New Years Crafts for Kids

Sorry I haven't been around much, between holidays and everyone in our home sick, the couch and I have become one. But don't worry! I'm back just in time for New Years. This year my family will be going to First Night Akron, home after 9 so the kids are in bed, and I'm sure I will pass out on the couch by 11. Yeah I'm lame and can't stay up late. But if you aren't going to First Night in your area and plan on going to a party here are a few easy things to keep the kids busy:

Confetti Bomb
New Years Piggy Bank for Kids
New Years Fireworks
New Years Eve Hats
Noise Maker

Here are a few tradition ideas from Jenn, over at My Delicious Ambiguity. The list couldn't be any better. I love every idea she has on here, perfect for kids of any age!

• Bubble Wrap Stomp: Unroll a large roll of bubble wrap and let the kids jump on it and pop it when the clock strikes midnight.
• Time Capsule: Decorate a box to use every year.  Fill it with special things for each of you.  This can include pictures, stories and trinkets. Then the following year open it up!
• Host a pajama party: Dress up in your pajamas, eat junk food and pop in a movie or watch the countdown on TV.
• Play the Flashlight limbo: Clear a floor space, get out two flashlights and turn out the lights.  The two people with flashlights shine them together and the others have to limbo under the light.
• Blessings Jar: Whenever you recognize a ‘blessing’ in your life throughout the year, just write it on a piece of paper, fold it up, and stick it in The Blessing Jar.  On New Years Eve, dump out all the blessings from the entire year and go through it together as a family.
• Decorate a New Year’s Tree: Take off all of your Christmas decorations and let the kids decorate the tree with anything they can find around the house or at the dollar store. Why not craft a few decorations of your own?
• Dress up: Have the kids wear their party dresses and finest suits. Get swanky with fancy hats and jewelry or make masks like a real grownup’s New Year’s Eve ball. 
• Decorate the house:  Let the kids go crazy with streamers and balloons or build a tent in the living room to not sleep in. 
• Plan the games. Make a list of possible activities such as Twister, a treasure hunt, charades and 20 questions. Be quick to switch to a new game if interest starts to wane. 
• Have the kids write down their goals for the New Year. Yes, it’s a cheesy mom thing to do, but it’s also a nice tradition to start. 
• Eat dinner by candlelight: Put a special tablecloth on the dining table, bust out the finest silverware or have an indoor picnic. As long as it's special and out of the ordinary the kids will love it!
• Make fancy drinks: Real champagne for you & bubbly juice or Gingerale for the kids. 
• Watch the Fireworks or light sparklers of your own
• Letters or year interview of the kids: Ask your children questions about themselves that are age appropriate and expand the list every year. Or have them sing you their favorite song, play something they've learned on the piano or show you a new dance move.
• Countdown Goodie Bags: Grab a few small gifts and fill brown paper bags with the goodies (1 for each hour of the countdown).  Then draw clocks on the front so the kids know which ones to open.
• Make some noise:  Get out pots, pans and lids and have the kids bang them together at midnight. 

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take time to wish all of you a Merry Christmas! This Christmas is very special to me. Neacel knows and loves every minute of what is going on, and its Broden's "first" Christmas...last year he was only 6 weeks, this year he is destroying everything! I'm surrounded by family and I get to do what I have always dreamed of doing. Giving my mom this letter:

Dear Nana and Pops,

Merry Christmas!
We ordered you something very special for your Christmas gift. It's not here yet, and isn't scheduled to be here until mid August. Mommy and Daddy said it takes to long because it has to be made from scratch. They called it a custom order. We hope you like it. We have been saving up for it for a very long time. The delivery charge is really expensive, but we don't know why because it only weighs about eight pounds. Do you think we might be getting ripped off?
Anyway, we don't want to say too much because we don't want to spoil the big surprise. So go ahead and open your present. There's a hint waiting for you inside.

Love,
Neacel and Broden

In the bag is a picture of 5 pairs of shoes, the smallest being little baby booties.
If you haven't figured it out yet, we are expecting baby #3 in August! I have always thought it was adorable to announce a surprise pregnancy on Christmas, and have always dreamed that one day I could tell family on Christmas about a new little one. I have kept my mouth shut for about 3 weeks now, which if you know me, that's really tough to do. I'm hoping for a girl, but with 2 boys, I'm guessing its a boy!

North Pole Christmas Party- Enjoying The Small Things Style

One of my favorite blogs to read is Enjoying The Small Things. Kelle writes in such an amazing way that you totally feel the spunk and love behind each word. I wish I could meet her, she is such a loving person and not to mention her style rocks, and her girls Lainey and Nella are as cute as buttons. Well, the inspiring and talented Kelle did it again. She did one of the cutest children's Christmas parties I have ever seen, and I've seen quite a few!

