Another Christmas Craft

So today we did marble art, and I forgot how fun and easy it is. Lizzie loved watching the different designs she made as the marbles went back and forth across the paper.

What you need:
*9x13 pan
*marbles
*paper
*paint
*scissors
*tape

How to do marble art:
Place a white piece of paper in the 9x13 pan, and put a couple dots of paint (multiple colors work great) on the paper. Then place 8-10 marbles in the pan, and have the child move the pan back and forth until they get the design they want. Then pull the paper out of the pan, and set it out to dry. Once it is dry you can cut any kind of designs you want, but Lizzie wanted to make a Christmas candy. so I cut 2 white triangles, out and taped them the the back of the painted circle. ENJOY!!!

Tugboat Party

This is the highlight of our backyard!!! The girls LOVE it, and could spend hours going on adventures to far away lands, fighting pirates, and swimming in it, what more do you need?

Ward Christmas Party

We had a party with Santa

Some of our AMAZING moments

but the highlight of each Christmas party...

Cartwheel party on the back lawn at the Stake Center

this was our 2nd Annual Cartwheel Party, and let me tell you it was AMAZING!!! we had everyone from babies to grandpa's out there with us. To all the people who didn't participate this year... be practicing your cartwheels for next year's party!

Oh yeah... and Jenna had an accident!

Today's yummy treat

Well today was full of adventure as you can tell. I needed to make something for the lady I visit teach, and I thought these would be perfect!!! Who doesn't love pretzels covered in chocolate and sprinkles. They are super easy to make, and the crowds go WILD!!!!

What you need:
*Pretzel rods
*dipping chocolate
*sprinkles

How to make them:
First you will need to melt the chocolate (follow directions on the bag), then once the chocolate is ready you will dip the pretzel rod giving it a good covering of chocolate, and then sprinkle them! And lay them on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper, and put them in the fridge for about 5 mins to harden the chocolate. SUPER EASY!!!
ENJOY!!

Today's craft

Today is another super easy craft, yet so fun!!! Today's craft is a hand print reindeer.
What you will need:
*Brown construction paper
*1 googly eye
*1 brown pipe cleaner
*ribbon
*red pom pom
*glue

What to do:
Trace child's hand print on brown paper and cut it out. Then glue on eye, nose, and ribbon. Grab your pipe cleaner and cut it in half. Fold on of the halves in half again, and slightly bend both ends. Then glue onto thumb/head.
Then cut out a little tail and glue it above the pinkie finger, and color the hoofs. Lizzie and Krislynn wanted to use glitter glue that is why some of the hoofs look funny. ENJOY!!!

Another Christmas Craft

Here are some more easy crafts to do with your kiddos. Snowflakes are ALWAYS fun to make. The first one is with pipe cleaners and beads, and the second one is with Popsicle sticks. To make the pipe cleaner snowflake cute 3 or more pipe cleaners the same lenght (depending how many points you want your snowflake to have) then wrap them around each other to form a snowflake, then have your child string the beads onto the pipe cleaners. When you get to the end of the point save about 1/2 inch and and fold it down, and place another bead over the bend piece to help keep the beads in place. Finish each point, and then hang on your tree. While we were on our cruise Angie, my friend, made the Popsicle snowflakes with the girls. You get Popsicle sticks and glue them together to form a snowflake, and then let your child use different materials to decorate them. Enjoy!!!

A Family Tradition

Ever since I can remember my family has used this cookie recipe to make Christmas cutout cookies, and let me tell you they are the BEST!!! Once you try these you will NEVER go back to your recipe.

Ingredients for cookies:
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for butter cream frosting:
2 cups powered sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla


*Mix shortening, sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla well, then add flour, cream of tartar, soda, and salt. Roll dough onto floured board about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Cook at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Oven heat may vary; check after 1st batch. You don't want your cookies to brown on top, the lighter the softer the cookie. FOR FROSTING: beat all ingredients, if you want to thin down the frosting add a little more milk. Decorate the cookies and enjoy!!!

Another Christmas Craft

Today's Christmas craft is easy, yet SUPER fun!!! First you paint the child's hands green and stamp their hand prints on the paper as if it is the bottom of the tree. ( I LOVE hand print crafts so you can always go back and see how much your child has grown), then you finish the rest of the outline of the tree. Then give your child multiple things to decorate their tree with (I used price dots, foam shapes, and glitter glue-use whatever you have on hand) Then let them go wild with decorating their tree, and then hang up for all to see! Enjoy!!

Four Eyes times 2

I'm so excited... my girls look SUPER cute in glasses, and with their AMAZING genes they are going to need them!!!
Hooray for glasses!!!

Who Could Ask For Anything More?

Time to cruise!!!

Each time we get pregnant with a new little baby David and I plan a last hip-hip-hurrah! This time we planned another cruise, and let me just tell you I never wanted to come home. (well maybe for a couple hours to see my kids, and then leave again :) David and I NEEDED this so bad. A wise friend once told me that traveling heals the heart, and to throw my worries overboard. I listened to her advice to the T and enjoyed myself. (Thanks Erin for being so wise!!!) It was so nice to be pampered, to eat whatever I wanted, to have someone else clean the dishes, make my bed, clean up all the messes, and drink hot chocolate and stare at the twinkling stars. It was heaven!!! Now that I'm back in reality I miss it terribly, but I am so grateful David and I could sneak away for a long weekend and enjoy ourselves without and kids, and give us sometime to heal together, and focus on what the future has in store for us. Here's to 2011!!!

Another Christmas Craft

So today we wanted to spread Christmas cheer for all to hear... so we made a Santa. This is a super easy craft using a paper plate, construction paper, and cotton balls. Here is the link if you want to make one yourself. Enjoy!!!

Wordless Wednesday

1st Christmas craft

We needed to start the Christmas season off right so we decided to make a Christmas tree. Lizzie loves glitter glue and gluing so this was perfect. I hope this season is a great one for you! This year we really want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, and hope you will do the same.

Happy Birthday Lizzie

The birthday Girl opening her presents before Church

Dress up Party

Cupcake time

Lizzie had such a great birthday. 1st she had her Round up Party with all her friends. Then on her birthday we made homemade smoked BBQ turkey pizza and cupcakes, and a couple of her friends came by to celebrate her special day with her.