Oatmeal Muffins, Busy Day and More - Monday December 23, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
~ Luke 2:14

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

We were slow starting this morning. Michael had a rough night and I wanted to let him sleep in as much as possible this morning. Christopher, Lauren and I just lounged around and watched tv for a while this morning until Michael woke up. 

After breakfast and again this afternoon after quiet time we played some games together. 

Amanda read books with Christopher and Lauren. Michael wasn't too interested in sitting for stories but Pepper seems to be enjoying them. 

We went over to my sister's house for a couple hours this afternoon and Michael played with his cousins and friends there. 

I gave Michael a haircut this afternoon. Lauren was my photographer. I was hoping to cut Austin's and Doug's hair too but somehow we got busy and that didn't happen.

Austin spent most of the afternoon wrapping gifts. I finally got most of my wrapping done this evening while Michael was at Grandpa's with Doug. 

After dinner this evening Michael, Doug and I took a little ride to see Christmas lights. We didn't go far, just some of the neighborhoods close by. Michael has been having a hard time settling down at night the last few nights and I hoped going for a little ride before bedtime would help him settle down. He went to sleep quickly when we got home but now, at 9:45 he's awake and whiny again. I'm hoping this is just from the excitement from the holidays and not something bigger we're going to have work with. For years he had trouble sleeping but since we've been on the seizure medications he's been doing really well at night, until the last few weeks. Sleeping well in our case means most of the time he only wakes up once at night, with only an occasional night when he is awake off and all night. It also means he usually goes to sleep in 30 minutes, more or less, instead of taking two to three hours to fall asleep every night. I guess time will tell. If this continues we'll bring it up at his next doctor's appointment and see if we're missing something. 

IN THE KITCHEN

This morning I made a batch of Oatmeal Muffins. These muffins are mildly flavored and the kids really enjoyed them for snack. 

Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup milk
1 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 

Mix together oatmeal and milk, let soak for 15 minutes.

Mix vegetable oil and egg together, add oatmeal mixture and mix well. Sift together flour, sugar, allspice, baking powder and salt. Stir into wet ingredients, stirring just until mixed. 

Fill greased muffin cups or cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

For lunch Amanda made us some of her delicious homemade macaroni and cheese. The 9x13 pan of macaroni she made was scraped clean. She's a good cook. 

ON MY MIND

Peace is a word we hear often during this Christmas season. It is a beautiful word and I've always thought of it as feeling calm and safe. But yesterday during the Christmas program my sister shared how she had looked up the word Peace in the original Greek and found that it carries even more meaning. Peace is also associated with health, welfare, prosperity, bliss and every good and kindness imaginable. What an awesome gift is being offered to us the Christmas Season and every day throughout the year because of Jesus finished work on our behalf!

Also on my mind today is the fact that today would have been my mom's 64th birthday. I know she had a wonderful birthday in heaven. On Facebook today my cousin mentioned how wonderful it would be to have 1,000 angels singing Happy Birthday. What a beautiful thought!

TODAY'S QUOTE

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, 

nothing is going to get better. It's not.

~ Dr. Seuss 

~ Linking Here ~

Christmas Play: The Walnut Acre Daily - Sunday, December 22, 2013

My sister has been working hard with a group of kids for the last few weeks getting ready for a Christmas play. This morning was the play and it was beautiful!                               

From the opening songs . . .

. . . to the Christmas story and manger scene . . . 

. . . to the song interpretive dance and the song Mary Did You Know? . . .

. . . to the closing songs of worship and final Merry Christmas . . .

. . . it was a truly beautiful blessing!

Word Family Uno, New Slow Cooker, and More - The Walnut Acre Daily Saturday November 30, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Trust in the Lord, all you that worship Him, He helps you and protects you. ~ Psalm 115:11 ~

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

Today was a quiet, good, productive day. Michael and Mateah enjoyed playing together most of the day. They get along so well and have so much fun together. They drew pictures, played outside a for short periods of time, and just had a great time together. 

We got a lot of work done around the house - laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Doug worked in the garage some too. 

I found a wonderful  Free Word Family Game: Uno (Short a) at The Measured Mom. There is an option to print to print these cards with a balloon print back but I chose to leave the backs of the Uno cards blank and instead use the back design to make word memory and addition fact memory games. After printing and before cutting them out I laminated the cards to make them more durable. The kids are going to love having new games next week and I love that they are covering important subject matter.

 

 IN THE KITCHEN

For brunch this morning we had sausage patties, hash browns, grits, blueberries and coffee. The kids snacked on the leftover blueberries and hash browns all afternoon. 

This evening we had chili, corn bread and oranges for dinner. The chili smelled so good in the slow cooker all day and was a great meal for this cold evening. 

When I went to wash up the slow cooker I realized that it had a large crack in the side. I had told my sister I would bring it down to her house so she could put the pot roast in it for our family dinner after church tomorrow. Doug suggested we go to Wal-mart and get another one. I use the slow cooker often and I knew it was really needed tomorrow so that's what we decided to do. I'm happy with the new one. It's even better than my old one - larger and with more cooking options. And I also got a small 16 ounce slow cooker for sauces and things like that. 

FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

These two little critters are so hopeful that Amanda will slip them a bite of the delicious food they are sure she is making. If only they realized it's only a banana she's cutting up.

OUT AND ABOUT

I had to pick my friend up from work again this afternoon and on the way home we stopped and got a few things from the grocery store. Then of course we ended up going back out to Wal-mart this evening for the slow cooker and taking it to my sister. 

TODAY'S QUOTE

Enough is as good as a feast. ~ Old English Proverb

~ Linking Here ~
Tuesday - Tutorials & Tips Link Party

Thanksgiving Fun:The Walnut Acre Daily November 29, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

His love endures forever.

~ Psalm 136:1~

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

This has been a good Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, food and fun. We played games, ate lots of good food, and enjoyed our time together.

Some of the boys put on a "magic" show for us. 

TODAY'S QUOTE

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

The Walnut Acre Daily Wednesday November 27, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ~ Psalm 100:4

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER

Today has been a cold and snowy day, although it was warm enough that there was little accumulation. Since there was no school today because of Thanksgiving vacation there was a different set of kids here for the day than usual. We had fun building . . . 

. . . reading stories and playing games . . . 

. . . playing with puppets . . . 

. . . and building some more. 

Books, Games and Activities We Enjoyed Today

IN THE KITCHEN

We had toast and fruit for breakfast, bean and bacon soup (leftover from yesterday), corn, bread and macaroni salad for lunch, and chicken fettuccine alfredo and corn for dinner. 

FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

OUT AND ABOUT

This evening I picked my friend up from work and we ran some errands before I took her home - post office, library, grocery store, pharmacy and gas station. We had planned to go to a Community Thanksgiving Service this evening but Doug and I were both so tired we decided to just stay home. I had really been looking forward to this service but sometimes it just time to say enough and take a rest.

TODAY'S QUOTE

There is no greater loan than a sympathetic ear. ~ Frank Tyger