Easter Resurrection Eggs

Well, I we are now about to complete our Outer Space unit (will post about this next week) and I was beginning to plan for what our theme for next month will be.

As I was doing my searching I came across a great idea to help children understand the real meaning of Easter.

Now I don't believe that this is a new concept as I kept seeing it over and over on different blog sites that I follow. 

You can buy these pre-made sets here.  But, not surprising, I discovered this a little too late.  I did find out that you can also by them at Walmart at a reasonable price but I had already decided to pull this together on my own.

I thought you might want to see what I came up with.

First, I found this site that does the eggs over 10 steps rather than 12 (She did hers to be presented during Easter dinner - another fabulous idea!).  And I think it still will have a strong impact.

In the 1st Egg I placed 30 dimes

A piece of Bread

A piece of Twine

Thorn from our garden

Dice

A piece of curtain torn in two

A piece of linen folded

Spices

 And then #9 is a rock (not sure what happened to my picture)

And Finally #10 is empty to represent that Jesus as risen.

I know that my pictures are the greatest but I wanted to get this posted in case anyone else wanted to put this together since there is still time.  I was able to put this together finding everything around the house in no time at all!  I can't wait to open one egg each day with Renae!

10 Goals for the Week - March 26,2012

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.

                                                 - Jimmy Dean


So, I now have my first week under my belt for doing the "bite-size" goals as recommended in Money Saving Mom's Budget.

So you might be wondering......any better success?  Well, yes and no.  I broke it down below but I think the biggest reason that I wasn't as successful as possible was because I failed to do one tinsy tiny detail......I MAY have forgotten to print and post it up where I would see it daily........

So, I have now redone my list (with a lot from last weeks list) and I have printed and posted.  So I am hoping to have a lot more to report next week.

Last weeks goals:

Personal:

1. Start Week 1 of 30 day Shred - Only did one day of exercise last week....does that count?......yeah I didn't think so either

2. Finish reading Montessori at home, Calm My Anxious Heart and All New Square Foot Gardening
- ongoing, made some headway, just not done yet
Marriage:

3. Write a love note to Norm

Home:

4. Create a spring cleaning plan

5. De clutter/file home school papers - Got a start on this after seeing this post for an organizing miracle

Financial:

6. Set appointment with Edward Jones to do annual review

Home school:

7. Read 3 Chapters of Ramona the Brave to the girls - still waiting for this to arrive from library

8. Date with Renae

Friendship/Church:

9. Mail gift for Nephew

10. Research churches in area
__________________________________________________________________________

This weeks goals:
Personal:

1. Start Week 1 (again) of 30 day Shred
2. Finish reading Montessori at home, Calm My Anxious Heart and All New Square Foot Gardening

Marriage:
3. Date with Norm

Home:

4. Create a spring cleaning plan

5. Finish De clutter/file home school papers

6. Revise Daily Schedule

Home school:

7. Read 3 Chapters of Ramona the Brave to the girls

8. Plan/execute field trip to NASA
Friendship/Church:
9. Buy cards for April Birthdays and send

10. Buy/mail Easter cards to friends and family

 How did you do with your own goals?  Any tips?  I would love to hear. 

I will be linking up at moneysavingmom.com

Menu Plan Monday - March 26,2012

So I am loving this spring time weather right now!  It has me itching to get my hands dirty and start gardening.  This year, for the first time EVER I am going to try my luck with a vegetable garden!  I have been reading a book called The All New Square Foot Gardening and it is done so even a novice like me can try!  I can't wait to get started.  Be sure to pop back as I plan on putting up posts as progress reports!

Also, I discovered a new-to-me website called Sparkrecipes.com.  It is full of healthy recipes which I am always searching for!  I am going to use two recipes that I found on there that not only look good but seem quick and easy as well.  I will let you know if they turned out as good as they sound and look.

This weeks menu:

Monday - SW Ground Turkey and Rice Skillet

Tuesday - Spaghetti

Wednesday - BBQ Pork Chops with Tossed Salad

Thursday - Pot Roast (Crock Pot dish)
Friday - World's Best (and easiest) Salmon
Saturday - Date Night!  Whoo hoo....and no cooking for me! Well, something simple for the kids
Sunday - Hummus Crusted Chicken - Recipe Below

This is a Recipe that my husband found.  We have had it once and the family was sold! I can't believe how easy it is!

