Strawberry Cake to Celebrate!

Today we celebrated my moms birthday. I'm pretty certain she would not appreciate me sharing which birthday we celebrated though. 


Awhile back my mom told the kids she was going to have a special birthday celebration{for herself; someday} for the grandkids only. Audrey was especially excited.
So, when my moms birthday rolled around Audrey was fully expecting to go to Mimi and Papa's house and have a grandkids only birthday party. Complete with lanterns hanging from the trees.
Since that wasn't on the agenda this year we decided to give her a birthday dinner here at our house tonight. 
Owen and Audrey helped me pick out the cake ingredients, plates and balloons at the store so that helped build their excitement for Mimi's dinner celebration. 
Mimi requested Chicken Parmesan for dinner and we made Strawberry Cake for dessert! 
The strawberry cake recipe is one that my mom usually makes any time an occasion calls for cake so we knew it was one she would like! 

I decided I should share the recipe with others because its that good! So, without further ado I give you 

STRAWBERRY CAKE with Real Strawberries

CAKE: 1 package white cake mix 1 package jell-o gelatin, strawberry 1/2 cup frozen strawberries 1/2 cup water 1 cup oil 4 eggs Mix jell-o and cake mix together. Add water and oil; mix on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Add berries.Bake at 325°F. for 30-45 minutes in greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan. ICING: 1 pound powdered sugar 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup frozen strawberries Cream butter, powdered sugar and strawberries together. Spread on cooled cake.

Mix all the dry ingredients together.
I had help with this one!

Add the oil, eggs and water into the dry mixture.

Puree the strawberries.

Add strawberries into cake batter.

Pour into greased pan.

We were so excited to actually get to eat the cake I forgot to take pictures of the icing being made. But, it was easy and tasted delicious!

Here is the final product!! So yummy!

All About the Moon {project and links included}

Last week in science we learned about the Earth.
This week for Science we're learning about the Moon.
 {Don't you love how I said we're learning about the Moon?! It's even a learning experience for me!:)} 
As I had been sifting through Pinterest for different solar system ideas I ran across some really fun ideas focusing on phases of the Moon. So, of course, I pinned them. 
Today we got to put those fun ideas to practice by creating our very own 

Oreo Cookie Moon Phases!

Elisa working hard.

Shaping the crescent phase.

Ava's final project.

Pretty sure Owen was taking some licks.

 Elisa's phases of the moon. 

Our science project also doubled as our morning snack {hey! don't judge!}

Audrey enjoying her moons.

Ava enjoying her full moon.

Owie with a mouth full!

 

Elisa texting pictures of her projects to her friends. 

We also checked out some cool sites about the Moon in general  or the phases of the Moon.

We watched a youtube about the phases of the moon. {disclaimer: there is a reference to Islam at the beginning of this video but otherwise great info}

I got a lot of ideas and info from this blog: Teach Mama

She links to this site which is from July 2007 but it's specifically about the Moon. We also clicked the current  month/year and learned what we can be watching for in the sky this month!

Leap Day

This year was a Leap Year. So in celebration we had a little Leap Day Party with our fellow homeschool families from our church body. My sweet friend Emily made the kids a cake and we played a few Leap Day themed games. The weather was amazing- close to 80 on Feb 29th! 

The awesome cake! 

There were several younger kids who asked 'who's turning 29??' 

Some of the kids getting ready for the cake.

Audrey being silly.

Audrey, her friend and Owen being silly.

The big kids playing ribbit, ribbit, hop.

The younger kids playing.

Edible Earth

I've decided to come out of blog hiding. Mostly because I want to start documenting our life again.
I feel like I've come out of a haze. That would be pregnancy, in itself; in general.
Our homeschooling is going really great right now. Like, the best its been in the 5 years that we've been homeschooling. Everything is flowing so smoothly. Maybe I shouldn't breath so I don't mess that up.....
But, I feel so much more productive.
On the note of being productive I've started making a schedule for us every day. I'm adding in tiny details. Like, cut up the carrots and put them in the crockpot.
Because, if I didn't, it probably wouldn't get done. And, then, at 4:30 I would realize I never put the carrots in the crockpot. And, thats no bueno.


Back to homeschooling-and the point of this blog post.
We are doing Apologia Astronomy this year. And we're all- yes I said all, including me- loving it! We're currently on the planet Earth. So, today we made an edible Earth. We learned all the reason why the Earth is the only- and perfect- planet for human existence. We also learned the layers of the Earth.
And here is what they are-

The M&M represented the inner core (chocolate middle) and outer core (candy coating)
We then surrounded the M&M with Rice Crispy Treats to represent the mantle layer. (The rice crispies reinforce the molten rock and all...just kidding I didn't realize that until it was too late)

We formed the Rice Crispy (with the M&M inside) into a sphere

Like the Earth...ha, get it?

Next we dipped the Rice Crispy Treat Sphere into melted almond bark. 

This represented the crust. 

Once it was hardened it made much more sense. :)

Here is a plate of edible Earths. As they were hardening some of them started to lose their shape. I'm guessing due to the weight of the hardening almond bark vs the not yet hardened rice crispy treat.

