Hippity Hoppity...

Easter's on its way!

Maddy's Preschool had their annual Egg Hunt at school on Friday, March 26th and the Easter Bunny made his appearance!  Of course Maddy informed me that it was just somebody dressed up in a costume (Nothing gets past her!)  As soon as her teachers yelled, "Go!" Maddy was off to find 18 plastic eggs filled with goodies!

Maddy and her best friend, Mollie!

Maddy was so sweet to give her pink egg to Mollie since she knows it's her favorite color!

Maddy helped her friend, Junie, find more eggs!

The kids were so egg-cited to find all the eggs!  They couldn't believe that there were 300 eggs all together!  Here is Maddy's sweet class:

What a fun day and I was so happy that I got to share it with my Maddy Faith!  Love you, sweet girl!

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

Ephesians 1 :18-21

Spring Fling

On Saturday, March 20, Brickey McCloud Elementary School had their Annual Spring Fling from 10am-2pm at the UT Federal Credit Union.  My Mom and Dad were in visiting, so we had lots of fun spending the day with them outside while supporting Lily's school.  When we first arrived, Katy wanted to get her face painted.  She got a cute ladybug on her cheek and the lady sprinkled it with red glitter.  Katy was so excited!

Maddy got a bumble bee:

And Lily chose a Power T for her Daddy:

They had clowns making balloon animals.  Katy stood back, a little scared at first:

But then the girls got a picture with the clowns:

Lily got a pink balloon puppy:

Lily played "Tip-A-Troll."

The girls colored T-shirts:

Then Maddy wanted to rock climb for the first time!  She was the youngest to try it.  Here she is getting her harness:

On her way to the top:

Yay Maddy!  We are so proud of you for being so brave!

On her way back down:

Then it was time for lunch.  Yummy hotdogs and chips!

After lunch, Parker wanted to play "fooffall"

The girls played on bouncy balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops:

Parker coloring with jumbo chalk:

Cooling off with some yummy chocolate ice cream!

Thank you, LORD for a beautiful first day of Spring and special time together with our family!

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.  Isaiah 61:11

My Apple Dumplin' Darlin'

Last week Lily's 1st Grade class was studying plants in Reading.  The three plants they were focusing on were apples, cranberries, and strawberries.  Her class learned how those plants grow, are harvested, and some of the ways they are used.  Each student was asked to send in a product that contained one of the fruits and bring it in to share with the class and it could be store bought or homemade.  Lily was assigned apples and of course she wanted to bring in something homemade.  She loves helping me in the kitchen.  We haven't ever made anything with apples, so I asked for some help from my FB friends!  I got several responses and Lily and I had a hard time deciding.  Everything sounded so yummy!  We finally chose an apple dumpling recipe that my sweet friend from High School, Amy Buracker (now Amy Stitcher) had suggested.  It was a kid friendly recipe and Lily had lots of fun helping me bake.  She was so excited about her apple dumpling recipe that she didn't even mind waking up 20 minutes earlier on Friday morning to help me!  They turned out so good and the recipe was so easy that I thought I would share!
Here are the ingredients:
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew
 
Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2.Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.

(The recipe makes 16, but we had to do 1 and 1/2 the recipe so we would have enough for Lily's class.)

3.Mix butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl.

 Spread mixture over the apple dumplings. Then pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings.

4.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown

Serve warm and with vanilla ice cream if desired!

Lily couldn't wait to share her apple dumpling recipe with her class:

Lily is enjoying 1st Grade this year and is having fun learning lots of new things!

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.  Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 

Psalm 17:6-9

Cookies, Cookies, & More Cookies!

Lily is enjoying her Daisy Troop so much!  She has lots of fun at her meetings twice a month and just recently sold around 225 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies during the cookie sale.  Their troop did so well that they earned a sleepover at the Knoxville Zoo!  On Saturday, March 6, Lily participated in her first Cookie Booth.  She and I, along with her troop leader and her daughter, stood outside of Wal-Mart in Halls from 4-6pm.  I was so proud of Lily!  Not only did she last the whole 2 hours standing and smiling, she did a great job asking people if they wanted to buy cookies.  She was afraid at first, but the LORD helped calm her nerves and with some prompting she became comfortable in asking people if they would like a sample, or if they'd like to buy some Girl Scout cookies.  That was totally out of her comfort zone!  Lily is participating in another Cookie Booth this Sunday, March 14th from 12-2 again outside of Wal-Mart in Halls.  Stop by and see her if you get a chance!

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6

A Day With My Love Bug

On Saturday, March 6, I spent the afternoon with my Katybug!  We met her sweet friend, Ella Grace, and her Mommy at Lilly's Bead Box. 

This was the first time that the girls had been there and they loved looking at all of the beads.  They both picked out pretty blue sparkly beads and the letters of their name.  We gave the girls a tray to line up their beads in the right order:

Then it was time to string them on the wire:

I think Katy and Ella Grace had the most fun coloring and "writing their names" with blue pens

They were so cute together and had fun singing and being silly.  Here is Katybug with her new bracelet on:

We included a special ladybug charm on both the girls bracelets to remember their special day: 

After bracelet making, we headed to "Chick a lay" for some yummy chicken and french fries and play time!  The girls played so well together.  Katybug just loves her friends.  Tonight before bed she thanked God for her "best friend, Ella Grace."  I am so grateful for all of our sweet friends that the LORD has blessed us with.  Thank you, Ella Grace and Amanda for a special day and for making my Katybug happy!

Every time I think of you, I thank my God.

And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy.

Philippians 1:3-4