Strawberry SNOW-Cream ~ Ice Cream Made from Snow

What?!?! Ice cream made from snow...sign me up!! This is a version recipe that your kids will love to make! 

INGREDIENTS:

8-10 cups clean snow

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup flavored syrup (we used strawberry)

DIRECTIONS:

Fill up a gallon ziplock bag with clean snow by skimming it off the top with a cup or measuring cup. Pour in condensed milk and syrup. Press out air and have your kids (with mittens on) mix everything together by mashing the bag gently. Serve immediately and freeze any leftovers. 

Rotini in Creamy Tomato Cheese Sauce {recipe}

Rotini in Creamy Tomato Cheese Sauce 

(SERVES: 6-8   TIME: 20 minutes)

INGREDIENTS:

16 oz spiral pasta

1 lb smoked sausage, diced

2 medium zucchini, diced

11 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained

2 oz cream cheese

2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese

2 tsp minced garlic 

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp onion powder 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Boil pasta in a large sauce pot until al dente. 

2. Meanwhile, sauté smoked sausage & zucchini for 5-7 minutes in 1 Tbsp of hot oil. Add tomatoes, cheeses and spices. Simmer for 7-10 minutes or until sauce has thickened. 

3. Drain pasta and toss with cheese sauce. Serve topped with shredded Parmesan cheese. 

Construction MATH

Calling all preschoolers! It's time for math ~ constructions style!! Dump out the blocks and grab all the diggers, and while you play give them some simple problems to work out. 

"The workers have to clear out a space to build a new playground. Can you help them move 3 blocks out of the construction zone?" (10-3=7) 

"Help the workers build a neighborhood! They need 5 squares and 5 triangles."

FOR THE BIG KIDS:

"What is 1/2 of 12 blocks? What is 1/3?"

Scented Holiday Playdoh

I have to smile at this picture because I did them seperately but if your kids are anything like mine they get mixed almost as soon as they get their hands on it. 

I absolutely love this recipe for playdoh because it smells greats and stays soft forever! It's not edible though so if your little ones still eat everything stay close. 

SCENTED HOLIDAY PLAYDOH

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup salt

1 Tbsp cream of tarter

3 oz jello (see note below)

1 1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp oil

Food coloring

2 tsp extract or spices for scent (optional)

Glitter (optional)

• CINNAMON APPLE (RED): red jello, red food color, cinnamon

• SUGAR COOKIE (WHITE): 1/4 cup or 3 oz unflavored gelletin, almond extract

• HOLIDAY SPICE (GREEN): green jello, green food color, ground clove, orange extract

In a medium mixing bowl combine dry ingredients with a wire whisk. Add water, oil, food coloring and extract. In a medium saucepan over med heat cook stirring with a plastic spatula until a semi-stiff ball forms and is no longer liquidy. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and allow to cool for several minutes. Knead until smooth and store in an air tight container or ziplock bag. 

***This is a fun gift to give!!! Layer the dry ingredients in mason jar and attach the instructions and a holiday cookie cutter with fun holiday ribbon! 

Letter Turkey for Preschoolers

My preschooler has been making turkeys one after another this year and we are teaching him letters and simple sight words. Combine letter and word recognition with this classic thanksgiving craft and VOILA! You've got your self a game!! 

SUPPLIES:

Paper bag

Construction paper

Scissors

Markers 

Google eyes (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut out a beak and 'gobble' for your turkey. Have your child glue them on and draw eyes. 

2. Meanwhile, cut out feathers and write the letters of the alphabet on each one. You could also do common letter combinations like -sh, -th, and -ch. Make sure you have all the letters for your child's name and doubles of the vowels and more popular letters like R S T L N E.

 

3. Have fun with your letters. Make words, have them find words you've written for them, have them write words they've made, practice rhyming, make silly words with mixed up letters. 

Three Bean Crockpot Chili

Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients - you probably have most of them in your pantry and this recipe is very forgiving so if you are missing something just skip it ;)

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb ground beef, cooked and chopped

1 lb ground sausage, cooked and chopped

3 cans beans, drained and rinsed (our favorite is a combo of kidney, black and pinto)

28 oz diced tomatoes, with juice

1 small can chopped green chilis

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 onion, diced

2 tsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 Tbsp liquid smoke

1 bottle beer

1/4 cup chili powder

1 Tbsp white sugar

1.5 Tbsp beef bullion granules

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 Tbsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp Cheyenne pepper

Salt &. Pepper

*Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar and corn chips. 

