Library Time!!

Ahh.... the feeling of being surrounded by rows and rows of books. Finding that book or two that will lead to the next big adventure, Curling up in a chair in a quiet corner of the library to get a glimpse at what the story is about because you can't wait to take it home to start reading it. Getting your own library card so you can borrow some of these wonderful books. Reading the first chapter during the car ride home. These are a few of my favorite childhood memories......that I now get to start with my son!!

As you can tell, I LOVE books and reading and anything to do with both! My favorite thing to do when I was growing up is go to the library every 2 weeks -- or every week if I finished my book(s) early -- with my dad. I would read every chance I could; reading even if it was just a 5 minute car ride to the store. My mom would always tell me that I would never know how to get anywhere when I was old enough to drive because I always had my nose stuck in a book. Haha!

So, the other day when my library book was due, I decided to enjoy the sunny weather and take a walk with my son to the library -- and document his first trip going there!  \

Outside our local library is a "statue" of a girl and boy sitting on a bench, sharing a book. My son saw this and found it very fascinating. I told him that the girl and boy were reading a book and we were going to go in the library to get a book so we can read like they were. He said, "Ok!" Then we headed inside the library.

I took him straight to the children's section. Our local library doesn't have nearly as many children's and youth's books as my hometown library, but I could tell by the look on my son's face that he was still excited! He of course had to begin by exploring the room, so I let him check things out. He began by walking past all of the shelves of books. Then he saw the "reading rug" on which were scattered a few stuffed animals ("friends" the children can sit and read their stories to in order to help with their reading skills). Clifford was his furry friend of choice!

Next, it was time to pick out a book. I showed him a few he might like: a Clifford book, a Toy Story book, and a few others -- all of which he turned down. Then I spotted it, a book I thought very appropriate for his first trip to the library: Maisy Goes to the Library by: Lucy Cousins.  He didn't seemed too excited about it, but was willing to take it to the desk so we could get it checked out.

I think the "Check Out" process was his favorite part. I let him give the lady at the desk my library card. He intently watched her scan it and then stamp the book with the due date. He was excited to get "his" library book back when she was done. He could tell something important was going on. He said a cheerful "Thank you" to the lady at the desk and excitedly carried his library book to the car.

As soon as I strapped him in to his car seat, he asked to look at his library book. Like his Momma, he couldn't wait to get home to "read" it. I asked him if he had fun at the library and if he liked it. His response was "Library! Yeah!! I read a book! Haha!"  I think he had a great first trip!

...And he's been reading his library book every day since. I'm not sure who will be more excited to go back, my son or his Momma! Hehe!

Have you visited your local library today?

~* Recipe of the Week *~

~* Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza *~

My family just LOVES pizza! It's easy to order, cook, heat up, or make yourself. Plust the variety and amount of toppings you can put on a pizza are so numerous that you can cator it to whatever everyone's hungry for!

Last night, my husband and I decided to make our own pizza. Ok, so we didn't make our dough and sauce from scratch ... we did it the quick and easy way, and it was just as good if not better than the frozen pizzas! Here's what we did:

Prep Time: 10 minutes   Cook Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients: (Note: you can use any kind of ingredients you prefer, this is just what we used this time)
1.) 1 packet of ready to make pizza dough mix (dry mix or pizza dough found in dairy section)
2.) pizza sauce
3.) mozarella cheese, parmasean cheese

4.) turkey pepperoni 

Preparation and Cooking:
1.) Preheat Oven 450 degrees (or as directed by pizza dough packaging)
2.) Lightly coat 12 inch pizza pan with cooking spray (or olive oil)
3.) Follow directions on pizza dough packaging, then spread dough out to cover pan
4.) Spread pizza sauce over pizza dough on pan, leaving about a half inch border of dough around outside of pizza for the crust
5.) Add toppings of your choice. We added parmasean cheese, mozarella cheese, and turkey pepperoni.

6.) Let bake in oven for 12-17 minutes, until crust is to desired "crispyness".
7.) Let cook, cut pizza into slices, and serve!

And there you have it, delicious homemade pizza the quick and easy way!!

Enjoy!!!

(I know we did!)

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*Scripture Spark* ~ Post #3

~* Scripture Spark *~

Verse of the Day: Mark 1:17

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (NIV)







Taken from a 2 Week reading track on the Life and Teachings of Jesus (NIV)
Day 1: Luke 1 -- Preparing for Jesus' Arrival (Scrpt. Spark Post #1)

Day 2: Luke 2 -- The story of Jesus' Birth (Scpt. Spark Post #2)

Day 3: Mark 1 -- The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry


(The New Student Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1992 by Zondervan Publishing House)