So, the last two days have been rather difficult with the Bugs’ behavior. So for lunch today, I made smile soup.

All I did was make some tomato soup (water recipe since we’re out of milk until tonight). Poured it into bowls, then shredded some amercian cheese and gently placed it around the top edge to make hair. Then I grabbed the heavy whipping cream, put some in a spoon and super gently dropped in the eyes, nose and mouth. The girls loved it and didn’t want to stir it together to eat

What do you do to make lunch special for your kids or to let them know they are loved?

Share on Facebook

Recently we got to introduce our girls to the magic that is Swan Lake through Maestro Classics The Story of Swan Lake. They were enthralled.

Bugs and Beans knew the story of Swan Lake before receiving this CD. They have loved the music of Tchaikovsky for a while now and they quickly loved this too.

What makes this CD so special is that it is narrated through the movements in the ballet to explain what is happening in the music for those who don’t know the whole plot. This was narrated by Yadu. The music was by the London Philharmonic Orchestra which was conducted by Stephen Simon.

The girls beg for this to be played every day. And when it is done, they want to have it played again. I like the fact that they love to listen to ballets. I think it is better for their development than what is commonly marketed for children these days.

The Maestro Classics also strives to be educational in nature. This particular album introduces the difference between music in Major and Minor keys, the life of Tchaikovsky, what it means when music is played through one way and then the notes being reversed later on in the piece and then they introduce a small little song to teach what the basic plot of Swan Lake is. I like how it all weaves together to keep the attention of the children.
I can recommend this CD to parents wanting to introduce their children to Tchaikovsky and to listening to ballet.

At this time, you can purchase Swan Lake from Maestro Classics for $9.98 for the MP3 download or $16.98 for the CD.

I received Swan Lake from Maestro Classics as a part of The Old Schoolhouse’s Crew. To see what others had to say about it, go visit the Crew’s Blog. All opinions in this review are mine and mine alone and no other compensation was received.

Share on Facebook

Well, today has been Spam Created for Home Day apparently. I went grocery shopping and came out to fifty spam comments to take off my blog. Since that point (a mere hour), I’ve had to delete close to 200 spam comments. So, I had to enable comment moderation for the time being. I’m so sorry about that, however, for my sanity, and your reading pleasure, it was necessary for the time being. I did update my spam control, but I may have to go looking for a new plug in for it. I hate captcha codes so I’m trying to avoid those.

And if you are a spammer, let me say that you are adding your spam in vain. It will be deleted. And right now, just not approved for posting. Thank you for the extra work and migraine you’ve given me.

So please be patient as I get this taken care of and if you have some favorite spam control plug ins, let me know.

Share on Facebook

My Mother-in-Law came for Thanksgiving. It’s been a fun weekend. Here’s a pic of the girls and Grandma watching Winnie the Pooh this evening. Not sure if they’re going to make it all the way through or if we’ll be tucking all three into bed

Share on Facebook

So, the car.

Yeah…that thing. Well, the shop it was at (ShopA) is no longer getting our business…

The car got towed there on Thursday evening last week. The keys were left in the drop box and HubbaHubba called them up first thing on Friday morning letting them know to what car the keys belonged. We were told that there was a car that was scheduled for that day that they had to do first, but it wouldn’t take long and then they would get ours in and call us with a diagnosis.

Friday drags by…I start to get more and more concerned with each passing hour and no word. This couldn’t be good at all. Finally, HubbaHubba calls them about three in the afternoon…

The car ahead of ours was giving them some problems, but they were still going to get ours looked at . O.K….

At four, HubbaHubba calls again. The guy he talks to says he took the cover off the shifter and it all appeared to be intact, so on Monday, they’ll have to totally tear apart the transmission to diagnose the problem. At this point, I see dollar signs before my eyes like on slot machines twirling. This really can’t be good.

So all weekend long, we go without a car. Spent Saturday at home. We arrange for a ride to church on Sunday.

Today, HubbaHubba goes to work way early with a co-worker. He runs around in a company truck half the day. Finally at noon, he calls ShopA. No, the car hadn’t been looked at yet…But they will have an estimate at two. Two rolls around, and still no estimate. When HubbaHubba talks to them again, they say it was looked at, but they don’t have an estimate as the guy who looked at it went home sick and didn’t tell them anything. So, HubbaHubba has it towed to ShopB.

Within  a half hour, he gets a call saying that the cable broke, it will be about $375 to fix including the tow over and it will be done on Wednesday afternoon (being as the car is a first year ever Ford Focus, each part is proprietary and has to be ordered from Ford, hence the delay).

Well, you see, that was a bit of a concern. We don’t have a spare $375 sitting around. Things have been tight, especially with the added costs of living in this town since the tornado. Hubba told them to go ahead and do the repairs.

Then, the money was provided. Not going into details but let’s just say that God is good.

I was so stressed over getting the car repaired. I was struggling greatly with how much this was going to cost and the fact that I saw absolutely no way to pay for it. And yet, my God was more than faithful in providing. I kept hearing that still, small voice telling me that it was going to be alright, to be patient and to have faith. I was terrified when HubbaHubba had me write the check for tithe on Sunday, knowing how much it was and how that would detract from the funds to pay for the car. And yet, God came through again. One would think I would know better than to fret and worry. I really should know better. May this stand as a testament to how awesome the God we serve is, and as a reminder to me that God does care and He has a way that far exceeds our thoughts and plans.

Share on Facebook