Another VBS Song

Here is another song from VBS that Ali loves. Just had to share.

Vacation Bible School

Tonight is the last night of Vacation Bible Study. I say this with a sense of relief, but also with a bit of sadness. My job as a helper with snacks has been pretty easy. The kids come in and work on their 'God Sightings', and it is fun to walk around and hear how kids have been seeing God working in their lives. I have heard about how He stopped the rain, healed family, created a beautiful sunrise, and many other things. It's just nice to see young kids appreciating what He gives us.

During snacks the kids get some down time, and it is fun to see them all relating to each other in a fun and positive way. They are not always close friends with all the kids in their group, but by the end of the week you would never guess that. They are all chatting together and having a great time.

The music at VBS rocks! All of my kids love it, and I am so grateful that I bought a CD. We listen to it on our way to and from the church, and I love hearing all the kids sing together. They also have fun dance moves that they do, and even my 4-year-old can do them. The words they sing are powerful truths that they can hold in their hearts and minds for life. Here is one of their favorite songs.




Oh, and I just have to share with you all that my kids have learned this week...

Awesome right??? They are learning great things this week, and they are having fun doing all that learning. So, as you can tell I am sad. Tired, but sad. VBS is such a wonderful week, and a great way to minister to lots of children. My own niece, Emma, prayed the salvation prayer last night. Yahoo!!

One final thing I have to mention is that I am really going to miss the meals. If you are a VBS helper, you and your family can eat dinner at the church beforehand, and you only pay $25 for the week. This has been such a blessing! It's hard enough to do our "normal" daily life, as well as make sure the kids get their Pandamania t-shirts washed everyday. So, not having to cook dinner is a fabulous. I'm going to be a little sad tomorrow night when I am slaving over a hot stove. ;-)

I hope all of you can get involved with a VBS near you. I think it is beneficial to the adults, as well as the children. :-)

Our Menu For 6/13/11 Through 6/19/11

I have such an easy menu this week. It is time for our church's Vacation Bible School, which takes place every night this week from 6:00-8:30. Since this makes dinner time hectic, our church provides the meal each night. Families have to pay $25 in order to eat there all week, which covers some of the food, drinks, serving items, and such. Isn't that I deal? Personally, I think that is a steal! Wish I could do that every week. ;-)

Some of the meals are donated by different people, and I have volunteered to bring a meal on Wednesday evening, which happens to be Baked Spaghetti night. Here is the recipe for that...

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Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz.) spaghetti
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 container (16 oz.) cottage cheese
2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
1 jar (24 oz.) Ragu Traditional “Old World Style” marinara sauce
½ cup water
1 tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 pkg (8 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese
Disposable aluminum 9x13 baking pan

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook spaghetti for 8 minutes. Drain and add butter; stir spaghetti until butter melts and coats spaghetti. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese; stir to coat. Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in pan. Spread cottage cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Brown ground beef, drain. Add marinara sauce, ½ cup water, 1 tsp. garlic salt, ½ tsp. pepper and heat until bubbly. Spoon over cottage cheese layer. Top with Mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

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Of course, I will still have to cook on Saturday, which is going to be a taco night with guacamole. But then I luck out again because Jeff is grilling out steaks on Father's Day. Seriously, does a week get any easier than this???

Summer Fun

My mom and I took the kids to a park in a neighboring town that was new to us. I had heard about it from friends, and I knew that it was just what we needed on such a hot day.

Meghan wasn't shy at all, and she went right into the water. The kids love this picture of her, by the way, and they say it looks like the water is lifting her in the air.

Ali and Josh were a bit timid, especially Ali, so I had to show them that it was okay. I am a little unsure myself. ;-)

Ali quickly started to enjoy herself!

I kept telling Meghan not to run because the pavement was slick from the water. Of course, she did not listen to me. I love the look on Josh's face. Priceless! You can tell he is concerned for her. Probably both because she fell and I had just told her not to run. Is Meghan concerned? Not at all! Little Stinker is smiling.

The park is right on the Illinois River, and Josh was excited to see the barges go by. He made me take a picture of one.

This was his happy dance over the barge. Okay, not really! Actually this is just a typical look for Josh.

Meghan never quite learn to quit running.

