Free Fun Friday-Playdough

I love making homemade play dough. It's great because it's soft, it's okay if the kids happen to eat a little bit, it's fun to make with your kids, and it's almost free!

So here's the recipe:

1 c. flour

1/2 cup salt

1 c. water

1 T cream of tartar

1 T oil

Food Coloring

Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan & becomes play dough consistency. Knead until cool. Keep 3 months in a Ziploc or sealed container (unrefrigerated).

measuring...

playing with play dough for the first time, and yes...she did try to eat it.

For more free fun for your Friday head over to Run the Earth, Watch the Sky

Happy Father's Day

I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who is also a wonderful Father. As I've talked about many times, Hannah loves him! He plays so well with her well and loves very much. I am thankful that he works so hard to provide for us, so that I can be home with Hannah and we can have a nice place to live. I am thankful most of all that he loves the Lord and strives to please Him in everything that he does.

It's kinda a bummer to be away from our own Father's on Fathers Day, but with it being on a Sunday, it's just not really possible to be with them. We are very thankful for our church family, who are like our family away from home. We were able to spend Father's Day with the Mikels and the Stanely's, which was such a blessing. Scott & Kelly made a delicious steak dinner, and Kelly made strawberry pie for dessert..what a treat! We had dinner and then spent most of the afternoon on the back deck fellowshipping and watching the children play.

bocce ball

Unfortunately, this was the only picture I got of Hannah and Daddy all day. Good thing I have lots other good daddy/daughter pictures.

Hannah and Gavin...they are both very fond of each other...and are so cute together

there was much relaxing

They brought out the towel to protect bottoms from splitters...but Hannah and Gavin decided to take a 3 second rest on it...I was quick enough to snap a picture :)

chillin' with "Uncle Dave"

This is the picture that Hannah took for Daddy..he has it in his office now :)

I would be remiss if I blogged about Father's Day without talking about our own Dads too. I am so thankful for both of them. I love my Dad very much and thank God for his godly example in my life. He was a great provider for our family growing up, and never once complained about going to work. He did so many fun things with us, and always played with us. Even now, he stays as involved in our lives as he can. I love him so much!

I'm also thankful for a wonderful father-in-law. He always makes me a laugh and is another godly example in my life. I appreciate the advice that he gives, his sense of humor, and generosity.

I thank God for the men in my life, and that Hannah has such wonderful examples too. She sure loves her Daddy, Pop, and Papa.

More from Lake Ann

On Thursday evening we had a Chuck Wagon dinner. The kitchen crew grilled burgers and we ate outside. We had corn on the cob, burgers, watermelon, and beans...the perfect summer meal.

It's kinda hard to eat corn on the cob when you only have 3 teeth :)

We spent most of the week with a family from the Flint area. It was really nice to get to know them and share ministry ideas. This is one of their little girls. She loved Hannah...and would always come up to her and say "Hey Baby" which is what she was saying here.

Here are both of their girls with Hannah

Hannah LOVES watermelon! She will eat as much as I will let her. She got to eat it by herself right off the rind for the first time. I think this picture just looks like summer!

Here are some of our junior campers. One of the great things about staying at camp during the week is getting to share in the camp experience with our kids. It was fun to see the girls at the chuck wagon dinner and hear all about thier day at the carnaval.

Another new experience at camp was Hannah's first shower. She's too big for the sink now...and so the shower it was. We told her that she was getting in the rain. She didn't like it at first, but as with most things, she adapted quickly. :)

Yes..this looks like a caterpillar...but it's actually a tent worm. They were ALL over the camp. But yet another great experience for Hannah. She loved how it felt crawling on her hands.

On Friday we went to the mall and Hannah got to play in the little play land...she's getting so big!

Time to go home...what a great week!

Things I love Thursday- Gymboree Bubbles

One of Hannah's many favorite things to do is play with bubbles. She asks for them several times daily and gets so excited when we get them out. We play bubbles inside, in the bathtub, and outside...she just can't get enough! I recently discovered gymboree's bubbles (thanks to my friend Rachel). They are a little more costly than the 3 pack of soap bubbles that we can get at dollar tree (we still use these too)...but the quality is so much better, and hands down worth every penny (we got a small 2oz bottle for 1.99 and then 30% off that). They have a sugar base which keeps them from popping as quickly as the soap bubbles do. This is especially great for my little one who is still learning how to pop bubbles. It give her time to pop them while they are still in the air, which is great for her eye-hand coordination, and they don't pop right away once they hit the ground. We also have fun blowing them near a fan...they will float and swirl in the air for minutes...so much fun! The wand is also just her size, and she is already a pro at blowing the bubbles herself! We have hours of fun with gymboree's bubbles! For more Things I Love head over to thediaperdiaries.

