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By kcharles, November 23, 2011 7:54 am

If you’re looking for a last minute kids’ contribution to the Thanksgiving spread, this may be the one. 

Grab random cookies from your pantry. 
Find something that can substitute for feathers and eyes.
Attach everything with the yummiest adhesive there is – melted chocolate chips.  (Not that I regularly ingest and rate adhesives.)

Now send the little fingers to work, sneaking candy and laughing.  They will be busy. 

And it may get messy.  Allow for it! 

You will now have time to concoct whatever Thanksgiving dish you need to prepare. 

And sooner or later, they’ll have concocted Turkey Cookies that will appeal to the small crowd at the feast. 

HAVE FUN!

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By kcharles, November 21, 2011 8:17 pm

As a part of our curriculum, the kids and I are in the kitchen at least once a week.  How amazing is the kitchen for math, science, health and nutrition, social studies (international foods), literature (making a favorite recipe out of a book), and general life skills? 

That being said, this recipe is not from our curriculum.  (The curriculum called for beet, radish, and spinach salad.  Yuck!)  This recipe also does not have educational value.  It’s just fun! 

We needed a quick snack and we had these items on hand.  We dumped and mixed and added what was in our cupboards.  Everything was the kids’ idea. 

So we now present to you the autumn trail mix, created by our resident four and six year old.  You would never believe it, but it’s delicious!!!!!!  As if these random foods were made to be together. 

Let us know if you give it a try:)

Autumn Trail Mix

a little of this, a little of that…
Honey Nut Cheerios
Peanuts
Reese’s Pieces (leftover Halloween candy)
Sunflower seeds
Dried cranberries
Candy Corn (leftovers also!)
Mini marshmallows
Yogurt pretzels

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By kcharles, November 19, 2011 8:27 pm

We made this little guy a couple years back. 

The photo isn’t the best, but you get the idea!  It’s a creative contribution that kids can do.  Kind of an appetizer of sorts.  It’s been a few years, but I venture to say we found the idea on Family Fun’s website or in their magazine.  That used to be my only go-to place for ideas. 

Have fun!  Happy Thanksgiving! 

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By kcharles, November 18, 2011 11:22 pm

We started this tradition 4 years ago now.  The little pieces of paper tossed in a bucket.  Giving thanks.  Making the thanks a habit.  Each day inching towards Thanksgiving. 

And then we keep the pieces in the bucket till the next year.

4 years ago, Adden was thankful for milk, sleep, orajel, singing, pacifiers, and cuddling.  (He would have been almost 6 months- awww!!!!!)  And clearly he was so verbal back then!  Today he was thankful for baseball diamonds, his puppy (stuffed, that is), and his family. 

Among the other old praises were good biopsy reports, clean water, good health, safety in traveling, jobs, Jesus, “Me the Bear”, and applesauce.

Today I am grateful.  Grateful for a bucket.  And for the years of praise treasured inside. 

That I may make the voice of thanksgiving heard and may tell of all Your wondrous works.   Psalm 26:7 
God is always, ever good. 

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By kcharles, November 17, 2011 3:54 pm

Our little man had all five of his fruit/veggie servings before 9 am this morning! 

Does attaining the five a day rule cause anyone else to be deliriously happy?  Granted, it was three large glasses of just raspberries and blueberries.  (And probably too much fructose.)  But I was excited about all the fruit guzzling!

These smoothies are incredible.  They’re easy to make and healthy and inexpensive.  A perfect on the go breakfast before school! We all loved them.  The recipe makes 5 tall glasses.  Between the two kids and I, the smoothie was gone in an instant.   Enjoy!

Berry Breakfast Smoothies

2 cups cranberry juice
2 containers (6oz each) raspberry yogurt
1 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 cup frozen unsweetened blueberries
ice cubes

Place ingredients in a blender.  Cover and process until well blended.

Taste of Home August/September 2011

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By kcharles, November 15, 2011 11:00 pm

What could be better than balloons and candy and popping said balloons to smithereens? 

We tried this game for my nephew’s 2nd birthday and it was quite the hit!  For all five children six and under! 

Get balloons, squeeze candy inside, blow them up, and duct tape in any design you would like.  We made ours into a shape of a pumpkin.  You could make a tree for Christmas, a heart for Valentine’s day, a shamrock for St Patty’s Day, or an initial for some one’s birthday. 

My sister in law found the initial idea on Pinterest.  The original idea had children throwing darts at random balloons, but we didn’t think that would end well for our boys, so we modified to use pushpins.  The kids drew a number, popped the selected balloon, and gathered up their spoil. 

And if it was an Aunt Ashley balloon, there was some serious spoil!   If you need to know how to squeeze 7 candy bars into 1 balloon, ask her.  I still don’t know how she did it!

Let me know if you give this a try!

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By kcharles, November 13, 2011 12:21 am

It’s that time of year! 

