Making Resurrection Cookies

Even though we make Resurrection Cookies every year, this was the first time that Snuggles has participated.  One of the many things I love about having lots of children is that there are so many things we get to enjoy for "the first time" over and over again!  Even my older children, who have now memorized how to make these cookies, enjoyed participating once again and watching their little brother's reactions to each step of the process. 

While I poured the vinegar into a little pinch bowl and explained that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink, Snuggles begged for a taste. I wish I had a picture of his reaction... It was very similar to Chiquita's from a couple years ago.

After adding the egg whites and vinegar to our bowl, I gave each child a little salt to taste.

Once again Snuggles was anxious to taste it, but then said "I no like salt!" and then more than willingly added the rest to the bowl.

Captain always beats the egg whites.  Sigh... He is growing up so fast!

When it was time to add the sugar, Snuggles said "No thank you!  I no like taste!!"  After tasting vinegar and salt, he wasn't about to try one more thing!  Twinkle Toes then folded in the pecans.

All the children took turns scooping the cookies onto the cookie sheet...

... and then sealing them into the "tomb."

Easter Morning, when we got home from Mass, the children found that the tomb was cracked open and the centers of all the cookies were empty.  

Decorating and Painting Eggs for Easter

My Girls

The girls and I went to town this afternoon.  We stopped by the hospital so they could peek through the NICU window at their new little cousin (I got to go in and see her!!) and then we ran some errands.  I had so much fun responding "Oh no, I have 3 boys as well!" every time someone commented on the fact that I had ALL GIRLS!  ;)    

It was so great to finally meet my new niece.  She is such a tiny little one, yet so PERFECT!  She has had to be on oxygen and will probably be in the NICU for about a month.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers!  

Before I go, here is a picture of Rose with my brother.  I can't wait to see him holding his little girl!   

Reusing The Garden of the Good Shepherd

Even though The Garden of the Good Shepherd: A Sticker Calendar to Count the Fifty Days of Easter claims to be reusable, I have not found that to be the case...

A couple years ago, when we first used this calendar, I didn't remove the stickers and when I went to reuse it again last year, they wouldn't peel off the background without tearing.  Then, last year, I did take the stickers off, and yet they still curled up and lost some of their stickiness.

I wasn't too upset since I purchased a number of the calendars from LTP when they were on clearance.  However, had I paid full price I would have definitely counted on the stickers being "reusable."

This year, Charlotte and I were talking about ways to make sure the stickers could be reused in the future, and agreed that Self-Sealing Laminating Sheets would probably be the easiest.

I purchased a package of the Laminating Pouches and am very pleased with how our stickers turned out.  I finally have a set of stickers that we should be able to reuse year after year!

Originally I thought I would apply the stickers to card stock and then cut them out before laminating, but decided that would take way too much time just laminating them would make them sturdy enough. 

It's hard to see in the pictures, but I laid the stickers face down on the front sheet of laminate.  Even though the sticky side was up, I didn't have any problems peeling the protective paper off the back sheet and pressing the two sheets together.

It only took a few minutes to laminate all 50 stickers, using 3 sheets of the laminate. 

They shouldn't take too long to cut out, but so far I've only completed the first week.  (I'm not really a procrastinator... just really busy!  At least that's what I tell myself!)

We are just using a little double sided tape to place the symbols onto our Garden poster, but if I had some Blu-Tak I would use that instead of the tape.

If any of you have any other suggestions or advice for reusing the stickers, please feel free to share in the comment box. 

Also, while typing up this post, I noticed that Amazon currently has copies of The Garden of the Good Shepherd in stock (they keep selling out), if any of you would still like to purchase a copy.  

Anyhow, we have been enjoying placing our "stickers" on the calendar each day, after reading the Bible verse, and my children are looking forward to our first Good Shepherd's Garden Party later this week! 

Happy Easter Wednesday!!

Chocolate Nests for Easter

On Holy Saturday, while the boys were at the Rink for their Hockey lessons, the girls and I started making our Easter Treats.  We started with making some Chocolate Nests.  They were so easy, turned out cute, and were loved by everyone on Easter Sunday!

Ingredients:  

1 bag Chow Mein Noodles

1 Bag Light Cocoa Candy Melts

1 bag of Egg shaped Candy 

(We used Speckled Jordan Almonds)

1 package of Peeps (optional)

Directions:

Melt Candy in Microwave or Double Boiler.

I'm including this picture just so I can point out my new apron, which I recently found at Pier 1 Imports... Isn't it CUTE!?!  

Mix the melted chocolate into the chow mein noodles.

Shape into nests and top with candy eggs and peeps.

Try to decide which one you are going to have on Easter! ;) 

A Lenten Tea on Good Friday ~ 2010

*I know it is all very similar to what we have done in the past, however this blog is mainly a scrapbook (of sorts) for my children,  and a place for me to record what we have been up to, so I apologize if I seem repetitive.  :)  

Our oldest three children, who were all sick on Holy Thursday, were very pleased that we were having another Lenten Tea for our meal on Good Friday.  It was originally inspired by Alice and very similar to the one we had last year.

Hubby read from the Bible (Mark chapter 15) while I served each item:

~ The Water Bowl ~

My children wanted to use the bowl to wash their hands, instead of using the water to drink.

"Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood."  Matthew 27: 24

~ The King's Crown ~

I used Tostitos"Scoops" once again...

... in addition to a bean dip "Crown"

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2

~ Out of Envy ~

Guacamole goes perfectly with the above two items!

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10

~ The Purple Cloak ~

This year I remembered to purchase purple fruit leather.

"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17

~ The Crown of Thorns ~

I KNOW I purchased Ritz crackers and pretzels, but I can NOT find them! Thankfully I still had some Rice Crackers left over from Holy Thursday and used Rice Krispies for the thorns. 

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17

~ Golgotha Eggs ~

In addition to using the Rice Krispies above, I was inspired to dye our Golgotha Eggs this year by Eileen, who has been doing this Tea for their Good Friday meal for years now.  It took a little bit more time, but my children really enjoyed drawing the sculls and dying the eggs.

"And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

~ The Seamless Garment ~

Once again, flour tortillas and cheese cubes were quick and easy.  My children ended up making themselves each a burrito with the bean dip, guacamole, and tomatoes. 

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24

~ The Two Robbers ~

I didn't have any luck finding fresh Basil, and I didn't even have any Spinach this year, so I just served each child 2 Baby Carrots to represent the two Robbers.  Maybe one of these years I will actually be able to use Basil.. If not perhaps Pesto Bruschetta would work well!

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27

~ Vinegar to Drink ~

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36

~ The Roman Centurion ~

Like last year, I cut 50 tomatoes in half, to represent the 100 Roman Centurion.  We still had leftovers.

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39

~ The Temple Curtain ~

This was a new (to us) addition this year, and when Hubby read the verse bible verse, each of the children tore their napkin in half.

"And God.'" Mark 15: 39

~ Laid in the Tomb ~

Like last year, I made muffins and filled the middle with a little jam.

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

You can visit Cottage Blessings for the Bible readings, recipes and shopping list.

And when I was making the cards for our Holy Thursday Tea, I also created small card stock signs for each of the dishes in our Good Friday Tea as well, including the short Bible quotes Alice provided. I uploaded the document I made, in case anyone would like a copy.