Wednesday's Word: Home

Happy laughter

and friendly voices in the home

will keep more kids off the streets

than the loudest curfew.

~Burton Hillis

 

photo courtesy of: http://www.brightlifecoaching.com.au/

Tuesday's Tips & Tidbits: the Tooth Fairy

TOOTH FAIRY

A rite of passage in our culture

It's a big deal to lose that first tooth

Just ask any kindergarten teacher.

My son has his first two wiggly teeth: the bottom, front ones---like most kids. 

 

He's been coming home from school since the beginning of the school year telling me who lost their tooth, how, and that the kid got a prize from his teacher's special prize box for losing a tooth.

 

He's anxiously awaiting his own teeth falling out because 

IT'S SOOOOO COOL!!!!!!

When I was a little girl my mom would make us each a

Tooth Fairy Pillow. 

I didn't realize at the time how brilliant my mother was. 

This pillow had a little pocket in the front where we'd put our tooth. 

We'd place the pillow on our bed, and wake up the next morning to money in exchange for that tooth. 

 

My. brilliant .mother!!! 

 

*She didn't have to carefully dig under my pillow trying to find the tooth.

 

*She didn't have to worry about waking me up.

 

*She didn't have to worry about morning when the money she'd left had fallen down the side of the bed and a kid was crying because the Tooth Fairy stole their tooth and didn't leave any money.

 

My.brilliant.mother!!!!

So, I made my son a Tooth Fairy pillow this week. 
Preparation for the big night when he sells his teeth to that sneaky Tooth Fairy.

I should have asked "What color of pillow do you want?" 

Not "What kind of pillow do you want?" 

One word can really complicate life! 

He wanted a Mario Pillow. Of course! Why did I ask?!? I felt pretty intimidated at first, but it did turn out and was easier than I expected once I had an idea of how to do it. 

 

The sad part to this story: 
When I was almost done with his pillow, he looked me right in the eyes with a very serious thoughtful look and said, "Mom, the Tooth Fairy isn't real is He?"
My response, "Why would you think that?"
My son replied, "Heavenly Father didn't make fairies." A long pause while I tried to figure out what to say.  Then he added, "But I LOOOOOOVE my cool pillow.  And I'm still so excited to lose my teeth!  It'll be SOOOOOO COOL."

I'm sad he didn't even make it through one round of the Tooth Fairy while believing.  But I'm happy he's still excited. 

P.S.  The night before Easter he told me he knows it's me and Dad who hide the eggs, that the Easter Bunny isn't real.  It was still his most exciting Easter morning and he was crazy uber happy about searching out all the eggs. 

I've learned a good lesson from him I need to remember always: 

When the fairy tale is gone, reality is still a lot of fun!

 

******And, ONE MORE TIP******

No matter how much money your Tooth Fairy gives, give it in coins, not bills.  A kid feels a lot more rich with 4 quarters in his pocket than with one dollar bill in his pocket.  I Promise!

Wednesday's Word: COURAGE

Each of us as women and mothers

have had,

are having,

and will have

moments where courage is needed

because

LIFE isn't something we always feel prepared to face...infact, I'd say we're usually caught off guard by both the "small" things as well as the "big" things.

 

 

My favorites lines from this short video are: 

 

"Being Brave doesn't mean that I'm not afraid."

 

And,

 

"If I really trust Heavenly Father,

it doesn't matter what I don't understand."

  

Wednesday's Word: A Dedicated & Wise Mother

I always love to learn from other mothers. 

 

We're all different. 

 

I don't desire to be an exact duplicate of another mother because my children are not exact duplicates of other children. 

(okay, honestly, there are moments I want to be like someone else because in my view they're a better mother than I am...but I'm trying to overcome that.  I think we all have those moments.)

 

We're all individuals. 

 

The children we have are ours because God gave them each to us...He knows we are the best mother for them and for who they can become.

(and that's a HUGE topic for another day.)

 

But, like I said, I do enjoy learning from other mothers. 

 

I am grateful for good examples. 

 

We all need them as we're progressing in this journey called MOTHERHOOD.

This is an interview with a mother I do not personally know, but yesterday as I listened to this "Conversation" as I folded our huge pile of laundry, I felt uplifted, and inspired in simple things that daily opportunities provide for teaching our children.  No one's life is perfect, everyone has challenges, and yet the good can shine through in wonderful ways.

I hope you'll listen!
Just click on this pink link and it will take you to the "play" page.
*** Interview with Karen Payne, Mother of 10 Children ***
on www.mormonchannel.org

Friday's Food: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Mmmm Mmmmm Good. 

A new favorite even.

I made this last night for the first time:

 

Every time I try something new, I have my husband rate it on a scale of 1-10. 
1=NASTY and we're having cereal instead
10= WOW make it again and I can't wait for leftovers again tomorrow!!!!

My son never rates anything.  He's six.  He dislikes anything besides hotdogs and pizza.  But he's a good boy and eats whatever I give him anyway.  It's taken work, and sometimes bribery, and always patience.  But he's doing GREAT at eating what he's given.  I figure eventually his taste buds will appreciate variety.

Anyway, before I had a chance to ask my husband his rating he offered a 10+
My son (when he f.i.n.a.l.l.y tried his first bite) got all wide eyed and also gave it a thumbs up.
Now that's really saying something.
He ACTUALLY LIKED IT!!!!

So, here it is.  I hope it gets a 10+ in your home too.  If not, I apologize for getting your hopes up.  Kind of like when someone says a movie is the BEST movie EVER and will change your life,.....and you watch it and uh, fall asleep.


Chicken Pot Pie
1 can chicken chunks (or 2 chicken breasts chopped and cooked)
2 cans white potatoes (or 3-4 medium potatoes chopped and boiled until tender)
1 small package of frozen peas and carrots
1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade cream of chicken soup)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl and pour into pie crust. Seal mixture inside pie crust with pie crust top.  Cut design into top and bake at 350 degrees (fahrenheit) for about 55 minutes or until heated through and crust is done.  Should be lightly golden brown. 

1 recipe Double Pie crust (or ready-made from store)
* pie crust recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 C. shortening
8-10 Tbl. cold water

In medium bowl stir together flour and salt.  Using a pastry blender (or fork) cut in shortening until pieces are about pea-size.  Sprinkle 1 Tbl. of water over part of flour mixture and gently toss with fork  Push moistened dough to side of bowl.  Repeat 1 Tbl. at a time until all of the flour mixture is moistened.  Divide in half and form each half into a ball.  On  a lighly floured surface, roll dough out flat to about 12 inch diameter.  To transfer the dough, wrap it around the rolling pin and place over pie dish, gently pushing it down to fill in the pie dish so it won't break when you put the filling in.  Do the same with the other ball of dough, place over top of filled pie.  seal seam and cutt off excess dough.  Cut slits in top for steam to escape.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE IT AS MUCH AS WE DO