Summer Plans

For the past few years, as summer approaches, I start to make lists of all the fun and exciting things I want to do with the kids.  Some are family activities, many are things we'll squeeze in while Daddy's working, but the time flies by far too fast not to take advantage of all the fun things that don't normally fit into the schedule.  With the extra time and lazy days provided by summer, I want to take advantage of that extra fun time with the kids.

So here are the ideas on my list so far.  Many we'll do on the spur of the moment, and others we'll turn into day trips and combine with picnic lunches or other adventures for a full day of fun.

• swimming at Staunton River State Park
• visit Knoebel's Grove
• tour Chocolate World (kid requested!)
• visit both of my grandmothers
• make chalk paint
• take in a few movies via summer movie series - a great list can be found here
• Marbles Museum
• Day of Bubbles
• picnic in the playhouse
• camping out in the tent
• cookout with friends
• Durham Bulls' game
• hiking @ Mayo Park
• Day of Dinosaurs
• take pictures @ Duke Gardens
• go out for Chinese food
• water balloon pinatas
• make doll clothes with my Big Helper
• go for a family bike ride
• make plastic bag ice cream
• visiting the state farmer's market
• making applesauce
• VBS @ Warren's Grove UMC
• participate in a summer reading program - a great list can be found here
• make more blessing bags
• create a backyard obstacle course
• make a bike/scooter obstacle course
• read together lots and lots

Others will be things that will benefit the whole family, but that will teach the kids important skills while allowing us to work together:

• picking and freezing blueberries
• husking and freezing corn
• canning tomatoes (well, I want to do this - their involvement may be limited this year!)

What's on your summer fun list?

"Wish You Were Here" by Beth K. Vogt

Allison Denman is on track to marry her dreamy fiance Seth in just five days - but everything is wrong:  the dress, the schedule, and definitely kissing his handsome brother Daniel.  Although the plans seem picture-perfect from the outside, Allison realizes that they aren't right for her - and that maybe she'd prefer an adventuresome life like the one portrayed in the postcards Daniel sends her, instead of the staid day planner life she'll have with Seth.  Can Allison learn to release her grip on life and follow the plans that God has for her - wherever they may lead?

At first glance this book is lighthearted and funny.  Allison has gotten herself into quite a pickle, but it doesn't seem impossible to get out of - but as the story progresses, the plot not only deepens, but thickens.  Allison's difficult past is revealed, and soon the reader learns that she must resolve her issues with trust before she can dive into her future.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wish You Were Here.  The plot moves quickly, and the addition of Allison's emotional issues adds an interesting angle to the story, making it more personal and quirky all at the same time.  This book will make a great summer read.  Once begun, I couldn't put it down!

To read other reviews on this tour, click here.  To order your copy now, click here.

 

Beth K. Vogt provides her readers with a happily ever after woven through with humor, reality, and God's lavish grace. She's a non-fiction author and editor who said she'd never write fiction. She's the wife of an Air Force physician (now in solo practice) who said she'd never marry a doctor-or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. Beth has discovered that God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." She writes contemporary romance because she believes there's more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University and met her husband Rob when he knocked her down at a karate studio. They've been married for 31 years. They have four children, ranging in ages from 28, 25, 23 and - thanks to a funny thing happening on their way to the empty nest-a 10-year-old. The Vogt Team, which now includes a "daughter-in-love" and "son-in-love," enjoys hiking and camping in Colorado. Read more about Beth at her website:http://bethvogt.com

Win an iPad2 from @BethVogt! Celebrate with Beth by entering her Wish You Were Here Giveaway!

One "happy" winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad with Wi-Fi (The must-have, do-everything gadget!)
• Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon worthy.)
• $15 iTunes Gift Card (Music, books, apps, & more.)

Hurry, the giveaway ends on 6/4/12. The winner will be announced 6/6/12 on Beth's website!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Beth's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

I received a free copy of Wish You Were Here from the LitFuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.

GratiTueday - Time for Tennis

Our kids haven't belonged to sports teams yet.

It's the big thing to do here in town, but they seemed so young to start - and then along with the fun of the team comes the craziness of the schedule - practices, games, delays, missed family dinners, homework hectic-ness - we decided to wait until the kids were just a bit older before taking all of that on.