For a shopping spree.  For wheeling around a cart whoohoo-ing and loading it up.  With cars and footballs and princess crowns and lip gloss.  With toothbrushes and soap and playing and prayer and squeezing into shoe boxes. 

I hope I never forget her giggling and dancing in the aisles and her heart so big it may just burst.  And the four year old hiking the ball for the boy so much like him. 

And it’s the lunch of fish and bread all over again.  Meager offerings to be multiplied by broken hands Who heal.  And with the small giving up, we are the more blessed than tiny hands receiving. 

We are the more blessed.

Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week is November 14-21, 2011

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By kcharles, November 10, 2011 10:56 am

We’re eating through the alphabet again with these little guys.  D is for Dog.  Since we’re not into devouring Fifi, these were a great alternative.  They are a variation of pigs in a blanket. 

I adapted these to be a little healthier, substituting veggie dogs for hot dogs.  They were a huge hit!  Easily made, quickly cooked, and speedily eaten without a complaint. 

Dogs in a Sweater Recipe (A Healthy Adaptation)

1. Preheat oven to 350. 
2. Place a piece of cheese on the veggie dog. 
3. Wrap veggie dogs in crescent rolls or refrigerated bread sticks. 
4. Place on greased cookie sheet.  Cook for 18-20 minutes. 

recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Other D foods to devour:  doughnuts, drinks, dirt pudding, dip, debbie cakes, etc.

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By kcharles, November 5, 2011 9:48 pm

 My favorite Halloween quotes from Selah:

1.  “Mom, I’ve got this.” 
2.  “Do you guys know there’s another side of the road?” 
3.  “My fingers are freezing off.  Can we do just a few more houses?” 
4.  “A princess can wear sneakers, right?  Cause my feet hurt in high heels.” 

Needless to say, Rapunzel and the unidentified Race Car Driver stocked up.  Here is our plan for the excess: 

1.  Give it away. 

a.  Donate to a homeless shelter, women’s shelter, nursing home, church ministry, etc. 
b.  Donate to Operation Gratitude, to be used in care packages for military personnel. 
c.  Donate to a Dentist office buy back program. 
d.  Include in an Operation Christmas Child package.  (Add a toothbrush/toothpaste also.)

2.  Save it for Christmas:

a.  Use it in a Countdown to Christmas calendar.
b.  Make Christmas ornaments or Christmas garland out of it.
c.  Use it for Christmas cookie baking.
d.  Use it to decorate Christmas presents.
e.  Save it for a gingerbread house decoration. 
f.  Make cards out of it to distribute to classmates.  (Poinsettias can be adapted from here.)

3.  Use it as a teaching tool:

a.  Organize by colors, shapes, ingredients, etc.  Put it in ABC order. 
b.  Use for addition and subtraction. 
c.  Make a Venn diagram with it (my favorites, your favorites, our favorites)
d.  Talk about the importance of good nutrition and exercise.  Classify it on the Food Pyramid.
e.  Melt it down for science.  Discuss solids and liquids. 

4.  Use it for art:a.  Paint with it.  (Dip a piece in water and paint – works with skittles, gumballs, fireballs, etc.) 
b.  Create a mosaic.  (Glue small pieces onto a heavy surface – cardboard, foam, canvas, etc.)
c.  Create a sculpture with it.  (Use toothpicks, straws, popsicle sticks, etc.)
d.  Make a wreath for Halloween next year. 

5.  Tell Your Kids You Ate All of It: 

a.  Just kidding.  Have you seen this?  Those poor traumatized kids! 

What do you do with all of your candy?  Any suggestions?

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By kcharles, November 1, 2011 7:38 pm

The whole feather fad is kind of beyond me.  I must be getting old:)  Our six year old, however, is all about the feathers.  So much so, that she convinced her Dad to purchase a swanky feathered hair clip for $8.00.  (They split the cost.) 

She was soooooo excited about her hair clip.  Though she took good care of it, that clip broke not 24 hours later.  Amazing Dad that he is, Paul fixed it.  And it broke again.  And again.  Selah was devastated, times three. 

I tried to find an online tutorial about how to make these, but couldn’t find one anywhere.  So we figured it out.  Our feathered clips are much sturdier (especially for little hands) and were super cheap.  Our daughter has short hair, so we made her clips rather small.  You can adjust accordingly with simple jewelry extensions. 

How To Make Your Own Feather Hair Accessories:

Supplies:  bag of feathers from Michaels ($1.99 for a million), hot glue, glue gun, clips (we used some she already had), EZ crimp jewelry piece package ($2 change with a coupon)

1.  Choose complimentary feathers. 
2.  Glue the stems of the feather onto an e-z crimp piece.
3.  (Optional) Add jewelry extensions as necessary.
4.  Glue or attach extender to the clip.
5.  Wear proudly:).

***As a side note, we had a great mother daughter bonding time  making these.  So no matter how silly I think they are/look… I would have to say that it was very well worth it.***