Mustard Seeds

Tutorial: St. Patrick & Sssssnakes!

There are many legends about St. Patrick. One involves SNAKES. My 3-yr-old boy was thrilled at this discovery, as he is recently obsessed with snakes.

"Some people say there are no snakes in Ireland because Saint Patrick drove them out, just as he had driven out sin. Patrick got rid of the snakes by beating a drum hard and fast. The snakes couldn't stand the noise so they slithered into the sea." -Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, by Tomie dePaola

What you need:

• green paint (I used acrylic)
• sticks (We had this lovely driftwood that my college roommate gave us. You can buy some in her shop.)
• glue
• eyes (googly eyes would be perfect)
• piece of ribbon or fabric for tongue

 

Paint your stick.

Let it dry.

Glue on your tongue.

Find some eyes. I didn't have googly eyes on hand, so we used sequins...

Anne wanted girl-y flower eyes.

Then, play St. Patrick and the snakes. We went outside and tried to scare all the snakes into the sea.

St. Patty's Day Books

St. Patrick's Day is next Thursday. You can learn more about this Christian saint here. We especially love this children's book by Tomie dePaloa. It tells the story of St. Patrick and then also about several legends and stories that surround him.

One story that I especially love is how St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach people about the Holy Trinity. One day, while he was teaching, the people were having a hard time understanding how the Trinity worked/functioned/existed. Patrick looked down at his feet and saw a shamrock. He plucked it up and explained that the Trinity is like the shamrock: Each leaf represents one part--father, son and holy spirit--but they all share one stem are and are one being.

Consider making shamrock potato prints to illustrate the concept with your little ones.

Also, just want to use this opportunity to say how great dePaola's books are....here are a couple of other Irish-themed books.

Tutorial: Green Collage Shamrock

Supplies:

• Magazines
• Glue
• Scissors
• Green construction paper
• Hole punch

• Have your little sprout cut out "all things green" out of the magazines. 
• Glue the clippings onto the construction paper, overlapping and covering the sheet as much as possible.

• Let dry completely. Then, turn the collage over and draw a three-leaf shamrock. Try to use as much of the paper as possible.

• Cut out the shamrock. Punch a hole for hanging.
• Whao-la VERY green collage shamrock door decor!

Learn about how St. Patrick used shamrocks to teach about the Holy Trinity in this post.

How to Celebrate Purim

Tonight begins the celebration of Purim. God saved His people! It is a super fun time to teach kids about this wonderful story of courage and faith.

1. Food--make some hamentaschen....recipe here.

 

2. Dress Up--before you read the story of Esther, have your kids dress up as characters: Esther, King Xerses, Haman, Mordecai...You can use princess dresses, Burger King crowns, etc.

 

3. Gather--make some noisemakers or gather up musical instruments that kids can use to make noise. We use our drum, cymbals, etc.

4. Read the story--We love Tomie dePaloa's version of the story. He explains things really well for young kids. The Beginner Bible also has a great version....and the Rhymn Bible.

As you read the story, the children need to listen very carefully. Every time they hear the name of Haman, they are to make a lot of noise and boo and his. (Haman is the enemy who wanted to annihilate the Jews.)

5. Eat your Haman's Ears....I know, kind of gross but also super fun to laugh and say, "Bad Haman! I am gonna eat your ear!"

6. Act it out--Have your kids reenact the story. Our book with these figures, which I laminated and put on sticks so Anne could retell the story.

Make some Haman's Ears

Tonight at Sunday, Purim begins.

We've been celebrating since Sunday, which means I have eaten way too many Hamantashen or Haman's Ears. I know it sounds weird to eat someone's ears, but if anyone deserved, really, Haman did. If you are familiar with the book of Esther, you'll recall that Haman was the wicked, manipulative man who tried to annihilate the Jews. But because of Queen Esther's bravery to take a stand for her people, the Jews were saved. Thus, the celebration of Purim. 

"Filled foods such as Hamantashen are typical, as they represent the intrigue associated with Queen Esther and Uncle Mordecai's uncovering of Haman's wicked plot. Sweet foods convey our wishes for a sweet future. Sephardic Jews eat cookies that are fried or baked in the shape of Haman's ear, which was purported to be twisted and triangular in shape."

I also read somewhere that the triangle shape may have represented the shape of the hat that Haman wore.

Here's the recipe:

• 2 sticks of butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 4 cups flour
• Apricot preserves for filling

1. Cut butter into the sugar. Blend thoroughly. Add eggs and vanilla, blending thoroughly. Add baking powder and flour 1/2 cup at time, blending thoroughly between each. (It may feel tough at the end, but try to get it all blended in...)

2. Put batter in fridge overnight or for a few hours.

3. Roll it out about 1/4 inch thick and cut circles using cookie/biscuit cutter or a drinking glass. You want your circles to be at least 3 inches wide.

4. Put about a teaspoon of preserves in the center of the circle and fold the sides to make a triangle, overlapping the sides as much as possible so only a little filling shows through  the middle. I also kind of crimped the corners to seal the filling in.

5. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until just turning golden brown. Like shortbread, you don't want to over cook these.

