Listen to your heart...

In the past year we have spent a lot so much time in the hospitals with loved ones so it is not surprising that Payton picked up on a few things about what helps our bodies get healthy. She also loves to watch and learn about what I am doing in school to become a nurse.

So much so, that last year her class was learning words with the letter 'E'. For a class of five year olds the letter 'E' isn't really the easiest letter since it can be a sneaky silent Eeee like Elephant. But when the teacher pulled me aside to tell me what word Payton came up with I wasn't to surprised by the word she choose. When asked to give a word with the letter 'E' she said Esophagus! Not only did she give the word she also told the teacher and the class what an Esophagus was and how it worked. Smarty pants!

                                                                                                               Photo credit: Radiant Journey

                                  Say Ahh!                                         

                                                                                             Photo credit: U.S. National Library of Medicine

"Our children are watching us live, and what we ARE shouts louder than anything we can say." - Wilferd A. Peterson

Since Payton could write she has loved to draw or write words or stories but once she started Kindergarten she became quite the little writer. Her teacher loves to read her stories to the class! Last week they had to write a short story about 'how something works'. The story behind what Payton choose to do her story on is my Grandfather (Mark) had a quadruple bypass the Friday before Christmas. He has had multiple complications and is working on his recovery at Life Care Rehabilitation Nursing Home. This is Payton's story...

 This is a picture of my Grandpa in the bed with me pushing and his nurse. 

 *They are learning to stretch their words out to learn how to pronounce and spell words. 


Here is her short story:

The heart works by blood. If you exercise your heart will work faster. The heart helps you breath in and out. The heart brings the blood in and out.  

                                                                          Photo credit: WordPress - Welcome
 



Lead by example, nourish those little, curious eyes and ears with great things!


Have a great weekend!

The Muffin Man...

Have you ever wondered who came up with the "English Muffin"? These wonderfully delicious bites of bread with their famous 'nooks & crannies' was invented by Samuel Bath Thomas who immigrated from Plymouth, England in 1874. The recipe has changed over the years but is still 'fancied' by many. Here's a little history on the English Muffin.

We thoroughly enjoy the famous 'nooks & crannies' in the Thomas English Muffins with a bit of jam, honey, peanut butter or Nutella but when I came across the recipe for English Muffin Bread on this amazing Blog

 "One Good Thing" by Jillee I was BEYOND thrilled! 

Payton and I whipped up FOUR loaves of English Muffin Bread today. Check out the "One Good Thing" by Jillie for the recipe. Super easy! 

Here goes...

 You will need a big enough pot to hold 11 cups of flour and the other ingredients.

 Pour in the ingredients...

Stir. Stir. Stir it up!

Put your fingers in the dough. WARNING -- SUPER, DUPER STICKY FUN!!

Ta-da! 

Place a towel over it to allow it to RISE (recommend: allow 45-60 minutes)

 Since I did not have 4 loaf pans I had to do two loaves at a time. Put the dough in the well greased pan, and then allow it to RISE until the dough reaches the top of the pan (recommend: 15-20 minutes).

Pop them in the oven on 350 for 35-45 minutes depending on your oven, but 10 minutes before the timer goes off brush on some melted butter (recommend: I used a half a stick for 2 loaves). Looks delicious, right?

Slice it...

Pop a slice or two in the toaster...

Check out those 'nooks & crannies'...Enjoy!

Well, I would have had a picture or two of the kids enjoying their slices BUT before I could get my camera and turn it on all there was were crumbs left...

What do you like on your English Muffin? Honey? Jam? Butter? Something unusual? Please share your favorite spread with us. 

Until next time...

You make my heart melt...

Happy Valentine's Day!

The kids and I have been working on a colorful Valentine's treat for Payton's kindergarten class. I found this fun Valentine craft on one of my favorites Blogs How does she?

We changed up this sweet little 'melted crayon heart' idea just a bit. Let me show you how...

First we divided the colors up to similar color familes

Strip the paper off (recommend: the edge of a pair of scissors or x-acto knife)

Break the crayons up into pieces

Place the crayons in a cute heart silicone mold with a little glitter

Pop in the oven on 300 degrees for 15 minutes and enjoy watching them melt

Ta-Da! You have beautifully melted crayon hearts

Wait 30-45 minutes for them to cool and you have beautiful marbled crayon hearts for the kiddos to enjoy!

Next we put them in goodie bags with cute note pads I found at the dollar store, tied with a ribbon and a Valentine note attached.

I not only worked on sweet little Valentines with Payton for her class but I made MY sweet Valentine a gift...

52 THINGS I love about you!

All you need is the following:

• Deck of cards
• 1 inch binder rings
• Hole punch 
• Double-sided tape
• Scissors
• 52 Things that you LOVE about your special someone!

On Shutterfly I made this cute deck of cards with our picture for HALF the price with a coupon...SCORE!

In Micosoft Word I used shipping label template to create my ideas to print

Print, cut and use double-sided tape to attach to the card

Voila'! Now you have this cute, crafty way to express your LOVE!

Here are few of my little love notes...

The kiddos made this beautiful handmade card for me

While I was fast asleep last night my Valentine was being quite the creative hubby leaving little surprises everywhere...

But he wasn't done...I found this little note in the back of my car

Hmm...so I go check it out

I am so blessed to have a house full of love, not only just today but everyday!

Did you do anything fun or creative for Valentines Day? Please share your day with us. Well I am off to cook up a yummy Minestrone for dinner for my three loves. Hope you all had a wonderful day. We love you!

XOXO