I love making things from scratch but sometimes I like to take shortcuts. And by sometimes, I mean all the time.

Let's take pizza for example. Yes, I could make the dough and knead it and then let it rise and then get out my food processor and make my own pizza sauce and then grate a bunch of cheese and cut up all the toppings and then make a salad to go on the side. OR I could knock out a couple of these steps and make life easier.

I have made my own pizza sauce before, but sometimes it is just really nice to open a can/jar and be done with it. I've tried many different brands and while I am not really picky about the sauce, my husband is. In fact, he's kind of a pizza brat.

Well, I was sick of buying sauces that the husband didn't like and spending more money on them than I would making it on my own so one day I did a little research. I found quite a few people who said that Don Pepino's pizza sauce is the sauce to buy. We gave it a shot and now there is no turning back.

Why do we love it?

1. It tastes fresh.
No funky spices or weird, underlying flavors.

2. A can costs around $1.
We make two cookie-sheet-sized pizzas with one can.

3. They sell it at Walmart.
A lot of people said they could only find it at specialty grocery stores so it was nice to find it at Walmart since that's where I do most of my grocery shopping. (Walmart is definitely not my favorite place but it keeps my grocery bill low - but that's a topic for another day!)

Anyway, Don Pepino is our new BFF.

I also think it's awesome that the guy on the can (I'm assuming that's "Don") is holding a can of Don Pepinos. It's a can inside of a can.

Can Inception.

Try this pizza sauce out - hopefully you won't be disappointed. If you are, I apologize and I owe you a dollar. If you love it, I'm happy you are now fellow Don-Pepino-lovers.

This is the cheapest place I can find to buy it online. I see that you can buy some online on Walmart and Amazon, but they are definitely more expensive. Hopefully they sell them at all Walmart locations!

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - Enos

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Song: There are two song options for this lesson. One is a lesser-known song from the Children’s Songbook, but is perfect for teaching the parts of prayer. It’s basic and obviously toddler-friendly. The other is a well-known hymn that I love. While it isn’t as simple and clear as the first song, I think it’s important to teach children hymns as well. Whatever your choice is, you can’t really go wrong!

A Prayer Song (CS p. 22a)

(To make this song interactive, just follow the words to the song! The only thing I would as is to end by kneeling during the fourth line so you look ready to pray by the end of the song.)

We bow our heads in prayer today,

We fold our arms together,

Then close our eyes, and while we pray

We talk to Heavenly Father

OR

Did You Think to Pray? (Hymn #140, chorus only)

Oh, how praying rests the weary. (lay head on hands like you are sleeping)

Prayer will change the night to day. (fold arms for “prayer”, then sign “day”)

So, when life gets dark and dreary, (make a sad face)

Don’t forget to pray (shake head “no”, fold arms)

Art/Craft:

1. Perfect coloring pages found here
UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page: (kind of hard for toddlers, but great for kids a little older!)

2. Here are a couple of options for printable figures to use with summary (or you can just act it out, as outlined)

Summary (with printable figures) OR Dramatization: (found here)

One day Enos went into the forest (have the children hold up their arms and pretend to be trees)to hunt animals (have them pretend to shoot an arrow). While he was in the forest, he prayed to Heavenly Father (have the children kneel as if praying; finish the story while they are kneeling). Heavenly Father answered his prayer, and Enos was happy. He knew Heavenly Father would bless him.

Additional Activities:

1. Rebus story: Enos Prays

 

2. I don’t have a place for this, but this lesson would be the perfect time to teach children how to pray. This is a cute little idea using the lyrics from one of the songs in the Children’s Songbook.

I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; (raise one finger—keep fingers raised throughout the activity verse)

I thank him for blessings he sends; (raise second finger)

Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, (raise third finger)

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. (raise fourth finger)

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Introduce the song by listening to it a couple times.

2. Read the story from the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End each day by singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages (or printable figures if you are choosing to do that) while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

4. Read the summary to your child one time and model how to act it out/use the printable figures (depending on what you choose). Then read it again and encourage your child to participate with you. Read one of your favorite scriptures from the chapter and end by singing the song.

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. End by singing the song.

6. Have your child retell the story by acting out the summary/using the figures while you read it (or see if they can do it by themselves!).

OR

Read the Rebus story a couple times and then see if your child can read it with you by having them read the parts with the pictures.

Read a favorite verse from this story two times and have your child read it with you the second time. Bear your testimony about prayer and end by singing the song.

Free flower clipart found here

The Sabbath Is a Delight - Primary Activity

A few months ago we did an activity for the children in our primary that was not only fun but had an important spiritual lesson behind it too. I figured I could share for any who are interested! At the time, the leadership in our ward/stake wanted each auxiliary to focus our teachings on keeping the Sabbath day holy. Often times it’s hard to think how you can incorporate things into primary when you have manuals to follow and not a lot of time in between sharing time, singing time, etc. I think I found this idea somewhere online but adapted it a bit to make it more centered around Elder Nelson’s talk, “The Sabbath Is a Delight”.

As I thought about what we could do to focus on this important commandment in primary, I reflected on my own personal testimony and how it has changed from when I was a child. Growing up, I sometimes felt like Sunday was just a day full of “no’s”.

“No, you can’t play with your friend.”

