Mustard Seeds

Camping treasure hunt

First, the mama needs to do some reconnaissance around the campground. Use different landmarks and clues to create a "map" or instructions to the treasure.

Make sure you have all the appropriate gear: map, binoculars, shovels, hat, bike gloves, pack...

Then, begin the search!

X always marks the spot.

Have your friends help you dig.

Or just supervise.

Enjoy your treasure! I didn't get a great picture of this. Basically, I used an old plastic container (the kind you get your salad in at Costco) and filled it with treats: candy and bubble gum. I had also made lanyard-type necklaces to hold Lipsmackers (for girls) and Carmex (for boys).

I have some more crafty plans for the lanyards on future camping trips. We will add to the ring with a stick cross we make, a name badge etc. More on that when we make some progress.

Hot Dogs with the Works

I was inspired by the hot dog bar (all the fixings) when we went to a recent Rockies baseball game.  I couldn't seem to get enough of all the different combination possibilities. Just as ask Kristen...I had more toppings than dog. She said it was quite entertaining to watch me eat it...

But I digress. On our recent camping trip, I decided to make my own "works" hot dog bar.

First, start with GOOD hot dogs. All Kosher beef grilled over the campfire.

Lots of pickled products.

Condiments.

These are a couple you may not think of, but once you try it, you won't forget: cucumber and avocado.

Cheese, fresh-cut onions, sauteed onions.

And don't forget the chili.

Got any other hot dog ideas? I'd love to hear em. Leave em in the comments section.

Beth on the Farm

not so sure about the sheep.

Anne on the Farm

She looked very Dorothy in Kansas...

 

Garage Sale

Wanna help the Heims?

You know all the stuff in your house that you don't just want to throw away or give to the ARC cause it's "pretty nice stuff and maybe I'll have a yard sale..." But you never actually HAVE the yard sale?

Here's your chance to put your goods to a GREAT cause.

The Heim family is raising funds to continue their daughter's schooling at Denver Christian (which has been a wonderful support for these girls during a tough time). Kristen (Joanne's sister) is hosting a huge garage sale for the cause.

So throw your goods in a box and drop em off at Kristen's house. Get all the details HERE.

THERE! Now you can say you had a yard sale this summer. Easy peasy.

Beth Mess #7

Introducing the Butter Baby.

On a recent Tuesday morning before Bible study, I ran upstairs to finish getting ready and left Beth and Jack finishing their breakfast downstairs. I came back downstairs to the Butter  Baby.

She was sitting on the middle of table. She had take the lid off the butter tray, unzipped her pjs and was smearing butter all over herself. And her hair.

She must have needed the moisture.

As we had to get to church, I squeezed some Palmolive soap on her head and gave her hair a quick rinse under the kitchen facet. Then off we went.

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Then, just a few days later, as I was loading the fridge up, she grabbed the sticks of butter and began trying to eat them through the wax paper covers.

She is a Paula Deen in the making.

Jack on the Farm

A while ago, we went to Meeker, Colo., and hung out at Grandma Marilyn's 100-year-old farmhouse.

I've been playing with some Photoshop Actions...Doesn't this pic of Jack look like it was taken back in the 70s? He always looks forward to playing with these trucks.

Jack loves Grandma Marilyn. And he loves driving her "tractor," which is actually her John Deere lawn mower. He doesn't really get that she is the one controlling the power with her foot...

In fact, he likes to take care of Marilyn. While they were driving around the ranch he turned to her and sighed and said, "It's a good thing I'm here, cause you're getting pretty old..."

She was in stitches and told him she would be glad for him to take care of her  in her old age.

This pics for you, Papa.

Yep, Jack truly was the man of the house while we were there. He was outnumbered 6 to 1. We felt completely secure and protected by our man.

Dance Party in the Kitchen

Check out my Beautifully Rooted post here.

 

Food for the Classes

 The week before my SEW LOVELY class. I did food for Kristen's Click Class. To keep things simple, I repeated most of the recipes again for my class. Here they are...

These were amazing show-stopping sandwies. It's probably all the butter and cheese.  I got the recipe from the Taste of Home mag, but couldn't find it online and I did alter the recipe...so I just typed it out below. The thing I love the most is that it needs to be prepared the night before, so you just pop it in the oven in the morning.

