Vischer can. These videos sum up ever-so-nicely a weeks worth of reading. :)

 

And a little fun with Deuteronomy...

 

 

If you are reading along, how did your weekly reading go?

Menu Plan Monday {7.19.2010}

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Monday

• Breakfast ~ Bagels
• Dinner ~  Black Bean Salsa Chicken {crock pot}  ~ literally chicken with a jar of black bean salsa poured over it. So easy it’s ridiculous.

Tuesday

• Breakfast ~ Baked oatmeal
• Dinner ~  Homemade manicotti {crepes and all!}
• Extra ~ 4 loaves of homemade whole wheat bread

Wednesday

• Breakfast ~ Eggs & toast
• Dinner ~ Burgers on the grill {weather permitting}
• Extra ~ 4 loaves of homemade whole wheat bread

Thursday

• Breakfast ~ Whole wheat pancakes
• Dinner ~  Spaghetti Dinner for swim team

Friday

• Breakfast ~ Cereal
• Dinner ~ Homemade pizza

Saturday

• Breakfast ~ Scrambled eggs, bacon & toast
• Dinner ~ Chicken BLT salad

Sunday

• Breakfast ~ Coffee cake
• Dinner ~ Popcorn & smoothies

As Always: I’ve linked to any recipes that I’ve already posted. That’s it for the week ~ what on your menu?

 

 

Pausing…

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I’ll be scarce on my blog this week. We’re on vacation and I’ve decided to just relax with the boys. Take lots of pictures…and just do a whole lot of nothing.

But first…here’s a picture {or two} to at least keep the blog looking pretty. While Rick took the boys on a bike ride, I got sidetracked by a butterfly…and flowers…and bugs.

 

 

 

 

 

Bible in 90 Days ~ Round 2 Begins!

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I was just going to mentor a group of ladies for the second blog round of the Bible in 90 Days…and then thought that it would be much better if I participated along WITH the ladies again. I’ve been taking notes again as I do my daily readings and also thinking about the questions that come along with the daily emails from the B90Days folks.

Incidentally, I have a GREAT group of ladies that I’m reading along with and am very excited to have them join up!

I’m finishing up today’s reading after I post this, but had a second to sit down and collect my thoughts.  I pulled up my past B90Days posts to see what I had taken notes on the last time and LOVE the fact that not a single one of my notes double over what caught my attention the last time I read through this passage. Of course that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have some similar thoughts…but I love how re-reading is giving me different insight.

~ Abraham didn’t have a household…he had a small town! Gen 14:14 says he had 318 trained men born in his household. That doesn’t include untrained men, women and children.

~ The time lapse from when Abraham was promised a son until the time Isaac was born…about 16 years to see the fulfillment of that promise!

~ The covenant that God made with Abraham was specifically through Isaac {Gen 17:21}

~ This statement from Abraham to God seemed almost poignant {Gen 17:18}  “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing.” and later when Esau talks to Isaac {Gen 27:38} “Do you have only one blessing?”

~ In Genesis 32 Jacob is clinging to what God has promised him! He reminds God and claims what was previously spoken over him.

~ never noticed that Jacob came home and saw his father after he had been out living with Laban {Gen. 35:27}

~ How long do you suppose Simeon was waiting in jail before his brothers returned for him? It says that they did not return until their grain sacks were empty…meaning they went through 9 sacks of grain before heading back!

~ Do you suppose the trip the brother’s had to take back to pick up Jacob was filled with a LOT of anxiety about how they were going to explain that they had LIED to their father so many years ago?

~ This just made me laugh out loud!!! Joseph’s parting words to his brothers {Gen. 45:24} “don’t quarrel along the way.”

~ love the relationship {and wisdom} between Moses and his father-in-law Jethro. Jethro gives Moses advice about handling the masses…and then wisely says “if you do this and God commands”. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Bible reading challenge, you can read more about it at Mom’s Toolbox. You can also download your own printable reading bookmark if you want to join along in the challenge.