What We Tell Our Kids About Santa...

Every Christian parent struggles with the dilemma: What do we tell our children about Christmas?

I ran across this post by Pastor Mark Driscoll on the Mars Hill website. It provides some interesting insights and helpful histories.

I was glad for some perspective, as tonight we went to our apartment complex party which had a Santa. I wasn't sure what to tell the children but also wanted to go to the party in order to join in with our community.


What We Tell Our Kids About Santa | Pastor Mark for the Washington Post | The Mars Hill Blog


I also want to clarify, on a general basis, that when I post articles written by other authors, I have read with discernment and found some or most of the information helpful. This does not mean I endorse every statement in the article or everything the individual says, writes or stands for. Remember - Do the research and make prayerful decisions.

The Nibble Tray

I came across this idea in my reading and today, as a rummaged around for something to supplement our lunch (black beans, brown rice, tomatoes, onion, ground beef, some seasoning...yummy!), I remembered this idea. I combined 2 ideas - the nibble tray and the dipping, since my fridge needs restocking so I was limited.

Taken from the Sear's website...

Toddlers like to graze their way through a variety of foods, so why not offer them a customized smorgasbord? The first tip from the Sears' kitchen is to offer toddlers a nibble tray. Use an ice-cube tray, a muffin tin, or a compartmentalized dish, and put bite-size portions of colorful and nutritious foods in each section. Call these finger foods playful names that a two-year-old can appreciate, such as:

* apple moons (thinly sliced)
* avocado boats (a quarter of an avocado)
* banana wheels
* broccoli trees (steamed broccoli florets)
* carrot swords (cooked and thinly sliced)
* cheese building blocks
* egg canoes (hard- boiled egg wedges)
* little O's (o-shaped cereal)

Place the food on an easy-to-reach table. As your toddler makes his rounds through the house, he can stop, sit down, nibble a bit, and, when he's done, continue on his way. These foods have a table-life of an hour or two.

Dip it. Young children think that immersing foods in a tasty dip is pure fun (and delightfully messy). Some possibilities to dip into:

* cottage cheese or tofu dip
* cream cheese
* fruit juice-sweetened preserves
* guacamole
* peanut butter, thinly spread
* pureed fruits or vegetables
* yogurt, plain or sweetened with juice concentrate

Those dips serve equally well as spreads on apple or pear slices, bell-pepper strips, rice cakes, bagels, toast, or other nutritious platforms.

Today in our nibble tray was: organic Celery Sticks, organic Carrots, Blueberries, organic Bananas, Wholewheat crackers, cottage cheese, organic peanut butter, plain yoghurt sweetened with some honey.

Hopefully I can offer different things each a day and get more creative!

What a great idea! Little Girl's Dress Tutorial.

I would LOVE to sew more. However, on a limited budget, its not often I can spend the money on the fabric and its not everyday you stumble on a bargain at a yard sale. So I am really excited to find this tutorial using an old shirt - maybe you can find one at Goodwill or a yard sale, or even one that your good cooking has deemed unwearable for your husband!

I hope to try it very soon! I will be sure to post pictures when I do. This is a link from a forum, I think the mommy made the pattern herself, so be sure to give credit!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0

Conversations with a 3 year old.

As you probably know, 3 year old children are probably the best comedians. Whether they try or not. Here are some recent conversations with Esther, who is as cheeky as she looks in the above picture!

Mommy: Esther, time to brush your hair!
Esther: I don't want to brush my hair.
Mommy: But don't you want to look like a princess, like Belle?
Esther: NO MOMMY! I'M THE BEAST!!!

Later on that hour...

Mommy: Come here my little penguin!
Esther: I am not a penguin. I'm a snake.

I love this stage, she is just figuring so much out, testing social interactions, reasoning the world all around her, asking 'why?'. Its an age of wonder and beauty. If you have a cheeky chatterbox of a three year old, nurture and enjoy that little mind!