Paper Dolls (can be magnetic)

This is so great!! A pdf file for paper dolls. You can print it out on magnetic paper for magnetic fun!

Easy Recipe All The Children Can Help With - Lentil Loaf

Here are all three girls helping in the kitchen to make Lentil Loaf. A very quick and easy recipe that all the kids 2 1/2yr and older can help with.

First, cook 1 cup lentils in 2 cups veggie broth (you can use chicken broth, but we are vegetarian).

While the lentils are cooking, have your children help!


Here is my almost three year old breaking 2 slices of bread into a bowl. This bowl is where everything is mixed in so it is in the middle. You can use two slices of dry bread, but it tastes just as good with bread that is not dry.


Here is my 6yr with a Pampered Chef knife slicing one medium leek. After she gets a few slices done, she puts them into the bowl in front of her younger sister.


Here is my 4yr with a butter knife (just the knife that comes with the spoons and forks). She is cutting 8oz of mushrooms into small pieces and putting them into the bowl next to her in front of little sister.

After everything is in the bowl, I usually let my 2 yr sprinkle basil into the bowl. Use as much as you like. Then add a bit of salt and pepper.

Shred cheddar cheese about 1 cup and add to bowl.

By now the lentils should be done. Add to bowl and stir well.

Put into a baking dish and bake at 375F for 45 minutes, or until brown and cooked through.

This serves our family of five for now, but we do have a lot of fixings on the side. A huge bowl of salad for each child (yes, my 2yr eats salad). Cut up veggies (usually broccoli or asparagus) as well as a mixed veggie mixture of corn, carrots and peas.

My daughters get SO EXCITED to make this because they have made it enough times now that they can practically make it on their own! 6yr gets all the ingredients out of the fridge, as well as the knifes and bowl to put everything in. the 4yr gets everyone their cutting board. I just have to start the lentils, add the lentils and put in baking dish and into oven.

I hope you and your family enjoy making this recipe together!

Little Helpers

I am so thankful that I had girls first. They are all such little helpers with the new baby.

I think the next thing I am going to train my oldest (6yr) to do it to put away groceries. ESPECIALLY the cold and frozen items. She is so great when we are in the grocery store. She will remind the cashier to pack all the cold and frozen items in seperate bags and together. It makes it so much easier when time is short (like the baby is screaming and you need to tend to them) so you can just put THOSE bags away and not worry about a frozen item being in with the cereal and you forgot it and now it is bad. You know what I mean.

She knows where most everything goes anyway. So it shouldn't be too terribly hard. And I know that every time she gets a new responsibility (I think I like calling them that instead of chores), she feels more and more like a good wife and mother. She knows that she is practicing. I have explained to her that Momma never really learned to be a good keeper at home. The Bible tells us that as women, we are to be keepers at home. Momma is learning to obey God's word and instructing her (and her sisters) to obey God's word. We are learning and "practicing" together, and it is WONDERFUL!

Cute and FUN Idea

I have ALWAYS loved Rebecca's site, but now that she is posting up crafts - OH MY will I ever get off her site and pack?!?!

Check out the following:

From DRAB to FAB - I NEVER thought of changing a shirt like this into a girls dress! TOO CUTE! THANK YOU REBECCA for inspiring this idea!

Check out this flower drying rack! TOO CUTE!!

Cute Idea for Old Shirts

While I would not personally wear some of this stuff because it is too short, it is PERFECT for LITTLE GIRLS!!

Check out ways to reuse old shirts:

T-shirts

Button-up Shirts

HAVE FUN!! This is from one of my favorite sites that has really great ideas! Anyone else have any great ideas like these?

Coming soon - some more great links from a friend of mine (WOWIE) as well as pictures of my first crochet! I can chain, single, slip and half-double stitch!! WOOHOO!!

Aprons

Ok, so I am so thankful that the lady who bought aprons from Kitchen Wears shared how pleased she was with these aprons! Last month I ordered three for each of my girls (sale at $5 each) and they were out of the adult ones. Well, I must admit I feel like I robbed her at $5 each, because I would have paid more than that for the fabric alone! The quality of the fabric (and stitching) is so good that I cannot believe she is able to sell these for so low.

Well, she updated!! I just got three more aprons for my girls (so nice that they can put them on themselves because there are no ties!). They also use them as pinafores to keep their dresses clean while they are out playing.

AND they updated the women's adult sale aprons too. And they are only $12 (used to be sale price $15, but I think because the selection is so limited she marked them down). So I bought two for myself. I am so excited because again, I know it would have cost me more than $12 for the fabric (considering the quality of the fabric) and the stitching and time --- which I am so limited on.

So anyways, I just wanted to let you know about the updates to the sale pages!!

Oh, and to let you know that these can fit as small as a three year old (because my almost 3 year old fits into it perfectly --- longer on her than on my 6yr, but definitely not too long).

Blessings, Paula

PS... next post will have pictures of the girls in their aprons along with an EASY recipe that all your children 2 1/2 years+ can help with.