Simple Birthday Party

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As I was planning my sons birthday party recently it got me thinking about how much parties have changed. What did everyone do before we had party venues such as 'jumping places', 'amusement parks' or parties like 'paint your own ceramics' or 'cooking camp parties'? When did everything get so complicated and pricey? Growing up I remember my parties and ones I attended...they were always a blast despite the fact that they were at someone's house. Sure there was an occasional skating party, but for the most part it consisted of games, cake, gifts and maybe a goodie bag. I never felt I was missing anything as a kid. I only had fun! I just wonder if maybe we feel the need to 'entertain' the kids at a party because the pace of life has changed, and what used to entertain doesn't anymore, everyone wants bigger and better everything. I still think children can have a good time at a simple party if you put some thought into it. Plan a couple of games, add a fun theme, throw in a cake and you will have some happy kids.

Any ideas on how you simplify?

Dinner... a Great Family Time

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We have all heard that its important to eat dinner as a family at the dinner table. Did you know that this can be the best place to talk as well? Although, sometimes this is difficult due to do our busy schedules and life's distractions. There are so many benefits to sitting down and talking with each other about the day and sharing whats going on in our lives around the dinner table. Those in our own households need to be the ones we share our day-to-day life with. Once I heard how you should always ask open ended questions to your kids so they will give more of an answer than just 'yes' or 'no'. At the age of my children there is no shortage of conversation, yet I know someday that may not always be the case. About a year ago my husband started a little activity at our table. We all take turns pointing out things we admire or enjoy about another person at the table. I have heard my kids say things like "I like it when you play with me" or "Thank you for helping me clean my room"....Its especially sweet to to hear siblings do this! Now, when my husband and I forget, our kids will remind us. I definitely recommend this to every family. With the crazy pace of life for some of us, meal time is the only "together time" we have. Why not make it count?!

Lets Go On a Date

When you have been together for long time I think we loose our originality in coming up with date night ideas. We are creatures of habit and seem to get in a rut, dining at the same restaurants, renting movies and staying within a 10 miles radius of home. . If we take the time to plan we could turn mediocre dates into new exciting adventures together. Why not go to a different part of town, I know from personal experience just changing up the part of town can make a difference. You can try other things like borrowing a different car, have a moonlit picnic or take a cooking class, rent a segway, ride bikes or walk a different part of town, catch a outdoor play or festival...the possibilities are endless. There is something special that happens when you get out of the 'norm' and try new experiences together. It seems we should pull out all the stops and be creative even if we have been together for many years! Don't get me wrong some nights a take out meal and a movie are nice too, but every now and then how great would it be to surprise or plan an extra special date for no specific reason.  With a little effort and some creativity you and your special someone can spend some quality time together in an extra special way.

Skating Rink...a blast from the past!

A few weeks ago a friend invited my kids and I to go roller skating. I haven't skated in years, but back in the day that was the place to be. Not much has changed as you might guess. It still smells a little bit like feet, has the same skates from 20 years ago but aside from that its still a fun place for people of all ages. My kids only have tried to ice skating so this was all new to them. Although its been years for me, its like riding a bike...it comes back to you after a while and a few close calls.

 If you or your kids haven't done this in a while I highly recommend it. I can't promise you won't have sore legs or feet, but you will have a fun time hanging at the rink like good ole days.

Wow...look who walked in the room!

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One time I heard something from Gary Smalley, a well known christian family counselor, that stuck with me. It was about how he and his wife would make it a practice to make a huge deal when their kids would come into the room. He would say "Guess what?!" (pause) "the smartest kid in the world just walked in the door!" or "I can't believe I get to be in the room of such an amazing young man of God!" or "Wow what a gift you are!" He went on to talk about how we also should make it a point to smile when they entered the room as well. This comes to mind quite a bit when I am busy or wrapped up in daily stress. I want my children to see me smile rather than scowling or so caught up in what I am doing that I don't notice that they walk in. Yes, no one is perfect and 'happy' all the time, yet what beautiful gifts our children are. Although they will never fully grasp how much they are loved, wouldn't it be great for them to see the joy in our face and then hear how excited we are that they are there. Just food for thought!

