Quick and Easy Easter Craft

This idea came from "My Mix of Six".  It's one of my very favorite blogs.  I don't even remember how I "found" it...but it really has effected "the mom I want to be".*

Just in case you think I've left Joshua out of something exciting...I had it all ready for him to do too.  But someone didn't want to get their hands dirty.  =( 

*I especially love what she does to celebrate holidays with her family.  Her ideas are cute...but doable!  (Not to mention she takes beautiful pictures!)  Even more than what she does...I love the fact that she has her traditions she does each year...and then they do them! 

It sounds basic...but for me I think knowing what are different holiday "plans" are...and not redeciding everytime how and what we do would be huge! 

This year I've started a file on my computer for each holiday/special occasion and am collecting things to go in it.  Hoping to start some traditions and just do better and keeping some we've already started.  (I'll try to post more on this thought as special occasions happen.)

Feeding the Birds

I saw this cute idea for making "bird feeders" with pine cones on my friend Jenny's blog here and had to try it myself!

We had a fun time going out early on a little pine cone scavenger hunt...

Elizabeth checking out this "curious" thing.

Then we spread peanut butter on the pine cones...

(Loving the "charity smile".)  =)

Rolled them in birds seed...and hung them on a nearby tree.

Family Home Evening -- Jeopardy

This winter...on nights when we felt a bit "snowed in" we'd sometimes turn on Jeopardy to watch to help wind the kids down.  Ironically...they think it's the most exciting game!  I thought maybe it would be a fun "format" to try to teach/review some things they've been learning in Primary.  When Joshua heard what we were going to do he said, "So you mean I'm going to say, 'I want Book of Mormon for six hundred and two'?" 

I just used a foam board and 3x5 cards.  I just had a list in my hand of the questions...instead of writing them on the back of the cards...so I could adjust the questions a little based on who it was.  (Don't tell!)  Each person just kept the cards they got right so points could be added up at the end.  (If you can distract them from actually adding them up...everyone stays a lot happier!)

Questions ranged from "What is your Primary teacher's name?" under Primary People.  To "Recite the first Article of Faith" (I had some little papers printed out to help--using the first letter of each word).  They've been learning "Follow the Prophet" this month in Primary.  Our music leader has been amazing at having them act out the stories and learn the verses...so I would read them a verse without saying the prophet's name and they would guess.  Etc. 

It wasn't the most spiritual thing we've ever done.  But, it did keep their attention!  I found them later playing it by themselves...Nathan saying to Joshua, "Who was the first prophet of Thomas S. Jefferson?"  (Uhhh...I think they were listening...but another week of playing with the same questions might not be a bad idea!)

Seeing Spring Through New Eyes

When anticipating Spring with my baby girl, I think I've been excited to envision afternoons at the park with her sitting by my side on a blanket watching Nathan and Joshua play. 

There's a tiny park just down the road from where we pick Nathan up at the bus stop.  So, after the bus comes we walk down and spend a little while there playing before we go home each day.  This last week I "made the mistake" of letting Elizabeth out of the stroller to sit on the sidewalk with me.  Here's what happened...

A dash to the playground...

Then a dash to the forest...(Can you see how high she lifts her little knees up when she crawls?!)

This girl is no "picnic blanket sitter"! Since then she's just loved...

The swing!

The slide...

And about anything else we'll help her try!

It's just so fun for all of us, really, to get a little more of a glimspe into the curious mind and adventurous spirit of our 11-month old Elizabeth!  There's magic in seeing spring through her eyes!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I saw this cute idea for a "Sham-ROCK" shirt on one of my favorite crafting blogs "U-Create".

I've just done a major sorting/reorganizing of all my craft stuff and found both St. Patrick's Day fabric and white t-shirts in the mix.  So, I thought I'd give it a try.  It's not perfection...but kind of a fun effect. 

Joshua got a small drum set and guitar for Christmas from Santa.  He and Nathan have become quite the "rock stars".  So, we thought the whole idea was pretty fitting.

The other fun thing we tried this year for St. Patrick's Day...that will hopefully become a tradition is something we found on Family Fun -- Leprechaun Magic Treasure Box

The short version is:
On the eve of St. Patrick's Day...leprechauns appear throughout the world to dance and sing and frolic....They come and go unnoticed.  However, it is said that if a decorated treasure box is left empty under the moon, the leprechauns must fill the box with gold or jewels or gifts. But then they will hide the filled box in the most unlikely of places.

So...

Here's our treasure box:

Last night it was placed by Nathan and Joshua's window in the moonlight.  This morning there were "Leprechaun Tracks" (shiny shamrock confetti) leading from their window into a hiding spot in our room.  (They had totally disassembled everything before it was light enough outside for a good picture!) 

The box was filled with Lucky Charms (eaten with green milk for breakfast) and some green treats--Fruit by the Foot and two of the tiny cans of Sprite.  Next year I'm hoping the leprechaun will get it together and leave some chocolate, gold coins too!  =)

Just had to post this one last picture of Joshua.  There is something so totally endearing about him in this picture to me!  Slicked hair and his cute stance...it's so lovable HIM!

CUPCAKES!

I recently went to a bridal show with my dear friend, Cindy, and got my first real taste of gourmet cupcakes!  So, when it came time to make dessert for our "Selection Monday" get-together...I had to give them a try.  

I looked at this inspiring website to get some flavor ideas...The Kupcake Factory.

But quickly realized that making cakes from scratch was going to be more than I wanted to do!  I went to Wal-Mart and got "inspired" by the cake mixes available.  And, as I've mentioned before, creating just isn't creating unless it's done in mass quantities around here.  So, I made several different kinds over the last week and froze them in ziploc bags.  Then on the day of the "party" I just pulled them out of the bags, let them thaw, and iced them.  

