It's Friday again, so here are some photos from our week. 

This is my daughter and Edu (our foreign exchange student) with a puzzle map of the United States. We enjoyed doing this puzzle with Edu and talking a bit about the states, things to see in different states, etc. [Yes, my daughter took less than 24 hours to be fast friends with Edu. She is already asking if we can host him again next year, if he participates in the exchange program again]

I just find this picture of my son adorable! Those baby blue eyes. He found a button missing on my chair. Then he found a screwdriver and proceeded to "fix" the hole in the chair with the screwdriver. He is such a little tinker - loves to fix things, play with Daddy's tools, unscrew anything he can, etc.

And lastly this is my daughter painting some stars for the 4th of July parade. One benefit of our new neighborhood - they have their own neighborhood 4th of July parade that is the highlight of the year. The parade will pass right by our house. But we'll let the kids be in the parade - likely me pulling them in the little red wagon, decorated with red, white and blue. We're all excited about the parade and will hopefully get some photos to post next week.

Happy 4th of July to one and all! Enjoy your freedom!

Lilli and I went to see the new Transformers movie yesterday.  It was really really good and we both enjoyed it.  When it was over, she said, "Optimus Prime is my favorite Transformer".  I had to agree, that he is my favorite too.

It was very cool watching them transform on the big screen.  I know that makes me a dork, but I really did enjoy it ;)  Of course, I used to watch the cartoon when I was younger, so to see it on the big screen...well, it was cool.

From a mom's perspective...be warned that there is a lot (LOT) of bad language and more sexual references than in the first Transformers movie. 

Avocado Salsa
Yield: 4 Servings
Sort of a combination of salsa and guacamole, this dip is sure to please lovers of both. If you like your salsa hotter, add another jalapeno or a few drops of Tabasco sauce.

1 avocado, peeled and diced
1/2 c Tomato, Chopped
1/2 c Red Onion, Chopped
1/4 c Green Bell Peppers, Chopped
1 Jalapeño, Finely Chopped
1/2 t Garlic, Minced
2 T red wine vinegar
1 T olive oil

Combine the vegetables in a medium bowl. Mash the garlic with salt in a cup or small bowl. Add the vinegar and oil to the garlic. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss to combine the ingredients. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

We've been struggling with some discipline and behavior and heart issues with my 5-year-old daughter. So I pulled "Shepherding a Child's Heart" off the shelf, dusted it off and my hubby and I have started reading a chapter every other night.

I had read this book a few years ago, but that was back when raising kids was just "theory" and not practical, in-the-heat-of-the-battle stuff.

That's what I'm reading these days.

So Lauren and I are sitting at the table eating breakfast (Lilli spent the night with my parents). 

Cheerios, toast and water.

Lauren then drops a piece of her toast into her cereal bowl, so tries to get it out, knocking over her cereal/milk.  While trying to upright the bowl, spills her glass of water.

All in a matter of seconds.

I give her my bowl of cereal while I clean up, and she says it's too mushy.

So I pour her another bowl and we start all over.  LOL

I seriously love days like this.  My life must have been so boring before I had my girls ;)

Sorry I've been MIA lately.  I've been posting snippets on Facebook about what we are up to, but haven't been on to blog.

Lilli is out of school, and had her dance recital in June.  She was beautiful and did a great job.  There was such an improvement over last year.  She smiled and really enjoyed herself this year.  It was a joy to watch and I cried ;)  She danced ballet, tap, and jazz. 

We plan to homeschool this next year, so we are doing a little schoolwork over the summer just to keep her from forgetting anything important.  She really enjoys reading and I find her reading to Lauren quite often.

Lauren is doing great and really keeps us hopping.  Her personality is all her own and she is such a joy.  She is probably ready to potty train, but I'm happy to change diapers instead of running for a potty every so often.  We'll wait until she asks ;)

We've been spending our summer (so far) with playdates, gardening, caring for those blasted meat chickens (I'm so ready for them to be processed!), and just enjoying each other's company.

