Thursday, January 28, 2010

New life

I have been so let down by my socks here lately! I'm always finding holes in them and it's not like I'm doing hard labor, they just wear so quickly and I feel like I'm just throwing money down the drain. But I have found a way to re-use and give new life to all the holy or mis-matched socks that we have accumilated around here over the years and just wanted to share in case anyone else is experienceing this too.

Dust rags

Ice Pack
Use the socks with out holes of course! Pour uncooked rice in them, tie closed, freeze and you have a make shift ice pack.

Sock puppets
The kids enjoy helping but it's been a release for me to draw on the socks I'm most frustrated about too!

And my favorite one I utilized just today....

Freezie pop holders!
Just slip a freezie pop into a sock and no more cold little hands or sticky mess to clean up from the juice running down their arms!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Snow Cream

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!" -Anon

Snow Cream, Mmmmmm, need I say more!!!!

My mother would help my brother and I make this tasty treat every winter. She always told us that the top of the snow was the best to use, since the snow just finished cleaning the air, it was dirtier on the bottom, but the top layer of snow was perfect for snow cream!

Ingredients:
- Heaping bowl of "White" Snow
-Milk/Cream
-Sugar
-Vanilla extract

Stir ingredients together and add more snow if needed

Get as creative as you'd like by adding maple syrup, or smashed bananas, or Nestle's Quick mix for chocolate snow cream, or even add friut juice instead of milk for a fruity drink... let your creativity run wild and enjoy- quickly!


"When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I'll know I'm growing old."
-Lady Bird Johnson

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Christmas at home

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ~Mary Ellen Chase

This might rank as one of the best Christmas' we've had in a while considering the circumstances this year. We were able to keep the kids home instead of dragging them around town from house to house and working around nap schedule's, which made everyone happier in the long run! The simple and quiet times of fellowship with family are the best!


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The boys helping Mommy with the decorations the night before

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Lighting the advent candles on Christmas Eve

Even the day before, boxes are too much fun to play with!

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Christmas morning Gavin ran to the fire house under the tree but Carter was more excited about the cookie pieces that Santa left on the plate!

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Gavin's 1st time on a sit-and-spin, he did really well but...


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Carter was the one to hop right on and start spinning full circle!!!
Mom-mom having to help an excited Gavin to learn to take turns!

The Geotrax train set was also a big hit the day after Christmas, and the day after that, and the day after that...!!! Mommy and Daddy can't wait for Gavin's birthday to add the airplanes onto this one too! We have had as much fun with the toys as they have!

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But most of all-
"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." ~Burton Hillis