Teach Hospitality...

We're having company tonight. A delightful couple from church. It will be fun. A time to not just practice hospitality but to teach it to my children.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:10-12
Growing up in a Pastor's home, I remember many early teachings in hospitality...quite early...before I could cook at all...it was my job to set the table. Looking back...my Mom trusted me with a lot of nice dishes. I still delight in setting the table...and now teaching the little hands that help me.

We made place cards...talked about who was coming and the special meal we'd be eating. We even made WELCOME cards to give them when they arrive. Sweet Girl says, "We will give them to Mrs. E when they come, after later Cabub!" *Smile*
We made the dessert too. Ooooo...we are very very excited! To see my personal tips to hospitality...learned from the lovely ladies in my life...head over to Blogging Along. I'll share the recipes to my Greek Feast too.

What's The Name Of That Song?

Nothing like a little Sesame Street blast from the past to make ya smile!

I said.....N.O....

Gotcha! N and O are our letters of the week. Yes, I totally wimped out last week. Actually, I was annoyed with my whole animal letter quest. I had Narwhale on the back burner...but it was well, dumb...and so we did NOODLES. I planned to do the letter of the week...but ended up making playdoh and playing restaurant with the kids instead. So....NO...I'm actually a wonderful and organized MomE...ask anyone with good sense!
They especially loved putting the glue dots on themselves. Since that can "run away" with them...I didn't take pictures while we were making those said glue blobs.
We fully enjoyed O is for Octopus. Emma counted the legs of one in her book...and we counted out eight strips of paper. Then we crumpled and crimped...twirled and scrunched those strips into wonderful tentacles.
Check it out...I spelled NOON...that was a whimsy surprise...I'll have to point it out to the boobahs. FYI...noodles take a VERY VERY long time to dry onto paper. I'd forgotten...don't pick them up too fast! Lots of noodles on my kitchen floor...

Cyan Chlorine Blue Playdoh...

I made up a new batch of playdoh. I used some new pigment colors in neons. The playdoh is BRIGHT ya'll...even the pictures do not do it justice. I love love LOVE my playdoh recipe...taught to me during my student teaching by one of my favoritest teachers.
I have this cracked playdoh pusher...and Lubby just adores it. Thankfully...he gets it to himself cuz Emmer's fascinated with making nests and eggs lately. As I mentioned, the playdoh pusher is cracked and not emitting noodles very well...so any of ya'll Grandma's out there...if you see something like this at a garage sale or thrifting...pick it up for us!!!
I'm so impressed with her dexterity lately. Look at her slender little fingers!!
After I put the camera away she really went to down making eggs. She started using the bowl of a spoon to form them perfectly...and she said she had some, "CRAZY BLUE CHICKENS!" Oh, I love that girl!!

Foodies...we start them young...

Yet again, my children have been blessed by the "growing up" of their church friends. Recently, my friend's daughter decided she now cooked in the real kitchen with her mother...and would like to pass on her play kitchen items to us. THANK YOU!!!
The kids have been going crazy over them all day long. They had a picnic at 7:30 AM...and set up a restaurant around 9. They had trouble sharing at first...because everything was so new and awesome...that they wanted it all.
I'm also intrigued by what manufacturers make into play foods. Teeny eggplants, oreo cookies, spaghetti and meatballs, ice cream.... My personal favorite today...onion rings...they look REAL ya'll...and I really really could go for a plate of onion rings...My guts would scream later but heh...who thinks of consequences? Where's the fun it that??

USA...USA...USA!!!

We're having such a good time watching the Winter Olympics. Here area few pics of Emmy watching the opening ceremonies...and chanting USA...USA...USA...when the United States of America marched into the stadium...
Lubby just danced with his cars...his blue and red cars...of course.

Happy V-day!

Obedience...in the form of puzzles...

On yet another frigid day...MomE broke out all the puzzles we had in the house...which is ALOT. It provided several hours of fun, brain stretching time...on a day where MomE really wanted to turn on the TV and do her own thing.

Titus 2:4-5, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Letter of the Week...M...Millipede...

FORTified?

