The Good Shepherd’s Garden Party :: Week Three
The earth, once dead, is clothed in green, in sunshine each their joy express.
My sun’s returned with healing wings, my soul and body do rejoice.
My heart exults and praises sings to God who hears my joyous voice.
~ The Garden of the Good Shepherd
There must be something about this third week of Easter… Once again, just like last year, we had crazy weather this past week! Sunshine, Clouds, Rain, a Rainbow, and an intense storm last Monday that brought strong Winds, Hail, Thunder and Lightning – we had one of those lightning bolts actually strike one of the trees on the mountain behind our home, lighting it on fire! On Tuesday the kids told me there was a fire helicopter with a bucket flying over our home… I heard it, but didn’t look outside, telling them that it wasn’t fire season yet, and they are probably just getting ready. I was wrong! A neighbor passing by let my husband know about the “big tree on fire” behind our home. It’s too early to be worrying about forest fires!
Speaking of fires, we were very blessed that the fire in our own “backyard” this past Tuesday wasn’t serious, but Elizabeth’s sister-in-law and her family (another family with seven children) could really use your prayers. In a matter of minutes, this homeschooling family lost their home and all of their belongings to another fire. You can read more here. Please remember them in your prayers!
Today we are back to some nice, mild, sunny, spring weather. The kids are all playing outside after our yummy meal based on “The Heaven’s Tell Gods Glory.” I love finding new ways to change our original menu, and this week we used the rainbow fruit platter from last year, but everything else was new, trying to create a Sunday Brunch.
I used this recipe as a guide, substituting cherry jam for the apricot, and egg wash and icing for the cinnamon and sugar. These were really fun to make and turned out great.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else’s Garden Parties over at Catholic Cuisine.
{this moment}
{this moment} – A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. To see more visit Soule Mama.
{pretty, happy, funny, real}
Notice anything that doesn’t belong?
I was focused on the birthday girl, not that mischievous little 2 year old of ours.
Happy Birthday To You! {A Dr. Seuss Thing 2 Birthday Party}
My sister-in-law managed to escape my camera, but I did get a picture of my brother Thing Dad. Apparently he decorated his own shirt for the party. I was impressed! Good job Brian!!
My sister-in-law had the cutest decorations for the party. Everything was so pretty… and delish!
One Fish, Two Fish… How about some GOLD FISH?
On the Menu:
Sneetches Peaches (Peach Tea)
I especially loved the pasta and fruit salad in the covered glass jars, to keep the bugs out. I already purchased a couple to use in the future!
The Red Velvet Cake was amazingly delicious. Yes, I had a small piece – along with some more dairy on Easter – and paid for it with a cranky baby for a few days. (He does seem to be getting a little better though!) Actually it was the first time I’d ever had Red Velvet Cake! I’m sure that since our Costco makes this cake, it won’t be the last…
And our silly little Snuggles figured if he couldn’t see anyone, they couldn’t see him either!
Oh, and the the birthday girl is a pro at pinatas! She picked the correct ribbon on the very first try!
We all had such a wonderful time. My kids are so happy that they have one cousin that lives close enough to visit. It’s been years since they have seen (or even met!) their nine other cousins.
Today you are You, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
Wordless Wednesday
An Early American Pioneer Birthday
This past Friday our little Chiquita turned 7 years old! The day didn’t start out as I had hoped, and we ended up spending the first half of the day at doctor’s offices, then ran a few errands while we were in town, but we arrived home after lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the beautiful sunny day!
Chiquita had asked for a Kirsten themed Pioneer Birthday, inspired by their Early American History Lap Books and Unit Studies this year! I didn’t get to all the ideas/plans I had come up with for our little family party (I’ll save the others for another time, especially since Twinkle Toes is hoping for a “Little House on the Prairie Party), but despite my lack of organization everything fell into place.
I just love how my children do their best to dress up for some of our various themed parties! The girls found their longest prairie skirts, bonnets, and had me braid their hair (just like Kirsten’s for the birthday girl), and the boys put on long sleeved shirts, with vests, and their Daddy’s old Rodeo hats!