Hummus Crusted Chicken

4oz (per person)  Boneless/skinless chicken breast

1 tbsp (per person) store bought Hummus ( you could make your own but I am a girl all about saving time)

1/2 tsp Rosemary (fresh)

1/2 tsp Lemon

1/2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar

Preheat Oven at 450F
Spread Hummus over chicken
Squeeze Lemon Juice on top of hummus
Sprinkle Rosemary
Sprinkle/Spray Vinegar
Add lemon slice on top
Bake for 35 - 40 minutes

Enjoy!

I will be linking up to orgjunkie.com for meal plan Monday.  Hope you have a great week!

10 Goals for the Week

In step with Money Saving Mom's Budget she mentioned the need to make a list of goals that I want to achieve for the year and then break those goals down into smaller bite size pieces so keep you moving forward.  So, I have now done this and I plan on sharing with you what those goals are each week to help keep me accountable.

So, this weeks goals are:

Personal:

1. Start Week 1 of 30 day Shred

2. Finish reading Montessori at home, Calm My Anxious Heart and All New Square Foot Gardening

Marriage:

3. Write a love note to Norm

Home:

4. Create a spring cleaning plan

5. De clutter/file home school papers

Financial:

6.  Set appointment with Edward Jones to do annual review

Home school:

7. Read 3 Chapters of Ramona the Brave to the girls

8. Date with Renae

Friendship/Church:

9. Mail gift for Nephew

10.  Research churches in area

Menu Plan Monday - Week of March 19, 2012

Well I missed posting my Menu Plan last week.  I did it......just didn't post it.  Sorry.  Anyway, I am looking forward to getting back into the routine of things.  This week, I am using pantry and freezer items that I already have on hand, except for Friday.  I don't have any fish on hand and I also will need to by a lemon.  But this should be a "staple only" grocery shop this week.

This weeks menu:

Monday - Sweet and Sour Pork

Tuesday - Asian Peanut Beef and Noodles for Two

Wednesday - Cheesy Chicken and Salsa Skillet

Thursday - Hungarian Beef Goulash

Friday - Mediterranean Halibut - Recipe below (Found in the Eating For Life Recipe book)
Saturday - Pasta, Broccoli & Chicken

Sunday - Campbell's Kitchen Beef Stir Fry

Mediterranean Halibut

Ingredients

2 sheets - 12x18" heavy duty foil
1 15oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
2 portions halibut fillet, about 6 oz each, skin removed
1/2 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
 Mrs. dash's 1 lemon, sliced

Directions

Pre-heat grill to Medium High.
Fold foil sheets in half lengthwise to crease, then unfold.
Lightly coat foil with cooking spray.

divide beans into 2 portions onto center of right half of foil pieces.
Layer each with half the tomato and basil.
Place portions of halibut on top of each.
Sprinkle with seasoning.
Top with lemon slices.

Fold left side of foil over top, leaving room for air circulation.
Close by double folding around the 3 open sides.

Place packets on grill and lower the cover.

Cook about 14 minutes, until fish is opaque throughout.

Use tongs to remove from grill, open packets carefully, Spoon contents onto plate (or serve right out of the packet!)

Number of Servings: 2

Will be linking up to orgjunkie.com for meal plan Monday.  Hope you have a great week!

Dakota's First Haircut

This past week I took the girls out for a haircut.  This was big news since it was Dakota's first time.  I had Renae go first and I think that this was a great choice since Dakota didn't fuss a bit.  I don't know how the hairdresser does it because Dakota kept wanting to see what she was up to, so the poor lady had to keep chasing her around but it turned out great.  I snapped pictures throughout the whole event but the following are my three favourites......

"Keep the cookies coming and no one gets hurt"

"Don't I look cute too?"  Love this picture, makes me laugh every time!

"Tell me honestly, do you like it?"

I thought it was too cute that there were able to get tiny tiny pig tails in her hair!  She loved all of the attention that she got with her new hairdo.  So much so that she really got upset when we have to take the pigtails out!

