Awana Grand Prix

They really loved it and Papa and I really enjoyed watching them love it :) 

J loved it because it was new and exciting and his car did really well.

L loved it because it was cars and racing and FUN!! (His car also did really well but he hardly noticed!)

E loved it because well.. because her brothers loved it and she loves them. 

R loved it because she got to cheer on the other kids and dream about when she could do Awana. 

J3 loved it because he is a boy and he loves cars. He loved to clap when we clapped. 

Baby G could care less about car racing but Momma was there, Papa was there, J3 was there and she had smiles for anyone who came her way!  

L placing his car! He really worried the 1st time he had to go up there and put it on the track so Papa went with him the 1st couple of times. Too many people for him. 

L waiting with a friend to see who's car won! L's car won almost as many times as J's. E's car did really well too and was only ever beat by one of her brothers cars!! (and maybe one other?)

E picking up her car at the finish line :) 

J placing his car.. I think of all the times he raced he only came in second once!! 

E placing her car!! Oh so carefully. I really liked how they had the ladder for the smaller kids. Made the little kids feel like they were important! 

J and his trophy for the second fastest car in the Prix!! 

He was pretty excited!!  

Their home made and painted cars now race around my living room, sleep in their special boxes, and have an active part in everyday life. They are already planning their cars for next year and J is already planning on bringing home another trophy :) This time he wants the 'most original' trophy :) 

What a fun way to learn about playing fair, playing to have fun and that life is not about winning or losing but about living for God and treating others the way you'd like to be treated, no matter what life throws at you!  

Yogurt Love :)

I recently found this online.
 
Took me all of 4 seconds to talk Papa into ordering it for me :) Here Glengarry Cheesemaking is where he ordered it from. My new butter churn I got this summer is right under the yogotherm :) I love it too!!

I LOVE IT!! It makes 1/2 a gallon of yogurt at a time by simply keeping it the right temp. I recently did a bit of an experiment where I did my half gallon of milk heated to the right temp of 115F and added the starter; about 1/4 cup of yogurt from the last batch, stirred for a bit and poured it into the half gallon bucket that fits nicely into my new yogotherm pictured above. I had a little bit left over so I poured it into a plastic container, put a lid on it and placed it beside the wood stove on a table. I expected to have yogurt in both containers when I finished as this was how we used to make yogurt.. though with not a super good success rate which is why I got the yogotherm. In about 7 hours I took the container and the bucket and placed them in the fridge.  The next morning J wanted yogurt for breakfast so I took the container and opened it.. the milk had separated and not made yogurt!! I was a bit apprehensive but got called away and J got the bucket out of the fridge and placed it on the table.. and dished it up and it WAS yogurt! When my old yogurt failed I assumed it was because the starter had not worked.. but I learned with this experiment that it had not failed.. my temps by the wood stove must vary too much to keep the yogurt alive but the insulation in the yogotherm keeps it regulated and makes perfect yogurt every time.. or at least the 3 times we've had enough extra milk to try it :) Like I said I LOVE IT!!!