And then about two months ago our Big Helper found out that the local Parks and Rec department was going to offer tennis lessons to kids her age come May.  She really wanted to take them.

With only six kids per class and only six lessons stretched over a three-week period, my husband and I agreed that this would be a good introduction to sports, and she was super excited.  

Excited until she found out that one of the tennis-lesson nights would be Wednesday.  Youth group night.

The idea of having two activities on the same day stressed her.  How could she finish her homework?  Could she do all of that on the same day?  

My husband and I talked through it all with her but decided that the ultimate decision would be hers.  We were sure she could do it but were proud of the way that she stopped to consider every angle before making a commitment.  

Finally she decided that she would do Wednesday night's homework on Tuesday, thus allowing her to get everywhere she had to be.

She bought her own tennis raquet with a gift card she'd been saving since Christmas and was very excited to do so, and then she headed off to sign up for the class.  She got the last spot!

My Little Man and I took a blanket to the park each week and planned to watch and cheer her on ... and then storms struck ... she got pneumonia ... and the number of tennis lessons she could attend and we could watch shrunk drastically.

In the end, though disappointed at missing a few, My Big Helper was happy to go to tennis and can't wait to play more.  She practices her 'ups' and 'downs' often with her raquet and her tennis balls and is looking forward to playing with her daddy this summer.

I'm so glad that she decided to go for this opportunity.  So happy that she wasn't afraid to be the only girl in a whole class of boys ... that she wanted to be outside, sweating under the hot sun on the court, all the while learning something new .... that she's interested in having fun, taking chances, but also in counting the cost.  

I'm thankful for tennis lessons.  :-)

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Field Work Friday: A Lesson in Bird Watching

This week we traveled back to Little River Regional Park to learn about bird identification from park manager Mike DiFabio.  As this is something that My Little Man and I know virtually nothing about, we were excited to find out more.

Mike began by teaching us about the basic ways that birds can be identified - visually, by their bodies, habitats, or nests, but also by the sounds they make or where they are found.  He brought tools along to help us in our quest.

All of the children were excited to learn how to use these binoculars!

After learning the basics, we headed out on Little River's bird watching trail.  Each child took binoculars and a special bird identification sheet that Mike had made for us.

The bird trail at Little River was carefully created to contain different types of trees, birdhouses, and a meadow, all to attract different birds.  At this bench in the deciduous forest we stop to search for birds and identify the ones we can find.  Mike uses a special tool that makes bird calls to identify the ones that we can hear but not see.  The kids were all fascinated with this!

At this birdhouse Mike talked to us about the types of birds that make their homes in cavities and how to go about seeing if there's a bird inside.  He showed us how to stand off to one side and knock before opening the lid so as not to scare any birds inside.

From this point, we hiked through the rest of the forest, across the meadow, and back to the pavilion for a question-and-answer session.  We even got to see a heron!

As always, Mike went above and beyond the call of duty for our kids.  Each child got lots of personalized attention and access to great equipment while in the park.  Afterwards, we picnicked, visited the playground, and hiked a few trails before heading home.

If you're in the Triangle area, you should definitely visit Little River Regional Park.  This park has a great staff and many education events happening.  It's also the only park in a multi-county area where the staff will conduct these types of educational seminars for free upon request.  

Lunch Box Love

My Big Helper is a lot like her daddy - she loves words.  Compliments really motivate her and make her feel loved, and since that is not my love language, I am intentional about making sure she gets the positive words that she needs.  

Since she's in public school and away from us for hours each day, I started looking for ways to encourage her while she's in school and surrounded by attitudes that may not always be positive.  I decided that her lunch box would make a great vessel for carrying words that she's sure to see each day.

Besides actually packing fun foods, foods that she particularly likes, and surprise lunches for her, these are our favorite forms of lunch box love:

1.  Word Searches.  On a smallish sheet of paper - or a blank notecard, as shown below - I use colored pens and markers to make up a word search.  On this one, since summer is approaching, I used summery, fun words.  I start by imagining a grid and then writing in the words I want her to find.  As I write down each one, I also write the word at the top for her to cross off when she finds it.  I add a short note to the front and back of the folded card -  and maybe some stickers - and tuck it into her lunch box with a fun pen or pencil.  

