Parenting Archives - Page 33 of 43

Shake-a-Shake

May 1, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

I love Pinterest! No, don't leave. This is a new post. I know I say "I love Pinterest!" a lot but it's true. My poor hubs has to ask, "Did you find this on Pinterest?" I always wanna yell, "NO!" in an annoyed creative voice but I can't...I prolly did find it on Pinterest.

Today's Pinterest find:

Yep, we made our own!!!

Supplies:

We put about 10 chick peas into our plastic eggs. We used empty eggs that came with Playdough in them. {Are you supposed to use those eggs as containers for the Playdough? I wouldn't think that would keep them moist enough...?} Then you cut enough tape to wrap around the spoons and egg. Place the egg between two spoons and wrape tape around. You may want to tape the handle end as well.

Test run:

SUCCESS! This set will be part of a birthday present for a little BFF who will be turning 4 on Cinco De Mayo! {shhhhh}

Have you made your own maracas? What did you use? How did they turn out?

Filed Under: Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about things Jules tried off Pinterest

Mini Loafs {Thoughtful Thursday}

April 26, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

Do you have anything thoughtful you ‘d like to share this Thursday? Some little helpful hint? A fun recipe? A tool you love? Please share by linking up below {linky messed up so add them in the comment section} and then posting the “Thoughtful Thursday” button to your post so other ladies can get lots of thoughtful helps! I know I've been sharing a lot of recipes lately but ANYthing thoughtful is welcom! Consider visiting the link above yours and encouraging them through comments!

Here’s my thoughtfulness for the week:

Kids helping in the kitchen is my fav! When they help make it they seem to eat it better {most of the time}. Today Izzie is helping me make

Mini Meat Loafs

1 lb ground beef {we use lean}
1/4 cup quick oats {might want a little more}
1 tsp Oregano
1tsp Paprika
1 tsp Basel Leaves
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Onion Pwd
1 egg
1/4 cup Ketchup {and some drizzled on top}

Mix all ingrediants in on bowl

You can use a chopper {your your hands for a more thorough mix}

Shape into 2 small meat loaf pans and back ~40 minutes {or just one large one but you'll have to bake 1 hr}

Let is cool at least 5 minutes before trying to cut. I'm not sure I added enough oats or if I cut too soon, ours ended up being a pile of TASTY meat.

Enjoy! We scarfed ours...shoulda made 2lbs. What do you have to share today?

Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Homemaker, Parenting, The Ones about Post Series, The ones about the Rothacher Home, Thoughtful Thursdays

You Don’t have TV?

April 23, 2012 by Jules 7 Comments

There is a television sitting on a cute entertainment center in the corner of our living room.
It's a nice flat screen, my husband's reward for persevering through the 1st few baby steps of Dave Ramsay's Financial Peace University.

You may be surprised to know that we don't have TV. You may be asking yourself, "Then what is all your furniture pointing at?" {Friends circa 1990s}. We have that nice flat screen television set and we watch things on it but we don't have cable, or satellite, or any of those other providers. We've had a lot of friends, family, acquaintances, and complete strangers think we're nuts. I've heard it all. So...why don't we have TV?

When I moved to college my roommate and I chose not to pay extra for cable in our dorm room. There was a giant TV in the lobby if we ever wanted to watch something. When I moved into my own apartment, my roommates and I again chose not to pay for cable, we never watched it in the dorm anyways. When I met my husband, he didn't have TV at his house either. Finances began our journey of being TV-less. Where your money is, there your heart will lie also.

We have always watched movies, select television shows on DVD, utilize HULU and other online providers and our children also watch children's movies once a day. We more strict after having children as well as growing in our knowledge of Christ. What you put in comes out, no matter how much you claim it doesn't. It sways your view on morality, absolute truths, cultural ungodliness, and so many other things. We are paying for Satan to enter our homes through pagan programming.

