Just a few tidbits!

Happy Friday!!!

I just have a few things to share with my girlfriends:)

I went to the dollar store this week with a girlfriend and 2 toddlers. (We thought it was a good idea at the time :) )

***In the housewares section they had hot beverage mugs with lids that you can decorate your self. (It has a little piece of paper inside that you can put the kids hand prints on or let the decorate.) You all know how I shop for Christmas early and this made me think of grandparent gifts from the kids. How awesome is that !!!

Just think you could be done with the kids gifts before June!!!

I also found this great link for easy recipes for kids cooking.

My kids are 2 and 4 and love to help in the kitchen so I find this very appealing. Here is the site if you want to check it out!

http://www.easy-kids-recipes.com/

I also wanted to give a preview of next week.

Menu Plan Monday

Mama knows best- End of the Year teacher gifts

Works for me Wednesday

A short tale of my son using his powers for good and not evil :)

I also have this adorable homemade baby gift but I need to get it done first! Stay tuned!

What my daughter taught me this week

The wound was deep.

I saw chunks of gravel embedded in the knee from where she had fallen.

As I cradled my baby girl, I was filled with a mixture of sadness and anger.

I had told her five times to hold my hand, not to run ahead. I had warned her that she was going too fast and would fall. Instead of dragging her along, I had allowed her to try it her way.

Any decent mama knows that when your child is hurting in any way its as if you have the same wound singed on your heart. You want to take the pain away, wipe the tears and make everything better for them.

Sometimes, however, you need to let go of their hand. To let them explore the world, get some bumps and bruises and maybe learn to trust you that you know what you are talking about.

It was as I was speaking soothing words to my baby girl and wiping the dirt away from her wound, I was hit with a realization.

Shamefully this is how I act with my Father. He knows the path that is safest, most filled with joy and the least hurtful. He loves me more than I can ever wrap my mind around and knows the danger that lies ahead.

He will not drag me, however.

Like a spoiled child, I jerk my hand away from the loving grasp, announcing that I know what is best for me. I run ahead wanting my own way.

Then I fall and get bruised, dirty, beaten down, bloody. I look up at a loving Father with big tears in my eyes feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

I knew better.

Just like with my daughter, the Lord could scold me. Point out that he had tried to hold my hand and help me avoid all this drama. He would be justified. He would be right.

Do you know what he does instead? He whispers soothing words to my heart and wraps his arms around me. He wipes away every piece of dirt and heals the wound.

Just like my child, I am comforted and feel the forgivness and love.

Works for me Wednesday: Birthay tips

A long, long time ago in a far off land, I was an event Planner. I loved it. Everything about it. It was exciting and adrenaline and emotions ran high. Then I became a mama ....and really fell in love with my new job. Literally.

So I love the chance to plan parties for my new little bosses. I recently had a 4th birthday monster truck palooza and had some things work out really well. I thought since all of us have birthdays, I would share and maybe save you some hassle and money :)

Have Stations- Instead of trying to gather everyone (Especially five four year olds- comparable to herding cats.) set up activity stations. They can choose to do the activity or not and people can visit at different times so that there is no pushing, shoving or gnashing of teeth.

I set up a card table and made it a tattoo station. I mean what is a monster truck party without some tats...right?

Hire a Young'in to do the dirty work- I had one of my young friends who is a senior in college come and help with the party. She is awesome at taking pictures so I had her take all the pics. Leaving me with free hands to help with gifts and give hugs. It worked out beautifully!

She also help me decorate, set out the food, watch the little one while I got things ready and she manned the tattoo station. I can tell you it was the best idea ever and worth every cent of the gift card I got her!

**Try to find someone who is thinking of going into event planning because they will come and help for free to get experience!.**

Use what you have- I hate buying decorations that are paper and you will never use again! Chances are that whatever theme party your kids have, is something that they are into. Thus, they probably have things related laying somewhere in their room.

In this case, I found several monster trucks and racing paraphernalia in his room. It not only made great decorations that was fitting, it was also practical because it held the paper products down. :)

Serve Appropriate Food- I looooooove themes. I love when the food of a party corresponds with the theme. My girlfriend recently had a Bolt party for her son. ( Bolt is a dog ) She served the food in brand new dog bowls and even served chow. (Which was a mixture of chex, chocolate, peanut butter and other yummy stuff.) It was genius!!

For my son's event we acted like we were really at a monster truck rally. We got the plastic nacho containers and had nachos and yummy- bad for you -cheese. We cooked hot dogs, put them in their buns then wrapped them in butcher paper to serve. (Just like at stadiums. ) We also provided a variety of different little bags of chips, popcorn in the paper popcorn bags and a variety of water, pops and juices. It really felt like fair food and everyone loves it ! I know GFS has a variety of commercial items like these for cheap!

Use your Resources- After ordering expensive cakes for years, we found out that our much loved neighbor creates wonderful cakes in the comfort of her own home...and for a very reasonable price! It has saved us a ton already and it turns out more creative then store bought. Start asking around...I guarantee you will find someone! (Or at least someone that knows someone!)

Everyone had a great time and my son couldn't wipe the smile off his face. I also saved a ton of money by using what we had.....and that works for this mama!

For more great WFMW ideas please visit We are that Family!

We take a pause

I wanted to let y'all know that things are crazy around here! (Like they are not at your house, right?) Spring seems to dump a thousand and one things on this house and I am playing catch up.

So this week is not going to be the usual routine on the blog. There will be no meal plan this week......mainly because I will be blessed to get a meal on the table each night. (Much less know what it is in advance.)

I will be posting about my son's Monster Truck Party and an adorable baby gift that you can make :)

Hope y'all have a great week !!