Lake Ann Camp

Last week, we took the kids up to Lake Ann Camp. Seth, Hannah and I had the privilege of staying the week too. It was such a blessing! It was great to be there with the kids, to celebrate their decision with them, and help them connect their camp experience with home. The best part was being there when Kim got saved. She came and found us right away to share the good news. We could see an immediate transformation in her life...so exciting!

Hannah did great. She traveled really well. I was so thankful to have Fiona sitting next to her in the van on the way up and back. Fiona played with her and kept her entertained...it was great! We stayed in a little cabin right at the camp. We were thankful for the comfy bed and for having a bathroom right in our cabin. Lake Ann reminded us a lot of our Skyview days. Ken Riley, the director, reminds us a lot of Bill...brought back fond memories. Lake Anns philosophy of ministry is also very much the same, so it's definitely a place that we are excited to take our teens and kids too. Seth and I enjoyed the family time together, getting to pop in on the kids during some of their activities and chapel, gettting to talk to their counselors, some time for relaxation, and getting to fellowship with other youth pastors and thier wives. Such an encouraging week!

I have pictures of the teens and kids, but will save those for later. Here are pictures of our family from the week:

My future camper...

Camping is hard work

a day at the beach. We put Hannah's feet in the water...but was too cold for her. We had fun watching the juniors play water game and just enjoying the sunshine.

trading hats with Daddy

I LOVE this picture. We had lots of open space to blow bubbles...one of Hannah's favorite things!

simple pleasures

Hannah's favorite part of camp was hands down the petting farm, Acorn Acres. We went almost everyday after lunch. We would tell her that we were going to see the animals. The whole way there she would say "aaaannnimals" very loudly...the workers could hear her coming. She was just SO excited!

Her favorite animals were the chickens and the chicks.

she loved to chase the chicken

Seth and the Llama...luckily he didn't make it on the "spit list"

Oh my...this is SO exciting!

We went to "Moomers" which was voted by Good Morning America as the best icecream in America. Hannah ate an icecream cone all by herself for the first time. Of course she has had icecream before, but she got the whole cone to herself! She did great! She licked it and bit around the sides. When the cone got towards the bottom and was getting a little soggy, I helped her finish the ice cream with the spoon and then she ate the rest of the cone...nothing left...she loved it!

Everytime she eats an icecream cone she says and signs "COLD". It's too cute!


Well..this has gotten to be a pretty long post, and it's after midnight. I still have more pictures to share...but I think we'll save those for tomorrow.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:

It finally feels like summer...and I love it!

One of my simple pleasures:

sipping on my free Dunkin Donuts iced coffee

On my bedside table:

"What the Bible Says about Parenting" and pictures of Hannah

On my TV:

I keep the TV off during the day...good thing I don't have cable to distract me :)

On the menu for tonight:

Beef Enchilada casserole, a new pampered chef recipe.

On my To Do List:

put in a pampered chef order, laundry, fold diapers, clean the bathroom

In the craft basket:

working on an Ohio State scarf for hubby (I know it's summer...but if I work on it a little at a time, maybe it will be done by winter :))

Homemaking Tip for this week:

When coming home from a week away...unpack and start a load of laundry as soon as you get home. We did that Saturday when we got back...and I'm feeling much better about being back to routine than usual...it's nice to have everything unpacked and put away :)

Favorite photo from last week:

Last week we were at Lake Ann...took the teens and kids from church and we stayed there for the week. We had a great time. So many good ones to choose from. Thursday night we had a "Chuck Wagon" dinner outside...and Hannah got to eat watermelon all by herself for the first time. I just love this picture....just looks like summer!

Lesson learned the past few days:

I was reminded last week about the importance of my ministry to my family.

On my Prayer List:

Family, Jon (getting ready to leave for Iraq) and David (in basic training), my sister and sister in law who are both expecting, Friends in ministry: friends who are transitioning to a new ministry, friends who are looking for a new ministry, and friends who are struggling in thier ministry.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
1 Samuel 1:28

"I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord."

My 15 Month Well-Child Visit with Dr. Bullach

Today was my 15 month well child visit with Dr. Bullach. I got to stand on the scale like a big girl, and weighed in at 19 lbs. The nurse measured me and I was 19.5 inches tall. When Dr. Bullach came in I introduced him to Mommy and Daddy. I pointed to both of them and said their names. He asked me to point to the parts of my body and I did that too...perfectly. I told him where my eyes, nose, mouth, ears, belly button and toes were. He checked me out and said that I look great. The nurses came back and gave me two shots...they hurt and I cried for a little bit, but was brave. Afterwards, Mommy and Daddy tooke me to Wendy's for lunch and I got to have chicken nuggets...so it was a good day even though I had to get some shots. :) I've really grown a lot...check out my 9 month Dr. visit..see how I've grown! :)