When Matt and I were newlyweds, we spend most nights watching TV via our good ole bunny ears or 'shows' on DVD. The more we piled on our ministry plates and then after having our 1st child we realized how much time we were spending in front of the TV. Reading books on baby's and their recommendations of <2hrs of screen time a day for baby's made us pay more attention to when and how long the TV was on. {recommendations have changed in just ~4 years, now saying under 2 should have NO screen time, after that it should be as low as 1-2 hours. Here are newer recommendation resources: effects of too much screen time, limit the number of tv-watching hours, setting effective screen time limits} Little House on the Freewayis a book I'd love to read. "[This book] addresses the need to slow down for a minute or two for the sake of our families." If any of you have read it, please share! Even DisneyFamily.com {pagan programmer} is writing article that include a section entitled "Limiting Screen Time Benefits the Whole Family". Our time is valuable! We are each given 24 hours each. Don't get me wrong, staring mindlessly at a TV can be quite relaxing; we just need to make sure it's wholesome. We need to be intentional with our time! Having a running commentary of noise in the background of your home just creates a mood of panic. Quiet and Rest is a gift from God. God's design for our lives is not stressed filled and rushing but rather peaceful and productive. Challenge: turn off the noise for a week and see what the difference is! Slow your family down through peace and quiet. Enjoy each other again.

Don't just take it from me. Cassandra, of The Unplugged Family is a Media Communications grad who walked away from the industry. In her contributing post at The Better Mom, She says,

I understand very well that TV, above all else, is a business. ... Today, advertising sells a lifestyle and a feeling. In the 70s, researchers realized something remarkable about what happens to humans, and especially children, when they watch television – our brains shut down.

One of her 5 "ways you can protect and equip your family to deal with and respond to the influence of advertising" is:

If you’re keeping the TV, at least limit your kids’ intake. This applies to time and content. Remove televisions from bedrooms and limit their viewing by time and content. DVDs are a good option for skipping the commercials, especially if you skip the previews.

Do you have TV? Why or why not? I enjoy learning more about readers/friends.
Have any other questions about our decision hit me up in the comment section. I'd love to share more!!!

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Ham & Cheese Sliders {Thoughtful Thursday}

April 19, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

Do you have anything thoughtful you ‘d like to share this Thursday? Some little helpful hint? A fun recipe? A tool you love? Please share by linking up below {linky messed up so add them in the comment section} and then posting the “Thoughtful Thursday” button to your post so other ladies can get lots of thoughtful helps! Consider visiting the link above yours and encouraging them through comments!

Here’s my thoughtfulness for the week:

I love simple meals. My kids love being with me...everywhere. The kitchen is no exception. Some times meals are too time consuming to add the child chief to the mix if we want to eat before bed. But, because I enjoy teaching my kids through making meals, I like finding healthy simple things where they can easily help!

Today I wanna give you the "recipe" for

Ham and Cheese Sliders

1 pkg frozen rolls {we used Sister Schubert}
8 oz mozzarella cheese
8-10 slices of deli ham
Butter, salt, and pepper {optional}

Gather all ingredients. Pre-heat oven to according to roll pkg. Make sure children have chairs or step stools near the counter to stand on but away from the oven.

Shred cheese with a grater over a small bowl {my 2 and 3-year-old were capable of doing this}.
Rip ham into small pieces {almost any age could do this}.
Slice rolls in 1/2 {for older children or parent} and place on a cookie sheet.

Layer ham and cheese on one side of the roll and stack the other 1/2 on top.
Try to keep the shredded cheese and ham on the rolls as much as possible {HARD with littles helping layer but they love this part}
Bake rolls according to pkg.
{if you like your rolls a little more moist, I like to add a tiny bit of butter on the tops before baking and sprinkle a little of salt and pepper}

Add a side of fruit and the kids will eat it up because it's yummy and They Helped! You'll enjoy it because you got to spend time with your kids in the kitchen, made a simple meal with them, and it was healthy!

Sorry, my link-up is messed up and I haven't had time to fix it yet but I'd LOVE to have links to your thoughfulness!
Add a link in the comment section below. Thanks!!!

How to Handle a Lifestyle in Limbo

April 17, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

As many of you know, the Rothacher “lifestyle” has been in a world wind of changes!

{you can read just some past posts about our "household" to get an idea of what I'm talking about}

I'm sharing over at The Homemaker's Challenge today. I'll be talking briefly about how God used 2 David's in our life over the past couple years to prepare us for the most recent season we're in: limbo. Dave Ramsay and David Platt have been huge influences in our families life.

Go check out how at homemakerschallenge.com!