My plan was too color some almond bark green and blue- you know, for the water and land. I did actually color two bowls of those colors but the colors never actually ever made it to the Earths. Doing this project with a 4 yr old, 2 yr old and 4 month old (along with the 2 big kids) we were lucky to get as far as we did before the Rice Crispies hardened without being shaped and the almond bark hardened without anything being dipped in it!


All in all this was a super fun project that the kids loved! And I really think creating the edible layers and talking about them as we went along will help stick the actual Earth layers into their minds. 


These times make me really thank the Lord that He is allowing me this privilege of being able to stay home and homeschool my kiddos.  

Things Ive Learned in a Summer full of 100+ degree Temps

According to this website we are on our 24th consecutive day of 100+ degree temps for the Dallas/Ft Worth area.
 I am currently 31 weeks pregnant in my 5th pregnancy and very hot.

And, that's probably an understatement.

But, trying to look at the bright side of this current situation, I've been mentally thinking of things I've learned through this heat. I thought- ya know so I can look back and remember this summer in all its hot glory- that I would write them all out here as a simple reminder that it's not that bad.
Right???

1. A $200 initial {ahh key word there} investment in an above ground pool is worth every.single.penny.
2. If I thought it was hard being pregnant any other summer {this is my 5th pregnancy and 5th time spending the Summer pregnant} I was wrong. This one is by far the hottest and hardest with a 3 year old and almost 2 year old.
3. Leaving the house to hang out with friends was much more appealing when I was 40 pounds lighter and it was 30 degrees cooler. {sorry guys}
4. I can get a lot more laundry done when I'm home instead of out hanging out with friends and having playdates. :) {shhh dont tell Derek}
5. The kids really do survive weeks on end without playing with friends.
6. Surprisingly, when we're home more the kids all get along better. Go figure.
7. A trampoline with a sprinkler spraying on it provides HOURS of uninterrupted fun for 4 kids ages 1-10.
8. I discovered Pinterest. Enough said.
9. We spend a lot less money eating out when the desire to stay home, in the cool air, over rides the desire {read: laziness} to not cook.

And the 10th thing I've learned this Summer full of 100+ degree temps is......

10.The Lord is changing my heart towards home again. Even if it took over 30 {non-consecutive} days so far this summer to give me the desire to stay home more.

Somewhere Along the Way

Somewhere along the way....I lost my way.
Actually, I lost His way.
I don't mean I lost my faith or anything similar. I just lost sight of what I am supposed to be doing in this life. What He has called be to do.
To be.
As a wife.
A mother.
A teacher.
A homemaker.

This past year I think I just felt the burnout of being a homeschooling mom. It was only our 4th year but it started off rough. With Audrey's eye issues and my dads sudden death our fall wasn't too great.
But the Lord did show His faithfulness through it all.

I know I have been just going through the motions of everything. I've been homeschooling this year because I know that's what I'm supposed to be doing. But, I had no passion or vision in doing it.

Then, all of sudden, some time in May this renewed energy and excitement about being home with my kids and homeschooling them and training them came back to me!
Maybe its the fact we have a new baby on the way. Maybe the Lord is using that to remind me of this important thing He has called me to. But, whatever the reason I am grateful.

I am so excited for our new school year. I'm so excited to get back into a routine of having purpose in our daily musings. To not just go through the motions of getting things done because that's what we're supposed to be doing. But, instead doing everything while being mindful of what I've been called to do and be. And aware and intentional about training these kids the Lord has entrusted to us.

I've really missed blogging. And, Im well aware very few will actually read this post after such a long absence but it just feels good to be writing out some of the thoughts going through me head. And to share with no one
maybe someone what the Lord is doing in me right now.


So, I hope as part of my renewed passion for this calling of mine that I start blogging regularly again!

Slacker+Pictures+A Big God=Post

Man, I've really slacked off on the whole blogging thing. I have pretty good reason though. 

No no, I'm not pregnant :) {you moms of many know thats the first thing that came into your mind!}

I've been working on starting a little photography business.

It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. And this is the first time in 4 years that I'm not pregnant or nursing a baby every 2-3 hours so we figured I should give it a shot!

I started out in hopes of making some extra money to pay down some debt. {read: the car loan}. I was listening to Dave Ramsey {love that guy!} and he suggested taking photos on the side to a guy trying to get his debt snowball rolling. So, I thought.... hey I need to do that!

I got some stuff together and started advertising on Facebook and to friends. I figured Christmas is the perfect time to get this started since everyone wants Christmas photos! 

Then, we got the bill for Audrey's eye surgery she'll be having on Nov 17th {keep her in your prayers please!}.

WOWZA!

So....that's what all these session fees are going towards right now. 

Its so cool because we prayed for the provision to cover all these medical fees and between photo sessions, homeschool school picture sessions, family and our local corporate fellowship {that would be the Church} the Lord has provided and met those needs above and beyond anything we could imagine! 

{wait...isnt there a verse that promises that somewhere!?!?}

But, enough babbling from me....just check out my photography blog at:

LindsayLanePhotography.blogspot.com

or become a fan on Facebook here 

or by searching Facebook for Lindsay Lane Photography. 

Heres a few shots of my sweet kiddos I did last weekend!