Thoughts of Easter

Does the Easter Bunny come to your house?
Do you & your kids all get new Easter clothes so you will look just right for church & family pictures?
Well we do at our house.

But Stop!
Do you stop to think about a few of the most important events in history? They all happened this week. If it hadn't been for them, where would we be?

I have been thinking a lot about this since it was mentioned in church on Sunday. I, for one, am guilty in getting caught up in the vibe of Easter that I forget to stop and remeber the MEANING of Easter.

God, chose his Son, Jesus, to die for us! STOP...think...reflect
What does that mean to you.

That means that I am completely unworthy for what I have and therefore need to be eternally grateful for what he has done. He died for us and then he rose again.

My 3 year old is in my Sunday School (3 & 4 yr olds) class? This month is all about 'Jesus is Alive!'
As a very curious 3 year old, he is always asking about Jesus dying on the cross and the thorns on his head and why he died. He knows the story: Jesus died for our sins.
"But what does that mean mommy?" "Well, honey...(how do I answer this)???"

Isn't it amazing that kids will ask the questions that we should be asking?

So I leave you with these words from Matthew 28:
⁵And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
   ⁶He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
   ⁷And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

JESUS IS ALIVE!

Rejoice and be glad in it and tell everyone you know.

MommyShelle C

Friends, Food & Fun

There is something to be said for Great Friends, Food & Fun!

I had a jewelry party last night and I had 5 wonderful ladies show up to enjoy some fabulous mexican food (and some chocolate chip cookie bars) and play dress-up for about an hour & a half. We had a great time. We ate, we played, we laughed and just plain had fun. What's not to love about eating mexican while playing with jewelry? It's like being 5 years old and having a dress-up tea party again. (Which there were a couple of children running around wanting to try stuff on)

So, this is a shout out to all of the ladies with great friends around them.
Keep Them!
Enjoy Them!
and most of all, Love them!
Life is so much better when surrounded by good friends (and some great food doesn't hurt either)!!

MommyShelle C

Food for Friday

So, what is it about the sun shining on a beautiful April day that makes me hungry? Oh yeah, the idea of a grilled hamburger or hot dog hot off the grill!

So, I am going home to make hamburgers & hot dogs tonight for supper. These of course have to be accompanied by some baked beans and some sort of vegetable (to instill those healthy eating habits). And just to round out the All-American BBQ effect, we will be enjoying big bowls of ice-cream with chocolate sauce for dessert. The cold ice-cream is good for a teething 11 month old's sore gums (right??).

Then as we head into the weekend, there will be more opportunities for yummy goodness from the grill! But not without shopping for the perfect Easter outfits for 2 little boys, that could care less, so they will look adorably perfect for Easter in 2 weeks.

So I leave you with encouragement to get out and grill up some gorgeous piece of meat this weekend.

As always,
MommyShelle C

Trained By A Toddler

Isn't it funny what motivates you?

After 27(ish) years of biting my finger nails, my new motivation to quit: my 3 year old now bites his nails! How, as a mommy, do you convince your toddler to NOT take up a bad habit, that you yourself do everyday? Well, you DON'T. That said, I have been doing all that I can to NOT bite my nails.

It is strange and leaves me a bit in awe as to what a mom (or any parent really) will do for their kids. I find myself considering the moves I am about to make and think, will B do this? Do I want B to do this? If B does this, is L going to try the same thing? So, in my MommyShelle world of 2 very mobile children, I am being trained each day by THEM. Yes, I train them, but they are are re-training my thoughts and actions everyday.

So, WARNING, to you who still have cute little tiny babies that smell good, they GROW UP fast!!! And when they do, watch out, becasue it won't be long before your life takes on a new training schedule.

Trained By A Toddler,
MommyShelle C

It is a Fabulous Friday!

       By Fabulous, I mean, the sun is shining and there is no rain/ snow in the forecast for a full 24 hours! Tomorrow is supposed to be a great day in Missouri. It shall be in the 70', partly sunny and no rain in sight. It is also a day of outdoor fun, including: a church turkey shoot. BANG!
      
In the spirit of Friday, I leave you with a recipe.

Grandma Geri's Choclate Chip Cookies
1c. margarine
3/4c. brown sugar
1/4c. sugar
1t. vanilla
1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs
2 1/4c. flour
1t. baking soda
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350
Mix margarine, sugars, vanilla & pudding. Add in eggs & mix. Add the flour & soda and mix until combined. Finally add the chocolate chips. Scoop onto a cookie sheet and bake for 8-11 minutes.
(I like to slightly underbake these so they are still kinda gooey in the middle)

As always,
MommyShelle C