What We Are Eating - Simple Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes

Simple Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes
adapted from Cupcake Diaries 

This was a super easy recipe to make because it starts with a box mix :-)  The cakes match their name - they are the perfect blend of Strawberry and Lemon! 

Ingredients

• 1 box lemon cake mix, plus ingredients to make
• 24 cupcake liners
• 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 c. strawberry preserves
• 3 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 24 strawberries, to garnish

Instructions

1. Bake cupcakes according to package directions. Remove from cupcake tins and place on wire rack to cool.
2. With an electric hand mixer, beat butter till smooth. Add powdered sugar 1/2 c. at a time; add vanilla extract and strawberry preserves.
3. Place frosting in a piping bag secured with a frosting tip (I used a Wilton 4B tip). Gently squeeze the frosting on each cupcake in a circular motion starting from the outside rim and working your way into the center. Top with a strawberry to gar

Teaching Tuesday - Summer "School" Style

This was our first official week of our Summer "School" plan and it pretty well.  We did some seat work a few days and then a project.  Not to mention PE (also known as T-Ball).  I even have a fantastic bruise where I took a bat to the arm while helping the boys work on their batting skills.  (Good thing we were just using a cheap plastic bat or I might actually be in a cast HA)

 One of my main goals with our summer school concept is to review items like sight words, phonics, and math.  I went through and searched out various packets of Kindergarten review worksheets and put together packets for each week.  Confessions of a Homeschooler has some great sight word worksheets and then I found a couple of complete packs of review info at Teachers Pay Teachers.  At first I tried to find all free worksheets but, honestly, paying about $8.50 for a complete pack of worksheets that takes us through the summer was well worth the time I saved.  The nice thing is that as we continue through the summer the boys will know what to do on each worksheet and won't need much direction. 

 Most of the sight words are review from this past year but we are putting them up on our wall for a visual each day. 

 This little book came in one of the packets I purchased so the boys cut out their pages and then we read the book together.

 Josh's flower that he made using patterns of color.

 Nate wanted to make a daisy - he did a great job.  This flower idea came from Mess for Less.  It was a perfect craft for my boys because it was simple and quick. 

I love the creativity my kids are starting to show.  One day last week, Josh came inside to get glue and paper.  Then, he gathered Nate and the Munchkin and instructed them to make a nature craft (we did this last year while camping).  The boys had to gather sticks, rocks, dirt, and flowers to glue on their papers.  Also, Nate learned how to make paper fans form a cartoon he was watching so then, he gathered us all at the table and taught us how to make one.  We had to color our paper and then "fold and flip" to make our fan. 

Make It Monday - Praying for our Kids

My kids are the most important "thing" in my life.  They are super cute, funny, fun, caring and, well, they drive me crazy.  But more than that, they burden my heart because my greatest desire is for them to grow up loving the Lord and knowing Jesus Christ as their personal savior.  I love that they are learning the Bible Truths and examples (I don't like calling them "stories" because the Bible is real - it is not a story book).  They understand more than I sometimes give them credit for and I love their simple, innocent ideas.  For example, Nate will tell me there are Four parts to God (not just the three parts - the Trinity).  My dad is probably cringing at the doctrinal implication I'm about to shatter HA According to Nate there is, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and God, the father of Abraham. :-)  I love it.  Anytime a discussion comes up about the Trinity - Nate has to remind us that God is actually four parts ;-) 

Anyway, I cam across a great chart over at Keeping it Personal.  This chart shares 31 Biblical Principals to Pray for our children.

The blog author gives a great idea that goes beyond just praying these virtues.  She suggests actually talking about them with your children each day.  Sure, some of the ideas might be over a child's head depending on their age but that doesn't really matter.  The more we talk about things, the more kids learn.  So, for make-it-Monday, I'm printing this off for myself and I'm going to work on doing this every day; every month.  Not only praying these for my children but talking to them about these virtues. 

Things My Kids Say

* Nate made a delcaration this week, "Dad has the biggest brain of every body.  He's so smart."  That was stated as Darryl and the boys were working on building train circles. 

* My boys tell me that they love me all of the time.  They tell me I'm the best mom ever.  Then, one day last week, Nate told me, "Mom, I will love you always and forever.".  So sweet. 

* Every single night Josh comes out of his room about 30 minutes after bedtime and says in his sweet voice, "Mom, I can't get to sleep, I need to sleep with you because you  make me sleepy."  He then proceeds to cuddle up and watch TV with me for a little bit before saying good night and heading to bed. 

