The New Year Times

Extra, Extra, Read all about it! 

Can you believe a NEW YEAR is almost upon us!?!

I wanted to create something special that I could do with my kids so they can start understanding what a New Year's Resolution is. I also wanted to be able to save them and look back on them over the years! I decided that I'm going to buy a 3 ring binder and add this print out for each person in the family so we can keep track of some of our Favorites, Goals, and Dreams!

Free Printable Version Below!

The New Year Times

Another great idea, if you are having a New Year's party, would be to print a bunch of these out. Then roll them up and tie them with a pretty ribbon and hand them out to your guests to fill out! Happy 2013, may this year to come be FILLED with blessings for you and your family! 

Let's make this a year to remember!!!

Snow & Cookies

 Well, today was the PERFECT day to start out Brenden Christmas break! We woke up to 2-3 inches of SNOW!!! We hardly had any snow last year so we were all pretty excited about this! The kids were dancing and screaming when they woke up! Garren got his first feel of snow sitting in the warm house! He didn't really care the cold white stuff that we just dumped in his lap! 

   

We scooped up a bowl full of fresh untouched snow and made Snow Smoothies!

Then we warmed up the house a little by making my all time FAVORITE cookie, Peanut Butter Blossoms! I added a little "twist" to them.... Check it out and then make some for yourself! The whole family will thank you for it! Also, Christmas is so close, you can even leave one out for Santa!

What you will need:

• One bag of Hershey's Kisses (I prefer plain milk chocolate)
• 3/4 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
• 1/2 cup butter (slightly melted)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup ground carrots (just put them through the food processor)
• 1/4 packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

As you probably noticed, my "twist" is the pumpkin and carrots! I love adding nutrition to desserts....makes it easier to have more than one!!! You with me!?!

Here is the fun part, have your kids open all of the kisses! Put in a bowl and set aside!

Turn your oven on to 375 degrees.

Beat together the butter, peanut butter, carrots, and pumpkin until well blended!

 Add your sugar and brown sugar and beat till fluffy!

 Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well.

 Lastly, gradually add your flour, baking soda, and salt to the mixture!

Shape your dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar! Then place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 7-10 minutes or until lightly browned! Then right from the oven press your chocolate kiss in the center!

Delicious!

Christmas List Keepsake Ornament

Every year I get one ornament for each kid. I like it to be something that they were really into or something they really loved at that age! I remember seeing this CUTE idea last year at Christmastime but already had my kids ornaments so I remembered it for this year. Of course I changed it up a little by using one of my favorite crafts supplies, Mod Podge!

This Christmas list ornament is the cutest keepsake! It will be so much fun to look back on what your children were hoping for throughout the years! 

What you will need:

• Large wooden spool
• Paint
• Little piece of ribbon
• Paper
• Mod Podge

Let your kids paint their wooden spool.

   

 Then once it is dry, you will want to seal it with Mod Podge. I also wanted a glittery look to mine so I used the Sparkle finish Mod Podge.

 Once dry, the Mod Podge gives the spool a pretty finished look!

 Next you want to cut out a piece of paper about the width of the center of the spool and the length long enough to be wrapped around the spool with about an inch extra. This paper should be scrapbook paper thickness. Next you just cut out a white piece of paper to fit inside your first piece, as pictured below. 

   

 Now, write you title (____ Christmas List 2012) and a few of your child's wishes for christmas with a sharpie. To make this a little neater you could also type and print this part out. Next, paint a little Mod Podge on the back of your list and "glue" it in place.

   

  Mod Podge the list around the spool! Once it wraps all the way around, let a little stick out.

   

 Next, I used matte finish Mod Podge and sealed the writing on the white paper. I could have used sparkle in this but I didn't what glitter on top of the writing! This is all personal preference. Then get a nice ribbon, put it through the center of the spool, and tie it at the top.

   

 There you have it! A cute and simple keepsake ornament that you and you kids will enjoy for years to come!

Fun Christmas/Winter Games (FREE Printables)

I had to tell you all about this really cool blog I found called Criss-Cross Applesauce! Lisa has some GREAT games for young children AND the best part about it is she does most of the work for us by creating really cute & FREE printables!!!

When I saw her Decorate a Christmas Tree game, I had to try it!!!

Simply print out as many game boards as you will need and the game "cards". To get to the print outs just click on the photo above! I used a glue stick to give the game cards a backing so you don't see through the white paper! She laminates her game boards for reuse. I would recommend this if your kids are gunna play a lot!

 Then cut around your cards and put your M&M's in a bowl!

 Each player gets 20 random M&M's. Once they get them, they separate them to the right color box!

 The great thing about this game is it can be played with many kids or just ONE child!

I love that I can pull this out when my daughter is bored and she can play a fun solo game!

 The way this simple game is played is the kids pull cards till they fill up their christmas tree with their M&M's! Then you can replay the game by taking off the M&M's and putting them back in the correct color box! Lastly, EVERYONE wins when they get to eat their tree decorations!

I had to show you a few other fun Christmas/Winter printable games she has!

Stuff A Stocking is a counting game played with Hershey's Kisses!

Let It Snow is another counting game played with marshmallows!

Click on the pictures for their print-outs!

I just saw something this morning that I HAD to add to this post!!! If you have never checked out Joel's blog, you need to! He is full of great ideas! He drew a printable Nativity Scene! I don't know about you, but I'm totally coloring this with my kids!! Click on the picture below to print it for yourself!

Video From Santa

I just wanted to tell you all about this sight! I have been doing this for a few years with my children! It is so much fun! The videos seem to keep getting better and better every year!

At the Portable North Pole website you can make a FREE personalized video to your children!!!

We don't make a HUGE deal about Santa in our family, it's more about Jesus! However, there is just something fun about your name being said and personalized pictures and information about you from Santa HIMSELF!!! I'm not gunna lie, it also gives your child more reason to listen and act sweet! =) As the song goes "He sees you when your sleeping! He knows when you're awake! He knows if you've been BAD OR GOOD, so be good for goodness sake!" My husband and I have started singing this around the holidays when the kids are fighting over a toy! =) hehe

Click on the picture above to make your own! It should only take a few minutes!

I will try and share the one I made for Brenden but since I didn't buy it I think the link only lasts 90 days! Simply click on Santa below to see if it's still there! 

Hope you are have a HAPPY HOLIDAY season so far!