Cue cute baby eating dough scraps.

33 things on my 33rd birthday.

Today, I turned 33. Last year on my birthday, I revealed 32 things about myself and everyone seemed to enjoy it. So....here are 33 NEW things you may not know about me.

1. I am very, very clumsy and uncoordinated. The junior high years were particularly full of embarrassing public displays.

2. I love gingham and used it to decorate with at my wedding and in my kids' nursery. Very happy it's coming back en vogue this season...I saw a lot of it at the mall this weekend. Wore this today: two of my favorite things...see #7.

3. I ran X-country and track in high school. (Again, something that needs very little coordination.)

4. If I every strike the lottery, I am paying someone to do all my laundry and I will buy nice shoes and handbags.

5. I have no musical ability AT ALL....cannot sing or play a musical instrument. I have no idea what "pitch" means.

6. I use real handkerchiefs to blow my nose and wipe my tears.

7. I LOVE the colors limey-apple green and mustard yellow (see photo above).

8. I did ceramics (pottery wheel) for five years in high school/college.

9. I am cheap and hate buying paper towels. My friends hate it that they can never find paper towels when they come to my house.

10. I grew up tent camping with my family in Yosemite and the Red Woods in California.

11. My highlights are REAL. I know, people usually don't believe me. I have a blond streak right in the front of my hair and depending on how I style my hair it looks different. I used to cry about it when I was little because kids would ask me if I dyed my hair and I thought that was naughty.

12. I raised rabbits for 5 years for my 4-H project. I have a fairly extensive knowledge of rabbit breeds, etc.

13. I would love to be able to tap dance and sing. This is my request to Jesus: When I get to Heaven and you give me a new body, can I have new talents,too? I want to be able to sing praise (like belt it out) and tap.

14. I would have loved to live in the 50s.

16. I am (or was) a journalist after college.

17. I have an obsession with miniatures. I think it's why I love Anne's American Girl doll stuff so much.

18. I have always thought it would be fun to be a waitress. But now that I am a mom and basically am a waitress, I no longer have this dream.

19. I have never been to Texas.

20. I don't really have any phobias. But I would say that I do have a strong fear of missed opportunity. Sometimes I fear I might miss something in God's plan for me. (Make the wrong choices or priorities.)

21. I love all things coconut. I recently discovered Bonefish Grill's coconut pie.

22. I have a hard time saying "no" if something is free.

23. I am a dumpster diver and will climb in a huge pile of trash is there is a vintage find. (see #22)

24. I am slightly OCD (obsessive compulsive), especially is something is lost or missing. I can't rest or stop thinking about it until I find it. It's weird. I fixate on other things too.

25. I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 5 years old and understood very early on what faith meant. I guess it was truly that child-like faith and trust that the Bible speaks about. I was at vacation Bible school and the theme was the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I raised my hand and a group of us exited the sanctuary to go outside and pray. The room has been very dark for the acting/singing performance and I remember walking outside and being blinded by the light...HIS light. It still gives me chills.

26. I love polka dots. They make me happy.

27. I am a sniffer. I have the bad habit of smelling things...even gross things.

28. I feel things in extreme. If I love, I love deep. If I am sad, my heart aches.This applies to those whom I love as well, and I empathize deeply with them and their lives.

29. Starbucks drink: grande, non-fat latte with one Splenda.

30. Growing up I used to LOVE to Mary (as in baby Jesus' mommy). When my mom walked by one day and asked how Baby Jesus was, I said, "He is really cranky today!"

31. I always wanted a sister. Now I have one and I love her dearly!

32. I believed in Santa until the 3rd grade.

33. When I laugh extra, extra hard, I start to sound like a sprinkler.

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Have you known me for a while? Please feel free to add to the list in the comments section. (I need ideas for next year's list, you know...)

From the Valentine's Day Archives

Wood you be my valentine?

Valentine's card bunting

The First Snow

# 270 :: I am thankful for the magic of the season's first snow.

First Snow, by Mary Louise Allen

Snow makes whiteness where it falls.

The bushes look like popcorn-balls.

The places where I always play,

Look like somewhere else today.

#271 :: The joy in the faces of these three as they awoke to a winter wonderland.

#273 :: Tasting fresh snow.

#274 :: Wearing knitted warmth made by my mama.

#245 :: The warmth you feel after returning into the house.

#246 :: marshmallows melting in hot chocolate

Fall Wish List

My annual fall tradition.....my fall wish list. Here's what I'm yearning for this season. See fall wish list 2008, 2009, 2010.

New Travis Cottrell CD

This very cool belt. I'd like one that I can belt tops with.

I really love boiled wool jackets for some reason.

 

The Brooke corduroy dress.

Would be perfect with this necklace and some brown boots.

I want this to hang in my house....

 

First day of kindergarten

Today Anne's adventure of elementary education begins.

We already really love Mrs. Fisher. She is actually our neighbor, too.

We prayed this scripture for Anne on the way to school.

"Lord, let Anne grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52

(This was a scripture describing Jesus as he grew up.)

Hope you have a great day, Anne Girl.