Sandbox

Andrew and I put this super easy sandbox together for Hannah to play with and eventually Ethan can play in it  too.  We knew she would love a sand box but didn't want a huge one.  The smaller sand tables if they come with a lid are quite expensive.  

The sandbox itself is an under-the-bed box from idea that comes with its own lid.  The sand we picked up at Toy-R-Us.  The toys we ones that we already had.  Simple Simple.  Hannah especially likes to scoop and dump the sand.  We are planning to get some patio tables, the small ones like this one.  Then we can put the sandbox up at waist level and she can stand in front of it.

Scooping

Pouring

While Hannah was playing, we all enjoyed the sunshine even if it was a bit chilly.

Daddy was reading.

Ethan was playing with a car.

I was standing around watching everyone.

Being Held

It's been two years and my heart aches as if freshly broken.

I miss my brother, my husband misses a friend, and my children are missing out on an Uncle.

But I know your love is all around and I know that I'm being held.

Nicholas

Love Comes Back Around by Graham Colton (Listen Here)

Some say that life, you can't rewind

Even when time is on your side

Some say that pain, it makes you strong

And you find the strength to carry on

Some say what's lost is never found

But I know your love comes back around

Some say that tears are meant to fall

What good is crying after all?

There are mistakes you can't undo

Then they bring out the best in you

Some say what's lost will soon be found

But I know your love is all around

Held by Natalie Grant (Listen Here)

Two months is too little, they let him go

They had no sudden healing

To think that providence

Would take a child from his mother

While she prays, is appalling

Who told us we'd be rescued

What has changed and

Why should we be saved from nightmares

We're asking why this happens to us

Who have died to live, it's unfair

This is what it means to be held

How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

This hand is bitterness

We want to taste it and

Let the hatred numb our sorrows

The wise hand opens slowly

To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

If hope if born of suffering

If this is only the beginning

Can we not wait for one hour

Watching for our Savior

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was that when everything fell

We'd be held

Wordless Wednesday

Easter Garden

During nap time today, I came across a great idea for Easter over at A Holy Experience (here). I then searched to find more ideas and low and behold I found lots. Some are quite simple, and some are even life size versions. Since, I don't know how Andrew would feel about me creating a life size tomb in our backyard while he's away, I decided to do a smaller version. We can light the candles until Friday, by then my flowers should look really dead, this symbolizes Christ's death. Then on Sunday, I will roll back the rock in front of the tomb and replace the flowers with new ones to represent His resurrection and and new life.

Easter Garden

I used salt dough to make the tomb and added a little black tempera paint to give it a rock like color.  After I finished forming it I baked in the oven at 200 for a couple of hours (until it was hard).  I filled a pretty tray with dirt and added the crosses, greenery, flowers, rocks, and candles.

Before baking, I put the pieces on wax paper so they would not stick to the pan.

Basic Salt Dough Recipe 

1 cup of fine salt 

1 cup of flour 

1/2 cup of water (may add more) 

In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour 

Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water 

Knead until smooth and shape into a ball

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Flying Solo

He's gone five minutes and look what happens.

It's everywhere.  Even the stairs.

This is what he will miss.  Ethan who has decided to finally bring in a second tooth.  Yeah me!

Ethan

And my lovely Hannah who is bringing in all 4 of her 2 year molars.  Double Yeah.

Andrew is at a youth pastors retreat for the next several days and even though we will miss him greatly I am also very happy that he has this opportunity to rest, reflect, and fellowship.  Just not sure what Hannah and Ethan are going to do when they wake up from their naps and find mommy hiding in the closet. :D

Easter Preparations

I have being thinking long and hard about how to teach and prepare Hannah for Easter.  After lots of searching and looking I found endless amounts of crafts, songs, coloring sheets and activities all about bunnies, eggs, and candies.  I even found a respectable amount of material on the real reason my family celebrates Easter: because of Jesus death and resurrection and all that Jesus accomplished for us.  However, most of what I found was too old for Hannah.  She's only 2, so I wanted a few activities and things that she would enjoy and understand.  I also did not want to glaze over the work of the cross or miss it entirely which surprisingly seems to be the most common phenomenon.  What Andrew and I will do is present it in such a way that it is age appropriate and sensitive.

Here is what were are going to do:

Easter Coloring Book:

I'm made a story book out of these Easter Story Coloring Pages (here): 

Easter story wheel:

I got the pictures from this really cool easter booklet (here) and then put them onto a wheel.: 

Easter Story Eggs/Resurrection Eggs:  

We will introduce all of the objects in the eggs in a story format, and we will do it all on Easter.  Then next year we can do it leading up to easter one egg at a time.  I put this together after seeing a great set made over at Catholic Icing (here).

What is in my eggs:

1. Palm Branch- Jesus triumphant arrival in Jerusalem.  Matt 21:1-11
2. Soap – Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.  John 13:1-17
3. Small cracker piece – Last Supper Mark 14:22 
4. Flower- Jesus prays in the Garden. Matt 26:36-46
5. Three dimes – Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of Silver.  Matt. 26:14-15 
6. Twine or a small piece of rope - Jesus is arrested. Matt. 27:1-2 
7. Crown of Thorns - Matt. 27:29 
8. Nails - Matt. 27:31 and John 20:25 
9. Cross –John 19:17-18 
10. Sponge – The Soldiers offered Jesus something to drink.  John 19:29-30 or Matt 27:48 
11. White fabric and Spices – Burial clothes and spices.  John 19:38-40
12. Stone – The tomb.  Matt. 27:65-66 or John 20:1-10 

Easter Play Scene:
I think this last one is my favorite and the activity that I am most excited about.  You can download the printable at Catholic Icing (a great blog, full of great ideas) (here).  I love that Hannah will be able to play with this set in order to learn about Easter.

The Easter Scene

Mary Magdalen, Mary, crucified Jesus, and the cross.

Two angels and the Tomb with a movable rock.  

Risen Jesus and 2 Soldiers.

That is how we will be teaching Hannah about Easter this year. 

Spring Play Dough

I saw this really great spring play dough idea on Counting Coconuts and I knew Hannah would love it.  You can see my inspiration for it (here).  I just took some fake flowers and cut the buds, blossoms, and leaves off and added some green play dough for green grass.  It was really easy to pull together and it was a big hit.  Now it looks like spring inside my house even when it pours outside.  Ethan was even trying to reach his hands on the tray for the flowers.  It’s just too bad he would shove the play dough straight into his mouth if he got his hands on it, otherwise he could play too.  I don't like fishing lumps of slippery play dough out of his mouth as he gags and sputters.

Ethan getting into the action.

Planting Flowers.

A happy girl.