Secret Message Out of Sight Words

Our Princess, who has now started to read has learned many different site words. I love this awesome idea for making secret messages out of site words. Find out how you can do this here

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world penguin day

Penguins native to Antarctica are celebrated world wide every April 25th. While part of the bird family these large birds do not fly and are grounded. Super cute as if walking in tuxedos penguins have been found in many cartoons an t.v. shows as well. Don a bit of black and white colors in the penguins honor.

April 25th is the annual date for northward migration of penguins. Penguins are found naturally in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands and the Galapagos Islands. Many zoos around the world also host penguins.


      Try this great recipe to help celebrate world penguin day

---

 a couple of bananas;

 chocolate chips;

 a pack of M&M's;

 (optional) edible sugar eyes;

Start by microwaving the bowl of chips for 30 seconds. Take them out the oven and stir the chips. Put back in for another 30 seconds. Next, cut the bananas in half. Take one bit and dip it in chocolate in order to make the top side of the penguin. Put in some M&M's to mimic the eyes and beak. Take a teaspoon and pour some chocolate on the bottom side of the penguin. Cut in half a couple of M&M's and place as feet. Put on a tin foil and stick in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. Take out and enjoy!

recipe source here

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Help Take Care of Our Children

 

Take a stand against child abuse not only in April when it is child abuse awareness month takes place but all year long. There are things that we can all do. One of the easiest ways is to donate money to he cause of preventing child abuse. Here are a few other ideas that you can do

 

Stress is the number one reason that abuse occurs. Being a friend to a parent you know is an easy way to ensure that there is an outlet for stress. Share about your children and ask how their child or children are as well. It is often just letting them know they are no alone that helps. Show you understand their daily struggles of being a parent.

Likewise, you can let children in your life know that you care. Call them by name, smile when you talk to them, ask how they are show interest.

Create a group of neighborhood parents that help look out for each others children. In the old day this is how things were down naturally. Get together with other parents in activities and let everyone know you are there if needed.

Sharing what you no longer need is another way to help out. The clothes, furniture toys that your family no longer wants or needs are needed by others. Once again sharing what your family no longer needs to give to a family in need helps to cut the stress on a financial burden to provide for the family

Have no money or items to give then offer your time. Volunteer at programs in your community. .Parent support groups, child care centers, and local healthy family sites. Advocacy is another area where there is a lot of need. Getting the message out is very important as well and benefits parents, children and families

want more information on what you can do visit Prevent Child Abuse.org

Frogs Hopping Those April Showers

 

 

With all the puddle jumping going on during the month of April showers it is no wonder that April is also the month that salutes frogs. My youngest son loves frogs as well in fact he has a collection of frogs that includes stuffed, plastic and ceramic frogs. However , there are no real frogs in his collection.

 

 

 

Did you know that it is not true that frogs give you warts. I know there is a whole story about how you get warts if you hold a frog and it pees on you. However, this is not a fact. 

 

Did you know that frogs can live both on land and go in the water as well? The problem occurs when the frog can not get back to land and because of this eventually drowns.

 

Fully Rely On God

 

 

 

I was told a story about a lady in the hospital who was near death when an area Chaplain came to visit her. This Chaplain was a very young female with long blond hair. She listened to the lady who was ill and left her a small gift for comfort. It was a tiny ceramic frog.
    The next day one of the people from the lady's church came to visit. The lady told her friend about the beautiful young Chaplain who had come to visit her. The friend was so impressed with the way the lady had improved and felt the need to talk to the young Chaplain.
    In her search to find the young gal, she was repeatedly reassured that the chaplains are never very young and that there was never a gal that fit the description given. Upon returning to the lady in the hospital, a visiting nurse entered the room and noticed the ceramic frog. The nurse made the comment "I see you have a guardian angel with you." As she held the little frog. We asked why she made the comment and we were informed that the frog stood for:

 

Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea

Teachers work hard through out the year and I for one totally appreciate it. To hear my little princess and her friends talk you know that their teacher is a very special person. As Teacher appreciation week approaches  I started looking for the perfect little gift. I think I found it here


It's a small craft organizer (like the ones that hold embroidery floss) filled with goodies for the first day of school. This can be purchased at any little store from Wal-Mart to the dollar store for around $2

fill it with little goodies that the teacher may need from paper clips to some little candies for their sweet tooth. Add a label for the front and a poem for the inside. 