Mix all ingredients and cook on low all day in the crockpot. Freezes well and makes fabulous leftovers. ;) 

Orange Creme Sorbet

Made from real oranges, tastes just like Orange Julius! 

Orange Creme Sorbet

Makes 1 quart

3-4 large naval oranges

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup vanilla yogurt

With electric juicer or citrus hand juicer, peel and juice oranges to yield 4 cups fresh juice. In a blender, mix together orange juice, sugar, vanilla and yogurt. Add to ice cream maker and chill for at least 1 hour after prepared for semi-soft consistency! You could also spoon prepared sorbet into popsicle molds and freeze until hard. 

Mexican Twice Baked Yams

Mexican Twice Baked Yams

Serves 4

2 medium yams (round & fat)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed

Approx. 1 cup salsa

Green onions

Bake yams at 350 until fork tender (1-2 hours). Cut in half and scoop out tender middle, leaving 1/4 inch around rim and bottom creating a bowl. Mash yam with cheese and sour cream. Scoop back into yam skins in heaping spoonfuls. Place in a glass baking dish or sheet pan and bake for an addional 15 minutes to melt cheese. Top with warm black beans, salsa and diced green onions. 

I started giving myself an allowance

Being a stay-at-home mom is no joke! We work from long hours, with few breaks and seldom get to take a sick day or vacation. Most of us chose to stay home love it and would tell you in a heartbeat that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Lately my kids haven't been doing their chores - and with 6 of us in our family that meant a whole lot more work for me and one very tired mama. So, I made a list to show my kids everything I do each day and told them that whomever did each item on the list first each day would get a quarter. I put out jars and grabbed a handful of quarters and paid myself for all the chores I had done that day. Clink-clink-clink!! With the coins all deposited for the day I told them the list would be on the fridge from now on and I was no longer going to remind them more than once to get things done. I would pay them (and myself) in quarters at the end of every day. End of conversation. The next morning you should've seen my kids hustle about to do their chores! They've even been doing extra jobs! Whoop!! As their little jars get full I plan to count what they've made at the end of the week and allow them to keep or spend 70% (after 10% goes back to the church and 20% goes into savings). As for my own jar - it's a nice little incentive to get everything done each day. Even as a grown up its nice to have a little spending money! ;) 

25 Fun Things to Mail Besides a Letter

My four year old has recently become obsessed with sending and receiving mail. Some friends and I set up an impromptu mail club for our kids because, apparently he's not the only one who asks if there is anything for him every.single.day. Here is a list of fun things you can send in an envelope with just one stamp to send to a child in your life - trust me it will make their day!

• Empty balloon 
• Coloring page or activity page 
• Mad libs 
• Scavenger hunt list
• Secret message (draw a picture or write a note with a white crayon, recipient colors on top with a marker to reveal the message) 
• Recipe 
• Pictures/photographs 
• Postcards  
• Coins for the piggy bank
• Leaves or flowers
• Make your own puzzle – cut a photo into pieces
• Hangman Puzzle with a few letters filled in or clues
• Words to a silly song
• Jokes
• Glitter 
• Lotto scratch tickets
• Stickers
• Glow sticks
• Googly eyes
• Feathers 
• Treasure map (look up a McDonalds (or other fun location) in the recipient’s city and help your child write out directions or draw a map of how to get to the secret spot, include a dollar to buy a “treasure” when they get there)
• Packet of seeds to plant
• List of favorite learning websites
• Stencils
• Origami paper with instructions for a simple creation

Family Devo and a Snow Day Challenge

I am the worst - I am not a fan of the cold and snow and am too quick to tell you how miserable I am. When we woke up to snow this morning (yes, on October 4th!!) I decided that I wasn't going to complain about it today. Sure enough my kiddos came in my room as soon as the sun was up this morning jumping up and down shouting, "It's snowing!" I squashed my thoughts of the extra work the morning would bring - the shoveling, the coats and boots and missing mittens, the roads. I made hot chocolate for them WITH marshmallows, tossed their blankets in the dryer and turned on a worship CD. The first snow of the year is fun for kids - I wasn't going to ruin their joy. As I was sipping my coffee and they were stating out the window a verse came to mind. (Sometimes teachable moments are more for us than our kids) 

