Experimenting... as part of a Bible lesson!

In Bible time this year, we are talking about the names of Jesus.  We started off with Jesus is the Light of the World and then talked about Jesus as the Bread of Life. 

John 6:35 says, "I am the Bread of Life.  He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty."

We had fun memorizing this verse, making bread to take to our neighbors, and doing the following science experiment.  I wanted to show them the power of yeast and why it makes the bread rise, so we put yeast, warm water and sugar in a small vase.  Then we shook it up to activate the yeast.   I explained that the yeast needs the sugar to be its food.  After we got it all mixed together, we added a balloon to the top of the vase.

 

After setting it in a warm place for 30 minutes we came back to see what happened... the balloon was filled with air!  It was super exciting for the kids... how did it do that?!  Well, it was fun to try to explain the reaction that happened with the yeast and how it makes the bread rise!  I think they will always remember that... pretty cool way to blow up a balloon!

I'm FREE!

Ever since Hannah turned three, Josiah has copied her with his own proclamation, "I'm FREE!"  We would correct him and tell him his real age, but he never wanted to be one or two.. he loved the number three.  But now he is finally three... wow, three!  We love our Josiah James and he boldly proclaims to everyone that he is THREE!  He is a special part of our family.

I love the way he holds his mouth when he is concentrating, his contagious and boisterous laugh, his kind heart to his brother, the way he tackles anyone, his love for football and his excitement to watch with daddy, the way he smiles which makes his eyes disappear -- just like Grampa!, his love for singing -- especially with a microphone, how it is hard for him to say "CK" sounds so he used to say "Taleb", his timidity which makes him cautious in new situations, the way he puts both his hands on my cheeks when kissing me, the way he stalls before naps and just wants me to snuggle with him -- no talking mommy, just snuggle!, the way he looks like his daddy -- a little mini-me, his hilarious dance moves, his love for books -- especially the Bible, his adorable birthmark on his tummy...the place God kissed him before he was born, his love of boy toys -- trucks, cars, balls, Legos, and more,and his tens of thousands of questions each day!  What a great boy he is!

Oh, Josiah, the list could go on and on and on.  We love you to Heaven... and Back!

Hard drive crash

Yup... that is what has happened here in the Lightner house that has prevented me from posting the way I like to...I am just sooo far behind that I just don't know how to catch up!  We didn't lose any big information since Danny backs up the computer every few months, but still we have to update everything and install new programs and even get my pictures and music back on this computer, which reminds me, I still need to install itunes!  Yup, another thing to do.

So.. I will slowly try to catch up... using a program that I haven't used in years, since my old program no longer exists...GRRRRR!

Please forgive me... it will take a while!

A Mish Mash

There are some adorable families who are all matchy, matchy for costumes at Halloween.... they are so cute in their handmade Power Rangers Costumes! BUT NOT US! NOT THIS YEAR!  The kids each wanted to be something different....very different from each other.  And that was fine with me!  The girls crawled onto the pile of costumes and cheerfully sorted each one into sizes and tried them on. Grace pulled out Snow White and Hannah Cinderella -- of course!  Josiah got an adorable firefighter costume from Grampa and Nanna -- which he wore for a few days!  And then Caleb... we just found whatever fit!  That was the plan, until our neighbors brought over a costume that all of their kids had worn and was so special to them.  Grace just HAD to wear it...

Well, here they are.... our MISH MASH kids!  All adorable in their own way...but NOT MATCHY!

Caleb... our little Tiger!

Josiah.... our Firefighter!

Hannah.... our Cinderella!

And then there is Grace... our Dinosaur! HA!

 

We have such a funny set of kids... but we love them to pieces!

Exactly what I was dreaming of…

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of having children often.  I dreamed of fun trips we would make and of activities we would do.  One of the things that longed for were the days of baking with my daughters. I didn’t know what they would look like, what their names would be, who their daddy would be or how many there would be, but I could picture myself with a few little girls standing on stools to see above the countertop – eager to help with the stirring. 

Those days are here.  Those day started from the time the kids could stand up on a step stool to help… and I truly cherish them!

I love the days of baking with my girls – and boys too!  We have a blast in the kitchen and have made 100s of cookies, brownies, pies, bread, rolls, cakes, pancakes and more!  The look on their faces when they crack an egg correctly – without shells – and pour it into the mixing bowl…. the floured faces from turning on the Kitchen Aid too fast…. the joy when I let them sample a few chocolate chips, but tell them NOT to let Daddy know… the look of disgust when I have them smell the vinegar… the chocolaty mustaches from licking the beaters and scrapers… they are all priceless!

Now it is Grace’s turn to do it alone.  We have been training her since she was little how to read a recipe, measure the ingredients accurately, mix without spilling, crack eggs to perfection, etc.  She has done it all… and done it EXTREMELY well!  So, last week, when we were going to have some company, I asked Grace to make the brownies for us…BY HERSELF!  She was DELIGHTED with that request and then she turned a little scared.  I reassured her that she would do a FABULOUS job.  She kept saying, “Mom, can you believe this?  A six year old is making brownies!  Is this allowed?”  Precious!

She read the directions carefully and laid out all of the ingredients and bowls and spoons and measuring cups and other tools.  Then she got to work.  It was a delight to watch – out of the corner of my eye.  I didn’t want her to think that I couldn’t trust her, but I also wanted to make sure it went according to the recipe – I think KK and Boo would remember a brownie flop or two!  :)

The end product was delicious!  She even added chocolate chips to the batter… a girl after my own heart!  Great work, Grace!

Apples… again!

I just can’t get enough apples this time of year – apple foods, apple pictures, apple candles!  I just love them!  When a sweet friend offered me some of the apples from their tree, I immediately said YES!  She said that they were making great applesauce (even though they were not the prettiest apples), so we had to try making some as well… I inserted it into the curriculum for the week – ha ha!  We had a blast making it… AND loved smelling it as it cooked!

We have developed a really good method to making apple treats – the kids have the weapons to dice or slice the apples after I peel them.

The kids are free to eat ANY apple skins they want to… they have a little fun with them along the way, too!

Doing the Lady and the Tramp…

The apples are all cut and now ready for the cinnamon…

We all thought that it was a very yummy applesauce – there is nothing like homemade, but Josiah didn’t want to even try it!  He wanted “real applesauce”!  There really isn’t anything more real than this, Buddy!