Silas Archives - Grateful Prayer

Something Fishy Matching Memory Game

By Lorraine

As a grandmom, I like to have fun activities for the kids when they are visiting. Interactive games for varied ages work well. These cute and colorful, Something Fishy matching memory game, provides hours of fun for kids while building recall, focusing and problem solving skills.Continue Reading

Spooky Halloween Food

By Lorraine

read with a slow, deep, menacing accent…

Do come in my friend…

I have prepared for you fiendish and Spooky Halloween food that will send shivers down your spine…Continue Reading

End of Year Wrap-up

By Lorraine

As the year draws to a close I’m trying to catch up by posting activities and memory-making moments with and for family. It’s been a busy and full couple of months. My heart overflows. Hard to imagine that less than five months ago I had a total hip replacement.Continue Reading

Potato and Ham Soup

By Lorraine

When plans to be out for the day suddenly changed and I found I had nothing pressing to do, I knew immediately what I wanted. I called my sister and was thrilled she was able to come for a visit. We chatted, caught up on family, laughed and ate a light lunch of potato and Ham Soup while Jared, Abbey, Erin and John popped in and out.

Easter Peep Graham Cracker House

By Lorraine

Inspiration abounds on Pinterest! You have probably seen these adorable little Easter Peep Graham Cracker Houses. I visited Yesterfood to see how Joy made them. A sweet Easter table decoration and a fun after-dinner treat for the kids. So fun, that one little guy determined he was NOT willing to share.

Family Recap

By Lorraine

I have been so busy this past month that I am just now catching up on family photos. These are the posts the little ones love best ~ the ones filled with their sweet faces.

These are my favorite posts too.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cousins Camp ~ Part 4 Wrap Up

By Lorraine

~ DAY 5 ~

After a full and exciting day at the water park, we spent Thursday at a relaxed pace. Ryan stayed over Aunt Jamie’s to be with the boys and Keri stayed here with the girls.

Chocolate Buttercream & Coconut Easter Eggs

By Lorraine

Making Easter chocolate eggs is such an endearing tradition especially when done together with children or grandchildren. Gather up the ingredients, corral some children and make some delicious, chocolate buttercream and coconut Easter eggs together.

Jethro’s Turn…

By Lorraine

…to have his photo taken in PopPop’s christening outfit

I have photos of all but two grandchildren in this vintage romper as well as our youngest daughter, Abbey who is now 22 years old. Somehow, I missed grandchildren, Keri and Noah and never thought of it when our older girls were babies. That makes me a little sad since it has now become a tradition.

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?

Our handsome, Joe married to …

our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)

my sister, Carol, Toni, totally enjoying baby Jet and my niece, Eva

my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad

my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill

Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis

Sweet Chloe

Abbey with her boyfriend, Ryan, a very nice mutual friend and our grandson, Jared

Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room

Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.

They have become cherished memories for each of us.

shivering kiddos giving their good-byes before cousins head home to upstate NY

~ regretfully, I did not get photos with Jamie, Josh, John, or niece Caitee ~

{happy sigh}… next comes January. A welcome time for me after the (enjoyable) hustle and bustle.

I love the newness of January and the whiteness of snow (hopefully) and a time to refresh.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

After School with the Grandchildren

By Lorraine

I spent the afternoon visiting with Jamie and her children, taking photos and helping with homework. After school with the grandchildren is a time for me to connect with these dear little ones and gives their mom a short reprieve.

1 year old Chloe being shyContinue Reading

Chocolate Tiffin Refrigerator Cake

By Lorraine

Besides my friends from across the pond, who knows what tiffin is?

When I first heard of tiffin I knew it would be a fun confection to make with kids.