"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24 NLT)

I called my kids into the kitchen and set the time for 60 seconds. I told them we had 60 seconds to complain about why we don't like the cold and snow then we would only say good things about it the rest of the day. We took turns then when the timer went off we recited the verse several times together. We talked about how our words are powerful and how we can use them to either build each other up or year each other down. And how complaining all the time can make others around us unhappy. But when we are cheerful and choose to say things that are positive we can encourage people and brighten their day, even change their own bad attitude. As I sent my oldest to school I challenged him to respond with something good or fun about the snow whenever he heard someone complain. Will you take the challenge too?

{Tutorial} No-Sew Canopy & Swaddle

Snow is on the forecast by the end of the week, which meant it was time to warm up the carseat situation. Grab 2 yards of your favorite fleece and let's get started!!

No-Sew Infant Car Seat Canopy

Trim the rough edges off of 1 yard (36" x 60") of fleece. Lay flat on the floor, and with a pair of sharp fabric scissors cut as follows...

1. Cut a 6" square off each corner

2. Cut six 1 inch strips horizontally and vertically on each corner (doesn't have to be exact)

3. Fold the piece in half lengthwise so that it is now 18" x 60". Cut six 1 inch slits at each end. Unfold and cut each slit in the middle to make 12 strips facing the center fold.

4. Fold the piece in half lengthwise so that it is 30" x 18". Cut a 1 inch slit at each edge and two additional slits approximately 10-12 inches apart from the center. You should have four 1 inch slits. Unfold and cut each slit in the middle to make 8 strips facing the center. 

Step 4: Cut two additional slits 10-12" apart in the center

To put the canopy onto the carseat...

1. Lay the canopy onto the carseat lengthwise under the handle, with the handle upright. 

2. Tie the four 1" strips onto the handle. Two on top and one on either side at the hinge. 

3. At the back and front there will be 3 sets of six strips to tie. Starting on the corners tie each corresponding strip together to make the corners fitted and snug. Tie the strips in the center to tighten the canopy under the edge of the carseat. Repeat on the opposite side. 

I love the fitted corners because it seems like the wind always blow the blanket open or off. This way your babe stays warm and cozy and out of the wind. The swaddle is SUPER easy and will seriously take all of 5 minutes to complete...here goes!

No-Sew Infant Car Seat Swaddle

Cut a square of fleece that is 35" x 35". Trim one corner off about 2/3 of the way down so that you have a piece that is a square with three 90 corners and one straight corner from the side you cut. The 'straight corner' will be the top. 

Remove the straps from your car seat. Lay the piece onto your car seat with the straight corner a few inches above the highest row of strap holes. Pressing into the seat so that it lays flat on the back and seat where your baby would sit on top of it. Mark the strap holes by feeling them through the fleece. Cut slits for the straps on the back, sides and bottom. Mine had 9 slits. 

Place the swaddle onto the car seat and rethread the straps. If using a head rest put on last on top of the swaddle. Open the swaddle when you place your baby into the car seat lay them on top. Buckle them in snugly. Then wrap your baby in the blanket tucking in the sides beside them to keep it snug. 

I wish someone would carry me inside covered by a warm fleece canopy and a bundled up in a swaddle!

Fall Giveaway: MOPS Membership

If you have young ones at home I hope you've heard of MOPS! It is a nationwide ministry for mothers who are pregnant or have children under 6! Groups get together several times a month while out kids are taken care of in 'MOPPETS' for a meal, crafts, speakers, but most importantly to support each other!! I can't tell you the number of times that I have looked forward to MOPS, walking in with the weight of the world on my shoulders and after sharing my troubles with the other moms at my table left feeling so much better. Some of my very best friends I have met at MOPS!! 

The MOPS Membership that I am giving away is nationwide and will cover the annual membership fee at any group you choose to attend. Most groups do have a small meeting fee to help cover the cost of childcare, crafts and other group expenses. To find a group in your area visit {www.mops.org}. 

The theme this year is 'A BEAUTIFUL MESS' To enter for a chance to win a free MOPS Membership, please comment below with your email as well as your response to: 

You know motherhood is a beautiful mess when...

Winner will be chosen from the comments below on 9/21/13. In order to complete your membership, mailing address and email will be required. 