Need tree work done?

So due to our crazy weather this year and the drought last year you may have noticed lots of dead trees around the Houston area. If you have any in your yard, you might be procrastinating or not sure who to call to take care of it. I know a great company that can help, they have great customer service, do excellent work and been in business since 1943! If you need some limbs trimmed or trees cut down give them a call or click here to send an email. My family has personal experince and have always been happy with the results! Tell them I sent ya!



 http://www.bradshawtreeservice.com/

Great Music!

Check out this praise and worship band I came across!
 They are called Rend Collective Experiment and are from Northern Ireland. We are hooked, their lyrics are refreshing and the sound is amazing!

Good Job!

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My sister and I had a conversation the other day about how small children are constantly getting praise and affirmation. They walk, we clap and cheer. They smile for the camera we clap and cheer. They put a puzzle together, we clap and cheer. This continues on for several years, yet becomes less and less common as they grow older. Of course, we always encourage our children and teens, applauding their successes and wins, yet the older they become the less we do it for the small things. By the time they are young adults its for the the huge accomplishments like graduating college or landing a job. This is not to say we should follow around our older children and teens clapping and cheering like crazy people, but why not give affirmation more often AND on the little things.

Wouldn't it be great to make a 'big deal' out of the day-to-day things, for instance when your teen helps clean the kitchen or writes a really great paper, or does something selfless for someone else. For those adults in your life why not give a pat on the back for their victories; baking a yummy cake, orgazinging an event or teaching a great lesson.

I think we should start a movement, if you will, of letting those older kids, teens and adults both young and old know that what they do matters and doesn't get overlooked! Who says we can't earn a 'gold star' for effort or a job well done, even if its making a delicious meal, building something, coming up with a clever idea or sticking to a goal. Lets cheer each other on and take time to notice the accomplishments of those around us no matter how big or small! 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.."

Personal Art

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Need art to hang on your wall? Some friends of ours just moved into their new home and had lots of bare walls to cover. So to solve her problem yet add some very personal style, she recruited some very talented artists...her nieces and nephews all school age kiddos. She bought several canvases plus paint and they went at it. The end result was authentic works of art! Some had flowers, abstract shapes, splatters and even handprints. This clever and cost effective idea added a very personal touch to their home.

No More Store Bought Cards

Its often said people like handmade gifts and greetings. Well after paying $4 or more for a card that someone looks at once then pitches, I tend to agree, why not save money and make the card special just by adding a little extra thought.

There are so many options to add flare to your card, here are just a few ideas I have tried.

Goodnight Houston - GIVEAWAY!

Written by Jennifer and Kyle Solak - Illustrated by Paul Dolan

A few months back as I was leaving the Nutcracker Market I came across this really neat book entitled Goodnight Houston. I had only a moment to flip through the book, yet quickly realized it was a treasure all Houston families should have. To top it off the vibrant illustrations really make the city come alive. It was so cool to see my children's faces when they recognized all the popular Houston landmarks!

A Day in the Big City

A few weeks ago we took the kids and headed to Herman Park to enjoy the spring-like weather occurring in January. The park was hopping, alive with families enjoying the beautiful day. We fed the ducks, kicked the soccer ball, relaxed on a blanket and just soaked up the sun accompanied by the cool breeze. While there, our kids were asking to ride the zoo train. Since there was such a crowd my husband suggested we do something else, so we bought a $1.25 round trip ticket and jumped on the Metro Light Rail.

Laundry Savings

About a year ago we started researching cost saving options for various items we use at home. I had heard you could make your own laundry detergent, but it seemed like too much of a pain, so I never bothered. That all changed whenever I heard how you could save quite a bit of money and use less harsh chemicals by going this homemade route. So how do you make it? It only takes 3 ingredients, and you can find them at the grocery store.

3 Reasons to Watch Courageous

A few weeks ago my husband and I rented the movie Courageous, which is the latest film by the producers of Facing the Giants and Fireproof.  We both agreed it had such a powerful message that everyone should see...especially men. Here is the synopsis:
Honor Begins at Home

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?
Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.
Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous.

Source : http://courageousthemovie.com/themovie (watch the trailer here)

So why watch, its not often we have movies like this that are safe for the entire family. Secondly this movie is more than entertainment, it reminds us ALL how important our role as Mom and Dad are in the life our children, that its up to US to guide them. Lastly Couregeous encourages us to be the best we can be in all avenues of life, a parent, friend, spouse, co-worker etc. Pick it up today!

Grandma Playing Twister

My son really enjoys planning events, in fact his favorite event to plan is Family Fun Night. We started this a while back, and we now do this every couple of months. Of course we play games at home often, but Family Fun Night is when we invite all the cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents to our house. We usually have pizza followed by breaking into teams of 2 or 3. With a timer set, we rotate every 15 minutes or so. Boggle, Bop It, Yahtzee, and even Twister are among the games we play. This past Family Fun Night my son took charge of picking the teams and assigning games to each team. 'The Grandmas' were on a team together and he picked them to play Twister. A kid hasn't had real fun until they see their Grandmas giving Twister a whirl in the middle of the living room. I have to say that although it can get crazy and loud, there is so much fun to be had by everyone! You should plan your Family Fun Night soon and don't forget Twister! source

Shhh...I Don't Call it Exercise

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise. I often say, if someone would pick me up each day, take me to do a new and interesting activity such as rock climbing, ice skiing, hiking, kayaking, etc. in a beautiful setting AND with amazing weather, THEN I would enjoy exercise. Since THAT isn't going to happen I suppose I will continue to play and move without calling it exercise. For me, one way to accomplish this is to do what my kids do. Run around the kitchen chasing the dog, play tag on the playground, swim and dance along with all kinds of other rowdy fun.

Lifetime of Love

So in the news I have seen several stories of couples who have been together for 40, 50, 60 years and more! If you just think about what they have seen together, the invention and advance of automobiles, computers that started out the size of a room now the size of book, 10-15 different presidents, decades of crazy fashion, and headlines that would shock and awe 50 years ago that are now common in everyday conversations. Its such a testimony to marriage and the endurance of true love, to stand by each other through it all.

Coffee...Pure Magic!

So its no secret my husband I LOVE our coffee each day like the next guy, however we have learned how to take it to the next level!  Several months ago a good friend invited me over for a cup of Joe, she used a mini battery operated whisk. At first I thought 'cool, doubt I would use it much but still neat'. That was last year sometime, today we use it with every cup we make. What is so great about it? you may ask. It makes the coffee even BETTER. You simply add your cream then use the whisk to whip it up in a yummy foam or froth like consistency. Then add your coffee and whisk again. It turns a good cup of coffee into PURE MAGIC! We bought ours at IKEA for $3, can't beat that! source

Life without Ritz or Goldfish??

Like many other households there are those 'must have' items on your shopping list. For us hands down its Nabisco Ritz crackers and Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, Extreme Cheddar of course. We joke around saying that we should take stock in these companies with the amount we eat each week. I honestly don't know what a day would be like without these members of the family! source

Cilantro Instead of Grass

No lettuce please just cilantro. That's how we order tacos and many other food items. Cilantro is a staple on our shopping list each week. Did you know cilantro has many benefits, its an anti-inflammatory, helps with nausea, aids in digestion along with a slue of other advantages.  My husband suggested we plant cilantro instead of grass that way we are sure to always have enough, and although I know this isn't practical, it would be kind of cool...instead of mowing we could just graze. Ha!
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