There are many versions online but I went with one I saw on this video by a very cute little elf and her daddy.

this is what wikipedia says about tiffin:

Tiffin is a form of cake-like confection composed of crushed biscuits (most commonly digestive biscuits), sugar, syrup, raisins and cocoa powder, often covered with a layer of melted chocolate. Unlike regular cakes, Tiffin does not require baking. Instead, following preparation of the mixture, the confection is chilled until set. As a consequence the product may also be known as ‘fridge cake’ or another similar term.

Here is how to make chocolate tiffin yourself

gather ingredients of butter, biscuits (cookies), chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar, raisins and Karo syrup

enlist the help of two sweet grandsons to butter the dish and crush the cookies

to a saucepan, add the butter, sugar

cocoa powder

and Karo syrup

heat over low heat

stirring until melted and smooth

stir in crushed biscuits and dried fruit then press into pan

lick spoon while pan is chilling in fridge

melt chocolate in microwave

spread on top of chilled tiffin ~ place back into fridge for a couple of hours

loosen edges of pan and turn out onto cutting board

cut into squares

eat some and wrap some to share with your siblings and parents

Chocolate Tiffin

Recipe source: My Virgin Kitchen

PRINT RECIPE

100g butter (on my kitchen scale 100g = 3.5 oz. or about 7 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. golden syrup (light Karo)

2 Tbs sugar

4 Tbs. cocoa powder

3/4-1 cup raisins and dried cherries

200-250g rich tea biscuits, broken into varying size pieces from medium to very small (I used vanilla wafer cookies)

200g chocolate (your preference of dark to light ratio)

In saucepan, melt the butter, Karo, sugar, cocoa powder over low heat; stirring until smooth.

Stir in the crushed biscuits and fried fruit until blended. Press firmly into a buttered 8×8-inch pan.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate in microwave on 30% power for 30 second intervals (stirring between each heating) until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Remove pan from refrigerator; spread melted chocolate on top. Return to the refrigerator for several hours until completely cooled and firm.

Allow pan to sit on counter for a few minutes. Loosen edges of pan with knife and turn tiffin out onto a cutting board. Cut into squares.

Spring Break

By Lorraine

Our kids were on spring break last week but our New York kids are on break this week and spending the time here with us. That means lots of get-together’s and lots of photos 🙂

My New Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

By Lorraine

I recently saw Lidia Bastianich prepare Fettuccine Alfredo using just a few ingredients. Although I already have a favorite recipe, I know it is high in calories. I made this version lighter and love how quickly it comes together as the pasta is cooking. Don’t be afraid to use the sage ~ it infuses just a hint of flavor.

Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine’s Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal.Continue Reading

Happy 3rd Birthday, Cambrie Noelle

By Lorraine

Cambrie LOVES Minnie Mouse!

So for her Birthday I made her a hat.

The pattern is from Repeat Crafter Me

this little 3-year old sweetie melts my heart

peeking in the window
It was a rainy, chilly afternoon when Jared and I met Jamie and the kids at the Pop Shop
to celebrate Cambrie’s birthday in the quaint town of Collingswood, New Jersey.
A few years ago, Bobby Flay arrived at the Pop Shop for a Grilled Cheese Throwdown.

big bowls of ice-cream made everyone happy

and there might have been some noisy children too…

even in the rain the streets were beautiful

~*~

When Ella stopped coming for childcare back in September, I told her I would take her to our church’s Living Nativity. So, that is what we did Saturday night. I told her afterward we could go to Friendly’s for dinner and ice-cream sundaes. Much to my surprise, she wanted to head back to my house where we spent a couple of hours playing together in the nursery, She made me lots of plates of play food, played dress-up and read an American Girl magazine to me.

Mother’s Day Weekend

By Lorraine

Saturday, John and I worked from 7am until 3pm in the yard weeding, trimming bushes and adding a new berm where there was a bare spot from a Japanese Maple we lost last year. We quit to shower and dress for a drive to my cousin’s son’s wedding reception. We picked up my sister on the way and headed to a lovely evening with family and friends.

Johnny and Nanea had a beautiful beach wedding a few weeks ago in Hawaii.

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