Rock Chalk Valentine's Day!

A couple of year's ago Greg started a little Valentine tradition for our kids.  Instead of flowers, chocolate or tiny little cards with candy stuck to them, he gets the kids Jayhawk t-shirts.  It's great because it's just in time for March Madness and there is no gooey chocolate mess to clean up afterward.  To make this year a little more memorable we decided to do a scavenger hunt (a.k.a. I am much to lazy to wrap their gifts.)

It was a joint hunt so that everyone would get their presents at the same time.  And so that a certain oldest child didn't dominate the game we put names on each of the pieces of paper and adjusted the clues to the individual's reading level. 

Micaiah's had pictures on them:

Anya's were very obvious and easy to read:

Charis' were little riddles:

They each had several individual clues to figure out, and then the last one was a puzzle with 3 pieces (one for each kid) that formed a picture of where the present was hidden:

SUCCESS!!

It was so fun to see the excitement on all of their faces as the next hiding place or clue was revealed.  They all got a chance to work together toward a common "gold" (goal).  Micaiah was finally able to prove to his sisters that he could be a valid member of the "Nadvornik kid team" and Anya got to showcase her newly acquired reading skills.  Charis was their cheerleader throughout and humored them when it took them "far too long" to figure out a clue.

Then after the scavenger hunt I gave them my present...

 

DESSERT FOR DINNER! (okay not really it's a German Apple Pancake, but it tastes like a dessert.)

And it was sooo good! 

A delicious end to a wonderful family Valentines Day.  Go Hawks!

   

I Am Not Eating That!

Every Sunday night I pull out the computer and make out my meal plan for the week.  Last Sunday I opened up Word, scheduled a few meals, and then got distracted.  When I came back to the computer to finish my menu planning this is what I found, so helpfully added by my husband.

-Deep fried lard encrusted possum gizzards

-All natural soggy emu droppings

-Beets

-Mind over matter mutton brain puree

-Jellyfish eyeball retinal fluid infused bag balm on moldy toast

I'm not sure if this is a, not-so-subtle, comment about the meals I prepare for the family, but if so I'm not taking the hint.  My favorite part is that he equated beets with the rest of disgusting inventions.  So I bought beets and we had them with dinner last night! (All in good fun, right Peeter?) One must be careful messing with my dinner plans!  Oh and in case you think these are things we just might eat, I do draw the line at "droppings", emu or otherwise. 

*After reading this Greg wanted me to point out that though the girls in the family like beets, this was Micaiah's general reaction to them:

He actually got into trouble 3 times for pretending to vomit them back up onto his plate.  See my kids won't eat everything either!

Miss Charis

Oh Miss Charis, I am late with your birthday post and I know being late drives you crazy.  I am sorry.  How can two people, like us, who are so very much alike, be so different from each other as well?  I am continually amazed at how much you really are like me.  We have similar likes and dislikes, mannerisms and personality quirks.  Sometimes I feel as though I gave birth to myself and I am getting to watch myself grow up.  It's a very surreal feeling.

Your interests are unique for an 8 year old girl.  You have wanted to be an archeologist even before you could say the word and have recently become interested in archery.  You got your very own bow and arrows this year.  You almost cried when we gave you the certificate to pick one out..  You just kept hugging and thanking me.  This is huge for you because you have always been very reserved with your emotions.  Much like your mother.  I'm still working on that.  I hope that you never feel that I am reserved toward you.

 You are my little bookworm.  You will devour anything and everything written on a printed page.  Your favorites are mysteries and history - especially mysteries about history.  Amelia Earhart is your hero.   You even carry ladies gloves in your purse because you think that Amelia probably did the same.  I love this about you!

You are unbelievably secure in who you are.  In this way I wish I was more like you.  You don't get upset when you are picked on by other people.  I remember you coming home from school last year and telling me about a girl that was trying to single you out and make fun of you.   You told me that you weren't worried about it because you knew that other people had bad days and sometimes they take their bad days out on other people.  You said you were still going to be nice to her and pray for her until her bad mood was over.  The next day you became her friend! 