“No, you can’t go to that birthday party.”

“No, you can’t watch T.V. “

Although I never hated Sundays and I am forever grateful that my parents set a high standard for us, Sundays were never my favorite day. Now that I’m older, I absolutely love Sundays. I know it’s normal for kids to think that Sundays are boring, but I wanted to do something that would help our primary children see that Sundays can be special days. While you may not be able to do things you normally do on every other day of the week, you can spend time doing things that will bring you closer to your family and to God, which is so much more important than a TV show or play date.

In Elder Nelson’s talk, he focuses on four areas that can help us make our Sabbath a “delight”: family history, gospel learning, family time and service. As a presidency, we wanted the children to learn more about these areas, spend time doing something relating to each area and discover for themselves that Sundays can be “a delight”.

In order to achieve this goal, we had the children complete a few activities and report back to us to earn an ice cream sundae. We had a Sunday/sundae celebration! We let the children watch a church movie during sharing time while we served them their ice cream. It was a lot of fun and the children loved it. Here are some details for how we went about it:

I split the areas mentioned in Elder Nelson’s talk amongst the presidency and we each were in charge of one. We came up with a few activities that the kids could do relating to each area, typed them up on a cover page and then found additional resources to include in our packet.  (We wanted them to have lots of activities/ideas they could refer to in the future.) We stapled each individual packet with the cover page on top and put all four packets into a manila folder for each child.

The children were to either complete one of the suggested activities (written on the cover page) or come up with their own (as long as it fit the area) and then write about their experience. They didn’t need to turn anything in – this was just for their personal reflection. Then, they would report back to us as they completed each activity (or their parents would text/email me) and would earn a scoop/topping for their sundae.

We gave everyone one scoop as a freebie (vanilla or chocolate). If they did something for family history, they earned a second scoop. If they did an act of service they earned chocolate syrup (or caramel). If they studied the gospel, they earned one topping of their choice. If they spent time with family, they earned another topping. So a “full sundae” would be two scoops of ice cream, chocolate syrup and two toppings.

On the day of our special Sunday/sundae celebration we went around to classrooms and dropped off individualized “menus” to each teacher for the children in their class. Each “menu” had the child’s name and what they earned (one/two scoops, one or two toppings, etc.). The teachers asked each child to fill out their menu and they handed their orders to us as they came into sharing time. During the movie we made their sundaes, according to what each child wrote down, and passed them out. It was very reverent and organized – not like a crazy line of kids wanting ice cream and us taking orders on the spot.

Throughout the process we kept track of their progress on one of our bulletin boards. My awesome secretary cut out shapes with her fancy machine of cones, scoops, toppings, whipped cream and a cherry. We wrote each child’s name on the cones and as they reported to us we added their scoops/toppings. We didn’t do this in front of everyone, though. (We didn’t want anyone to feel left out/bad if they didn't’ participate.) They would report to us after primary and we would add to our bulletin board once the children were gone. Then the following week they could see their sundae had grown and could get excited about their progress.

Side note: On the day we handed out the manila envelopes, we wanted to really get the children excited about it. For sharing time we did four stations, each member of the presidency at a station, and we did a mini-lesson about our particular area. I was in charge of service so I showed the children a sweet video (here or here) about giving service, asked them for some ideas of ways they can give service to others and then had them complete an act of service right then and there. (At the time we just got a new bishop so we cut out hearts and wrote messages/colored on them to “heart-attack” the old bishop’s car and the bishop’s office for the new bishop.) I gave them a little pep talk about giving service and then we rotated. We planned on doing this during one sharing time but this actually took up two sharing times. It was worth it though!

Okay, phew. I think that’s all. If you have any questions, let me know! My counselors came up with some awesome resources, particularly for family history (coolest coloring book EVER) and I would be happy to assist anyone who feels their primary child could benefit from this.

Happy Sunday!

Main explanation included in packet 

"Menu"

I have the cover pages for each area with the suggested activities as well. If you are interested, let me know!

  

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Jacob and Sherem

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Song: The Church of Jesus Christ, p. 77

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (march in place with the beat)

I know who I am. (point to self)

I know God’s plan. (point to head)

I’ll follow Him in faith. (hold both index fingers up; move one and have the other follow)

I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ (raise right hand up, making a 90 degree angle with arm)

I’ll honor his name. (sign language for “honor”)

I’ll do what is right; (sign language for “right”)

I’ll follow His light. (hold both index fingers up; move one and have the other follow)

His truth I will proclaim. (cup both hands around mouth like you are yelling something)

Art/Craft:

1. Testimony coloring pages here, here (super simple and cute) and here

Activity:

1. Testimony Glove

Additional Activities: (for the over-achiever!)

1. “Building” testimony printable – you could do this with actual blocks, like this idea.

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Introduce the song by listening to it a couple times.

2. Read the story from the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End each day by singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

4. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. Talk about Jacob’s testimony. Point out that even though Sherem tried to argue with Jacob and make him stop believing, Jacob’s testimony was too strong. Show your testimony glove (from the activity section) and talk about the basic parts of having a testimony. Share your testimony using the glove. 

5. Read a favorite verse from this story two times and have your child read it with you the second time. Summarize the chapter and share your testimony about an important lesson learned. Have your child use the testimony glove and share their testimony. End by singing the song.