Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts

12.26.2009

pinch me

I made two of these frog-like coin/candy holders.
My boys thought they were fantastic and had fun putting a few quarters inside.
Here's where I got the idea
Cut 3- 10holes X 10holes
Hold the tail along the backside as you stitch diagonally.

Run 3 whip stitches through each corner square
You need 2 squares that have 2 edges finished and
one square with all 4 edges unfinished.

Line up and whip stitch two unfinished edges together.
Look at photo above to figure out which squares to use.
These two unfinished edges just need to get stitched together
and you're done.
Hot glue google eyes and pinch cheeks to reveal a hidden treasure inside!

11.30.2009

december 1

Let the countdown to Christmas begin! The kids are tucked in bed asleep and now is the time to get a few things out for the beginning of our Advent celebration. Here is a list of the activities that show up behind our Advent doors each morning. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23411321

I'm trying for consistency with many special things we do for the holidays. I want my boys to grow up with traditions, excitement & anticipation. Christmas is packed with things we'll repeat each year. Here's a new tradition we're starting with "Elf on our Shelf". I've seen this idea on numerous blogs but was originally inspired while reading http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/11/elf-on-shelf.html.
I didn't buy the story book this year
but did find this little Japanese cutie on EBay.
He'll show up tomorrow morning on a shelf in our house, will watch over the boys for 24 days and report back to Santa Christmas Eve night. Moving around the house when no one is looking will help him keep a keen eye on who's been naughty or nice.

Another tradition we're beginning is that I'll be wrapping 24 Christmas themed books (off our bookshelf) tonight and placing them under the tree for tomorrow. I read about this idea on http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-books.html and fell in love with it!
Each evening before bed the boys will take turns opening that night's book and will enjoy a beloved Christmas tale.
The same 24 books will be wrapped and opened each year. I think this will be a great way to make our Christmas books special and memorable.
We will also be making a paper chain tomorrow with 24 links. Each morning the boys will rip off a link and have a visual to the remaining days until Christmas.

{I'm feeling quite prepared this year}

All Christmas gifts bought (Check!)
Outdoor Lights Hung (Check!)
Christmas decorations inside setup (Check!)
Christmas Tree up (Check!)
Christmas Cards bought and ready to be sent (Check!)
Preschool Parties @ school planned (Check!)
December Birthday boy's party planned and prepped (Check!)


What's gotten into me?
I'm the queen of procrastination!

4.05.2009

colored {chinese tea eggs}

Step 1: Pour a tad bit of salt into each of 12 or so cups.

Step 2: add a smear of Wilton- Food Color Gel into each cup. Fill with boiling water.
Step 3: Gently 'roll to crack' 12 hard-boiled eggs. Leave shells attached to egg.
Step 4: Drop one egg into each of the 12 colors. Make sure the hot water covers the egg completely. (Tip: I placed all my cups into a deep baking pan lined with paper towel. The paper towel helped catch splatters and spills, and the baking dish kept it all contained). Leave in colored water for 5-7 hours. I checked one after a few hours, and the color was not bright enough.
Step 5: Gently peel back the shells and enjoy the unique designs. The inside of the shells are just as beautiful as the eggs!
Step 6: Okay so we had 12 peeled- hard boiled eggs stinking up our refrigerator overnight, so it was time to make deviled eggs!

Pretty and delicious. Happy Easter!

3.28.2009

prayer rock

My son came home from church last week with this craft. He has already misplaced the polished rock decorated with cross stickers, so we've been busy making more painted prayer rocks at home. I found sealing with Modge Podge worked well to make an ordinary outdoor rock smooth and polished. We'll place them in a little wooden prayer-rock box on top of his dresser. If you decide to make a one at home with your child, remember to use a Sharpie to write their name and the date on the bottom.
(what a great childhood treasure to keep forever!)

PRAYER ROCK
(Author Unknown)
I'm your little prayer rock and this is what I'll do.
Just put me on your pillow 'til the day is through.
Then turn back the covers and climb into your bed,and, whack!
your little prayer rock will bump you on the head.
Then you will remember as the day is through,
to kneel and say your prayers as you intended to.
Then when you are finished dump me on the floor.
I'll stay there through the night time to give you help once more.
When you get up next morning,clunk!
I stub your toe,
so that you will remember your prayers before you go.
Put me back upon your pillow when your bed is made,
and your clever little prayer rock will continue in your aid.
Because your Heavenly Father
cares and loves you so,
He wants you to remember
to talk to Him, you know.