Family Fun - Easter Part 2

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day!  Darryl was sick (:-(  ) so he stayed home from church but, as I mentioned before, we ended up getting to spend the day at home so it ended up being a really nice family day.

 Before the boys and I headed to church, we attempted to get some photos of the boys.  They are at the age where they like to make funny faces so I just keep snapping and hope to get one half way decent photo! 

 When we got home, the boys went searching for the Easter Baskets and found them in the playroom. 

 This year Darryl and I the Easter Bunny focused on outside toys.  They got Frisbees, Kites, Bubbles, Water Spray Fans, Legos, and candy. 

 They also got a second controller to the game cube - they have been asking for one for months and the "Easter Bunny" listened :-)

 Of course, the first item they each opened was . . .Legos! 

 While the boys built Legos, I got dinner on the table.  (One advantage to Darryl staying home?  He was able to put the cheesy potatoes in the oven so we could eat earlier!)

 This face!  So adorable :-)

 I managed to sneak outside . .The Easter Bunny even managed to hide eggs without being seen even though the boys kept looking outside throughout the afternoon to "catch" him! 

 This Easter Bunny was very, very smart and labeled each of the eggs with a "J" or an "N" so that there were no arguments or fights over who got more. 

 The best part of the whole hunt?  Josh found THIS.  Yes, it is Rabbit Poop!  This totally convinced him that the Easter Bunny had really hidden the eggs. 

 I love this shot of the boys playing with the new controller.  They were probably playing Mario Cart.

 As luck would have it, it was very windy on Easter so the boys convinced Darryl to head outside and help them fly kites.  (I have written to the Easter Bunny and said, "No kites next year HA!) 

They actually really did get them flying and flying high.

Weekly Menu

So, last week my menu was absolutely nothing like I posted last week.  When I switched from the winter menu, well, I haven't been very excited about that I picked for the summer menu.  I did cook a ham in the crock pot last Sunday and then used the leftovers for some other meals.  We also cooked some pork steaks on the grill.

As looking ahead to this coming week I'm again struggling with what to cook.  Maybe I'm bored with cooking, I'm not sure, but we still have to eat so I still have to cook :-) 

Friday - Tacos :-)

Saturday - I'm not 100% sure yet . . .the boys and I may go to town so I can do a little shopping and then meet Darryl for dinner at Pizza Ranch.  Or, the boys and I may take China to get a bath at a car wash that has a dog bath too . . .and then have Darryl bring dinner home; or who knows :-)

Sunday - Mothers Day!  I've already put in my request for Steaks on the grill.  I'm thinking I'll just put some potatoes in the crock pot so they are ready after church, corn, because that is my favorite veggie, and crescent rolls.  I plan on making "Sin" for dessert - it's so yummy!

Monday - I would like my crock pot to become my best friend this summer.  I just recently "pinned" quite a few Crock Pot meals that looked good and a friend of mine commented on  Chicken Rice Casserole recipe that it was "Great" . . .so I'm leaning towards that one.  

Tuesday - Grill night!  Burgers :-)  I'm thinking some potato salad and fruit will go well with the meal.

Wednesday - Tonight is the boys first t-ball game.  We love sloppy joes lately so I think I'll make those and fries.  Simple but hearty for dinner.

Thursday - My kids will be gone and I have a meeting.  Darryl and I will have something simple - I may have him bring something home. (Like Adobe (Tacos) or Popeye's Chicken!)

Getting Things done

I spent most of April (and probably all of March!) not getting much done and here is the reason why:

 Do you see those empty pages in my planner?  I did not take time to make a to do list of any kind on most days.  There were a few weeks where I was sick with a cold that settled in my chest so I did as little as possible in order to avoid coughing but otherwise, well, I read a lot.  :-)

I'll say it over and over but, I'm a planner. I'm a list maker and an organizer.  It's why I still love a paper planner - so I can make a list and have it handy.  When I take time to make a to do list, I actually tend to accomplish close to 90% of what is on that list because I don't like NOT crossing things off throughout the day.  Sometimes I write the entire weeks goals out on Sunday; sometimes I write out a list for the following day before I go to bed and sometimes, while I eat breakfast, I write down what I want to do that day.  So, it isn't a matter of when I write something down but rather just the fact that it is listed. 

Oh, and I still love my Erin Condrin planner and am already saving my pennies to be able to buy this "splurge" at Christmas :-) It is one of those things that makes me smile and I make sure that at some point while at the Beach in the summer I take the "perfect" picture of the boys to put on the front of my planner that brings me joy all year long!