Cookie Baking Night 07/29/13

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attedance this evening we had the usual crew plus a couple guests. Emily's friend, Julia, joined us for the evening and Ethan's friend, Jabin, joined us for the evening. Two 12 year old girls, two 10 year old boys, and an 8 year old year old little girl. It was a lively bunch to say the least.

Tonight we made a classic: The chocolate chip cookie. Since we had a big crowd, we had to spread out in the kitchen, but we managed to get all the measuring, mixing, and scooping done and came up with a pretty tasty cookie in the end.

Emily led the crew in a game of "Spot It". It was a new game, so she was teaching it to them. At one point, Emily called out to me from the living room (I was in the dining room) and said, "Look Katrina, I'm a role model."

It was fun to have other children with us this evening. I'm grateful God allowed us the experience. It was an evening filled with Gospel-spreading occasions and sanctifying opportunities.

We continued reading in our book "God's Names" by Sally Michael. Tonight we learned the name Jehovah-Shammah meaning The Lord is there, a lesson I very much needed today, myself. (God teaches us all through Cookie Baking Nights). We continue to learn about God's character and who He is by learning His many names.

We ended the evening with a walk through the neighborhood to the local gas station and 25 cent candy all around (Jabin said, "This night just keeps getting better and better.")

As usual, a fun time was had by all.

Birthday Musings!

Today is my mom's birthday. I spent the weekend at her house in celebration. We had dinner together, hung out on the patio, talked, played a game, prayed together. My niece, Emily, is here too. She made the birthday cake. (Okay, by made the cake, I mean assembled the cake. We made a "strawberry sparkle cake" from The Pioneer Woman blog with a pre-made angel food cake and store-bought whipped topping. She did a good job. It was quite tasty).

Mom, Dad-Larry, and Emily

Happy Birthday, Mama! I love you, and I thank God for you. May He bless you in the year ahead and draw you closer to Him with each passing moment. 

Cookie Baking Night 07/01/13

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, and Carissa. Today is Carissa's birthday. She turned 8 years old today. As is the Cookie Baking Night tradition, it was her choice tonight for supper and for the "cookie" we made. For supper, she chose macaroni & cheese, cornbread, and "berries w/ half&half". For her cookie, she chose "dirt cups".

Much work to do with this project. There's making the pudding..

crushing the cookies..

assembling the cups..

And don't forget the gummy worms..

Ahhh..the finished product. 

We also read a lesson from our book God's Names by Sally Michael. This week we studied the name El Roi meaning "The God Who Sees". (again, highly recommend this book--we are learning much about who God is by studying His names). 

The time tonight was lively and the discussion was good. We lingered over supper talking with Uncle Greg about the day. Sometimes conversation is abundant at Cookie Baking Nights, and this was one of those nights. Greg and I learn much about who our nieces and nephews are and how their little lives are shaping through our time with them at Cookie Baking Nights. We wouldn't trade the experience. It's very valuable. 

As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 06/17/13

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carissa, Emily, and Kylie (Kylie lives further away from us than the rest of the kids, so she isn't able to attend Cookie Baking Night very often. However, she was staying with Emily for the week, so she joined us tonight. It was good to have her along).

And as you may see from the photos below, energy abounded.

We made Ritz cracker cookies (I have no idea what these cookies are named, but I'm sure you've all seen them on Christmas cookie platters for years). We spread peaut peanut butter between two crackers and then dipped them in almond bark (chocolate and white). The children enjoyed this project, and the cookie was quite tasty. 

We also read from God's Names by Sally Michael. Tonight we learned the name Adonai meaning Lord. We also did some review of all the names we've learned so far. We are learning a lot about God's character through His names. 

We finished the night off with a couple games and called it an evening.

As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 06/03/13

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan and Carissa (and special guest: Diana, their mom).

We always have supper together on Cookie Baking Night but I don't usually post about it. Tonight I thought I'd share the idea, as it might interest others. We made our own French bread pizzas. I toasted the bread on one side beforehand, and then each person put on their own toppings, and I baked them in the oven for about five minutes. It was definitely a hit.

Our cookie tonight was the "hamburger cookie". 

To make these we use mint patties (candy), green-colored coconut (to resemble lettuce), Nilla wafers (buns), yellow frosting (mustard) and red frosting (ketchup). 

Then we topped them off with sesame seeds. Always a winner, this recipe. 

We also read from God's Names by Sally Michael. Tonight's lesson was the name Jehovah-El Emeth, meaning The Lord God of Truth. We talked about the difference between truth and lies. We also learned that "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind...... (Numbers 23:19). Carissa read from Genesis 3:1-7 for us. We are learning much about the character of God through His names. 

Tonight was full of projects, and the time went quickly. As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night--The Outtakes

Tonight is an off night for Cookie Baking Night. I thought this might be a good time to share some of the pictures taken last week while Emily had the camera in her possession. Sears portraits they're not, but they are pretty funny nonetheless.

And my personal favorite (and theirs)........

Cookie Baking Night 05/20/13

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, and Carissa.

Tonight, after a little much-needed after-supper cleanup ... 

We made Monster Cookies (oatmeal, peanut butter, M&Ms, butterscotch chips, etc.--what's not to love about that?)

We also read lesson 5 from God's Names by Sally Michael. Tonight we learned the name El Kana, meaning Jealous God. At first hearing, the children had a hard time attaching this characteristic to God. This lesson did a good job explaining it and then backed it up with Scripture like Exodus 34:14 "You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God." The Cookie Baking gang is familiar with the 10 commandments and the idea that "you shall have no other god before me" so the concept started to make sense to them. We had a good discussion around this lesson. 

We ended the evening by playing a game with the cups we had labeled last time with the books of the Bible. It  was clear from tonight's efforts that we have a long way to go in memorizing the books of the Bible, but this game was a good first step. 

As usual, a fun time was had by all.