Day 5- Parade!!

Since we're counting down to Christmas, I have to recommend that you either attend or participate in a Christmas parade. We walked in the Asheboro Christmas Parade last night with a homeschool group, and Mercy loved it! She's never been in a parade, so it was a BIG DEAL for her! It's so much fun, and around here, parades are typically only held at Christmas (I think Greensboro does a Fourth of July thing, and there's a Veteran's Day Parade around here somewhere... but you get my point). It's fun to see all the floats and dancers, bands and pageant winners. Then the big she-bang, SANTA at the end!

Here is a pic of Mercy holding the homeschool group banner- she's the one right in the middle, with the red earwarmer things under her off white hooded jacket.

Tomorrow I'm posting another super yummy recipe for those Christmas parties, make sure you come check it out!

Day 4- Recycled Ornament

I'm getting ready to go shopping for a wedding outfit, then off to do something I'll post about tomorrow :)

As for today... I made a snowflake ornament out of toilet paper tubes!! The idea wasn't mine, I'm giving credit where it's due, and that's to Family Fun magazine. They have so many great ideas in the current issue, I'll probably be posting more than just this one!!

On to the craft...

First, you'll need at least 2 toilet paper tubes, or maybe just one paper towel tube. We painted ours, simply because I like color.

Flatten the tube(s). Take a ruler and measure the tube into 3/4 inch sections.

You'll need 10 of the 3/4 inch segments to do your snowflake the same size as mine. After you've cut the pieces, measure 3/4 inch from each end of the tube and, using a hole punch, make a hole on either end, all the way through. When you've punched all 10 pieces, lay the flattend pieces out in a snowflake pattern, sort of lining up the holes. Starting with the inside of the snowflake,take one pipecleaner (I used silver), and thread it through the punched holes. Twist together and trim the excess. Next, twist 2 pipecleaners together, and run through the outer holes. Twist together and trim the excess.

Now, even out the pieces of cardboard to make them look equal enough, and string up your cute snowflake ornament using ribbon or string!! Hang it on your tree, or somewhere that needs just a little "handmade" touch!

Five Question Friday!!

YAY!! I actually suggested one of these questions this week!! YAY ME!!

Anyway, since the paint on today's craft is almost dry, I better get a move on and post my answers to the 5QF today!!

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year?

Hmm... that one is tough. Thus far I haven't been uber-creative in coming up with a good gift. I can't post some of the gifts because the recepients sometimes stop in on my blog, which means I gotta be all "hush-hush" on everything. Ask me after Christmas :)


2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas?


(This was my question suggestion!!)
Okay, I have at least 4... wait, no, 3 because one happened earlier this week (it was a "holiday" party because it was Thanksgiving and Christmas put together- Go Triad Homeschoolers!!). We have a party with my dad's side of the family, then there will be a party for my Sunday School class sometime (I hope), and then a smaller family party the night of Christmas Eve (which is a tradition for us!!). LOVE me some Christmas parties!!
3. What is your favorite Christmas song?


I so could not ever answer that. I listen to Christmas music all year long. So I'll post 10 of my favorites in no particular order:

* O Come O Come Emmanuel
* Joseph's Lullaby (by Mercy Me)
* White Christmas (by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters)
* Baby It's Cold Outside (but NOT the Rod and Dolly version- I prefer the girl from ELF or Dean Martin)
* What Child is This?
* God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (by BNL & Sarah McLachlan)
* I Celebrate The Day (by Relient K)
* While You Were Sleeping (Casting Crowns- was recorded not as a Christmas song originally, but I love their WHOLE Christmas album)
* Sweet Little Jesus Boy (love the old Wayne Watson version)
* Deliver Us (by Derek Webb)

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why?


My favorite elementary school teacher was my first grade assistant, Mrs. Libby Frye. That woman was the sweetest, and most genuine, teacher I ever had. She took an interest in me early on, and would take me on outings outside of school, like to see her daughter perform in the high school production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat". I will ALWAYS and forever be grateful to how much time she invested in me, and all of my classmates.
5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why?

HA! I have no idea. Let's see.... I think I'd like to live around 2000 or so years ago, because I can't imagine how the world would be when Jesus was just arriving on the scene as a human. I'd love to know which side of the gun I'd be standing on, would I be a Gentile follower of this "Man" claiming to be the Son of God, or would I be in the crowd shouting "Crucify" as He was beaten, accused, and hung on a cross?

Thanks to Mama M. for getting us going today, and I hope your eyeache goes away soon!!

I PROMISE...

Day 4 of the 25 Days of Christmas is coming today, but I'm waiting on paint to dry... I got a little behind yesterday (ha ha ha ha, sounds like I bought myself a tiny rump), and we're working on today's post RIGHT NOW, so check back in a bit and I'll have another kid friendly craft for ya...

If you were a fly on the wall....

you would have just overheard---

Bobby (in the living room, talking to Mercy) : "That's the movie "Blindside". It's about your mom. You know, 'cause she's blind on her left side."

Me (yelling from the computer desk in the den): "NOT FUNNY BOBBY!! NOT FUNNY!"

Day 3- Buckeye Delights

My camera battery died, so until I can go to the store and get more later today, I'm posting a tasty recipe that just found it's way into my email inbox.... they sound so DE-licious!!

Straight from the Betty Crocker kitchen...

Buckeye Delights

Cookie Base

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg

Filling

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping

1/2 cup whipping cream
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon peanut butter


1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 36 mini muffin cups with mini foil candy cups (about 1 1/4 inch). In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until dough forms. Press about 1 tablespoon dough into each foil cup. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until puffy and set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Remove from pan.

2. In small bowl, mix filling ingredients until well blended. Press about 1 teaspoon mixture on top of each cooled cookie.

3. In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until cooled. Spread about 2 teaspoons chocolate mixture over each cookie cup.

4. Place remaining 2 tablespoons chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Microwave on High 30 to 60 seconds or until softened; knead to mix. Cut off small tip from one corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate mixture over each cookie cup. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. Store covered in refrigerator.


Hopefully I will have batteries this afternoon and can still post my 5 of 52 weeks photo...

On Dr. Phil today....

If you happened to click on the Pray for Kate button to the right----->

then you already know that Dr. Phil will be airing her story today. Right now, Kate and the McRaes are campaigning to have gifts donated for all of the children on the pediatric oncology floor at Phoenix Children's Hospital. I'd like to encourage you to check out the wish list on their blog, and pick up a gift for one of these sweet children. Please, make sure you follow guidelines because these children are ill, and their immune systems cannot handle dust or germs. A lot of their parents are tapped out financially from all of their medical bills, plus making the decision to leave their jobs to spend time with their precious little ones. You can help make a better Christmas for a child who may be celebrating their last....

The campaign is called "Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas Project". Go check it out, and participate!!