Pawprints & Pom Poms

I love baking cakes. It is the best way I can express my artistic talent until the children are grown enough that I can have paint around the house! It seems lately when I bake one, I think to myself "now THIS is the cutest one I've ever done". The cake I baked for our friends Statton and Sara Grayson over the weekend was no exception. Their mom, Laurie, decided to have a double party for their birthdays this year. To appease a boy and a girl, she decided to have a football/cheerleader birthday. What a CUTE idea, huh?! She gave me free reign with the cake and I have to say it turned out pretty cute.

Happy Easter

Saturday was our 11th annual Easter Egg Hunt. We were afraid we might see some rain, but thankfully it was a beautiful - although slightly overcast day. Jody worked for several weeks getting the yard into shape and it was GORGEOUS!! I can easily admit that the Easter Egg Hunt would NEVER happen if it weren't for his input. I do not enjoy yard work (although I want a beautiful yard) and I don't think he LOVES it, but he gets out there and gets it done! Thank you!!
This year, we rented a Cotton Candy machine for the first time. It was a HUGE hit - note Sara Kate, Thomas and Taylor above enjoying their blue cones. It was certainly something we will do again.
Easter was VERY early this year and I worried last week that we may not have many flowers blooming. Like clockwork, the azaleas and dogwoods were in full bloom. I honestly feel that the week of Easter, everything BURSTS into bloom in rejoicing over the death, burial and Resurrection of our Saviour!!
We were delighted to have Frances Faith make her Egg Hunt debut. She missed the egg hunt last year because she decided to make her Grand Entrance to the world the morning of the Egg Hunt. I am STILL thankful that Marilois and Pablo decided NOT to make the trek to Homerville last year - they would have never made it. We hoped to have the Maier crew out of Charleston join us this year. It was a surprise for my parents and they were to be staying with us for the first time EVER! James had practiced how to say "surprise" and Will has learned to crawl so we were looking forward to having them join us. Unfortunately, they developed car trouble the morning of their departure. It was a HUGE disappointment to all of us, but hopefully we will see them soon.
I'm leaving you with one of our FAVORITE Easter recipes. These delicious cookies tell the Easter story. We plan on making them tomorrow night at church (with a few made in advance because we do not have time to wait overnight) for our Easter Activities. It is an awesome visual way to teach children about Easter.

EASTER STORY COOKIES
1 cup whole pecans

zipper baggie
1 teaspoon vinegar

wooden spoon
3 egg whites

tape
pinch salt

Bible
1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (do this first - very important)
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman Soldiers. Read John 19: 1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19: 28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.
He wants us to know Him and belong to Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27: 57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27: 65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter Morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28: 1-9.

Jubilant Timberland Jubilee

Our community hosts an annual festival, the Timberland Jubilee. It has just this year moved from the first weekend in October to the first weekend in March. It is a community event with timber competitions (log splitting, sawing, etc), arts and crafts, children's activities and LOTS of great food.

One of the events is an Art Contest sponsored by the local school system. All students from K-5th grade design a picture that best represents the Timberland Jubilee. Both of the girls have placed (and even won) for their grade before, but this year Lindsey Kate was chosen as the winner for the entire K-5th grade. Her picture has been posted along with the grade winners at the local bank and will be featured on next year's Timberland Jubilee t-shirt.

Here is a close-up of her picture.

Cute, huh? We are SO proud of all of them. It seems that all of the children have inherited my "artsy" side. So, next year if you find yourself with nothing to do the first weekend in March, swing yourself down to the Timberland Jubilee. It will be worth the trip!!