Sweet Melty Ham Sandwies

• 12 Hawaiian Sweet rolls, sliced
• 1/2 lb. Black Forest Ham, deli sliced
• 8 oz. Gruyere cheese, sliced
• 1 tub chive and onion cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbls. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. dry minced onion

Arrange the bottoms of the rolls in a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Layer with ham and Gruyere cheese. Spread each roll top with cream cheese; place over Gruyere. In a small bowl, combine the butter, Parm cheese, Worcestershire and minced onion. Pour over sandwies. Let stand for at least 20 mins or overnight in the fridge. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins or until heated through.

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Now this might be my favorite thing I made: warm, soft pretzels. They take a little work, but man, are they to die for. Totally a comfort snack food. Get the recipe here. Be sure to read her blog post, too, which gives tips on how to make-ahead and freeze them.

I used Ken's Steak House honey mustard dip. Delish!

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Ham-stuffed chicken with asparagus: This is a great way to use leftover ham from Easter. If your chicken breasts are large, you will need to half them (otherwise there will be too much chicken in the "roll" and it won't cook). Also, I pan fried it first and then put it in the oven to finish cooking on 350 degrees.

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This picture was the inspiration for my mushroom. But there was no recipe, so I came up with my own.

Tomato Toadstools

• cocktail-sized tomatoes (I got mine at Costco. They are bigger than cherry or grape tomatoes.)
• white string cheese
• herb cream cheese (make your own by adding fresh garlic, chives, salt, pepper, etc. or buy a tub at the store)
• Fresh cilantro leaves

Hollow out tomatoes and try to get most the seeds out. Place them upside down on a paper towel to drain out some of the liquid. Using a butter knife, smear in some herb cream cheese. Cut a stick of cream cheese in half. Then, insert the stick into the center of the tomato top. Right before serving, I insert the stem of a cilantro leaf into the cream cheese center to hold it in place. To make the specks on top, put plain cream cheese into a small zip lock bag and snip the corner off. Then, squirt little specks on the top.

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These strawberries are so divine. Oh....my....stars! Mini cheesecakes. I love them way more than chocolate covered strawberries, which always seem too "strong" to me.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
from Nutmeg Nanny

• 1 lb large strawberries
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened (can use 1/3 less fat)
• 3-4 tbsp powdered sugar (4 tbsp for a sweeter filling)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• graham cracker crumbs

Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top and clean out with a paring knife, if necessary (some may already be hollow inside). Prep all strawberries and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or ziploc with the corner snipped off. Fill strawberries with cheesecake mixture. Once strawberries are filled, dip the top in graham cracker crumbs. If not serving immediately, refrigerate until serving.

Janna's Suggestions:

• Instead of plain graham crackers, I made and baked this crust from Pioneer Woman. It comes out way crispier. I love it! I keep it in a Tupperware in the pantry to have on hand.
• I've also made this cream cheese filling with splenda when I am watching my sugar intake. It's not quite as good, but a still a nice substitute.

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Mason Jar Banana Pudding

• Banana pudding ( I used pudding mix)
• Whip Cream (You can use cool whip, but I like the old fashioned homemade kind)
• Box of Nilla Wafers (reserve a few wafers for garnish; put the rest in a lg. zip lock and crush them with a rolling pin)
• Bananas, thinly sliced

Right before serving, simply layer the ingredients in this order:

1. Nilla crumbs
2. pudding
3. bananas
4. Nilla crumbs
5. pudding
6. bananas
7. whip cream
8. whole wafer or slice of banana for garnish (optional)

April SEW LOVELY class

We started the April SEW LOVELY class with breakfast in the dining room.

More on the food and recipes in tomorrow's post.

This time, we had just four in the class. It made for an intimate setting with even more one-on-one instruction time. All the sewing machines behaved, which means we had even more time for talking, sewing, experimenting and creating the projects.

Here are the ladies with their finished projects. It's fun seeing everyone's different choice in fabrics.

Lovely Jen.

Lovely Kim.

Lovely Paige.

Lovely Megan.

You are all SEW LOVELY.

The Month of April

This has been a pretty busy month. Well, not just pretty busy--really busy. I realized this last week that for the last four Saturdays, I've had to get up at 6:30 am to into major events, classes, etc. They have all been fabulous and fun and on the calendar for months, but it all just kind of "HIT" this month.

Thus, the lack of blogging. I have been taking pictures and thinking about you all though, so stay tuned, I'm hoping to put up some more in-depth posts. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of what we've been up to....and you know, just incase I decide to move on with life and start posting on curent life instead of the past.

Hill of Calvary Class...Matt was also gone on a 10-day fishing trip this whole week.