Have you ever been 'that mom'

Moms are the WORST at comparing ourselves to others. Either we are quick to point out everyone else's flaws or we are consumed with mom guilt and envy. Do you remember before you had kids ever seeing a mom struggling with her children and thinking the worst of her attempts, claiming that you would be so much better when you had kids? Yeah - I think we can all agree that motherhood is a whole lot more challenging that we ever imagined it would be. What we really need is not advice, looks of disgust, or condescending comments... what we need when we are 'that mom' whose kids are in the middle of a melt down is grace. I love verse 4 of this passage! It reminds us that God is 'very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you.' The next time you see a mom who is at her whits end, don't just walk by - offer a smile that says you've been there. And when you are the one with the kid who is making a complete fool of himself in the middle of the store remember that this too shall pass and remember how God has dealt with you!

Pray: Jesus thank you first for never giving up on me. For chasing after me when I was still a sinner and for loving me enough to find me. Help me not to judge other moms Lord and at the same time help me to be content. Content with who you have made me to be as a mother, and content with the season of life that I am in with my children. When my children push my buttons remind me of how you have treated me and fill me with patience, kindness and a love that smothers rebellion.

Romans 2:1-4

2 No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 We know that God’s judgment is right when he condemns people for doing these things. 3 When you judge people for doing these things but then do them yourself, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?

Sugar-Free Sweet Potato Muffins

Don't knock it till you try it! These muffins are loaded with vitamin A and aren't overly sweet. There were super yummy with golden raisins but would be equally good with chopped apples. 

Sugar-Free Sweet Potato Muffins

1 medium sweet potato, baked until very soft

2 cups sugar free muffin mix

2 eggs

1/2 - 1 cup of water

1/2 cup oil

1 cup golden raisins

Mash sweet potato in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup water, oil and eggs. Add muffin mix just until moistened. Add water as needed until your batter is still thick but slightly fluid. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Sugar-Free Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

These were are delicious surprise when I made them and I was stoked that they had no added sugar! My kiddos gobbled them up as fast as I did. Next time I will have to make a double batch and stash a few in the freezer!  

Sugar-Free Banana Muffins

3 medium ripe bananas

2 cups sugar free muffin mix

1/2 cup Adams Natural Peanut Butter

2 Tbsp honey 

2 eggs

1/2 - 1 cup of water

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Mash banana in a large mixing bowl. Add peanut butter, honey, 1/2 cup water, oil and eggs. Add muffin mix just until moistened. Add water as needed until your batter is still thick but slightly fluid. Fold in nuts. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Living with our eyes closed

Have you ever been looking at something and tolerating it for so long that you don't even realize how bad it has gotten? Then someone points it out and like a smack in the face it occurs to you! Paul's description of the fallen world sounds a whole lot like our culture today in America doesn't it? Politics aside, the is no denying that we have some issues. Paul begins this passage by explaining that no person, regardless of when or where they live will have any excuse not to believe in God. We should be able to see God by just looking at creation. When my first son was born my entire faith was changed. The miracle of growing a child within my womb and giving birth was amazing! Within moments of coming into the world, God has placed in your child the instinct and ability to breath, eat and cling to his mother. Amazing! As he grows he watches and learns. As he watches me in a world full of sin and pain what will he learn? How do I react to the things God has called sinful? How do I treat those who sin? Am I the light and love of Jesus Christ in a fallen world that is blind?

Pray: Heaven Father, You have show us your glory every day from the moment that we wake until we lay down again to rest. Open my eyes to the things in my life that I have come to tolerate and accept as a normal part of life. Show me the areas in my life that I have replaced You with an idol - my smart phone, popularity, even my family. As I lead my family, give me wisdom and help me to discern what to do and say in difficult situations. Thank you for saving me and for always loving me not matter what.

God’s Anger at Sin {Romans 1:18-32, NLT}

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Having a Reputation

I love to have play dates for my kids and mom friends! Usually we get together in the morning. One of us will make a light morning snack and someone will bring coffee. While the little ones play we spend the morning gabbing - sharing stories and advice. Paul was writing to a group of believers that he had grown close to. I imagine the women in that community would also find themselves gathered around gabbing as their children played nearby. Paul says that their faith was being talked about in the places that he traveled to. That is a reputation to be proud of! Is your faith as a wife & mother part of your reputation? When your friends talk about you to other people do they remember the way your relationship with Jesus has changed you? Would nonbelievers even notice something different? 

