The Family Fun Blog

Jul 08, 2017

A Jane Austen Birthday Party

Throw a Jane Austen birthday party. Get dressed up as well known characters and have fun with these ideas for food, activities and decorating.

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Jul 05, 2017

July 5th: Fun Fourth Activities

Hoping you had a wonderful Independence Day holiday, we'd like to share our fun food ideas. They will work all summer long for your backyard barbecues.

Our GAPS desserts mostly revolve around fruit, honey and cream.

We had a flag "cake"and flag kabobs, berry firework kabobs, and red, white and blueberry cups. The pictures are self explanatory, no recipe needed. Enjoy.

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Jun 29, 2017

Chartres Pilgrimage Drone Footage Video. Impressive.

Jun 29, 2017

Chartres Pilgrimage Drone Footage Video. Impressive.

Jun 23, 2017

Sauerkraut Party

Some ladies were asking us how we make sauerkraut so we decided to throw a sauerkraut party. That way we could all make some sauerkraut.

We gathered in the Industrious Family kitchen at 10:30 a.m. with heads of cabbage, knives, cuisinarts, and sea salt.

It was very fun. Learn how to make your own sauerkraut here...

Some tips learned from yesterday...

Shred don't grate the lettuceThe Celtic sea salt really works betterIf you love sauerkraut, buy a 2 gallon crockWe eat sauerkraut daily. It is a power probiotic. We take a little with meat, soup or straight from the jar.

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Feb 04, 2017

Celebrating Valentines Day

Enjoy honoring those you love through cards, letters and small gifts this Valentines Day. We celebrate with parties, decorating, crafts and yummy food.

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Jan 22, 2017

Joan Of Arc Book Summary

With Twain's natural story telling skill and a good twist of humor, this book is the best ever written about St. Joan of Arc. Read the full Joan of Arc book summary here.

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Jan 15, 2017

IMAX Deep Sea

We love documentaries and are studying Zoology 2 by Apologia press. The dvd recommendation for the end of chapter one is IMAX: Deep Sea.

We rented this dvd last night from Amazon and it was a good overview of ocean life. It was 40 minutes long, narrated by Johny Depp and Kate Winslet, and wasn't heavy on propaganda of any sort. It was just a visually stunning overview of aquatic creatures. It is suitable for all ages and we highly recommend it.

Jan 13, 2017

A Tale Of The Wars Of The Roses Book Summary

A Tale of the Wars of the Roses, also published as Grisly Grisell, is a great novel that is overflowing with virtues. Read this page for a summary of it to see if it's the novel you want to read next!

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Jan 08, 2017

The Necromancers Book Review By Robert Hugh Benson Book Review

Despite its strange title, The Necromancers, by Robert Hugh Benson, is a story about occultists and the consequences of those who dabble in this evil game. Read the whole book review here!

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Jan 06, 2017

How To Make Sauerkraut

Fermenting your own sauerkraut is simple and delicious! Read this page for a how-to.

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Dec 30, 2016

Fun Family Card Games

We have so many fun family card games! This page is here to introduce you to our top 13 favorites! Who knows, maybe after you've read this page you will have a couple of games you will want to try!

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Dec 29, 2016

Fun Family Trips-Weekend Getaways

Fun family trips and great weekend getaways in cities near you. Find out why you should go to these cities, what to do when you get there and where to stay.

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Dec 12, 2016

Christmas Crafts To Keep You Focused During Advent

These Christmas crafts are for families. They range from Jesse tree ornament ideas to Advent placemats. Check out our lists of crafts.

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Dec 09, 2016

David

David

1 King chapter 17

"And as (David) talked with them, that baseborn man whose name was Goliath, the Philistine, of Geth, shewed himself coming up from the camp of the Philistines. And all the Israelites when they saw the man, fled from his face, fearing him exceedingly. And some one of Israel said: Have you seen this man that is come up, for he is come up to defy Israel. And the man that shall slay him, the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and will make his father' s house free from tribute in Israel.

...And Saul said to David: Thou art not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth. And David said to Saul: Thy servant kept his father's sheep...And David said: The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

And Saul said to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee...And he took his staff, which he had always in his hands: and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into the shepherd' s scrip, which he had with him, and he took a sling in his hand, and went forth against the Philistine.

And David said to the Philistine: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied...And he put his hand into his scrip, and took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck the Philistine in the forehead: and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth.

And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword in his hand. He ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head. And the Philistines seeing that their champion was dead, fled away."

Dec 09, 2016

Samuel, Jesse and David-Ornaments 9, 10, and 11

Samuel

1King 3:3-4, 10, 19-20

"Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I...And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord."

Jesse

1King chapter 16

"And the Lord said to Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and come, that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons...and thou shalt anoint him whom I shall shew to thee. Then Samuel did as the Lord had said to him...And he sanctified Isai(Jesse) and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

Isai therefore brought his seven sons before Samuel: and Samuel said to Isai: The Lord hath not chosen any one of these.

And Samuel said to Isai: Are here all thy sons? He answered: There remaineth yet a young one, who keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said to Isai: Send, and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he come hither. He sent therefore and brought him.

Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward."

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Dec 05, 2016

Moses #9 Jesse Tree Ornament

We are getting a little ahead of ourselves. We should have done Joseph today but we will have to return to him tomorrow. We accidentally skipped forward to Moses.

Since we already had a fiery ornament we went with the baby Moses this year. The bling really made this ornament stand out.

Genesis 2:2-10

"And she...bore a son; and seeing him a goodly child hid him three months. And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river' s brink, His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be done.

