Pumpkin Songs

Pumkin Orange

I had a pumpkin orange (encircle head with arms to mimic a pumpkin shape)

I gave it to big eyes (trace eyes with pointer finger).

I cut around a tiny nose(trace nose with pointer finger)

and a great big mouth that smiles(trace a smile on your face with pointer finger)!

Now I'll hide behind the hedge(hide face with hands and crouch),

wait until it's dark. Then when daddy come's along...

UP(pop up)! I'll jump! BOO! I'll shout(shout BOO!).

What a surprise! (YEA!)

Jack-o-lantern

Jack-o-lantern, Jack-o-lantern, you are such a funny sight (laugh)!
Sitting up there in the window(Place hands under chin like face is pumpkin sitting in window), looking out at the night(place hand over eye brows as if your searching for something).
You were once an orange pumpkin(encircle your head as if a pumpkin)
growing on a curly vine(use pointer finger to make a curly vine from top of head out).
Now you are a Jack-o-lantern see your candle light shine(make candle with index finger and blow it out at end of song).

Five little pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.(hold up five fingers)
The first one said, Oh, my it's getting late! (wiggle thumb)
The second one said, "There are bats in the air"(wiggle pointer)
The third one said, "But we don't care." (wiggle middle)
The fourth one said, "Let's run, let's run!" (wiggle ring)
The fifth one said, "Isn't Harvest time fun?" (wiggle pinky)
Then Woooooo went the wind (blow air)
And OUT went the lights. (clap)
And five little pumpkins rolled (make rolling motions with hands) out of sight.

Pumpkins! Oh boy!

Oh Halloween how you CREEP ME OUT!! There is nothing worse (okay, maybe a few things but not much) to me than 'spooky' halloween mask. These mask's touch a nerve in me that leaves me 'shaking in my boots' causing me to lock my door on 'trick or treat night', turn on happy cartoons, and jump every time someone ignores the lights out and knock's on my door...blech!

Moving on... Every year since I can remember we(the Baranowski's) have carved pumpkin's to celebrate the fall harvest and have a load of fun!! Most nights there were treats, popcorn and singing/telling of pumpkin related stories (all G rated due to MY low tolerance for 'spooky' stories). Many memories were made! The honor of carving a pumpkin was coveted, the proper scoping out of the pumpkin was a 'big' job, just watching how many faces Dad could carve into his pumpkin was better than cartoons! Each member of the family participated in their own way and we spent time together in a creatively positive way (sans Chinese checkers **nervous tick**!!).

This year brought back my child hood memories due to B's exuberance towards 'fun' activities dubbed; "the best ever that he's NEVER done before" (pumpkin gutting was not given this title, he was grossed out).

We are now creating memories, we are now creating traditions, we are now personalizing his view of family interaction. How exciting this time is for him as well as me since I get to see these activities a fresh and a new through his eyes. I am on pin's and needles whilst I plan the next fun activity with, **dun dun dun ** no media!! **scream of terror**. Stayed tuned for the next "Best ever that he has never done before" activity to enhance your normal daily lives.

Too many cooks in the kitchen? NEVER!!

When it comes to teaching small ones. Have you ever stopped to think of the many different lesson's you are able to teach in the kitchen? Safety, science, reading, math, self help, patience, cause and effect, self confidence... the possibilities are endless and your just making pancakes:) Yes, you will make a mess, and yes it will take a little longer and yes it could result in some "crunchy" pancakes. But what's a little egg shell when you see that smile on your child that says "I'm proud of my accomplishment" So the next time you have the chance; let them in, teach them what you know, encourage them to help in the kitchen! This could be a future chief, food critic, food scientist and or food enthusiest and your actions are encouraging these possibilities all by making pancakes, or eggs or pasta together. Be flexible and just about any recipe can call for a small child's help. So go ahead! Cook a little with your kiddo(s) and watch them grow!

Oh SNAP!

It's 3pm and I forgot to take ANY meat out of the freezer?!?! WHAT IS A MAMA TO DO!?!

Oh! I know:)

1. Take a frozen roast and place it in a pan with some sort of covering
2. add a little oil (just a trace)
3. add seasonings (I used garlic and season salt)
4. toss in oil and seasonings
5. put in pan
6. cover pan
7. put in oven at 350*
8. and in about 2-3hrs you should have a nice plump roast!
9. serve with starch and veggies/fruit!

For the rest of this meal I chose to saute' fresh green beans, mash potatoes and enjoy the roast! But almost anything goes with roast! You could just grab a can of green beans and a can of peaches! Or toss a bag of salad and some garlic toast! Possibilities are endless!!

think, thank, thunk!

You can....

hold a grudge

carry a grudge

bear a grudge

nurse a grudge

Trouble is...

to hold/carry/bear is to pick up that grudge every day!

to nurse is to feed into the grudge and give it life or power over you!

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as a member of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving him thanks to the God the Father through him.

Just think! If you 'let go and let God'! How much freer you would be!

http://youtu.be/EKSQjSdU8VA

Think, thank, thunk!

YOGURT!!

I just figured this out today (have been doing it for a while but just never officially noticed it:) I buy a large (4lbs) tub of plain non fat yogurt from Cost-Co for $4.00. It being plain and needing a little flavor I also purchase a 2 pack of strawberry jelly (all natural!) for about $6.00 for the pair. Mix it all together, about 1tsp($.03) of jelly 3/4($.40)cup of yogurt (its really thick!), and you have strawberry yogurt for $.43!! It's just awesome how satisfying thriftiness can be!! Its also being "green" since your only buying to containers, one plastic and one glass, BOTH recyclable! Yes, this is cheaper than making your own yogurt, unfortunately. Just in case your curious as to what on earth you will do with 4lbs of yogurt! Well let me enlighten you! You can use it as a substitute for oil in muffin's, breads, brownies, cakes etc... It can be used as a sour cream substitute (it is PLAIN yogurt after all:) Like today I used it to stretch out the last bit of the Classico- Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo sauce to pour over noodles, add some shredded cheese, seasoning and TA! DA! You have the worlds best mac'n cheese EVER!! Okay, maybe I'm biased but it was pretty good! The kids asked for more so... yum!!

Decision!

I have been a stay at home mom for the past 4years. I have been there with him for ALL of his moments! Big or little they have all been imprinted on my heart. Even when I fuss/whine/moan/ groan! About his eating habits, toileting set backs and wake up times that seem to be more in line with the birds than humans. Each moment is a joy, maybe not right away, but it's really a true joy to be able to be there always for him (excluding date nights or mom's night/day's out!!) But now I face a challenging decision, do I go "back to work"? There are several great things about working outside the home(I have a list of at least 5 pros!) I hold nothing against "working mom's" in fact I applaud them. Just the thought of "going back" terrifies me(I have 7 con's)?!!? It really strikes my heart with fear and sadness. And I am struggling to reflect why? What is it that causes me to tear up each time I think of working outside the home? Thus far I haven't been able to put my finger on it, only to be able to finger the actual emotions I feel inside each time the topic comes up. Terror....Sadness...Stress...Overwhelming... Tentative.... Its not the first time I've been at a loss of what to do, yet its the first time as a mommy. I was hoping it would be a little more clearer as to which path I should take, which opening I should pass through, what decision I should make. All I know for certain is "I'm gonna miss this!"http://youtu.be/lBDN8yWyNYU At least this moment will be captured in time for me to look back at as a mom of a teenager when I want to sell him to the zoo! Or pay the circus to take him!