I shared about prayer and scripture hooks over where I'm Blogging Along...and today...as my sweet boobahs built an elaborate fort in Emmer's room...I was thinking...
Fortified: having something added to increase the strength
Fortify:
To make strong, as:

a. To strengthen and secure (a position) with fortifications. stand firm on God's promises

b. To reinforce by adding material. read and memorize God's Word

c. To impart physical strength or endurance to; invigorate. be encouraged by God

d. To give emotional, moral, or mental strength to; encourage: Prayer fortified us during our crisis.

e. To strengthen or enrich (food, for example), as by adding vitamins. supernatural vitamins

Synonymns: brace, build up, bulwark, charge up, strong hold, prepare, protect, ready, refuge, strengthen, support...

"The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7

Oobleck...*blechk*

Just for fun we made some oobleck... a version of it anyway. I'd seen a recipe for cornstarch clay...and tried to duplicate it...but it ended up like slightly stiffer oobleck. You know, it's all BLECHK and gross...solid and liquid.
Usually, it's a balance of water and cornstarch. This also had baking soda, salt and flour.
In my opinion...it should always be green! HA!
This was the Sweet Girl's oozing trick. She was thrilled that she could pick it up as a ball and then just hold it and have it ooze down to the plate.
Little Man...wasn't so sure about this stuff. He is barely okay with playdoh on his hands...so this stuff was on the icky edge for him. He jabbed it with his fingers but was NOT going to pick it up.

Snowy...with more snowy on the way!

Coffee, Cuddles and Piggies!

I just had to take a picture of the men this morning. There's just something about my Loverbrain's hand with coffee and wedding band on one side...and scrunchy little bare piggied boy on the other! *sigh*...awwwww....

Letter of the Week...L...and my neighborhood...

After the creative Koala of last week...I hope your hopes weren't up...MomE was tired...so L...is for Leopard. They have spots! Grrrr!
The kids had a great time creating a neighborhood today. Above is the store...notice DadE's old gift cards on the cash register. They created wonderful hours of fun. I overheard the kids saying, "Thank you for giving me your monies. Have a nice day!" HA!
Here's the Sweet Girl playing in her house. She was putting her Sunday shoes on and off...and setting them by the door. Then she'd count all the things she bought!
Wondering what this is? It's the post office, of course. They would give each other the mail. "Here's your mail. What's it say?"
This is their parking lot...very important how you park! Thanks for visiting our neighborhood. It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood....a beautiful day to be neighbors...

Marriage Monday: Valentine's Day...Everyday...

It is Marriage Monday over with Chrysalis. As usual...I will post this on my "MomE" blog because I want to remember...and remind everyone...that our marriages must come before our kids!!

I must admit...that I did not vote for..."How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year." But, it is the topic for today. My sweet Loverbrains and I have always felt the big V-day was a bit of a racket. In fact, I saw this hilarious card that said, "I don't need a special day to tell you I love you...." then you opened it and it said..."Just kiss me and carry on!"

I suppose the point of "celebrating Feb. 14 every day" is to remember the little things...to truly NOT need a special day to tell your mate that you love them. So, I shall attempt to share some of those little things from our marriage. Honestly, perhaps the reason I shy away from this topic right now is because things have been hard lately. I detest winter...especially mid winter...you know where it feels like it will NEVER end. Work (all work) is drudgery...and children (yes, even my two sweet angels) are crazy hooligans with too much energy cooped up inside the house! Okay...anyhew...on to those little things...

Date night...it is SO important...even if the day before you feel like you'd rather eat dirt then spend time with him...(yes, I sometimes get like that...good for you if you don't) Lately my favorite part has not been where we go...but these these little lists we've been making...of things to talk about...funny, unusual, and serious. It's fun to see what the other person wanted to talk about! I worked hard on my 5 things...and left them at home. I called our babysitter and begged her to put them outside on the steps...so I wouldn't have to go inside and "disturb" the boobahs! I don't pay her enough! HA!

Napkin notes. We did this when we were first married...and I've recently re-focused my efforts. I put a note in his lunch box...sometimes I attempt to encourage him...sometimes I attempt to make him blush! It's fun to see if he mentions it when he comes home!! It's safer these days...cuz he eats his lunch in his own office! HA!

Snuggle time. After the kids are in bed...we snuggle up on the couch and talk or watch the news or a funny show. It's a physical connection...and just good ole quality time. It's sort of like..."Oh yeah...I remember you...how ya doing?!"

Okay...I'm done...I guess the real revelation in doing this post is that I do NOT do such a good job of reminding my Loverbrains that I love him...every day. So, that'll give me something to work on this year!

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