3.17.2009

roy-g-biv (-i) Jello

Here is a fun St Patrick’s Day treat that will be made tradition in our house. Yes, once a year is plenty to be making this Jello. You’ll be in the kitchen at least 3 hours for this one, but the end result is so worth the time.

Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking pan with baking spray. I don't like using this stuff, but I think it's necessary to have Jello that separates from the pan in the end.

Place the rainbow flavors of Jello in 6 separate bowls. Use 2 small boxes of Jello per bowl. Work with one flavor at a time. Don't try to make all the flavors at once as the Jello will solidify as you work. (personal experience) Mix 1.5 cups boiling water into the first bowl. Stir 2 minutes until dissolved. Pour 1/2 the red mixture into the prepared baking pan (it'll be a very thin layer but should cover the bottom) and refrigerate for 15 minutes. I found setting my oven timer for 15 minutes helped me keep track of all the 15-minute intervals. While the first layer is chilling in the refrigerator add a heaping Tablespoon of Cool Whip to the remaining red Jello. You don't want too much Cool Whip as your layer will be too pale, but you do want enough to make the layer opaque. I found the heaping Tablespoon to be sufficient. (note: you can also use lowfat vanilla yogurt or sour cream instead of Cool Whip to make your layer opaque)
The more room temperature your Cool whip the smoother the layer will look. This Cool Whip started out frozen so I whisked it for a few minutes to make it look less chunky. (I rarely plan ahead enough to let things thaw before baking with them) As I worked on each layer the Cool Whip thawed and became easier to work with.
When the first layer is chilled enough to be firm but still tacky, pour the red Cool Whip layer to the top. 2 notes: 1)Don't leave the layers in longer than 15 minutes. This will cause the layers to be so firm that they won't stick to each other and will cause the layers to slide off each other in the end. 2)Pour the mixture onto a spoon to elimintate the stream from breaking the surface tension of the privious layer. This will eliminate a hole being created into a layer.

When the opaque layer is added to a color and put in to chill for another 15 minutes this is the time to mix the Jello for the next color. This gives the Jello time to cool down before adding it to the next layer. If the Jello is too hot when pouring it will melt the previous layer.
After you repeat these steps for each layer (12 total...see I told you you'd be in the kitchen all day) put the final product in the refrigerator to chill at least 2 hours. I left mine in overnight covered with plastic wrap.

This is what it looks like when you cut into it.
This it the end result.

2.17.2009

jell-O oranges

Here's a cool snack idea I found at
It's easy to make, and my boys LOVED them. I think this will become a tradition in our house. Just scoop out the inside of a halved orange.
(I used a grapefruit spoon to scrape cleanly)
Pour in prepared Jell-O. First place halved oranges in a muffin tin to prevent tipping!
Chill for 4 hours, and slice just like an orange!
Yum Fun!

2.12.2009

traditions

The sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that had left the conscious mind.
~Thalassa Cruso, To Everything There is a Season, 1973

I'd like my boys to associated certain smells with their childhood. What better way to foster this memory maker than the smell of baking banana bread? It's beginning to become a tradition here. As soon as our bananas turn soft and brown... off we are baking again, and I never have a lack of baking assistants!

The Best Banana Bread
3/4 C butter softened
1.5 C sugar
3 bananas, blackened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2 C flour
3/4 tsp salt
1.5 C buttermilk
(if you don't have buttermilk you can use 1 tsp vinegar in a 1/2 cup measuring cup
and fill to the top with milk. Let this mixture set for 5 minutes before adding to the recipe)
1.5 C mini-chocolate chips (optional of course)
Cream butter and sugar (by hand or with a mixer). Mash bananas and add by hand to creamed mixture. By hand add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, flour and salt. Gently stir in buttermilk and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 1.25 hours or until it tests done with a toothpick. Coarsely mashing bananas is best, and make sure they are over ripe for best flavor. If you do the majority of mixing by hand it makes for a better texture in the end. You can make one large loaf with this recipe or 2-3 smaller loafs. I find making 2 smaller loafs cuts down the baking time considerably. Adjust baking time accordingly. Let rest before slicing.

thank you very much

Thank you cards are pretty high on my importance list. If kindness is extended without the opportunity of face-to face thank yous, the least one can do is take a few moments to show appreciation for such thoughtfulness via a a phone call, a visit, a hand written note...So I've begun to make sure my boys are aware of this concept and am helping them "learn" gratitude. I spend a lot of time teaching them to think of others. Here's a simple way I had N create a thank you card. I typed the majority and had him write basic parts to make it his own. The card is his traced hand holding a heart. So go ahead and remember to have your children show appreciativeness and generosity!