This is for the Birds/ Updated

Need a fun and relaxing activity to do with your children?

We made these special treats for the birds, and took some pictures to help you follow along.

try them.. our birds loved them, and devoured them already!

Easy and time spent together!

Grab a few ingredients!

I have found this to be the birds absolute favorite bird seed... but it really doesn't matter!

We gathered these in the woods,,,if you are not in the country,,, grab some you are out for a drive!

1/2 cup Shortening

2 cups cornmeal

1/2 oats

A "tad" of peanut butter

 

We mixed the above ingredients quickly with our HANDS.... fast and easy.

( do not mix the birdseed and craisins with the other ingredients)

(save them for later)

Tie a ribbon on the pinecone BEFORE you spread your mix...

Using a plastic knife didn't work as easily as using our hands to "smoosh" the mix onto/into the pinecones.

Have the kids press the birdseed onto the pinecone...continually pressing more on until it is covered.

Hang in various places... our birds devoured ours after they were daring enough to get near them.

Have fun!  ( In the past we have made the simple peanut butter/birdseed cones,and we have found that the birds LOVE this new recipe!  Less messy too!)

Jump Rope Rhymes

Some Old Fashion Fun- Jump Roping!

With Six girls and Three Boys in this Home... we definitely have a lot of "girl" activities going on!

JUMP ROPING takes the lead..

 ( next to home spas - nails, hair, the works!)

Here are my "jump ropers," and they wanted to share a few of their Jump Rope Rhymes for other families to try out.
It is guaranteed fun- all the way around..

We have a lot of jump ropes... even our 4 year old joins in the fun... it is amazing how early they can start jump roping!  Have fun!  Here are a few rhymes to try:

Benjamin Franklin went to France

To teach the ladies how to dance.

First the heel, and then the toe,

Spin around and out you go.

Or, How about this one?

Early in the morning, about eight o'clock,

What should I hear but the postman's knock.

Up jumps ____________ to open the door,

How many letters did she find on the floor?

A, B, C, D . . . .

Ever Hear of this Rhyme before?

Cinderella dressed in yella,

Went downstairs to kiss a fella,

Made a mistake and kissed a snake.

How many doctors did it take

1, 2, 3, . . . .

 Ladybug, Ladybug, turn around,

Ladybug, Ladybug touch the ground.

Ladybug, Ladybug shine your shoes,

Ladybug, Ladybug read the news.

Ladybug, ladybug, how old are you?

One, two, three, four . . . . .

 Another fun twist to our jumproping is adding memory verses to their jumping.

My girls have been memorizing Proverbs 3 to there jumps!

What a way to combine fun and learning-

You can have your children try Memory verses, math facts,, geography, states & capitals, etc.

 

Try some Old Fashion Fun this weekend!

Contagious JOY!

I heard this today - "Any one can find happiness -Only Believers Can find JOY!"

Ohhh,, this is sooo true, isn't it?

J -Jesus

O -Others

Y -You

Joy can be so contagious. I am hoping that I was "contagious" this week!

Speaking of joy..

Love and Dandelions?

No way! Love and Dandelions - they don't go together! Who loves those bright yellow flowers( weeds) that spread all over the yard, and become the lawn enthusiasts worst nightmare!?

Here in the Northeast, after the winter thaw.. I am always excited to see Spring make its way here to my home.

But, one of the things I love the most is when my littlest children are discovering the "new world of outdoors again!" This is when I discovered that love and dandelions go hand in hand!

I am sure that every mom must experience this.

"Mommy, I picked you something special."

I'm thinking.. What in the world is growing out there after this snow covered the ground for months on end.. something special?

"Mommy, I picked you a flower!"

And then..

"Mommy, I love flowers ( weeds).. I love you."

Aww..wow,,, thank you sweetie! they are so...so... pretty.

And that is when a dandelion becomes love. A gift from the heart.

Except, I received not just a little love today..

BUT..

A WHOLE BUCKET of love! ( Weeds. )

Here is Sam with his dandelions for mommy. He carried the bucket around ALL day.

Thank you Lord for the Little things each day that bring such joy.