Topsy turvy cake and sugar sheets

I love to go all out for my kids birthdays.  I also like to keep some money in my pocket when possible.  One way to save money during birthday season is to make my own birthday cakes.  Instead of 30+ for a cake, I can get away with under 5.  

This year my daughter wanted a topsy turvey cake.  I have never made one before, and I will warn you - these are more for very large crowds than a small birthday party.

I don't think it came out too bad.  I saw a great toutorial at: http://www.mysweetandsaucy.com/2009/02/topsy-turvy-cake-tutorial/

The only problem we had was with the really nice looking sugar sheets.  They dont do so well on rounded surfaces.  These are great if you cut them and use them to decorate the tops of cupcakes, the top of a cake, cut them into shapes to decorate a cake....  Just not as the side of a topsy turvy cake.

Either way - my girl loved her birthday and did a great job decorating cake #12

Fruit dolphins

Another fun thing I saw on Pinterest.  I dont have the directions, and there were none on Pinterest.

What I did:  Take 2 bananas and cut them in half.  Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the 'beak' of the dolphin in half.  Using the tip of the knife, carve two small eyes on the dolphin.  Carefully put a grape in the 'mouth' of the dolphin (to hold it open)  Put the dolphins in a dish - I used a pie tin, and surround with fresh fruit.

It really is that easy.

Bottled water

I have never been a big fan of bottled water.  I think it is over priced and the bottles are a waste.  Unfortunately, there are times when I leave my bottle at home (I have GOT to find a good one), or they are passed out wherever I go.  I also keep a case in my truck - just in case. 

Since I first got pregnant I have been extra sensitive to the 'stuff' in tap water.  I can smell the chlorine.  It is not appealing.  I typically use filtered water - no biggie.

I do, however, keep a case in my truck, along with a gallon jug.  You never know when you are going to swallow a fly or stay out too long in the hot Texas summer.  Yesterday, while I was sitting at a stop light, I looked at the label of my bottle.  "Name brand" It said that the water source was "Public water supply from Pasadena, TX"

Yuck!  They have some of the worst water in the area!  

Wait!  so you are now telling me that I just paid $3 for a case of tap water!?!?

Not just any tap water, the stuff I usually can't stand to drink!

I couldn't believe my eyes!  I will definitely be paying a LOT more attention to where my water comes from.  Better idea:  get that whole house water softener I have been wanting on this new house (should have taken it from the old house - it was expensive) and bottle my own!

When I got home, I decided to do a (minuet) bit of digging.  I know how bad bottles are for the environment, and that the water is not as pure as advertised (esp now!).  I came across these two videos on YouTube.

The first one made me laugh.  The second one just reinforces the argument that the convenience is just not worth the cost.

I will continue to use my Dollar Store plastic cup, and refill it with the gallon jug of .30 cent water I keep.  No more bottles.  Besides, they always roll under the seat.....

Eggs from the waffle maker

I saw this terriffic idea on Pinterest and thought I would try it.  I will not buy something (esp for the kitchen) unless it has multiple uses.  This goes for cake pans, small appliances, even utensils.  So, you can imagine how excited I was when I found another use for my waffle maker (it was a gift - not something I would have bought).

Heat the waffle iron.

Crack your eggs, add milk and spices as you normally would.

Pour the egg mixture onto the hot waffle maker.  Close and let it cook.  I let it cook until the light said 'ready'

 

They look like yellow waffles, but the kids thought they were really cool.  My fave part - no added oil or butter.

Do not try with egg whites only.  That did not work out at all.  This is with 3 whites.

What passages should be memorized?

It doesn't matter where you begin.   God desires for us to HIDE his Word in our hearts.  Why? So we will not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).  You can use the list I have provided, an Awana book, the list in your Bible (either in the front or back), or just pick one that means something to you.  

Establishing  schedule of memory passages for each grade, such as the sample listed below, has several advantages. 

A primary advantage is that material learned in previous years can be easily reviewed. A frequent failure in memorization is that what is learned  at one point is not retained. So, apart from good mental exercise, memorization was not too beneficial.

Memorization of entire books of the Bible is also valuable, in that it helps give some extra incentive over learning isolated passages. There is a since of accomplishment in having learned an entire book of the Bible. To avoid losing interest, you would be wise to begin with the shortest books.

Awana extra credit verses

Awana Truth Scripts

Matthew 6:9-15

Ephesians 6:13

Psalm 117

Matthew 2:18-20

Luke 2:8-16

Psalm 23

1 John 2:15-17

John 4:1-6

Galatians 5:22-26

Psalm 100

John 1:1-12

Hebrews 11:1-7

Matthew 7:13-20

Matthew 28:1-10

Psalm 121

Psalm 136:1-9

Genesis 1:1-5

Matthew 5:1-16

Matthew 6:24-34

Psalm 46

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 96

Proverbs 4:1-13

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23

Psalm 19

Proverbs 4:14-27

John 14:1-21

1 Corinthians 13

Psalm 24

Ephesian 6:10-18

Psalm 8

Philippians 4:4-20

Psalm 107:23-31

Matthew 22:37-39

Psalm 119:1-16

Psalm 122

Hebrews 11:6-10

Psalm 27

Proverbs 3:1-16

More Resources:

www.MemorizeHisWord.com 

https://www.bible.com/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/422634746252175976/

http://www.pinterest.com/greenbeachsox/awanabible-study/

http://www.desirespiritualgrowth.com/resources/bible-memory-plans/

http://www.friendship-church.org/bibleread/

http://www.memverse.com/

http://www.fcaphx.com/files/Scripture%20Memory%20Plan%20with%20verses.pdf

Candy crafts

Today was hot.  Not just outside, but inside as well.  We all got a bit cranky and didn't want to work on school work.  

Great time for an art lesson!

After a trip to Walmart we made candy creations.

I made a simple sample for the kids so they had some sort of clue what I was talking about.

I made all the boxes face the same way simply for aesthetics.  I started by gluing 6 boxes of milk duds together.

6 for the base and 4 more (separate) for the next level.

Then I glued the 4 on top of the 6

2 small rolls of Rolos later - and I have a car.

Here is what my 11 yo daughter did:

She started with a Styrofoam ring.  Then laid the candy out to see if it would all fit.

After swiping some from brother, she started to carefully glue the first layer on.

I didn't get many photos of during - and missed the final product, but here is what was done the first day.  

This was made for her birthday party.  Everyone loved looking at it, then getting to destroy it.  Great thing is, the hot glue did not ruin the foam.  Now she gets to do another later.

The boy:

Again, started with just a plain block of foam.

He is so talented.