My Big Helper was super excited about this the first time I did it and told me later that she and her friends hunted for the words together.  She now asks for word searches on a regular basis!

2.  Top Five Quizzes  My Big Helper isn't old enough for any of those silly magazine quizzes that are so popular, but giggling groups of girls always love to take them - and mine isn't any different.  Instead of ways to catch a boy or the best shade of lip gloss, though, I make my own quizzes using fun colored pens, stickers, and rubber stamps on note cards like above.  I ask things like, "What's your favorite book?" or "Rank your best lunches from 1-5" and "Tell me the best thing about your day so far."  I keep the questions short and am sure to do both multiple choice and open answer questions so that she can freely answer without being overwhelmed.  With no more than 5 questions, she has time to answer and time to think about the answers, and again, she and her friends deliberate it together.  She always writes notes to me on the back and returns it to me when she gets home.

I've found out some neat things about my girl this way.  For example, we tend to eat the same thing for lunch most days.  That works for her brother and I, but like her daddy, she prefers a bit more variety - and even wants to try new foods in her lunchbox!  While this makes it more challenging for me to pack, she has more fun at lunch, and I enjoy talking about her new lunchbox experiences with her.  She's found a few new favorites this way.

3.  Banana Peel Love  Who knew you could carve in banana peels?  I've never seen that medium in a museum - but it works great.  Just take a toothpick or a really sharp, thin-bladed knife and carve right into your banana peel, trying not to go the whole way through.  It won't look any different right away, but by the time that lunch rolls around, the air will react with the peel and turn the carved edges brown - making your message of love and inspiration stand out.  The first time I did this, My Big Helper was so excited that she was determined to save the banana peel and brought it home to show me!

We've definitely enjoyed our more creative lunch box notes this year.  In fact, this banana peel isn't the only one that My Big Helper has tried to save - she's kept each one in a special place and is determined to turn them into a book this summer so that she can remember them.

Who knew that a few colorful words could be so important?

Do you do something to make your child's lunch box experience special?  I'd love some new ideas!

"Everybody's Daughter" by Michael John Sullivan

Michael Stewart is in love - with a woman living in Israel 2,000 years before his time.  He found himself visiting Jesus' time after walking through a mysterious tunnel in the basement of his church, but after a short visit returns to his own time, only to find that his teenage daughter Elizabeth followed him through the tunnel.  While Elizabeth battles a Roman soldier, can Michael find a way to reopen the tunnel in time to save his daughter?

You should note that Everybody's Daughter is the second in this series after Necessary Heartbreak, and with such a time-traveling plot and wide cast of characters, one might expect some confusion if you haven't read the first book; however, author Sullivan does a fantastic job of filling in the reader on the entire back story.

Everybody's Daughter is just plain fascinating.  Have you ever wondered just what it might be like to meet Jesus as a person of that time?  Would you walk up to Him?  Would you doubt His message, be like so many others of the time and believe that God couldn't possibly walking around in front of you?  Sullivan explores that possibility in this story in several periods throughout Jesus' life.  What might it be like to stand in front of Jesus, vulnerable, hurting, wanting to believe, but not knowing how to let go and trust?  Sullivan has created the perfect man to explore this concept in Michael Stewart, a man who struggles to survive the loss of his beloved wife and raise his daughter in a better home than he had himself.

I've always loved the concept of time travel, but strangely enough never would've claimed Bible times as a time I'd want to visit.  Everybody's Daughter made me think about that possibility, though, not because I expect to disappear from this century anytime soon, but because understanding the atmosphere and people of the time can help me put some of the events of the Bible into perspective.  I also really enjoyed contemplating how I might react if I were to meet Jesus today, face to face in person, with all of the pain and questions and preconceptions that I have now.

Sullivan has written not only a winner of a story that I couldn't put down, but a premise that makes you think.  My favorite books are those that make me seek out the next ones because I can't get the characters or the plot out of my head - and Everybody's Daughter shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.  Full of action and excitement spanning 2,000 years, this book is definitely a winner.

I received a free copy of Everybody's Daughter from the B&B Media Group in exchange for an honest review.

