We are headed out for our first camping trip of the summer today, so we made these to take along with us for a dessert. I got the idea from Kraft Food and Family Magazine and we tried them last week. They were really good, easy to make, and inexpensive (especially if you printed out the $1.00 off 3 Jell-o pudding or Jell-O mixes on the Kraft website made the pudding only .16 each at Walmart.)
1 box instant pudding
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup cool whip
They also added crushed oreos, but we didn't have any so I left them out.
Add 2 cups of milk to pudding mix, beat 2 minutes and stir in 1/2 cup of cool whip. Spoon into plastic cups (ours made 7) and add a popsicle stick. Freeze about 6 hours until firm.
Note: To remove pop from cup run under warm water for 15 seconds to loosen.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tarantulas
I have seen some pretty big spiders since moving South, but I had never seen a Tarantula until the boys spotted this one next to the shop yesterday. I had seen Tarantulas in a pet store before and had no idea they are found in this part of the U.S. The good news is that they are not poisonous even though they do have fangs. They usually stay underground and go out of their way to avoid humans. They will bite when threatened and just like anything else you can have a reaction to the bite if you are allergic. We set him free in the woods and I hope to never see him again, I am not a big fan of spiders.
Friday, May 22, 2009
B-Day
Yesterday the children participated in B Day for 4-H. B Day is bait casting, bicycles, and bee bee shooting. They can choose to do some or all of the activities. For bait casting they had to cast their line in a round target. They got three chances sitting and three chances standing. They also had to complete a fish identification worksheet. For bee bee shooting they had to shoot at a target and complete a gun safety test. The bicycle riding was a course they had to weave in and out of cones and answer bicycle safety questions. Chelsea earned a 3 rd place ribbon for bicycles and participation for bee bee and bait casting. Alex earned 1 st place for bicycles, 3rd place for bait casting, and participation for bee bee shooting. Nick earned 3 rd place for bait casting, and participation for bee bee shooting. Anthony and Christian played in the sandbox and Lily slept almost the whole time (I was glad she was napping so I could run around and take pictures.) The children all had a wonderful time.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Favorite Recipes: Dessert Pizza
Every Friday we have pizza and a movie (yes we still do that) and this week we will be making Dessert Pizzas as a special treat to celebrate the end of our school year. Nick's work is completed and Chelsea will be finished tomorrow. The boys made this at a 4-H meeting and loved them.
1 roll sugar cookie dough (or make your own)
1 7 oz container marshmallow creme
1 8 oz package cream cheese softened
1 8 oz container cool whip
Fruit of your choice
Roll out cookie dough onto a floured surface in the shape of a pizza and place on a floured pan. Bake at 350 for 12 min or until golden brown. While the crust is baking mix cool whip, cream cheese, and marshmallow creme. Cool crust completely and spread cool whip mixture on top of the crust. Top with your favorite sliced fruit, chill, and cut into pizza slices.
1 roll sugar cookie dough (or make your own)
1 7 oz container marshmallow creme
1 8 oz package cream cheese softened
1 8 oz container cool whip
Fruit of your choice
Roll out cookie dough onto a floured surface in the shape of a pizza and place on a floured pan. Bake at 350 for 12 min or until golden brown. While the crust is baking mix cool whip, cream cheese, and marshmallow creme. Cool crust completely and spread cool whip mixture on top of the crust. Top with your favorite sliced fruit, chill, and cut into pizza slices.
Monday, May 18, 2009
This Thing Called Time
I went to a women's group last week and we talked about time. We cannot make more than 24 hours in a day, so how do we make the most of the time we have? Here are the highlights of the discussion.
Planning+Prioritizing=Productivity
These things produce another p: Pleasure
I. Consolidate lists and schedules.
II. Keep a family calender.
III. Plan each day.
IV. Write family time into your schedule.
V.Pare down your possessions.
VI. Maintain order.
VII. Ration TV and computer time.
VIII. Don't overschedule your children.
IX. Establish a sensible bedtime for your children.
X. Involve children in everyday activities (chores)
XI.Ask for help.
XII. Be mindful of small opportunities.
XIII. Focus on the most urgent priorities.
Planning+Prioritizing=Productivity
These things produce another p: Pleasure
I. Consolidate lists and schedules.
II. Keep a family calender.
III. Plan each day.
IV. Write family time into your schedule.
V.Pare down your possessions.
VI. Maintain order.
VII. Ration TV and computer time.
VIII. Don't overschedule your children.
IX. Establish a sensible bedtime for your children.
X. Involve children in everyday activities (chores)
XI.Ask for help.
XII. Be mindful of small opportunities.
XIII. Focus on the most urgent priorities.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Favorite Recipes
The only magazine that I get is Family Fun. A subscription is around $15 for a year and it is a great magazine full of fun things to do with kids. My kids love to cook and Family Fun has great recipes for cooking with kids. Monday, Nick Alex, and I made Stacked Burrito Pie from the May 2009 Family Fun. It was delicious!! I used a 9 in pie pan because I don't have a spring form pan.