She sent out cute invites for the kids and mommies, telling them to wear jammies, along with party details. Her house was decorated, every inch! Lights, signs, bells, inflatable snowmen, snow flakes, you name it she had it covered! Kind of like Christmas came and took over her house. There was milk (from North Pole Cows) and elf favorite cookies and Sugar cookies served, the kids made reindeer food. (she had jar decorated for the kids to put food in) The food was oatmeal, raisins, cocoa, red and silver glitter, bread crumbs, and flying powder. The kids were told to sprinkle the mix in their driveway for the reindeer to eat while Santa was delivering the presents. How stinkin cute is that?

Then there was a letter from Santa, telling the kids that he had lost somethings around the neighborhood and asking them if they could find those things. Jammies, flashlights and all, those kids were on the hunt. Of course, Kelle had someone dressed up as an elf running around and hiding from the kids. The kids would tell in excitement, that they had seen an elf. (this is wear all the waterworks I was trying to hide, came a flooding!) The night ended with "T'was the Night Before Christmas" read to all the kids and the cutest Sweet Dreams pillow mist for everyone to take home!

People, if you have never read her blog, go ahead and add it to your favorites. Read Nella's birth story. Kelle is an amazing mother, writer and friend. At least once a week, something she writes makes me cry. Her "Party at the North Pole" post did! I cried, like a 25 year old baby! When we have a home, I will steal this idea, every detail. Sorry Kelle, can't help it if you are that amazing!

So if you are wanting to put a party together this Christmas, go read her ideas and see what you can come up with. I swear to you, after you read one post, you will read another and another. I started reading her blog when she wrote Nella's Birth Story, if I remember correctly, that was about 2 years ago. I check her blog every few days and read every word. I love her words, her inspiration, ideas and just love for life. Not to mention her red cowboy boots!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends. Please take time to talk about the many things you are thankful for. You could even make a list of the top 10 things you are thankful for. Here is my list:

1. Most of all I'm thankful for Heavenly Father and the life he has blessed me with. Nothing is possible without him.

2. I'm thankful for my dear husband who works and studies so hard. He is also pretty much the best father out there, sorry!

3. I'm thankful for my little dudes. For their smiles and laughter. They make each day so much fun. I would be so bored without them.

4. I'm thankful for my parents who raised me and provided for me. I wouldn't be the person I am today without them.

5. I'm thankful for education and the chance to learn everything we can. Life is like a never ending book, you can never learn too much or even come close to knowing it all.

6. I'm thankful for blue skies and sunshine, might sound silly, but this is major to me. Helps my moods and is just truly beautiful.

7. I'm thankful for being an American. It might not be perfect place (but no where is) but its home, and its wonderful.

8. I'm thankful for my love of baking. Baking is my relaxing time, I love to bake anything and everything, cupcakes are my favorite though. Plus, baking something sweet is the perfect treat to give to friends, neighbors and everyone else...who complains about getting a plate of cookies???

9. I'm thankful for the many places I have lived. Born in Cleveland and moving a ton my whole life, I have had a wonderful opportunity to see some amazing places and meet amazing people. SLC, New Orleans, Miami, and many other places. (I attended 16 different schools till I graduated just to give you an idea of how much we moved)

10. Most of all, I'm thankful for the chance to breathe daily. To wake up and live my life. To make my own free choices in life and do as I please. To believe in what I want and to raise my boys. I'm thankful for life....

So whats your list, I would love to hear them! Now go eat some more turkey and pumpkin pie! And let the little dudes (and dudettes) eat more sweets then what you would normally allow, Thanksgiving is only once a year...its ok to have a few cookies and pumpkin pie and go for a second plate of food. I'm hoping my pants button on Friday to go shopping!!!

Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids

Need something fun to do tomorrow with the kids? I came across the Little family Fun Blog and loved this idea of making Craft Stick Scarecrows. How simple and cute are these?

You could also trace those cute little hands and make garland with them, have each kid write or tell you what they are thankful for. I'm sure depending on ages you could get some pretty funny and cute things.

Ok, who doesn't think this is adorable? Just imagine kids running around wearing these, yelling "gobble gobble". If nothing else, its cute for a photo opportunity. Make one for everyone coming over and do a Thanksgiving photo. It's super simple to make. Go here for directions on how to make these

Do you like to make something that will always help you remember your tiny hands around the house? Super easy craft to do with any age, and something that can be held on to for years to remember those tiny turkey hands once they are grown up and refuse to take part in a silly craft.
For other ideas check out One Pretty Thing, you can go to categories and go to Kids Thanksgiving crafts. You can also search things and get results. One Pretty Thing is my go to site for crafts. They have everything you could imagine!!!

