Lent Begins

We started this last year.  You can go here to review It is all about this.  I like to look at the pictures.  My how the children grow. 

So here we are to counting down to Easter.  There are many things in the Bible for 40 days.  Jesus in the wilderness, Israelites wandered for 40 years, the flood for 40 days and nights, and Moses was a shepherd for 40 years.  So 40 days have begun.

It begins with Ash Wednesday.  The ashes from last years palm leaves burning are gathered and placed upon foreheads as a sign of repentance. 

Now we have to choose what to Lent

I posted my idea on the fridge.  Then Garrett joined me.  It was cool to see Garrett's thoughts to his choice.

Yesterdays Countdown to St. Patricks Day included a countdown of Lent

Ella decided to do rings to tear off each day.  WOW!  40 days is alot of days

Seth decided to have a sheet to mark off

Garrett did the same.

So we begin to get excited about the arrival of the Easter season.  We seem to do so much more at Christmas.  Christmas is special since the tiny baby was born as God the Son.

But just within years the story would change.  He came as a Savior, Redeemer, Sacrifice, and Perfect Man.

I want to get excited about My Savior who drug that cross, endured incredible pain, died, and then rose again for Me.  I want to remember each day and I think by observing Lent it will help each of us focus on that. 

13 days and counting

Find the Hidden Shamrocks was the challenge for Friday.  They had to wait until Jeff got home from work.  They couldn't wait. 

Goody Bags and Shamrocks

Jeff and I hid the shamrocks.   Then they were off.  We gave Ella a 5 count head start.

Seth found one

Garrett found all the ones up high!  I wonder how he could do that?

Ella found one hiding in Gabby's toy basket

Seth has his shamrock laying out.  Ella is holding her stash

Mr. Silly himself.

They were allowed to trade shamrocks with anyone.  Garrett and Ella are trading.  The shamrocks had numbers on them.  Garrett realized that he didn't have any 3s so he traded Ella a number for her 3.  It was great to see the thinking, teamwork, and compromise they were using. 

Ella had her shamrock layed out in order 1-5

Then came the fun

Each bag was numbered.  If you had a 1 then you chose something from the 1 bag.  If you had two 1's then you got to choose 2 times.

Garrett earned shamrock glasses from one of his grabs in the prize bag

Each bag had 5 prizes- 4 were good prizes but 1 prize was the lucky prize

Ella traded Seth for these socks

Seth again with his silliness

The Weddine gang with Glasses

With out glasses

They truly go enjoy each other company.  What fun

Shamrock Hunt

I numbered the shamrock 25 shamrock - 5 of each number 1-5

numbered the bags 1 - 5

5 prizes in each bag

Prizes

Bag 1 - 4 small packs of gum - 1 bigger pack of gum for the LUCKY one

Bag 2 - dollars - 4 one dollar bills - 1 5 dollar bill for the LUCKY one (Ella pulled the 5 - the boys reaction was pricelss)

Bag 3 - green banana, kiwi, granny smith apple, and grapes for the LUCKY one

Bag 4 - 4 yummy treats and 1 sour for the LUCKY one

Bag 5 - green sock, green nail polish, shamrock glasses, green harmonica, green ball

So if you found 2 number 3's you got to pull from the 3 bag twice, and so one

We had a great time watching them and their reactions

Memories are priceless

Cooking 101

Ella and I baked cupcakes for goodies after supper Friday night.  She was determined to help me ice the cupcakes.  Boy did we have to talk about patience.  She was ready to ice and eat them as soon as they popped out of the oven. 

So I found a little knife and off she went.

Did I mention that a little licking went with icing the cupcakes. 

Ice a little oops lick a little

Nothing like having a side kick to help.  She enjoyed it so much.  As we were icing, she was planning who to give cupcakes too.  I hope this servants hearts continues to grow in her.  She loves to make things and give them away.

Finished product.  Garrett thinks that everything is turning Green around here.

We used left over candy hearts from Valentine's.  Turn them over, words down, and make a three leaf clover.

Seth and Ella are continuing to add gold to our Pot of wisdom we have going.  It is amazing to see what speaks to my children hearts each and every day.  Love to see them side by side working.

"The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded (the) house  Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock."  Matthew 7:25

Continue to build this house on the rock Dear Lord.

15 Days and counting

This picture was yesterday but I had to share.  This girl loves to paint.  My little miss neat - o

Her picture was for Seth

Thumbs up for doing good work

Star - I love you

She makes everyone close their eyes then says surprise.  Then comes the story that goes with the picture.  She made her brother smile

We are counting down the days until St. Patrick 

Today was Science experiment

Green Flowers

How many days will it take?  Ella thought it would be instant so she sat there to see it happen.  Ha!  Gotta Love the to watch learning take place

We also started our pot of gold.  God in His wisdom had layed the thought of Where does your treasure lie?  It fit right in with verses Matt 6:19-21.  Then I pulled together what a man at our church always says - leave you with a nugget

So our pot of gold is growing in the truth we know.

We are adding something each day that God may share with us.  Can't see how much "treasure" we have in 17 days.

May God bless our family with truth

17 days and counting

I am trying to be alittle more festive at my house.  I used to do this for every holiday when I was working.  My classroom was covered in decorations.  Now that we are home, I just didn't do it.

Well we need a little excitment

So we are counting down to St. Patrick's Day - 17 days

Our first one was Supper fun

We had french toast with a green center

My cookie cutters are at mom's so we had green stars - it still worked

I separeted some of the egg batter then used green good coloring

Finished product

Seth was loving them - I even made a green syrup to go on the top

Yummo!  Garrett was not so impressed.  He keeps worrying about what he is eating.  He thinks I'm sneaking good food into some of the food.  He will never know.

Fun and excitement around here