2 Tbsp oil
1 diced onion
2 gloves minced garlic
3/4 lb ground beef
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
1 can black beans
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (I used canned)
4 10 in flour tortillas
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
8 ounces Cheddar cheese grated
Saute the onion in the oil for 5 min. Add garlic and saute another minute. Add ground beef chili powder, and cumin. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add salt, water, beans. and corn bringing it to a boil. Continue boiling for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally until water boils out. Heat oven to 350. Butter the bottom and sides of your pan. Press in one tortilla for the crust. Spread 2 tbsp sour cream over the tortilla followed by the 1/4 cup of salsa. Spread 1/4 of beef mixture and a sprinkle of cheese. Place a trimmed tortilla over top of that and repeat steps until you have four layers ending with a sprinkle of cheese. I could not fit 4 layers in the pie pan. I ended up with three. Bake for about 30 minutes, slice into wedges and serve.
It said that it serves 10, but it was just enough for Art, Chelsea, and I. The rest of the children had cheese quesadillas.
2 Tbsp oil
1 diced onion
2 gloves minced garlic
3/4 lb ground beef
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
1 can black beans
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (I used canned)
4 10 in flour tortillas
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
8 ounces Cheddar cheese grated
Saute the onion in the oil for 5 min. Add garlic and saute another minute. Add ground beef chili powder, and cumin. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add salt, water, beans. and corn bringing it to a boil. Continue boiling for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally until water boils out. Heat oven to 350. Butter the bottom and sides of your pan. Press in one tortilla for the crust. Spread 2 tbsp sour cream over the tortilla followed by the 1/4 cup of salsa. Spread 1/4 of beef mixture and a sprinkle of cheese. Place a trimmed tortilla over top of that and repeat steps until you have four layers ending with a sprinkle of cheese. I could not fit 4 layers in the pie pan. I ended up with three. Bake for about 30 minutes, slice into wedges and serve.
It said that it serves 10, but it was just enough for Art, Chelsea, and I. The rest of the children had cheese quesadillas.
Water Logged
I can not believe how much rain we have been getting! It has been raining every day for about a week and there is more to come. We're not talking sprinkles either. Down pouring rain, thunder and lightning. Saturday, Chelsea, Lily, my mom and I were on our way home from Texarkana and I was driving through the worst weather I have ever driven through. There were 70 mph winds,pouring down rain, thunder, lightning, and the sky was black as night. The only thing I could see was the white line on the side of the road. We were in the middle of nowhere an hour from home and it turns out a tornado had touched down not far from where we were driving. Sunday, our road into town washed out from all of the rain and yesterday our power went out and the playroom had water leaking in. Well, it has to stop sometime, doesn't it?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Lillian's Baptism
Lily was baptized today. The gown she wore was hand-made by my great-great-great grandmother. She did a great job and only cried for a minute. She was wide awake when she was introduced to her Christian family. Anthony was worried that our pastor was not going to give her back to us.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Nick's Story
Dictation is a wonderful way for very young children or those who are not confident writers to tell a story. It is pretty easy. They tell the story and you write it down for them. Today, Nick (7)dictated this story to Chelsea and she typed it for him.
The Rise of the Dark Side
My name is Annakin Skywalker and this is my story.
On Mustafar the lava planet.
Lord Sidious sent me here.
Lord Sidious is now my master.
There is a Seperatist base on this planet.
My old master has come to fight me.
He will attempt to destroy me but he will fail.
We both ignite our lightsabers.
They clash and the fight has begun.
He jumps onto a ledge and I run after him.
The light sabers clash once more and Obi-wan falls off.
A second later I follow him.
As his saber swoops up I jump over him.
More parrying and I am pushed to the edge of an island.
With no other choice I jump over him a second too late.
One slash and my legs and one of my arms are gone.
Obi-wan my former master leaves.
My master comes later and rebuilds my body.
I am now Darth Vader!
The dark side has risen!
The Rise of the Dark Side
My name is Annakin Skywalker and this is my story.
On Mustafar the lava planet.
Lord Sidious sent me here.
Lord Sidious is now my master.
There is a Seperatist base on this planet.
My old master has come to fight me.
He will attempt to destroy me but he will fail.
We both ignite our lightsabers.
They clash and the fight has begun.
He jumps onto a ledge and I run after him.
The light sabers clash once more and Obi-wan falls off.
A second later I follow him.
As his saber swoops up I jump over him.
More parrying and I am pushed to the edge of an island.
With no other choice I jump over him a second too late.
One slash and my legs and one of my arms are gone.
Obi-wan my former master leaves.
My master comes later and rebuilds my body.
I am now Darth Vader!
The dark side has risen!
Sick Kids Again
Did you notice I haven't posted anything this week? The stomach virus visited my house again affecting 4 of the children in various ways. Between that, Lily, and the laundry I have had very little time this week, but I hope everything is getting back to normal again. Have a great week-end.