Top it all off with a ribbon and it's ready! 

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sheperds pie potatoes

We love shepherds pie and when I saw these delicious potatoes I just had to try them and share here where I love to share all the goodies I find

Shepherd’s Pie Jacket Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• Coarse salt
• 1medium sweet onion, finely diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced
• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Shredded Irish cheddar for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.  Wash potatoes and pat dry.   Rub potatoes all over with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and coarse salt.  Prick a few air holes in each potato with a fork. Bake for 1 hour or until soft to the touch.
2. Meanwhile, make the filling.  Pour the oil into a large cast iron skillet or frying pan and heat over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and carrots and sauté just until they begin to get tender, about 5-7 minutes.  Add the meat and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.  Stir in ketchup, broth and Worcestershire sauce, and bring to a simmer.   Sprinkle in the flour and mix well.  Continue to simmer gently over medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 10 to 12 minutes.  Add the corn and peas to the meat mixture and continue to simmer another 5 minutes or so.   Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
3. When the potatoes have finished baking, remove from the oven and split each down the middle with a knife.  Ladle 1/4 of the filling in and around each potato.   Top with shredded Irish cheddar, if desired. 

recipe source here

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Bring Awareness to Animal Cruelty

April is animal cruelty observance month. My middle daughter can not even be in the same room when the t.v. shows the commercial that helps bring awareness to animal cruelty. She not only has had pets those pets have been her best friends. The animals in our lives have been family members and have been treated like that as well. I only wish everyone felt this same way. It is our job to protect the earth and those that live on it.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15) 

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Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch kosher salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups fresh blueberries
3 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 325 and prepare 2 loaf pans. Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a smaller separate bowl combine the wet ingredients to include the zucchini. NOTE: Do not drain the zucchini for this recipe.
When ready, add the wet to the dry and combine. Once everything is mixed well fold in the blueberries. Pour batter into the two prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until an inserted butter knife comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

recipe source here

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Jelly Bean Day

 

April 21st is known as Jelly Bean day. I personally love those little bean shaped goodies. Today to celebrate I thought I would share a little prayer and a little treat

 

 

 

 

 

1. 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels
2. 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
3. 1/2 cup Brach's mini jelly beans

 

1. LINE baking sheet with parchment paper
2. MICROWAVE morsels and vegetable shortening in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may keep some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Stir in 1/4 cup jelly beans.
3. SPREAD mixture to 1/4-inch thickness on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Sweethearts Jelly Beans. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Kindergarten Day

Today, April 21st is Kindergarten day. Kindergarten has changed a lot through the years. The first day of kindergarten though has not changed for either the parent or the child. While many children now attend school before the year of kindergarten the truth is that everyone enters the year a bit nervous, anxious and not sure what will happen. Princess is in kindergarten this year and prior to the first day of school the teacher held an orientation meeting of sorts. We found out then that our children would be learning more in the year than students did in the past. I have to say that I am very surprised now that the year is coming to an end of all that our little princess has learned. She now knows over 100 words and can read the popcorn words as we read her books. She counts by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s and has been a member of the 100 club for some time.

Lets look for a moment and celebrate the creation of kindergarten day. Friedrich Froebel was born April 21st 1782. Fifty years later Friedrich would establish the first kindergarten in Germany. When I was in kindergarten children would attend 1/2 day of school. There they would meet up for some social interaction and have a bit of fun. Education was always at the forefront. Now kindergarten is a full time program and the education resources, guides and goals have increased
     
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Help Keep America Beautiful

Help keep America beautiful. You can do your share as well an it does not matter where you are. There are simple things that you can do Start by not littering. This is something that is easy to do just throw your trash it belongs in the trash can. When you take your trash outside at home make sure that the lid is properly put on where it will not be able to blow out. If you are in the car make sure that there is a trash bag there as well. There are many decorative ones available to fit your personality. Throwing trash into the bag will help keep your car clean and make you feel better as well. Help ensure there are trash cans available in your environment so that others will do what is right as well. Perhaps it would be a great idea Earth Day april 22nd to create posters with your child to help others remember not to litter. Take a trip to a recycling center where you can see exactly what happens. Start a recycling plan at your house make a list of what you can recycle. Remember when you visit a park or bench that you keep it as good or better than it was when you visited. Take a bag along for trash n the case that there is not a trash can available. Find out who is in charge of you parks and public areas staying clean find out what there is you can do. Volunteer to help keep an area clean

International Guitar Month

The month of April is very musical and host international guitar month. There have been many talented individuals who have become known for playing guitar. My older sister even thought about once becoming a guitarist and purchased a guitar and lessons as well. I believe it would be fun to help your child create their own guitar.  

