DeRidder, LA: Cases of Joy

 We went to DeRidder, Louisiana today...

We were invited to their Vacation Bible School to share what we are doing. There was a group of 5th graders that made travel pillows out of blue jeans. They turned out so cute! We have over 30 to take to San Antonio with us when we go!!

Thanks...Y'all are awesome!!

Lifeguards in Training

We had our first swim of the summer at a friend's pool while they were away for the weekend.  We traded pool time in exchange for watering plants!

The kids were so funny to watch now that they can get around the pool.  They made up this dramatic rescue scene where Brogan was the lifeguard and Christian  and Rylen had to be rescued.  It was very intricate and had lots of details.  The picture just doesn't do it justice!

FOH Kids Xtreme Service: Cases of Joy

Our church has a summer activity called Xtreme Kids. The kids do a Bible study, fellowships and fun activities and service trips throughout the summer. This year their first service activity was to help Cases of Joy make pillowcases and goodie bags for the children of the wounded warriors.

Brogan was really nervous to talk in front of people that she knew so she talked really fast and said a little bit while I explained the rest. They made 25 pillowcases and the boys made 24 gift bags. The children will be able to pick a bag and have some fun things to do and play with while they are in the waiting room and in their rooms.

Thank you soooo much FOH Kids for helping!!

Homemade Pancake Mix & Syrup

So, I have been using a homemade mix for our pancakes for about a year now and it is very yummy.  Even though I found a great mix I have yet to master the perfect circle pancake with a golden brown color...Until today that is.

These pancakes with homemade syrup = YUMM-O!!

Just ask Codey...

I found a recipe for a homemade syrup on the Facebook of another homeschooling mom.  I didn't have the maple extract so I made my own combo-vanilla coconut.  It was sooo good, and very quick!  The next time I made it I did almond butter and it was delicioso as well!  Needless to say, we will not be buying mix or syrup again.

Homeschool Showcase 2011

We had the first ever Huntsville Homeschool Showcase last night.  This was an evening for students to show off a talent, particpate in a skit, science fair and an art show.  All of the kids did a great job!  Of course, mine had to participate in *everything*!


Here are Brogan and Christian working on their Science Fair projects...

Brogan tested which detergent worked best to remove stains.  She used a powder, liquid and my homemade detergent.  The powder worked the best.

Christian tested to see what would happen if you put white carnations in water with food coloring.  He found out that the blue worked the fastest and we talked about how a plants root system and stem give it nourishment and keep it alive.

Not only did they have to do their project but there was also a judge tha they had to explain the experiment to.  He asked questions about their experiment and gave them ideas on how to improve it.  It was really a great process for them.


There was also an Art Show...

I didn't have Rylen entered and he as very upset that he wasn't getting to do anything.  I thought that we would just finish up his alphabete book that we had been working on and enter that but "NO" he of course, wanted to do something different.  I went through one of my craft books and he saw this fish so that is what he made.  The mom that was putting everything together was so nice to let me add him, the week before of course.

Brogan found a craft idea in a book and decided to go with that.  It was great for her because she loves to draw.  We were supposed to set the pictures out in the rain but we never had any so we improvised with a spray bottle. 

Christian didn't know what he wanted to do so I thought a hammer, nails and a board would attract his attention.  I was right!  He told me what shape he wanted and we nailedthat shape in.  Next I showed him how to make a design with yarn.  He did a great job once he got the hang of it!


Brogan and Christian both partcipated in a skit "Noah's ark, well sort of".  Brogan was the narrator and Christian was one of Noah's sons.  In addition, Brogan read a poem that she wrote in our poetry class that we did in co-op and she played a piano piece while her friend sang.  They all did a great job!!

Cake in a Jar

For an end of the year gift for the teachers and staff at the school I wanted to do something that would be cheap yet fun and cute.  It also needed to be something that they might be able to enjoy.  I found this cute recipe and thought we would give it a try. 

We used:
24 1/2 pint jars
4 white cake mixes (and ingredients it called for)
4 colors of food coloring
3 cans frosting

We mixed each box of cake mix in its own bowl and added food coloring to it.


Once that was done we scooped colors into the jars and layered them.  The directions said to fill to 3/4 full.  We filled some to 1/2 full and that worked much better.  We also had less waste this way.

*This was very messy with Brogan and Christian doing it.  But, they did have a ton of fun.  If you prefer not to make a mess you can pour into the jar.  Just make sure to pour slowly so tha you can get the layers.


Once you have each jar layered put jars in a glass dish and fill the dish about 1/4 with water.  Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool all the way.  (I removed them from the glass dish to cool but I don't know if that is necessary).


They will rise and make a dome top when baked.  Once they are completly cooled you will want to scoop out the top par.  You only need to do this if you filled them 3/4 of the way full.  If you filled them 1/2 way then you should not need to scoop any out.

*Note:  The "tops" you scoop out are very yummy.  So they are not waste if you plan on eating them!


Now that you have some room in the jars put a scoop of icing in and top with sprinkles or candies.


Put lid on and you are done.  We added a simple tag and the boys handed them out at school the next day.


They keep in the fridge for several days or you can also mail these.  What a great treat for someone that lives out of town!



Here is what we did with our "tops" that we scooped out...

They were yummy with some melted icing poured over the top!  It reminded me of a big bowl of rainbow sherbert!

Cases of Joy Update

Well, Brogan's pillowcase ministry has taken off!!

If you haven't become a follower of her blog you may want to.  Especially, since when that gets updated I usually forget to update it on here also.  Go check it out to keep up with her on a regular basis...
http://www.casesofjoy.blogspot.com/

Here is a quick update:

First, our Wal-Mart is cutting back their material and craft section, yet again.  We went over there and they had material on sale for $1/yard.  We got over 50 yards of material and some remnant sections for very cheap.  They had some very cute prints and we are going to be very busy!

Second, Brogan was invited to set up her display and introduce wha she is doing at a Veteran's Conference here in town.  There were some officials coming in from Washington DC to find out how they could better serve and support veterans and soldiers and how the veterans and soldiers could in turn support the community.  It is a good thing she doesn't fully understand rank and titles because she meet with some pretty big people while she was there.  They even gave her donations to go buy material and supplies!  We didn't even ask for them.  Someone just stuck some $$$ in a decorative bucket she had on the table and then more people began to donate.  CrAzY!!!!   She was very nervous but she did a great job!

Third, she has been invited back to the Veteran's Museum to participate in ther Memorial Day Salute & Celebration.  This time she was told to bring a donation jar.  Did I already say....CrAzY!!!!


Fourth, the children's group at church has agreed for Brogan's ministry to be their first service project of the summer.  They decorate pillowcases ad make goodie bags for the kids next week.  She will make a short presentation about what she is doing and why and then the will go to work.


Fifth, a church in Louisiana has agreed to support her ministry as well.  We go there on June 7th to help the kids make travel pillows.  Everything they make will be donated to the family center in San Antonio!


Sixth, we are trying to nail down a date to make our first delivery.  Hopefully, that will be at the beginning of August!

Meet the Bag Family

They played with these bagsfor at least 2 hours.  In fact, I know it was longer because I took this photo at the 2 hour mark and after this made belts and hats to go with their heads.  They had a blast!  I am never amazed at how much fun they can have with something so simple.  It is the exact reason that we don't buy toys.  They always seem to find something to do that is so much more creative!