Sticker Puzzle

Jubilee is learning her numbers with a picture puzzle book she got from Grandma Susan. The stickers are on one sheet all scrambled up with a number on each of them. (1-45) She puts "sticker 14" on the "blank box 14" (an so on) and by the end there is a picture created - this one is of Cinderella. She excitedly yells, "Mama, I found another on!"

Jeff and Zana went on an early Sunday morning walk together. She came back saying that she saw "cows and houses."












On Sunday night we all had a fun craft time. I took down several switch plates around the house and we decorated them. We used paint, glitter, and sequins! It definitely adds a personal touch to the rooms! After I hung the decorated plates back up, Hosanna went from plate to plate this morning saying, "they are soooo beautiful!"

Becoming Friends

Persia is warming up to us. She even lets Hosanna pet her briefly. Jubilee announced that we now have a family of five - now that Persia is in our family.
Hosanna often sucks her thumb as she pets Persia,
or tells her, "It's ok, I love you."

This weekend we painted the living room. Now that Jeff knows all about painting we tried to do a more professional job. Caulking, "puttying," covering every last inch with plastic, and then using the paint sprayer. It was more time than we bargained for and there is still touch-ups needed, but it looks so much better! We sprayed the ceiling white and the walls are called "toffee."





Jeff is all decked out for painting. I thought the goggles, hood, and mask were a little scary at first. :)

Yummy Mash

Tonight I made the best mashed "potatoes" and I thought someone might want to try it!
Boil white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots until tender crisp about 6 cups combined.
I leave the skins the skins on for whatever vitamins I can retain. Use an electric mixer and "mash"
to a desired consistency. Mix in 1/2 cup (or so) sour cream, and salt, pepper, and dill to taste.
You could mix in milk or left over potato juice if you wanted it more cream.

I served this with sauted spinach with a garlicy white sauce.

Aren't these the cutest! This was gluing project for the girls and an extensive cutting project for Mama. I was going to send these as thank you notes, but I will need to come up with a simpler idea. I think they are full of personality!







Hosanna is stamping. I have got the homeschool room all set up. Jeff and I painted it and hung a cabinet last Saturday. It is a home-spun, Montessori style.

Persia

Jeff brought us home a cat! She is a 12-year-old Persian, Siamese mix. Her Daddy was going to Afganistan and her Mommy needed to move to a place where they couldn't have pets. So, we have a new member in the family! It has been less than a week and she is adjusting well. Jeff and I wake up to her walking across our faces. The girls are completely thrilled. I think she is partial to Mama though - being that I protect her from the two princesses in the house.

It was "snow" cold - staying around 15 degrees most of the day. Mama kept a good fire going all day and decided to cook on the stove since it was so hot. Jubilee cut the carrots and celery for the lentil soup. Here she is "having a go" at non-electric cooking. Aren't we eco-friendly!?!

Snow Ice Cream

Our neighbor mentioned "snow cream" some months ago - I had never heard about it. But there was actually a recipe for it in my "More-With-Less" cookbook. 2 1/2 quarts clean snow, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1 cup sugar. We had lots of fun mixing! We didn't really care for it - cute idea though.
Here are the girls gathering snow for our winter recipe.

Hosanna is all ready for our first snow! The girls have been praying for snow and God delivered! We were fully bundled and out to play by 8:30 in the morning. The girls were chomping and the bit while I made breakfast and got Jeff's lunch packed for work. Yes, and one failed attempted to make it out the door because after the ski pants and boots were on, Hosanna chimed in, "I have to go potty."

We had a blast with the sled I found the the chicken barn. The three of us piled onto the sled and climbed to the top of the hill for a thrilling ride for all of us. Eventually Jubilee suggested that she go by herself and encouraged Hosanna to do the same. Solo rides started half way up the hill. The neighbors' cows and horses all came to watch us - and the cows "mooed" at us as we yelled, "Wheeeee" down the hill.