Excuses for not blogging in a week.....

We were out of town for the weekend, I've not felt so great since we've been back, I have two kids under two, Blake finished up his semester last week, went super double coupon shopping at Harris Teeter, I had to pack for our weekend getaway, we didn't take the computer on the trip, watched the Lost finale (all 4 1/2 lovely hours), contemplated the lost finale for a while, and have been reading articles about lost after the lost finale.

I should be back in gear tomorrow with some pictures from our weekend away!

Karis' Prayer

For a long time Karis has been great about being quiet and holding our hands when it's time to pray over our meals. She bows her head, peaks up on occasion, and then excitedly says "Amen" after us. Recently we started having her repeat a small prayer after us, just to practice. This is how it goes.....

Daddy: Karis say, "Dear"
Karis: Dear
Daddy: God
Karis: God
Daddy: Thank you
Karis: Thank you
Daddy: For
Karis: Five (instead of repeating, she starts counting!)
Daddy: the food
Karis: the food

We have been working with her on counting, so it's good to see she is connecting the numbers together. I think our next lesson will be on homonymns though! : )

Until then we'll enjoy her little prayers thanking God five the food!

Proof of Life

Snack time and veggie tales video

Today, I was talking to Karis and telling her how much I loved her and how I wouldn't trade her for anything. I hugged her and kissed her, then she grabbed my face to kiss my cheek (I thought) and proceeded to blow a raspberry instead. Priceless moment with my girl! She's awesome!

Tasty, Easy, Low Fat Dessert

We had the opportunity to fix a meal tonight for some friends of ours who just had a sweet baby girl a few weeks ago. I made my favorite chicken and rice casserole (a staple of my childhood), green beans, salad, biscuits, and a little dessert. I like to call them little pudding pies, and I want to share the recipe with anyone who may be interested in a very tasty and not so bad for you sweet treat. I made these a lot after having Karis as a way to indulge without feeling so guilty!

Little Pudding Pies

1 pack of sugar free fat free Jello Pudding (I use chocolate or chocolate fudge, but any pudding will work)

1 cup of fat free milk

1 cup of fat free whipped cream (plus extra to top the pies with)

1 pack of keebler mini graham cracker crusts (they come in a pack of 6)

Combine the jello and the milk in a medium size bowl. Mix until the jello is mostly combined with the milk.

Add the whipped cream and mix until thoroughly combined.

Fill each mini crust with the pudding mixture.

Top each pudding pie with whipped cream

You can also add little extras to the top of each pie too. I have done chocolate sprinkles and some fruit. I once used oreo pudding and put crumbled oreos on top (a little less good for you, but still not too bad!)

Also, you can make it in a regular graham cracker crust, but I would double the recipe to allow enough to fill it entirely.

So, that's my little recipe! So simple and easy, and so very yummy! Try it out, and let me know what you think!

Proof of Life

I got the "Proof of Life" idea from a friend who got the idea from a friend. To see the explanation for this series go here.

What does an almost two year old, a pen, and Daddy's Westminster Larger Catechism equal.....

Mother's Day and Owen's Baby Dedication

What a day this has been! My third mother's day as a mother (we celebrated when I was pregnant with Karis too) and it was great! I am so thankful for my kids and so proud to be their momma! They are growing up so very fast. Makes me sad if I think about it too long, so instead I'll just get to some pictures of our day....

In addition to Mother's Day, we also celebrated Owen's baby dedication at church. There were twelve babies presented before the church today (and lots more little ones on the way). It was a time of thanking God for the gift that these children are, asking the church family to help us in the spiritual shaping of our children, and asking the Lord to guide our children to saving faith in Jesus Christ. We were asked this list of questions during the dedication:

1. Do you today recognize these children as the gifts of God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?
2. Do you now dedicate your children to the Lord who gave them to you all, surrendering all worldly claims upon their lives in the hope that they will belong wholly to God?
3. Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s fatherly help you will bring up your children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into their lives?
4. Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of your children, looking to your own heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve them and not use them?
5. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

The section that I highlighted there is a line that has stood out to me since Karis' baby dedication (where we were asked these same questions). This line sums up what the baby dedication is, a surrendering of all worldly claims on my child's life. I firmly believe that my children are ultimately the Lord's. He has seen fit to entrust them to me for a time, and I am to be a good steward of this gift of motherhood. Whatever He chooses to do with their lives is His concern, and I am to trust Him completely. These are difficult things to say and believe in my flesh, and I know that as they get older it will become more and more difficult. But they are the Lord's. I will do all I can do to provide for them, protect them, teach them, love them and be an example for them. But at the end of each day I must say, these children are the Lord's.

I dedicate you, my little baby Owen, to the Lord who gave you to me, surrendering all worldly claims upon your life in the hope that you will belong wholly to God. And, I promise to make it my regular prayer that, by God's grace, you will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, and that you will follow Jesus as Lord and obey His teachings.

I love you,

Momma

Saturday Fun

The kids and I went over to our great friend Lisa's house today for lunch with some other fun girls. After having a yummy tropical salad with beans and fruit and veggies (but no meat!) Lisa made us all milkshakes. And, miss Karis enjoyed a little milkshake of her own, vanilla to be exact! Here is a picture of my cutey little girl....

We have more fun stuff going on this evening, so it's going to be a busy great Saturday around here!

Play date with Angela and Cannon

The kids and I have been down visiting family this week to give Blake some time to work on papers and study in peace. Only a couple of weeks left in the semester which equals crunch time! Since being down here we have shopped (Ikea, I love that place), seen lots of family (my Nana and Paw-Paw met Owen for the first time!), and have just relaxed! Yesterday Karis, Owen and I had the chance to hang out with my college roomate Angela and one of the little boys she nannies for. We hit up the park for some fun since it was such a beautiful day! Cannon is just a few months older than Karis. He's shy, and Karis is not shy at all! She was running up to all the other kids and trying to talk and play with them! Here is a picture of the two kiddos, so cute!

I think Karis looks like such a big girl in this picture! She's growing up too fast for me! We had a great day! We will head back home tomorrow. I'm so anxious to get home to Blake, but sad to leave everyone here. It has been a great trip, as always!