We made somes spring blossom (tissue paper) trees.

Jack learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

Beth learned how to drive a car.

All my tulips and daffodills came up! And much spring yard planting has commenced. Our forest area is on the fourth or fifth round of "cleaning out."

Passover celebration on Good Friday.

Easter Sunday at our house. Daddy and Grandpa back from fishing trip just in time for a fun family day.

Laundry for Kids post over at Beautifully Rooted.

I did the food for Kristen's CLICK CLASS.

The following Saturday, I had my SEW LOVELY class (more pics soon).

I had a private SEW LOVELY class with Kate.

 

Planned and posed a era-class photo for Anne's school fundraiser, and went to the evening event.

I swapped the back TV room with the front sitting room....all the furniture, books, TV, etc. moved in 2 hours with the help of 6 friends. More befores and afters to come soon.

Just a few more "things" to mark of my list this weekend and then I'm looking forward to MAY. Ahhhh....the warmer days of summer are coming. Needing to have more days where there is NOTHING on the calendar. Wide open space, ya know?

 

 

Good Friday

Today is a good day to watch this with your kids.

 

I just love the Jesus Storybook Bible.

Easter Service

Need somewhere to go this Easter Sunday? Come check out Faith Bible Chapel (where I go). They do an amazing Easter drama/message every year.

If you already attend somewhere regularly, consider going to one of the many service times offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It's a great family time to really see the Easter story in action to prepare your heart for Sunday.

Hill of Calvary Class-Part 2

STATION #1

Did you know that Jesus was called the “ROCK?”

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Why do you think they called him the ROCK?

STATION #2

Did you know that Jesus liked to make mud pies? He did and his mud pies healed and performed miracles.

After saying this, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. Mark 6:6-7

“The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” Mark 6:11

 

STATION #3

Did you know that our faith is like a tiny seed? Jesus told a story to people about how we can grow a big faith with just a little seed of belief and trust.

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

We are planting some tiny seeds here...and in just days we will see the grass begin to grow. Isn't that amazing?

STATION #4

When you think of sin, do you think of something clean or dirty? This dirt is kind of like our sin. Because we had sin, we couldn't be with God. But when Jesus died on the cross, our sin was forgiven and we were wash cleaned.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and the cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

...But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

After the washing the station, they were encouraged to walk through the "temple" curtain, which was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross.

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."  Mark 15:37-38

This means we now have direct contact with God. We can be with God again because he forgave our sins. Part the curtain and walk thru!

STATION 5

This is the Resurrection Cinema. Each kid got a ticket and popcorn and got to watch a short movie....

Did you know the story of Jesus didn't start at his crucifixion? Where did the story begin?

It began in the garden of Eden. You see when Adam and Eve sinned, what happened?

That's right they were separated from God because they disobeyed and sinned. Do you ever disobey? Well, God and sin do not go together. Because of their sin they had to leave the garden, but God had a plan to help us get back to him?

What do you think it was? That's right....the Plan, the Savior, our Hero was Jesus. Let's watch about when Jesus first came to earth.

These are the little ticket takers.

STATION 6

Why are we making three crosses instead of just one? Who was on the other two crosses?

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Matt. 27:38

What was the difference between these men and Jesus? The men were evil and had really done something wrong and sinned. But Jesus was pure and sinless. He died on the cross for OUR sins.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43

STATION 7:

What is sin?

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25

What are some sins in your life? Discuss. Write words on the rocks.

So who did Jesus die for? You! Me! But he didn't just die! He rose from the dead, conquering our sin and death itself.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

LAST STOP:

Can you tell me the answer to my riddle?

Me: He is risen!

Child: He is risen, INDEED!

A sweet peep on a stick to remind you of how sweet our salvation is in Jesus.

Hill of Calvary Class-Part 1

The Easter Workshop/Hill of Calvary class was a SO much fun on Saturday. We had a great turnout (50-60 bodies in my backyard) and beautiful weather (there was supposed to have been gusts of wind, but the Lord quieted the day and it was just a gentle breeze and sunshine).

I had so many wonderful people volunteer to work at each of the stations. Here's Jackie and Jenae chalking out the road to Calvary with events of the Easter story. The kids rode around the driveway.

Everyone got donuts and hot chocolate to start.

Then, we opened the day with the telling of the Easter story.

Then everyone grouped-up and began to make their way through the station....see Hill of Calvary class part 2 in the next post....