A Few More Party Pics

1. Aiden wanted to sit on his smash cake...

2. Aiden + Kennedy

3. Another fun shot of the greatly anticipated smash cake

4. Sweet Noelle as Curious George
(My hubby Alvin is a wonderful artist and painted this photo op board)

Party!!!

So after an insanely busy week of VBS, we had Aiden's 7th birthday party. I am soo thankful all his friends could come after such a fun and exhausting week for everyone. The party was super fun, one of my fave things is to watch my kiddos share sweet times with their friends! Another one of my fave things is planning parties along with baking and cooking and decorating. Loved doing all that for this party!!
Here are a few pics!

1. My birthday boy!!

2. Big, round balloons i found at an online balloon shop

3. Cake pops

4. Aiden requested a smash cake. I don't know how he got the idea, but he was super excited about having one. So, I made him a little cake with fondant (less messy than frosting, but looking back, he would have had more fun with frosting).

5. The sweets table

first things first

Hey Moms, today i want to share something heavy on my heart as I try to help a friend through a tough time with her family/kiddos. As Moms, our first priority is in our home; our husbands and our children. Titus 2 tells us to be workers at home. Now, this does not mean as Moms we cannot be employed or serve outside the home. It does mean, however, that our first priority is in our own home and to our own children..What a blessing this truly is!! We cannot serve-even in the church-(gasp!) if it is to the neglect of our husband or children.
There is an amazingly helpful book written by Carolyn Mahaney, titled A Feminine Appeal. In the chapter, The Honor of Working at Home, she poses these questions to ask ourselves regarding the decision to serve or work outside the home:
1. What are my reasons for considering this opportunity? Are they selfish or God-honoring?
2. Will pursuing this venture glorify God and honor the gospel?
3. Is this an undertaking that will help my husband?
4. Will it enhance and enrich the lives of my family?
5. Does this endeavor hinder my role as caretaker of my home?

Remember, seasons change. We have the season of no babies, where we can serve a lot and be a huge blessing to others in a different season. Then comes the season of little ones who need a ton of our attention-this season may last longer for some than others ;) Then seasons again change back and forth where we have more or less time to serve. Then were empty nesters, and back to the season of helping other young Moms-not my idea, but God's design :)
I hope you are blessed as you are reminded you don't have to do it all and i pray you are encouraged to keep your own hubby and precious kiddos your first priority. May our prayer be for our homes to be a haven of rest for our hubby and children-a place where the gospel is proclaimed, and we train our children in righteousness for God's glory!
hugs, jenny

Bakerella

Found a super fun website, Bakerella.com
So many great baking ideas! Love it :) Bakerella even has a book coming out. Definitely a website worth checking out. Enjoy!
I'll be making some of these for Aiden's birthday celebration! I'll post pics next month :)

(The pic shown here is from google images).

Want to make your own cake pops?

1 box cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can frosting (16 oz.)
Wax paper
Candy melts (1 lb. pkg.)
Lollipop sticks
Edible ink pens

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can frosting. (I use the back of a large spoon, but it may be easier to use fingers to mix together. But, be warned, it will get messy. Also, you may not need the entire can of frosting, so start out by using almost the entire can and add more if you need to.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50)
4. Melt chocolate in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between.)
5. Dip the tip of your lollipop stick in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert a little less than halfway.)
6. Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up.
7. Once firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and rotating until covered. Once covered remove and softly tap and rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off, too.
8. Place in a styrofoam block to dry.

Summer pics-part 2

Here are a few more of my faves

Summer pics

The school year is busy. Summer is busy too, just in a different way. Here are some recent pics from our summer so far. Enjoy!

My First Garden

I am starting my first garden and I would like some ideas. Please keep in mind I am a beginner gardener! I'd like to include some veggies... What do you think?
Above are pics of the planter for the garden.

What kind of mom are you?

Are you a "yes" mom or a "no" mom? Think about it...When your child(ren) make a request of you, whether to get something or to play with them, are you quick to say "yes" or do you find it is your habit to say "no" or "not right now"? May I challenge you to say yes as much as you can?! Be a "yes" mom. So often I think we say "no" because we don't want to take the time to get that game down from the closet, or whatever it may be that is a bit inconvenient at the moment. There are PLENTY of times we have to say "no" in training our kiddos in righteousness, so say "yes" whenever possible. Be a "yes" mom!