Well, another milestone for the books!

New Years Resolution - Feburary Update

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
- Jimmy Dean

I don't know about you but Feburary flew by!  Below are the updates on my ambitious New Years Resolustion list.

Personal:

1. Start an exercise routine and stick with it - Terrible really, I don't think I did more then one time.  I gave up on the treadmill and started Jillian Michael's work out tapes again.  Hope to really improve in this area.

2. Cut down/out sweets - ......and this

3. Join Booking it on Lifeasmom.com and add 12 books of my choice to read on to of there list

(total of 24 book) - Finished Money Saving Mom's Budget - Crystal Paine and Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen, and I am almost finished 40 Unforgettable  Dates With Your Mate - Gary and Barbara Rosberg, and Montessori At Home by John Bowman..  Which will catch my up for planned reading of February. Started Calm My Anxious Heart - A Women's Guide to Finding Contentment - Linda Dillod and ordered A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Donald Miller, which I hope to have done by mid March.  Check back on the 12th for an update and book review.

4. Read Bible in 1 year following this plan (www.esv.org/biblereadingplans) - I am still about a week behind but working steadily to catch up.

5. Compile a list of 12 habits to develop in a year and link up to report on moneysavingmom.com - Did this here. But haven't done the link up.  Been pretty diligent about getting up early, although usually later then 4am.  Feb. was develop a morning routine.  As mentioned above I need to do better on my exercises which is part of my morning routine but I am doing well for daily devotional and getting things ready for our school day and such.

6. Learn to use our DSLR camera that we have owned for a few years but I have no idea how to

use. - Still need to do

Marriage:

1. Read 2 Books Together - Started reading 40 Unforgettable  Dates With Your Mate - Gary and Barbara Rosberg.  Both of us have started but I think I am a little farther along.  I look forward to having "book talk" with him when he is farther into it.

2. Monthly Date Night - We didn't do this this month.  We had birthday celebrations instead.  He spoiled me again.....

3. Read 3 books on marriage

Home:

1. Redo Home binder to work better for me. - Done, will post about this soon.

2. Involve Renae in chores - Still need to put this into action.

3. Start Monthly "other" cleaning project (ie/baseboards, etc.) - still need to do.

4. Do monthly De clutter Project - Organizing and decluttering all of my preschool printouts - About half way done

Financial:

1. Switch to Cash only for Groceries and personal spending allowance - Started doing this.  Made it on budget for February for what was planned for with the envelopes.  However, we did have a lot of car troubles this month and went over budget there.  I was actually hoping that we would be able to bank some money but we broke even instead.  Still a win in my book!


2. Redo monthly budget.....and stick to it - Done.

3. Save/buy "new-to-us" car for Norm - Did deposit IRS refund for car fund

4. Continue with investments - yep, right on track

Children/Homeschooling:

1. Monthly date with just Renae - Took Renae to her friends birthday party and we got to play together at Incredible Pizza.  Loads of fun!

2. Swimming lessons for both girls - Will be starting sometime in March.

3. Continue to Pre-K Renae - yes, will be doing an update post soon

4. Make decision on schooling direction for Renae - still working on this

5. Finish alphabet and letter sound recognition and Teach Renae to read - ongoing

6. 1 field trip a month - No field trip this month

7. At least 1 family vacation - need to budget for this

8. Read 10 read aloud books to the girls - Read Mimmy and  Sophie - This was a book that Renae picked out.  It was a decent read but I thought one of the chapters was a bad example of behavior and so I "modified" it a bit.  Started reading Ramona the Pest - Beverly Cleary

Friendship/church:

1. Send Birthday cards out early - Sent, but not early (sorry Sarah)

2. Send 1 note/card per month to encourage someone - didn't do

3. Start attending church - not yet

4. Start getting involved in a homeschool group - not yet

Blog:

1. Set up/follow weekly blog schedule -hmmmmm, haven't done set up let alone, follow through

2. Plan to blog posts 1 week in advance - see above

I am also linking up to moneysavingmom.com post here.  Come join in the fun of goal setting, it's not too late,.....think of all that you can accomplish once you put your mind to it!