GratiTuesday - Friends & Fun

Our past week has been really, super crazy.  Between the car window being broken, both kids getting really sick, crazy weather, lots of company, life has just felt hectic for a while now - except for one day last week.

We spent the day at Duke Gardens with friends, and it was  so, so nice to just BE.  To spend time with friends, to explore at our leisure, with nothing broken, sick or rushed was wonderful.

And so we spent some time clowning around and snacking on a bridge, watching the geese.

We played in every fish pond, fountain, or spot of water we could find.

We got super excited whenever we found "nature."

If it didn't move, we climbed on it.

But most of all, we did everything with good friends.  That makes such a difference!

I'm so glad that God has given us such good friends - people with whom we can learn and share life.  Friends make everything more fun - and taking a break to enjoy them makes it that much better.

For more GratiTuesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Menu Plan Monday - May 21, 2012

I'm SO GLAD that last week is over!  Between the break-in, pneumonia, bronchitis, a trip, and some general craziness, it was a nutty week.  While some of the craziness was good, I'm hoping for a calmer week this week.  We're headed back to tennis lessons and busy afternoons, though, and I'm still working on my freezer challenge, so it's simple meals for us this week!

Breakfast:

- blueberry yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola
- scrambled eggs, toast
- fruit smoothies

- Applesauce Muffins

Lunches will be our usual assortment of leftovers or sandwiches with cheese or yogurt and sliced fruits and veggies.

Dinners:

- Black bean burgers, corn, salad, strawberry shortcake
- Grilled fish, baked potatoes, roasted Parmesan green beans

- Grilled steak tacos, baked corn

- Pizza Casserole, salad, fresh fruit
- Ham and cheese pockets, sliced carrots and cucumbers
- Grandma's biscuits with eggs, sausage, and cheese, fresh fruit
- Grab it and Growl

I think we're going to make a few batches of these cookies, too - some for the freezer to slice and bake as we'd like, and some to deliver to a nursing home.

What are you planning to eat this week?

For more Menu Plan Mondays, visit OrgJunkie!

Turtle Research & A Princess-in-Training - Part 2

So our day at Duke Gardens was loads of fun, and we all enjoyed time with the turtles.  

My Big Helper was super excited about wearing her new white dress, however, and she couldn't stop herself from twirling and playing with it all day.

She absolutely loved watching the skirt flair out!

While I want her to know that she's beautiful - because she just is, as far as I'm concerned, but mostly because she was made by the Master, I also want her to be comfortable in her own skin.  I don't want her to become so fussy that she's afraid to explore or try new things or to get dirty.  Since she was the only girl in our group of boys at the Garden, this was a great chance to practice being gracious and friendly in all situations.

In the past, she's usually played with this guy's older brother.  They're pretty good friends, but on this day, these two held hands and walked together all over the park.

She was a bit more interested in posing for pictures than the boys were ...

though they had their moments, too.

I love that they are such good friends!

But even though she was into the posing and the picture-taking, ...

she also had a grand time playing in all of the fountains, ponds, and pools.  The large goldfish in this one were fascinating to them all!

I was able to capture a few special things in our favorite magnolia, ...

but she was much more interested in being a monkey at this point.  Since it wasn't very long ago that she wasn't willing even to think about climbing a tree, I'm proud of her for being so brave and courageous!  Upon reaching the trunk, she kicked off her dressy sandals, held onto her skirt, and clambered right up.  She laughed and played and had a wonderful time with her friends.

I think princesses need to be well-rounded.  Though they must be modest and kind at all times, and we often think of them as being beautiful, that doesn't mean they have to be prissy, and today My Big Helper demonstrated that.  Her preening proved that she enjoyed both her outfit and her surroundings, but she was kind to those around her, eagerly shared the camera lens, and didn't allow her clothing to set the tone for the day.

It seems as if somewhere along the line we women stop feeling beautiful and start feeling as if we must do certain things to be accepted.  My Big Helper hasn't hasn't hit that place yet, and I hope she never does.  I pray that she maintains the innocence and purity and sheer joy in God's beauty that she showed me today.  