Happy Halloween

We just wanted to wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween! Be safe out there, but get plenty of candy! The boys and I are going trick or treating again tonight and my oldest is really excited. Why again? Because its free candy I need to get goodie bags put together for my oldest birthday with the candy we don't need. Of course we keep a huge chunk but you can only handle about 20 mini snickers before you want to throw the other 100 away! That is the candy of choice in my area. My oldest is completely in love with his costume, I have a feeling it will be worn out in no time because its going to become a weekly outfit, along with the Cars snow boots! Boys will be boys I guess!

So with all the candy your kids get, how much do you borrow? Do you check candy? Whats your favorite?

My husband and I will be eating the majority I'm sure. My oldest will get a fair amount and well little guy just doesn't need to know about all the goodies out there just yet. We didn't really check candy from the other night, but I remember my parents checking it every year when I was growing up. Don't have a good reason why I didn't, but I should because I would feel horrible if something happened to my boys. It's a priority tonight!!! My favorite this year is Kit Kat's! I swear I can't stop eating them, there isn't a single one left, and I'm not sure if anyone else in the house got one. Oops! Sorry boys!

Have a wonderful, fun, safe night with the kids!

White Chicken Chili

Tomorrow night is our ward's Trunk or Treat and Chili Cook Off. Well, I wasn't planning on making a chili because my husband is but after getting an email saying that a small number of people signed up I decided why not? My main goal, to do better then my husband because he has been planning his for a little over a week now. I'm just throwing mine together today. A friend has a cooking blog and Im using her recipe for a White Chicken Chili, I'll add a little more and take somethings. Either way, it will be delish and better then my husbands! Friendly competition within the home is always good!

Here is her recipe:
4 cups water
1 tsp lemon pepper
2 tsp cumin (separated)
2 cubes chicken bouillon
4 chicken breasts, diced
1-2 cloves garlic (can substitute 1/2-1 tsp garlic powder)
1 onion, chopped (can substitute 2 Tbs onion flakes)
1 tsp oil
2 cans white northern beans
2 cans green chilies, chopped
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can shopeg (or white) corn
2-3 tsp lime juice

Combine the water, lemon pepper, 1 tsp cumin, bouillon and chicken and cook for 20 minutes. Saute the garlic and onion in oil (omit this step and the oil if using dehydrated garlic and onions). Combine all the ingredients (do not drain any cans before adding) and add 1 tsp cumin and lime juice and simmer for one hour (or until chili thickens). Serve with grated Monterey Jack cheese on top.

(Thanks Shelli )

IX Trick or Treat Street!

Today was a blast! We were able to take the boys to IX Trick or Treat Street. Perfect for kids, rides, candy and everything is for kids 10 and under. Not too scary but enough. My almost 3 year old LOVED it. The rides I think were a huge hit for him. Both boys wore their costumes, Spiderman and a monkey. I think we saw at least 4 other Spidermen with built in muscles. If you didn't make it this weekend and want to do something fun next weekend, other then going door to door for candy, make the trip out there with the kids. They open at 11am on Saturday, so you could easy make the drive, enjoy the place, head home and trick or treat later that day. We were there for about 2 1/2 hours and it was more then enough times. Some rides had longer waits then others but nothing bad at all. We were able to walk onto most of the rides. Tickets are $12 and parking is $8. Tickets are for trick or treating and the rides (pony rides cost $5 and putt putt was $2) You can get tickets from Drug Mart its only $9.99. Big perk for parents is you get a ticket for free admission (one per parent so we were able to get 2) You'll receive one FREE I-X Indoor Amusement Park ticket valid for opening day only-Friday, March 23rd, 2012!! I know we will be going to that next year. Now that we only have to pay for one child, possibly 2. So empty the piggy bank and take the kiddos next weekend or even tomorrow if you want!

Halloween Coloring Pages

Thanks to Grandparents.com for having these cute pictures for us moms to print and have our boys color. My son loves to color. He usually just uses one color, but when he is adventerous he uses two colors. It's rare we see more colors then that on one picture. Have the boys color the pictures, and then frame them and hang them in the home. Instant Halloween decorations!!! Then for every holiday change out the pictures. Your boys love that your sharing the art work, and its a keepsake for you!

4 Free Halloween Coloring Pages

(Thanks Debbie Does Coupons)