Caregiving-Home Health Care Aide 01/31/16

 My 15-year-old niece, Emily, is more than happy to come over to our house and work odd jobs for money. I do believe I am one of her main sources of income (me and her grandparents). She texted me today and said, "Can I come over sometime this week and work?" That's when inspiration hit me. I decided to hire her as a home health care aide. I've been wanting to do some cleaning in the basement for quite some time but I usually need to stay on the main level of the house to care for Mama. I figured Emily could sit with her grandma and color a picture or talk or watch TV with her while I do some work in the basement. We agreed on a mutually satisfactory fee, and she set to work. 

This ended up being a tremendous help to me. I spent two hours in the basement cleaning our bedroom and another hour doing odd jobs around the house while Mama and Emily hung out together and colored pictures. 

We settled up at the end of the evening, and when I was taking Emily home she said, "You just let me know whenever you want me to come over and color with Grandma again."

Cookie Baking Night 01/25/16

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, Alli, and Rylar. Tonight was also Ethan's birthday choice. (He turned 13 years old a little over a week ago; that's right, we now have two teenagers at Cookie Baking Nights). For his supper choice: Pizza, french fries, and peaches. For his cookie choice: Chocolate Chip Cookies.

We also had opportunity to read from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland. We read lesson 22 "How God Gave Us His Law" We read Exodus 19:16-19 from the Bible and talked about the power and holiness of God. We read the 10 commandments from the Bible and talked about what each one of them means. And we talked about how, many years later, Jesus came to this earth and fulfilled every commandment and every part of the law through his life. He kept the law (was sinless) where we could not. That's why the sacrifice of his life on the cross paid the penalty of sin for us. Pretty amazing!

Even though Ethan is now a teenager, he still takes time to play with his little cousins, and they do enjoy it so. 

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone and, as usual, a fun time was had by all.

Cookie Baking Night 01/11/16

Tonight was the first Cookie Baking Night of 2016. In attendance this evening: Allie and Rylar. We made peanut butter cookies with Heath toffee bits in them (recipe from the back of the package).

When Allie and Rylar first arrived, my mom was coloring a picture in a book she had received for Christmas this year. Allie was intrigued by this and wanted to watch her. 

When it came time to bake cookies, Allie asked if she could "watch Clara color" instead. She sat and watched her for about 15 minutes, She was invited to color a picture with her but turned it down several times saying "I just want to watch". Finally, she got the coloring bug and colored a few pictures of her own. This went on for about an hour. 

While the coloring was happening in the dining room, Rylar had the "cookie baking" project all to himself in the kitchen. He loved it!

He measured all the sugar.

He measured the flour 

For measuring the baking soda and baking powder, we used the Mickey Mouse measuring spoons, also a hit. 

He scooped all the cookie dough onto the cookie sheets.

His clothes showed his effort by the end of the evening. 

Ahh, the finished project.

Allie made an appearance back in the kitchen when it was time to eat a cookie.

We also spent some time reading from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland. Tonight we read lesson 20 titled: "What happened to Adam and Eve", bringing us through Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and eventually had to the leave the Garden of Eden. We were also reminded of God's great provision of a Savior that would come many years down the road in Jesus Christ. We had some good conversation about this lesson. We ended by reading Genesis 3:7-10 from the Bible. 

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone, this one a little less typical than most, but, as usual, a fun time was had by all.