Pray: Loving Father, let my faith be one that gives me a reputation among my friends! Help me to be a woman that shares hope instead of gossips, a wife that trusts instead of nagging and a mother that prays instead of yelling. Help me to always be chasing after you so those who follow will find Jesus.

God's Good News {Romans 1:8-17}

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (Romans 1:8-17 NLT)

Finding Purpose in Parenting

Sometimes my day to day life as a stay-at-home-mom can feel lackluster and without much impact beyond the front door. How much significance could changing diapers, making peanut butter sandwiches, and playing on the floor possibly have? Raising children is incredibly important and I know the time I spend with my kids will has lifelong worth...to them. But often I feel like its not enough. Like I am missing out by not working outside of the home. Have you been there? Paul reminds us that we have been given the privilege to tell people everywhere about the love of Christ and what He has done for them! When my children wake up in the morning, do I tell them that God loves them? Do I pray with my oldest before he goes to school each day? Are my ears open when I visit with a friend during a playdate for how she may need to be encouraged? Am I watching for people who need the love of Christ while I run my errands? A smile, an extra hand, a friendly word. When we share that love with the people that we meet during our day we bring glory to his name. 

Mom Prayer:

Jesus, help me to find purpose in parenting. Thank you for the blessing of my children and for the privilege to share your love with them. Give me the courage to tell people everywhere what you have done in their lives. And may the words I speak and things that I do always bring glory to your name. 

{Greetings from Paul, Romans 1:1-7}

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Bulk Sugar Free Muffin Mix

If you are trying to cut down on sugars in your diet, quick breakfast ideas can be a challenge. With four young kiddos something fast is important, but I don't like to start the day by loading them up with sugary cereals. I revised my muffin mix to remove the refined sugar, making this breakfast staple in our house much healthier!

When you add fruit such as applesauce or bananas, fresh fruit juice and other naturally sweet mix-ins your kids will never know the difference and you will feel good about what they are eating! Experiment with different combinations, these muffins are almost fool-proof and always taste great (even plain). The key to light and tall muffins is a batter that is like a thick pancake batter.

{Sugar Free Muffin Mix}
2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup buttermilk powder (contains naturally occurring sugar from milk, lactose)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 Tbsp baking soda
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
Combine ingredients well with a wire whisk. Store in an airtight container. 

{Sugar Free Banana Nut Muffins}
2 cups Sugar Free Muffin Mix
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar free apple juice
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
2 ripe bananas, smashed
1 cup chopped walnuts
Whisk eggs, water, oil, honey and bananas until well combined. Add muffin mix, stirring just until moistened. Fold in chopped walnuts. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Monsters Inc Handprint Monsters

We had so much fun with our Handprints Minions that I thought we would do Mike & Sulley from Monsters University!! Handprint monsters are super versatile and so much fun to make. Fingers make legs, arms, long necks for eyes. Toes can be short legs or hair or even eyes as well. Use up some of those tiny google eyes and swirl the paint colors that have been ignored. (Even little boys like pink and purple monsters). Have fun and be creative!!!!

Supplies:
Green, blue & purple paint
Google Eyes
Black marker

Instructions:
To make Mike: Paint your child's palm, and fingers OMITTING the ring finger. Thumb and pinky will be arms and other fingers will be legs. Press onto paper with fingers outstretched. Allow paint to dry then glue on a large google eye. Embellish with two short horns, a grin and claws.

To make Sulley: Paint your child's foot blue. Press onto paper with heal at bottom. Paint blue arms and legs and add purple fingerprint dots all over. Allow paint to dry and add two medium google eyes. Embellish with large horns, sharp teeth and claws.

Handprint Minons

These were so much stinking fun to make!!! 

Supplies:

Background paper (white cardstock)

Yellow paint

Blue paint

Google eyes

Glue

Black marker or crayon

Directions: 

1. Paint your child's palm yellow, leaving a small area near the fingers to paint the pants. Paint the middle two fingers blue down to the first knuckle as well as the gap on the palm. 

2. Press your child's hand onto the paper firmly. Add google eyes with glue and allow the paint to dry. When the paint has dried draw hair, a mouth, and goggle straps. 