A Turtle Rescue & Princess-in-Training - Part One

Today we traveled to Duke Gardens for pictures, fun with friends, and some nature study time.  Although I always intend to do some specific study while we're there, we usually get so caught up in the beauty that we don't focus only on blooming flowers, crawling insects, or two-legged creatures.

Today, however, after marveling in God's creation for a few hours, this small turtle totally captured our attention.

One of our friends found it, but My Big Helper quickly scooped him up and assumed a leadership role in the turtle rescue.

She happily inspected its body and was quite happy to share her findings, like "He's got sharp claws, Mommy!"

She also held him still so that the other kids could check him out.  They agreed that his tummy was quite soft.

After thoroughly exploring him, we decided it might be best to move him closer to water than the middle-of-the-field where we found him.  We found some workers who knew quite a bit about turtles, and they offered to relocate him for us.  While they finished their current task, they got a bucket for him to swim around in.  

My Big Helper was quite sad to leave the turtle, and she talked about him the rest of the day.  While getting ready for bed, she announced that "I've never seen a turtle bottom before!"  When I laughed, she smiled wryly and assured me that she meant the underside of his shell.

After that she quietly snuck off to the playroom to make a list of all the information she wants to learn about turtles. She's hoping to learn how to take care of them so that the next time she finds a stray turtle, she can bring it home and make a turtle pet out of it.  (I can't convince her that this won't work yet, but I'm happy about the research part of it.) 

So, I think we'll be spending our weekend doing some research.  If you want to learn more about turtles, these websites seem to be a good starting point.

• Turtles
• Raising Baby Turtles
• Turtle Puddle

Come back tomorrow for our Princess-in-Training pictures!

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Yes, I realize the days of soup are fading into the background, but My Little Man asked for this on a recent cool(er) day, so I thought I'd share with you....

I used to make chicken pot pie on Fridays during the winter.  The kids would watch a movie if they'd had a good week, and since my husband worked late, I could spend a bit more time on dinner.  After a while, though, although we all liked the dish, I wanted to make it faster.  I wanted it to be thicker, and I wanted to watch the movie with my kids instead of missing the cuddle time with them.

I'm also a big fan of soup.  That probably had something to do with it.

So my chicken pot pie morphed into this soup.  It has all the same elements, is still full of veggies, and has a great creamy, cheesy flavor.  Instead of a topping, we eat it over Grandma's Biscuits.  I don't make them often, so it makes this soup an extra special treat!

Here's what you need:

• 2 c. shredded, cooked chicken
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 c. chicken broth
• 2-3 c. milk
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 c. veggies - I use frozen corn, peas, and green beans (red peppers are fun, too)
• 3 handfuls of Sharp Cheddar, shredded
• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. flour
• salt and pepper to taste

To make your soup:

1. Cook your carrots in water.  If you are using other dense veggies, throw them in now, too.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. In a Dutch oven, saute the onions in butter until transparent.
4. Stir in the flour to make a paste.
5. Pour in the chicken stock, stirring constantly.  
6. Add in the quick-cooking veggies and stir.
7. Add the milk and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.  Do not let it boil!
8. When the sauce begins to thicken, add the cheese, stirring constantly.  This will thicken the soup considerably!
9. Simmer over low heat until ready to serve.  
10. Split open one of Grandma's Biscuits in a wide bowl and spoon soup over the top.  Yum!

Whole Wheat Strawberry Shortcake

When I was a kid, I always dissected my shortcake.  I could never figure out why anyone would want to ruin perfectly good berries with cake - and vice versa.  Now, however, I love this combination!

This shortcake is easier than most, and it's pretty healthy, too.  The texture is not quite as light as one made with white flour and white sugar, but the flavor is all there.  It works incredibly well with the sweetness of the strawberries.  Whipped cream or ice cream would make a great topping, but my family often ate this in a bowl and just poured milk over the whole thing.  My Big Helper is pretty fond of that version!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 c. honey
• 1/2 t. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. milk
• 1/2 c. melted butter
• 2 t. vanilla
• 3 c. white-wheat flour
• 4 t. baking powder

Here's how to make your shortcake:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  
2. Mix well.
3. Pour into a greased 11 X 13" pan.
4. Bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees.

For my Big Helper's version, slice and place in a bowl.  Top with berries and a good splash of milk.

How do you like to eat shortcake?