You are very responsible.  I can ask anything of you and you will try to hardest to comply.  It seems so natural for you. (I don't think I have a naturally compliant bone in my body.) You take care of Zayin, you help with cleaning, you are a peacemaker with your siblings and have even cooked a couple of meals for us.  You have helped me immensely this past year when I was too sick to be much of a Mama, and when all my time was taken up with your new brother.  I actually have a hard time remembering that you are only 8, because you carry yourself with a maturity beyond your years.

Now lest you begin to think that you are perfect (a personal flaw of mine) we both know that you aren't. (I think you get that from your Father).  Though won't use this space to embarrass you by bringing up anything specific, please remember you are always growing.  You will never stop learning and needing to learn.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  It's okay not to have the right answer all the time, just keep seeking the Lord and He will take care of the rest.

Charis you are a sweet, intelligent, charming and amazing young woman, not just my little girl.  I thank the Lord daily for letting my borrow you for a while.


Happy 8th Birthday, Girl!!  I LOVE YOU!

Adventures in Eating

One of the things that I want to do with my kids is to expose them to lots of different types of foods.  They don't have to love everything on their plate, but if they don't try they will never know.  I will often have the kids pick out something new/something weird to try at the grocery store. Then we go home and I have to figure out how to cook it.  They have picked things like eggplant, kiwi, starfruit, tamarind pods, cactus leaves and fresh beets.  Some are definitely stranger than others.  A lot of them have become favorites - like Charis and Brussels sprouts. 

Well once word gets out that you like to try new and different things people start giving you strange food items.  And I do mean strange.  Here is what we were given not long ago and I finally worked up the courage to cook.

RATTLESNAKE!
Now generally I am not very squeamish.  I'm not afraid of snakes, but this kinda gave me the heebie-jeebies.  It looks like a snake, but in keeping with what I'm trying to teach my kids, I tried not to let the creepy crawlies get the best of me.  I talked my folks into letting me make it at their house by offering a free meal - ha!  I was really amazed at my mom and how calm she was, she even took the picture above.  She is not a big fan of snakes.  We decided to debone it so we wouldn't have to worry about anyone choking.

I deboned, my mom chopped vegetables.

As nervous as I was in the beginning, once I got going it lost all of it power to make me feel woozy.  It just became like any other meat, well any other meat with a billion little bones in it.  I actually started to enjoy myself.  Here was our finished product.

Menu:

Green salad with Raspberry Dressing 

Rattlesnake in a Cajun Cream Sauce

Hand Picked Morel Mushrooms (left over from this summer)

French Bread with Homemade Butter (19 min. -that's for my dad)

It was so much fun to cook with my mom again and especially fun with out of the ordinary ingredients.  Next on the list...Rock Mountain Oysters (thank you Dr. Kyle)

Robot Invasion

Micaiah's 3rd Birthday Party

Micaiah is over the moon for Robots.  It started with a favorite pair of pajamas that he wants to wear constantly.  They are too small, but he doesn't care, he loves them. 

So the theme for his party this year seemed obvious.  I am a theme girl.  I love trying to come up with different things to do with a theme.  Unfortunately, I also get overwhelmed by lots of details and short time periods, so most of what I dream up never happens.  And I'm pretty sure the kids never know the difference.  As long as there is a cake involved, my kids are happy. 

I didn't really decorate.  I just put fun straws and pens out for the kids to use and then take home and put the craft out on the table.  

 

Everyone making "Robots":

 

 

 

Anya putting a little spit and polish on her masterpiece.

 

Charis admiring her work.

 

Jonah not sure that his dad knows what he is doing.

This was going to be a robot assembly station, but...that time thing got in the way.

 

Then the cake and ice cream!

 

And a little something to take home.