The REAL Reason Pantyhose Exist

To make Grassheads, of course! 
I love Grassheads.  I got the idea from a magazine a couple of years ago, and how I love a "kid-friendly" project!
Just in case someone has pantyhose they can't figure out what to do with ;) (Wear it? Nah...)- here is how we made ours:

Materials Needed

• Empty yogurt cup (we like the tapered Yoplait cups)
• Potting soil  (we used Miracle-Gro)
• Grass seed  (we used dense shade seed- works well inside)
• Cardstock, scrapbooking paper, colored paper, etc..
• Pantyhose
• Googly eyes
• Waterproof glue (we used super-glue)
• Waterproof permanent marker

1. Decorate the yogurt cup in a paper "outfit."  Anything goes here- paper, felt, ribbon- use your imagination.   
2. Cut the hose off at the foot (about 6").  Cut 'em both and make two.  You only live once!  Throw the rest of the hose away! 

3. Fill the bottom of the hose with about a tablespoon of grass seed. 

4. Add enough soil to make a "head" that will fit on top of your yogurt cup.  Tie the end in a knot.  There should be a "tail" left.  Try to keep grass seed in places you want hair!


5. Glue on googly eyes and add a mouth, ears and nose with a waterproof marker.
6. Add water to cup- the tail should hang down into the water.
7. Wait for water to "creep" up tail into soil and eventually to top of head.  It took about a week for us to see grass 'hair' growing.  Make sure to keep cup filled with water.
8. When hair gets long- cut it!  Kids LOVE this!

   

                                                             Aren't they great!?

Lost Tooth and Lost Sleep

Grace lost her first tooth last night!   Like most changes in life, there were a few tears and some blood.:)  Needless to say, it was a big event for both of us!
 She is so proud of her "tooth space."  She took her tiny tooth to school in a tupperware dish to show her teacher! Someday that tupperware will be filled with tiny teeth!:)
Eli has been wiggling his teeth today- looking for a "wobbly" one.  He thinks he found one.;)  Smart guy.  Grace got a quarter under her pillow!

Speaking of *losing* things, I have been trying to lose a little sleep (ON PURPOSE!) by getting up about an hour before the kids.
Most of this school year....ok- maybe longer than that...;),  I've slept in as long as possible.  Which basically means I don't get up until a kid gets up and wakes me up.  
Sounds good in theory, but doesn't work so good in practice.  At least not for me!
I've found that having some time to "get myself together" before the onslaught of demands begins (LOL!) is a LIFESAVER!  Honestly, the hardest part is just getting out bed....then I am raring to go.. ( the 4 cups of coffee probably don't hurt)!

The best part is that I've been able to use most of that *extra* hour in my day to pray and read the Bible.   My efforts in that area have been somewhat lacking lately ( a few minutes at bedtime before I lapse into a sleep coma)!
 I want to follow the command to "Love the LORD your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.(Deut.6:5). 
AND- I want to teach my children to do the same!   

I sure find the time to do things that are important to me...And there is nothing more important than that!!

Meet my newest friends!!!    Check back in a few weeks for  "grassheads with hair!"

Workin' and Playin'

It's been a fun and busy weekend!  On Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, everyone pitched in to help, and we got our fence finished and a LOT of gravel spread out over the drive and along the yard. 

It may not LOOK like a lot of gravel, but try shoveling it all over your driveway!!!

Eli killed the weeds.  He loved it.   I think he might have a future in weed removal. 

Grace shoveled gravel.  She didn't love it.  I don't think she has a future in gravel shoveling.

Victor and I did do some of the work!!  Honestly...We just have no pictures to prove it!!

Here is Lucky in her new fence. Poor Lucky!  No more quarter mile chases down the alley in our socks!  TOO BAD!  

Thank you Victor!!!!

Then we went.....

FISHING!!!

  I didn't fish, but I did put worms on  hooks (yuck), kept Sarah from jumping in the lake, AND  took my first fish off a hook (double yuck).

Now, off to start a new week!!  Looking forward to more adventures!

Kathryn

HE IS RISEN!

"HE IS RISEN INDEED!"   My kids and I have been "practicing"  this traditional Easter saying all week.  We wanted to suprise (and impress) Grandpa and Grandma when they came to visit.   Here they are together (minus one screaming baby)!  We had a GREAT Easter!

A few days ago, we were talking about Easter, and my 6 yr old said in total seriousness (and worry!), "Mom, it's hard for me too think about Jesus because I just want to think about eggs and candy."    WOW!!   

Now, I'm all for eggs and candy, but her words made me think.....  It's true!  It's hard to think about Jesus when there are so many other things to steal our affection (like CANDY!).  

My answer to her?    DON"T WORRY!  HE KNOWS!! 

God knows we like candy and eggs.....and all those other things that consume our thoughts.  He made us and knows we are sinful HUMANS.    He formed us (and our affections!), and planned everyday in our lives before one of them came to be (Psalm 139)!  Isn't that awesome! 

That's the miracle of EASTER!  He loved us while we were still sinners!  He died a brutal death on a cross for YOU and ME!    Even though he knew that sometimes we would rather think about candy and eggs!!!

AMAZING!

New Easter clothes (kids) made by Nanny!!

Welcome!

To my family and friends-WELCOME!  Blogging is something I've been itching to try for awhile.  For those of you who know me well, trying something new isn't that unusual.  Sticking with it and becoming successful at it- that is a little unusual!!   So, humor me while I try to figure out what I am doing! 

I feel like I should explain my title "Joyful Always!"  Again, those of you who know me well  (especially my hubby and kids) might think a better title "Grouchy Always!"  
The title comes from one of my favorite Bible verses: 1 Thes. 5:16-18, and is meant as a *REMINDER* to me. 
 I have found myself admonishing my children over and over to "do all things without complaining and disputing,"  and with a "cheerful heart."  
AND WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED!!!!  The LORD began bringing those words back to me when things weren't going so well and I was frustrated, grouchy, stressed, etc......Cleaning up dog stuff, vomit, juice, cereal, markers,  mud, and smashed peas all within 30 minutes!   So, I am still an "unfinished product,"  but PRAISE THE LORD!!   He is still working on me!