And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the river: and her maids walked by the river' s brink. And when she saw the basket in the sedges, she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was brought,

She opened it and seeing within it an infant crying, having compassion on it she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews. And the child' s sister said to her Shall I go and call to thee a Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe? She answered: Go.

The maid went and called her mother. And Pharao' s daughter said to her. Take this child and nurse him for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took, and nursed the child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao' s daughter. And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying: Because I took him out of the water."

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Dec 04, 2016

Jacob #7 Jesse Tree Ornament

Genesis 28 12-15

"And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it; And the Lord leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land, wherein thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed.

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and IN THEE and thy seed all the tribes of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED. And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said."

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Dec 04, 2016

Outlaws of Ravenhurst : A Real Favorite!

It is Scotland during the Scottish Reformation and times are getting ugly for the Catholics. With an English king on the throne, not an acre of Scotland

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Dec 04, 2016

Isaac #6 Jesse Tree Ornament

We continue our historic Jesse tree with Isaac's ornament.

Genesis 22:1-3, 6-13

"(God) said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am. He said to him: Take thy only begotten son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and go into the land of vision: and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust upon one of the mountains which I will shew thee.

So Abraham rising up in the night, saddled his ass: and took with him two young men, and Isaac his son: and when he had cut wood for the holocaust he went his way to the place which God had commanded him...

And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac his son: and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they two went on together, Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt thou, son? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victim for the holocaust?

And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an holocaust, my son. So they went on together. And they came to the place which God had shewn him, where he built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it: and when he had bound Isaac his son, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood. And he put forth his hand and took the sword, to sacrifice his son.

And behold an angel of the Lord from heaven called to him, saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am. And he said to him: Lay not thy hand upon the boy, neither do thou any thing to him: now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake. Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram amongst the briers sticking fast by the horns, which he took and offered for a holocaust instead of his son."

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Dec 02, 2016

Abraham: #5 Jesse Tree Ornament

Today's ornament commemorates Abraham's journey to the land chosen for him by God. We made a tent and a camel. The sandy background is a reminder of God's promise to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the grains of sand.

Genesis 12:1-3, 16

"And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father' s house, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed...

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be able to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy seed also."

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Dec 02, 2016

Noah: #4 Jesse Tree Ornament

We were at the drug store yesterday, looking for an advent wreath, when what should we stumble upon? Glitter Glue! What would be better for the rainbow for Noah's Jesse tree ornament?

Genesis 9:13-19

"I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a covenant between me, and between the earth. And when I shall cover the sky with clouds, my bow shall appear in the clouds: And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living soul that beareth flesh: and there shall no more be waters of a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and shall remember the everlasting covenant, that was made between God and every living soul of all flesh which is upon the earth. And God said to Noe: This shall be the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh upon the earth.

And the sons of Noe who came out of the ark, were Sem, Cham, and Japheth: and Cham is the father of Chanaan. These three are the sons of Noe: and from these was all mankind spread over the whole earth."

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Nov 30, 2016

Fall Of Man

These were mostly paper. We added a few embellishments. The corrugated paper and sequins took it from neat to NEAT!

Genesis 3:6,13-15

"And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband who did eat...

And the Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? And she answered: The serpent deceived me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel."

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Nov 29, 2016

Jesse Tree Ornament #2 Creation Of Man

We had fun on day 2 with the creation of man. Actually we had way too much fun making these whimsical Adam and Eve clothes pin figurines.

This was a good lesson.

One of the little ones asked, "Is Adam the women?" Later he asked, "Were they married?", then, "Did they have children?" Thankfully he remembered who Cain and Abel were.

Oftentimes in a large family you think every one has a handle on these things, but little ones really need their own chance to hear these Bible histories and what better way than through a craft.

Genesis 1:26-28

"And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness; and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.

And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, saying; Increase and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth."

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Nov 28, 2016

Jesse Tree Ornament #1 Creation

This year we are going to create ornaments for an historical Jesse Tree. The first ornament is the earth symbolizing creation.

Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. And God said: Be light made. And light was made."

Oct 18, 2016

Come Rack Come Rope Book Summary

It's the story of loyalty, friendship and martyrdom. It's England torn in two: Protestant and Catholic. Read our whole Come Rack! Come Rope! book summary here.

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Oct 04, 2016

Kids Pool Party

Another fun birthday party idea is a pool party. This party is fun especially for families and when inviting groups with children of multiple ages.

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Sep 20, 2016

Cows, Chickens, And Sheep; A Few Of The Many Productive Animals

There are many animals which are productive. Among these are cows, chickens, and sheep. Cows give us milk; as well as their manure, which we use on our gardens. Chickens give us eggs. They also keep us well supplied with delicious meals of chicken! Sheep produce wool for yarns, sweaters, and blankets. Many people also enjoy their meat, called mutton or lamb. Here are only three of the many animals which serve a purpose. Is it not amazing how many uses we have for animals?

Sep 20, 2016

Cows, Chickens, And Sheep; A Few Of The Many Productive Animals

There are many animals which are productive. Among these are cows, chickens, and sheep. Cows give us milk; as well as their manure, which we use on our gardens. Chickens give us eggs. They also keep us well supplied with delicious meals of chicken! Sheep produce wool for yarns, sweaters, and blankets. Many people also enjoy their meat, called mutton or lamb. Here are only three of the many animals which serve a purpose. Is it not amazing how many uses we have for animals?

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Aug 24, 2016

Fun Family Board Games

Fun family board games are in an abundance! Read this page to hear about our reviews on our 10 favorites of why we have so much fun with them!

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