1 small cereal box
1 wrapping paper tube
6 x 30cm pieces of string
3 popsicle sticks
scissors or a craft knife
glue
masking tape
a long piece of ribbon or string to use as a strap

Seal up the top of your cereal box, glue it back in place so that both ends are closed.Now trace around the base of the wrapping paper tube - one circle on each end of the box. Cut out the circles at each end of the box. On the main face of the cereal box, draw a large circle and cut it out. Thread six strings across the guitar hole, tie knots to keep them in place. Push the wrapping paper tube through the two holes at either end of the box. Leave most of the length poking out one side and about a 2.5cm edge at the other end (this will give you something to attach your strap to at the base end of the guitar.) At the end of the long tube, use a craft knife to make three pairs of opposing slits in the tube. Push each popsicle stick through so that it sticks out evenly either side. These are the machine heads - the knobs of the guitar that tighten the strings. Attach a strap to your guitar and you are ready to rock

craft source here
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a round tuit

Garlic Basil Knots

Garlic Basil Knots

• 1 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of butter, softened
• 1 egg (hold under warm water before breaking it)
• 3 1/4 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp regular active dry yeast

Place all dough ingredients in the bread machine= in the order listed. Select the dough cycle and press start. Once the bread machine stops (it was one and a half hours on my machine). Place a silpat mat on a baking sheet then coat with cooking spray. Flatten the dough onto a well floured surface then using a pizza cutter, cut into strips. Take each strip and tie into a knot, making sure to keep it well floured so it doesn't stick together. Place each knot onto the baking sheet. Once you have tied all the strips into knots, cover them with a cloth and set in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake 9-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Other ingredients:

• 1-2 tbsp of butter, melted
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3-4 fresh basil leaves, chopped finely

Add butter and minced garlic together and cook in the microwave until melted. Add the fresh chopped basil and stir. Once the knots are out of the oven, brush the top of each knot with the garlic basil butter. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

This Date In History

The t.v was covered with pictures like those above in April 19 , 1995 the terrific day of the Oklahoma City bombing. It was a sight I will never forget as I watched in awe as my young children played. It was something that would change my world forever. I did not personally know anyone who was involved in the incident but it was a point in time when the world changed.

Timothy McVeigh with assistance from Terry Nichols who both were involved American militia movement sympathizer. Together they would destroy the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. The bombing claimed 168 victims and injured more than 680 and damaged 324 buildings The bomb was estimated to have caused at least $652 million worth of damage but did even more than that as it destroyed lives that will never be the same.

Sweet Peas Thrive Early

Sweet Peas are not only beautiful and offer a sweet scent but an easy flower to grow from seed as well. The seeds are larger and therefore easy to manage and germinate easy as well. The variety of colors and patterns that are available will please you as well. The plant grows from 5 to 6 feet tall and there are also shorter bush type sweet peas as well. There are varieties that take a short period of time to bloom and others that take a bit longer. Sweet peas are annuals.

Sweet Peas love the cooler temps and bloom before the summer heat arrives. Planting can begin as soon as soil can be worked in spring. While the soil may still be cold the seed will survive and you will be surprised. Gardeners who live in area with warmer temps may begin planning in late winter or early spring. Sweet peas may be started inside and planted outside when the last frost has left the area.

Soak the seeds overnight in water before planting. If you are starting the seed inside be sure to use biodegradable pots that can go directly into the ground when the time arrives. Plant about 6" apart in a sunny place. A trellis will be needed so that the sweet peas can grow and be supported.

Sweet peas are meant to be picked and should be done frequently. Cutting frequently will ensure that the vine is productive. When summer heat arrives the vine may be brown and die.


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