It was a fun thing for me to discover that with just some disposable bags and two different deocrating tips...you can get this!

Flavors:

Pina Colada -- Pineapple Cake Mix with Bicardi Pina Colada frozen concentrate (poked holes in the cupcakes with fork and poured on top).  Mixed some concentrate into the icing.

Strawberry Supreme--Strawberrery Cake Mix with Bicardi Strawberry Daquiri frozen concentrate (done same as above)

Peanut Butter Chocolate--Chocolate Cake with with peanut butter chips sprinkled on top and peanut butter icing

Red Velvet--Nothing fancy...just the cake mix...and ironically most people's favorite.

Cherry "Cheesecake"--White Cake Mix with cream cheese and Cool Whip frosting and cheeries in the middle.

I just found the icing recipe from the Wilton website here.
 
I tried making some of the cakes with a small box of pudding mixed in "dry" with the cake mix.  At first I was alarmed because the cupcakes came out really flat!  But, in the end with the frosting it didn't really matter.  And, it really did make a difference on how moist they turned out!

Our "Family Club"

Last month there was a great article in the Ensign about a family who created a "Family Club".  In place of some of the extracirricular activities they were doing, they decided they'd officially spend time together pursuing hobbies, etc. as a family.  (You can read it using the link below.) 

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Putting Family First

Our kids are too young to have to "say no" to to many extracirricular activities yet...but I've loved the idea and thought that it's not to early to start our "Family Club" now. 

We've been trying to think of something that could be a fun project...especially to help keep Nathan and Joshua's minds busy.  Greg thought of going to Salvation Army and finding some inexpensive electrical gadget (i.e. clock radio) that they could take apart and put back together.

This morning while I was cleaning, they headed out on their adventure.  We had no idea that they would find a real treasure!  An electric typewriter with case for $10!  They came proudly bearing it home...and to our surprise it actually worked!  It needs some new ribbon...but hopefully finding that will be part of the fun. 

We think Nathan might type a little family newsletter or something...and get some enjoyment out of the thing before they disassemble.  We'll keep you updated on it's/our progress!

Good Morning SUNSHINE!

When I Grow Up...

"When I grow up I want to be an artist, astronaut, Dad."

(I don't know where my crazy scribbler has gone...but it seems like overnight he's turned into a careful boy who can color, do mazes, and especially paint for amazing stretches of time!)

One thing that's so cute about Joshua is that when he works on a project he uses his left hand to do the left side of the page and then very carefully, deliberately switches to his right hand for the right side of the page. 

"March Madness" on the Way!

March Madness has become a tradition for our little family. Early on in our marriage I realized that I could either dread this blessed "season" or embrace it. In the years since...it has become a really fun way for Greg and I to have something to follow together and talk about.

The honest truth is that we don't really watch basketball until the tournament starts. But, in the last couple days we have each read up online, etc. to become somewhat educated in making our "picks".

Some years we've had competitions with other couples...husbands against wives...with a get-together at the end of the tournament celebrating the overall winners. Each couple brings a dessert...made by either the husband or the wife...whoever was the low scorer of the two. Once again...creating a fun thing to talk about in the weeks of "play" and a great reason to get together in the end.

This year we're trying a "get-together" at the beginning...in hopes of roping more people in. =)

Let the "madness" begin!

Her Favorite Room in the House

This is the proud little face of a girl who has beaten her mother to the open toilet...again!

Is it Spring Yet?!

I don't know about you...but one more blog post about excitement playing in the snowy backyard and I'm going to weep!  Either I need a new project or spring better come quick!  But...until one or the other surfaces...here's to another great snow day with "the boys". 

Singing Time Apron

I've been looking for something to "liven up" our Family Home Evenings and that I might could also use when I teach and/or substitute during singing time in Primary.  I came across this cute idea...

Sugar Doodle "Pick A Pocket"

Today I found an apron at Michaels--with a coupon I spend $3.  Felt at JoAnns (when the pockets and numbers are made out of) is 4 for $1.  The pockets are just sewed on around the edges.  The numbers a glued on with Elmer's glue.  I think I maybe spent $5 total on supplies. 

I don't plan to made something to hand out to each child for each song...but just have something in each pocket that is a "cue" for what song we'll sing.  I'll try to post a list when I've got more.  A fun, easy project I think we'll get a lot of mileage out of!

Work Hard...Play Hard

I'd like to think that our family...at least some of the time...embodies this motto.  This last Friday our home needed a real "working over".  I knew that I could wait until Greg got home for the weekend in hopes he'd "rescue" us.  Or, I could "rally the troops" and get it done during the day so that we could have fun with Greg when he got home.

To make a long story short...got a coin jar out for each boy.  They earned a dime for each job they helped to complete.  We cleaned sinks, counters, mirrors, put away laundry...you get the idea.  (Usually we use a different "reward" system...but it seemed like we needed a more immediate reward.) 

That night we took the hard earned money to Jeepers (our budget Chuck-E-Cheese) where the rides only cost a dollar...and the games 25 cents.  We usually only play in the free playplace they've got.  So actually spending money made it extra special.  =)  I think for a total of $5, we had quite the evening!  (Money well spent--especially Greg agrees!)  

Nathan and I on the "Yak Attack".

Nathan and I have both been wanting to try this ride.  Reminds me of "Musicland Express" at Lagoon. 

It lacks the music and gets you a lot more sick than I remembered!

I have to admit that not all the jobs get done perfectly...and Nathan and Joshua don't stay "focused" all during working time.  But, it's worth a lot for me just to have two cheerful boys while a dash around trying to make progress!