Mystery Box Craft Challenge for kids

It seems that I am up to my ears in random craft supplies left over from one project or another. Here is a fun activity that I gave to my kids this afternoon - grab a handful of random supplies and challenge them to make something from all the items. It can be timed or not (I chose not hoping they would stay busy for a while). I also gave them some supplies in a "tool box" to help them with their craft. Another fun variation would be to add a theme or inspiration - an animal, holiday, letter of the alphabet, etc. You could also give one set of supplies and have them work together to make one thing.

The Tool Box:

Crayons & markers

Scissors

Glue stick

The Mystery Box:

1 milk jug lid

3 cotton balls

1 google eye

1 feather

They were stumped at first and kept asking for paper - I encouraged them to only use what I gave them and after a minute here is what they came up with....

Speed RISK {Capture the King}

My 7 year old LOVES the game Risk, but with the little ones running around I don't have the time or space to leave the game set up for the time it takes to play it. Today we came up with new rules to make the game ALOT faster. The first time we played it took 30 minutes from set up to winner. The second time it only took about 15. All the fun and strategy of the full version without the time it takes to play it. Here is how we played! 

Speed Risk: Capture the King

Players: 2-5 (ages 7+)

Time: 1 hour or less

To Win: First player to occupy the "King's country"

Setup: 

1. Draw a country card at random - this is where the "king" will be. Place 20 neutral colored soldiers on this county. Place 5 matching neutral colored soldiers on every country that directly touches the "king country". (See photo above)

2. Remove the cards for the king's territory from the deck. Shuffle the remaining cards and distribute evenly between the players. If there is an odd number of cards, the king will occupy any that are leftover. 

To Play:

1. Roll to see who will go first. 

2. Just like in the full version, attack adjacent countries by rolling the dice. Attacker rolls with 3 dice or one less than the number of the soldiers in his country. (You must have 2 or more soldiers to attack. 2 soldiers roll 1 dice, 3 soldiers roll 2 dice, 4+ soldiers roll 3 dice). The defending country rolls with 2 dice or the same number as they have soldiers. 

3. You may roll to attack any adjacent country up to three time per turn. At the end of your turn you may maneuver troops to neighboring countries without penalty (leaving at least one in each country). Or you may move troops from any non-neighboring country and skip your next turn.     

4. In this version you do not gain more troops during the game. 

VARIATIONS:

- You must occupy all of the king's territories to win

- You must occupy the king's entire continent to win (place 5 soldiers on every country within the kings territory to start)

- Unlimited number of attacks per turn

S'mores Trail Mix

Ingredients:

10 oz bag mini marshmallows

12 oz box Golden Grahams cereal

11 oz bag milk chocolate baking pieces

1/4 cup butter

Directions:

1. In a large stock pot over medium heat, melt the butter and marshmallows. 

2. Stir in cereal until well coated with marshmallows.

3. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and low to cool for several minutes until cool to the touch but not yet hardened. 

4. Stir in chocolate pieces. Allow to completely cool - this is the hard part (the kids and I ate a lot of it while we were waiting).

5. Crumble into bite sized pieces and store in an airtight bag. 

Flannel Burp Rags

So CUTE!

SUPPLIES: (makes 4 burp rags)

1 1/2 yards flannel (base color)

1/2 yard flannel (embellishment)

 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut out your pieces: four 12" x 45" pieces of the base color fabric & eight 6" x 45" pieces of the embellishment fabric

Cut out the pieces

 

2. Lay the long strip of base fabric out then fold it into thirds, overlapping the ends. Your two raw ends should be in the middle with two folded edges on the outsides. Place the embellishment strips on the top and bottom of the folded piece with right sides facing out.

Fold the burp rag overlapping the ends

 

Laid flat and ready to sew

3. Zigzag stitch over all of the raw ends (either side of the embellishment and the top and bottom of the whole rag). It is not necessary to sew the folded edges unless you want to.

Zigzag stitch raw edges

4. As you are sewing you may find it faster to "chain stitch" between multiple rags. Rather than sewing all of the edges of each rag individually, sew one line for each of them all at once feeding one rag after another (stay stitch the ends) without cutting the thread in between until that line is done. Then clip them apart and do the next line in the same way.

TIP: chain stitch one line of stitches at a time

5. To finish, check to make sure all the raw edges were caught by your stitches, trim any excess fabric and threads and you are done! :)

Finished burp rag