By the time we left, Ali's dress was drenched and just clinging to her. We decided that we would wear swimsuits next time. Oddly, I didn't even think of swimsuits, since there isn't a pool there to go swimming. My children also informed me that we need towels next time. Good idea! I was tired of being Josh's towel.

All in all it was quite a fun day! I was shocked to see how high the river was. I probably shouldn't have been, since there is flooding going on in many places these days. It just seems we haven't had that much rain. Maybe I am wrong.

Wordful Wednesday

My sweet, fun, four four-and-a-half year old, Meghan, is learning to write her own name. As a mom I am quite proud of her. Just look at the work she did in the bathtub the other evening.

Genius! Momma is proud!

Now, as a teacher, I am realizing I have some work to do here. I suppose now might be the time to teach her that the English language always works from left to right. We read that way, and we write that way.

As adults, we realize that the direction is important to create order so that we can understand what has been written. As a child, it will probably feel like one more rule to follow. Rules Schmules! I think I might just keep her in the dark for a tad bit longer. I doubt it will hurt. What do you think? :-)

Our Menu For 6/6/11 Through 6/12/11

Monday~Hamburgers, French Fries and Watermelon
Tuesday~BTC's (Bacon, Tomato and Cheese Sandwiches), Plain Lays Potato Chips and Pickles
Wednesday~Tuna Salad and Yogurt
Thursday~Baked Potato Bar
Friday~Mustgoes or Eat at the Ball Park
Saturday~Eat on our way to Monster Jam Show
Sunday~Taco night with Guacamole

Things To Celebrate...6/6/11 To 6/12/11

There are many fun holidays you can celebrate this week. Remember that the reason to celebrate is to create memories, as well as possibly prompt teachable moments. You don't have to do something every day, but try to be purposeful to do one thing a week. Your family will thank you in the future!

Monday the 6th~

• National Applesauce Cake Day
• D-Day was this day in 1944
  
• Drive-In Movie Day~Take your family to a drive-in movie theater. If you don't have one in your area, see if you have any movies showing in a park.
  
• National Gardening Exercise Day~Let your children help you water and weed. While you are at it, have a water fight, and try to make rainbows.
  
• National Yo-Yo Day
  

Tuesday the 7th~

• National Chocolate Ice Cream Day~Take a trip to your local ice cream parlor.
  
• Daniel Boone Day
• VCR Day
  

Wednesday the 8th~

• Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
• Shavout
• Upsy Daisy Day
• World Ocean Day~Watch the Oceans movie by Disneynature. If you have Netflix, you can watch it instantly. My son was fascinated by this movie.
  
• Best Friends Day~First, be an example by doing something special for your best friend, and then let your children do something kind for one of their good friends.
  

Thursday the 9th~

• National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
• Donald Duck Day
• Senior Citizens Day~Do something kind for an elderly person in your family, neighborhood, or at a local nursing home.
  

Friday the 10th~

• Herbs & Spice Day
• National Iced Tea Day
• National Black Cow Day~Make Black Cows (Root Beer Floats) for your children to enjoy.
  
• Ball Point Pen Day
• On this day in 1922, Judy Garland was born.~Watch The Wizard of Oz or simply sing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' with your children.
  
• On this day in 1752, Ben Franklin flew a kite and discovered electricity in lightning.~Go fly a kite.
  

Saturday the 11th~

• National German Chocolate Cake Day
• Belmont Stakes~Go horseback riding or go to a farm and feed horses.
  
• Corn on the Cob Day
• The Wicket World of Croquet Day~Play a game of croquet.
  
• Hug Holiday~Give hugs today. Lots and lots of hugs!
  
• On this day in 1982, the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial opened in theaters.~Have a 1980's theme night where you eat popular foods from the time, dress like they did then, and watch this fun movie.
  

Sunday the 12th~

• National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
• National Taco Day
  
• Abused Women and Children's Awareness Day~Talk to your children about abuse. Make it a point to find out what your area shelters for abused women and their children need. Have your children go with you to buy those things and drop them off.
  
• Loving Day
• Raggedy Ann and Andy Day
• World Wind Day
• Race Unity Day
• Red Rose Day
• On this day in 1929, Anne Frank was born.