I wanted to try and find a way to tie in the quilt that Kirsten and her friends made in the book Happy Birthday, Kirsten! As much as I would love to be able to sew a real quilt, I am not at all talented when it comes to sewing. Someday I would love to take some more classes… maybe when my girls are a little older we can do so together.
Instead, I made some square sugar cookies and frosted them white. I had each of the children decorate their own square with decorator icing and candies. We placed them together on a tray to form a friendship quilt!
The kids enjoyed this so much, they just kept asking to decorate “just one more!” I removed the quick “sample” Happy Birthday Square I decorated to make room for Captain’s 2nd cookie…
… but the “Quilt Squares” just kept coming so I started making a second quilt. It looks like I forgot to take a picture of that second quilt completed, but I did get one of the finished cookies on the cookie rack:
We choose a few fun, old-fashioned, game ideas from The American Girl’s Party Book. Puss in the Corner was definitely the favorite.
I purchased this Pinata for a couple dollars after Easter a few years ago… We filled it with some old-fashioned candies and peppermints.
After a yummy dinner of Roasted Chicken, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Garden Salad, and Lemonade, it was time for cake!
I am pretty sure that this was the easiest birthday cake I have ever made, and it still tied in perfectly with our theme! It was inspired by Kirsten’s party treats and the picture of her birthday cake, in Happy Birthday, Kirsten!
Chiquita choose a Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake Recipe, and I baked it in a 12″ Heart Shaped Cake Pan. After it had cooled we just surrounded it with Strawberries and served it with some Fresh Cream! For Ice Cream she choose Old Fashioned Vanilla and Rocky (Prairie) Road.
Despite Kirsten being discontinued a couple years ago, I was so excited to win an auction (at a fair price) for a new doll on ebay. Her other gifts included the darling Kirsten Prairie Dress, a gray cat (purchased at Costco), and Sari (Kirsten’s doll, also from ebay).
The birthday girl also used the gift from her grandparents/godparents to purchase her first and very own scooter, and received a doll sized Bonnet from her big sister!
St. George and the Dragon :: A Sugar Cookie Story Quilt
“A story quilt is an ideal whole-class extension project that works at all grade levels. Quilt squares feature chapters, characters, or significant scenes from the literature circle book. They can include a border with a repeated design or symbol that represents a key idea. Quilt squares can incorporate visual as well as written components (e.g., an important quote or brief summary). Effective adaptations are possible for all grade levels.” ~ Source
The Good Shepherd’s Garden Party :: Week Two
when all God’s people live in peace, like sheep within one fold.
As perfume, by its scent, spreads fragrance all around,
so life itself will sweeter be where unity is found.
This afternoon we had our 2nd Good Shepherd’s Garden Party for this Easter season! I didn’t put much any planning into this week’s party since my mind had been focused on an extra cranky baby and a certain seven year old’s birthday, and by yesterday I was pretty much wiped out from another crazy week. Thankfully I knew that this would be a pretty easy week to pull together, with a few modifications to the menu. When we got home from Mass I took a look in the fridge and decided that this week would be the perfect opportunity to finally dye some Easter Eggs and try and make Italian Easter Bread!
After nothing but rain for weeks, the past few days have been GORGEOUS!! I just couldn’t bring myself to set the dining room table for our party. Instead I had the boys pull down the cushions and set up our “table and chairs” on the front porch. We were going to finally eat outside!
Sometimes the simplest parties, without too much planning, turn out the best… Don’t you think?
(I’ll have the link-up posted by tomorrow morning.)
Somebody’s Seven
* Our birthday celebration started a little late this afternoon, since we ended up spending yet another morning at doctor’s offices – both our pediatrician’s, followed by a trip to see an ophthalmologist… Our little Bud managed to poke himself in the eye, with his sharp little fingernail, last night. Thankfully a week of antibiotic eye drops, three times a day, should be all he will need. My poor baby! I’ll be back to post more pictures of our birthday girl, but right now I’m headed back to the party!
{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: 4 months old!
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