Studying Mercury

Last week the boys finished up their study of Mercury in Apologia's Exploring Creation With Astronomy. I have been very happy with this book especially since they are LOVING Science this year!

The Lapbook from Knowledge Quest has been a great addition to the program as well. (I purchased our copy from Rainbow Resource.)

The boys were very excited to see the new pictures of Mercury that were just taken by the Messenger! Thank you Nasa, for the perfect timing of this mission!! ;)

The final assignment for Mercury was to create a Salt Dough Model. So much fun!

This week we've moved on to Venus.
The "Lava" assignment is perfect for "L" week!

Wordless Wednesday

Only 2 1/2 Weeks...

...until Advent Begins!!

Do you have your Advent Candles yet?

I now have ours, thanks to my mom!  I called her a couple weeks ago and she happened to be heading out of town for a weekend retreat at a Monastery.  I remembered that she had purchased her own Advent Candles (made by the Monks) there last year, so I asked if she could look for some for us, since I had not found any yet this year.  (I've even been watching for them all year long since I prefer pillar candles to the tapers for our Advent Wreath.)  Aren't they lovely!?!

I sure wish our local stores would carry a wider selection of candles... Every year it proves to be such a challenge.   Anyhow, I'd love to hear where you all have found your Advent Candles, this year or in the past!

A "Bun in the Oven" Dress Game

One of the games we played at the shower was a "Bun in the Oven" Dress Game. (I ran across this the idea at Labels Buy Design.)

To play: Pin an adorable handmade dress on each guest as they arrive. Each guest will wear the dress for the length of the shower. At some point announce that everyone is to open up the back of their dress. All dresses are stuffed with cotton to make the "belly." The winner is the guest who has the clay "Cini-Bun" (I used a button) inside.

Object of the game: To be the one with the dress with the clay "Cini-Bun"As each guest arrived they were able to choose a little handmade maternity dress to pin on. One of the dresses included a button (or rather "Bun in the Oven") and at the end of the shower.

Instead of purchasing the handmade pregnant momma dresses, I decided to try and make them myself, and they were actually very easy to make, and so cute pinned on to each guest. (I very much preferred them to the diaper pin games, where you can't say some word or another, or cross your legs, etc...)

Supplies:

• Felt in various colors
• hot glue gun and glue
• cotton to stuff dresses
• mini white bows
• small safety pins
• 1 button

Directions:

Cut dresses out of the felt. I made the dresses out of one piece of felt, using a little template I made out of cardstock, and then folding the back over.

Hot glue around the sides and bottom and fold over. (This leaves a little open pouch in the back of the dress.)

Hot glue the mini white bow onto the front of the dress.

Stuff dress with cotton and close with a safety pin.

Place 1 button inside one of the dresses for the lucky winner to find.

A "Bun in the Oven" Baby Shower Favors

I had so much fun making the favors for Erica's Baby Shower. When I was looking for ideas online, I ran across packages of Muffin Mix for sale, and decided to make something similar...

Instead of muffin mix, and keeping with the theme, I sent each of our guests home with a mix to make Cinnamon Honey Bun Coffee Cake in a Mug! (I found the recipe here.)

Supplies:

• Yellow Cake Mix (I was able to make 9 favors from each box)
• Brown Sugar
• Pecans
• Cinnamon
• Clear Baggies and Ties
• Snack Baggies
• Labels for Topping Packets
• Colored Paper Bags
• Coordinating Ribbon
• Colored Paper & Card Stock for printing tags and labels
• Hole Punch and Scissors

Directions:

Measure the following into a baggie, Seal & Tie off.
1/3 cup yellow cake mix

Add the following into a separate baggie, seal & tie off, label as Topping Mix:
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp finely chopped pecans
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Attach Tag:

Empty Cake mix into mug.
Add 2 tsp Oil, 1 T. Water, 1 Egg White, whisk well.
Sprinkle topping packet on & cook on high in microwave for 2 minutes.

I also included optional oven directions, which I tested out since I don't have a microwave and wanted to test the recipe before giving it away! ;)

Next I printed out a poem found online for the cover, along with the image from the invitations, etc, and glued them onto some coordinating paper and then to the bags:

A bun in the oven

Such great joy
Will it be a girl?
Or will it be a boy?

Only time will tell
Whether we'll need pink or blue
We know we'll be ready
Thanks to you!

After placing the Mix and Topping in the bag, I punched a couple holes, added the ribbon, and that was it! They were so easy, even I could make them!!

Aunt Bridget's Egg Bake

One of the dishes I served at the Baby Shower was my Aunt Bridget's Egg Bake, although I modified it to fit a 9x13 pan instead of a 6x10. I made it the night before the shower, since it is suppose to sit overnight and popped it in the oven in the morning. (I was SO excited when I realized, for the first time, that I could fit BOTH pans in my small SUPER OLD oven!! Yay!!)

Since I was asked to share the recipe in the comments, here you go:

Ingredients:

• 12 oz brown and serve sausage cut into quarters
• 7 slices bread pulled apart
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 7 eggs - slightly beaten
• 3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 6 oz diced chilies (I think I actually used 11 oz which made for lots of chilies)

Directions:

Place bread pieces in bottom of buttered 9x13 baking pan. Add sausage and sprinkle with cheese, reserving a small amount for the top. Combine eggs, mustard, milk, and chilies. Pour over cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

A "Bun in the Oven" Baby Shower Brunch

 

.: The Menu :.

Egg Bake

"Cinna-Bun" Cinnamon Rolls

"Cinna-Bun" Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Millionaire Salad

Fresh Fruit

Coffee, Tea, Caramel Apple Cider, and Orange Juice

and, of course, Cake!

.: The Guests of Honor :.

Erica with her two darling girls!

.: Games :.

"Bun in the Oven" Dress Game

 

Baby Shower Price is Right

(I had a basket filled with all the items, but apparently I didn't take a picture of it...)

How well do you know the Mother-to-be?

(This was a great way for some of the women to get to know Erica better,

since she is fairly new to our area!)

Can You Guess Her Age?

(I ended up just asking everyone to put the pictures in order, 1 thru 13.)

Baby Picture Trivia

(All the shower guests brought pictures of themselves for this game.

It was so fun to see all the pictures!)

.: Showered with Gifts :.

.: Guests :. 

I can't believe I didn't take a group photo of all the ladies! I did get this cute one of the girls though!

My friend Ann-Marie's adorable twins! Wish I had filmed this moment... One was cracking up as the other was falling asleep. It was SO SO cute!

.: Party Favors :.

"Bun In The Oven" Baby Shower Favors

It was so much fun hosting this shower for Erica!! I am so excited for her and her family as they get ready to welcome their new little one in the next few weeks!!

Please remember her and the baby in your prayers!