Lance and I are attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class.  We are almost done with it now, it was a 13 week class, and we have one more week, plus a party to celebrate the end.

I cannot say enough about the class.  We have really learned a lot and it has brought us closer as a couple.  We talk more about budgetting and spending and at least TRY to understand each other's reasoning.  ;)

Lance is doing good, though his work has been slow lately.  He had two days off last week.  That's really the first time in 13 years that he's been off due to lack of work.  There is another job starting in August, but I think it may be slow until then.  We'll see.

He went fishing in Canada a couple weeks ago, and brought back some fish for our freezer.  He said everybody with a boat was checked at the border this year.  They have to leave the skins on the fish so the border can see what kind of fish you are bringing back.  There is no limit on panfish, but they have to be able to SEE that they ARE panfish.  They were checked, but had no problems.

I didn't really have such a great week while he was in Canada.  The day he left our hot water heater wasn't working, so we started up the woodstove to heat water that way while he was gone.  So I had to keep the fire going while he was gone.  Not a really big deal, but added with gardening, caring for the cows, chickens, guineas and dogs...it was a long week.  Then on Thursday night we had a huge storm that knocked the power out.  No electricity, no water.  That sucked.  It was still out on Saturday and I was beginning to worry about getting water to the animals.  I called Lance to ask him what I should do, as everybody need water by then, and he said he'd be home in a couple hours and he'd start the generator.

Of course, the power came  back on an hour later, so I had everybody watered by the time he got home ;)  All the critters were happy to see me...LOL.

Oh, the hot water heater is fine...it had a reset button on the thermostat that we didn't know about, so all is well with that now.

Lilli just turned 8 years old last week, and we had a skating party for her on Sunday this last week.

She attended Vacation Bible School at a Methodist Church in Lawrence last week and absolutely LOVED it.  We plan to try that church this coming Sunday.  I was very happy with how they ran the VBS and we are in the market for a church.  I grew up Baptist, so I'm not sure how that goes along with Methodist, but I reckon I'll find out.  I figure we are all there to worship God, each in our own way I guess.

Ok, I'm off to do chores and then head to South Haven.  I told Lilli I'd take her to the new Transformer movie.  She just watched the first one on DVD the other night and LOVED it.  I'm not so sure I'm excited about sitting at the theater for 2 1/2 hours, but it does look like a good movie.  That last Pirate movie was that long and that didn't bother me at all!  LOL. 

Justified by His Grace

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7 KJV

__________________

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

__________________

Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:38,39 NIV

I am passing the baton to my kids on some silly traditions... well, not traditions as much as just fun memories. 

When I was a child, I remember this one particular thing my mom let us do that was pretty unusual - use paint brushes to brush lotion onto her legs and feet. It was silly. It was fun. It was cleaner than letting kids use real paint. And now that I've been on the receiving end I realize it feels nice too!

Another thing I remember was often asking my mom to talk with a southern accent. She did this quite well, though she never has lived in the south. She had a good friend in her childhood years who was from Georgia, so she learned the accent from her. Well recently we have met a lady named Etta who speaks with a southern drawl. Now my daughter is asking me "Mom, talk like Etta." I don't do this nearly as well as my mother did, but I try and my daughter just laughs and laughs.

Nothing beats good clean fun!

Applesauce Date Cake
Yield: 12 Servings
Further proof that something sweet and delicious can still have significant nutritional value. This cake keeps well and is great for snacks or with lunches.

2 c Flour
2 t Sodium Free Baking Soda
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t allspice
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t cloves
2 eggs
1 c Brown Sugar, Packed
1/2 c Unsalted Butter, Softened
2 c Applesauce
1 c Dates, Chopped
3/4 c Pecans, Coarsely Chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9X9X2" pan with non-stick vegetable oil spray.

Stir together flour, soda and spices. Add eggs, brown sugar, butter, and 1 cup applesauce. Beat at low speed just until the ingredients are combined. At medium speed, beat 2 minutes longer, occasionally scraping the side of the bowl. Add remaining applesauce, dates, and walnuts; beat 1 minute. Pour batter into pan. Bake 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan.