12 Easy Valentine Crafts & Snacks for Kids

This heart wreath is cute and simple, simple!  You could use construction paper or scrapbook paper, the latter being the cutest of course!!  We are making these for our front windows.

 

My girls would love to wake up with these lollipop cuties on their dressers on Valentines Day!  What a sweet idea (pun intended)! 

Popcorn Valentine Hearts!  If you stuck these in a little cello baggie with a red ribbon they would make adorable valentines for kids to give their friends!  These are definitely on our list for next week.

 

The Lil' Chef is going to make these butterfly lollipops with the little kids that she helps with during my Bible study.  They are 2 year olds, so she is going to have them already cut out for the kids to decorate. 

 

Heart Shaped Valentine cupcakes!  Need I say more {smile}.

My little men would LOVE these airplane candies!

 

 

Its a bird, its a plane, no its Valentine Man! How stinkin' cute is this!!

 

 

 

I think these love bugs are my favorite! 

 

 

 

For the kid that loves dot painters!  How creative!

 

 

These are really cool!  I think I am going to have the kids make these secret message valentines for each other, but the recipient will have to paint their hearts to reveal their message!

 

 

I think we will be having these heart hot dogs for lunch on Valentines Day!

 

 

And these Red Velvet Valentine Whoppie Pies for dessert!  The Lil' Chef got a whoopie pie maker for her birthday.  I think will be a lot of fun to make and decorate.

 

Do you have any fun Valentine crafts and goodies planned? 

The Joys of Winter Break

I love taking time out from our regularly busy schedule to RELAX!  I can't not find the exact words to express how wonderful it has been to just chill out with the family. 

We have watched oodles of holiday movies.  We have played Puppy Pursuits Game, Sandwich Stacking Game, checkers, chutes and ladders as well as and pick up sticks.  And we have even let the kids open a few of their gifts early {please pick your mouth up from the floor and let me explain}.  : )

Every few nights we have given the kids a small gift of their own or a joint gift to open.  I gotta tell you they have played with these things for HOURS!  These toys were not lost in a heep of other toys, they were thoroughly played with and thoroughly enjoyed.  Like last night for instance, the girls received a 10 in one type game that included checkers, chess, pick up sticks, mancala and tic tac toe.  We all played several games of checkers, and pick up sticks {never knew how much I loved pick up sticks!!} as well as a few rounds of tic tac toe.  We all had alot of fun.

The boys received the Imaginext Toy Story 3 Tri County Landfill {I didn't pay anything close to this Amazon price, I just wanted you all to see what it looked like}.  They played with it all evening and all morning so far, it is a blessing to see them enjoying it so much! 

The other day I declared the day to be movie/game day.  To start the morning off I pulled out four family games that I had wrapped {can you tell that we love games}.  We let the kids play hot potato to see who would get to open which game.  We watched 2 movies that day and played 3 of the 4 games {chutes and ladders, Busytown Airport, Puppy Pursuits and Sandwich Stacking}  That very evening the hubs played Puppy Pursuits with the kids for almost 2 whole hours!!

So as you can see we have really been enjoying hanging out together and thankfully we still have a few almost 2 weeks left.

Here is my winter break list of things to do, somethings have already been done:

• Game Day - each child can pick a game for all of us to play together
• Watch some holiday movies together
• Zoo Lights - we live about 30 minutes or so from the National Zoo and they decorate with lights. This was actually The Hubs idea.
• Jammie Up and Go to Watkins Park - a local park does a wonderful light display. For those of you local to us, we have found that Watkins Park is more affordable and we have enjoyed there more than Lights on the Bay.
• Make Cookies Together to Give to Friends - we did some of this but I think we are going for round 2.
• Craft Day - I want to help the girls make blankets for their baby dolls and friendship bracelets. I think I will be a rebel and pull out the finger paints for the boys.
• Drive around the neighborhood looking at lights and eating hot fudge sundaes
• Make Paper Snowflakes to hang from the playroom ceiling
• Make Fudge
• Go Iceskating on New Year's Eve
• Relax

Beth's Spicey Oatmeal Cookies

This is one of our favorite cookie recipes.  We made some just the other day.  A dear friend of mine shared this recipe with me a few years ago, I thought I'd share it with you all.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Makes about 36 cookies

Holiday Movies to Watch

I love a good holiday movie.  Holiday movies are some of the best around.  Tthey are so warm and cozy, don't ya think?  I love them so much that I have compiled a list of the ones I really want to see between now and the New Years, time permitting of course.   

I went to my handy dandy DVR and scheduled several movies to be recorded.  I plan to cozy up a bit with the crew in the evenings to watch them.  Thought I'd share my list with you all:

The Christmas Card - his is one of my favorites.  We actually watched this one this evening : )
The Christmas Wish - We also watched this one tonight, another keeper.
Christmas in Canaan
Christmas Comes Home to Canaan
A Dog Named Christmas
The Note - not really a holiday movie but it's still on my list
A Princess for Christmas  - This one was VERY good!!
Christmas Pageant
Christmas Snow - We saw this one last year and it was a WOW!  I purchased this one on sale at the Family Christian bookstore. 
November Christmas
It's a Wonderful Life - My mother used to watch this movie EVERY year and somehow I think I still have not seen it all the way through.
A Christmas Wedding Tail
Call Me Mrs. Miracle - This is the sequel to Mrs. Miracle, which we recently watched and really enjoyed.
Trading Christmas
You may have noticed that there aren't any Santa Claus movies on my list, that is not by accident.  We simply do not do Santa Claus.

What are you favorite holiday movies?

Why We Don't Celebreate Halloween

Well, it seems that I have been asked this question pretty frequently lately, even from some of my children.  The main reason that I do not celebrate Halloween is because I want to honor God in my life and Halloween is a pagan holiday.  Yep, pagan! Halloween may be fun and candy to some but it is really much more. 

Have you ever gone and researched how Halloween came about?  It stemed from pagan worship and even today, true pagans and witches do esteem Halloween as a high holy day.  I consciencely can not partake. 

I grew up celebrating Halloween because I did not know what it was really about nor did my mother.  But now that I know the meaning behind the trick or treating and dressing up I am convinced that it is not pleasing to God.  Not because I am more righteous or holier than anyone else, simply because I have been given the truth and, again, I want to please the Lord. 

The History Channel has a pretty good little documentary about the origins of Halloween if you are interested.  If you want to know that truth about Halloween you can simply look it up.  The truth about Halloween is obvious, if you are willing to look for it.

Like if you read this article about the origin of Halloween, you would read that dressing up for trick or treating was done because people wanted to blend in or copy the dead spirits.   Did you know that many have lost their lives on Halloween because they were sacrificed to false gods and spirits? Sounds cozy, right? Hmm, no thanks.

I think sometimes as Christians we forgot or are just not aware how massive the demonic/ spirit realm is.  The Bible says it best...
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I heard a message from Focus on the Family several years ago about a man called Chief Shoefoot.  He was Shamian before God saved him.  When he came to visit the United States around the time of Halloween he said that the spirits of that holiday are the same familiar spirits that he used to deal with.  To him it was obvious and grieving.  This was very eye opening to me. 

I just imagine that Satan is in all his glory when people, especially of the Christian variety, are partaking his high holy day. 

I am sure that reading this might not settle really well with some but I just really felt the Lord put it on my heart to share this truth. 

I know that many of us can get cozy in our traditions but we {including myself} must be careful..
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Have you considered taking this matter to the Lord and asking Him what he would have you to do? Have you asked the Lord if Halloween is something you should be doing?

Happy Independence Day!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe 4th of July!  Today we plan on relaxing as a family and then enjoying the fireworks this evening at a local pond. 

My kids are so excited about getting to watch fireworks and about wearing red, white and blue.  The girls already have their outfits picked out, of course : ) 

Today I want to remind my children what the 4th of July is really about, our independence as a nation.  I want to remind them to thank the Lord for our freedom and for the men and women that fought for us to have it. 




Happy Independence Day!

Handmade Holiday Gift Series

I am so excited to announce that I am having a Handmade Holiday Gift Series starting

TOMORROW!! 

I will be featuring some very cute, affordably priced gift ideas that are handmade.  I just love handmade stuff!  Most of the items are sold on Etsy, some are not.  Some of the reviews will also include a GIVEAWAY!! 

I just wanted to give you all a heads up to stay tuned! 

Cinnamon-Apple Brunch Bake

I have never made these but I can't imagine them not tasting unbelievably good!  The Lil' Chef actually found this recipe in with some of my Mom's old recipes and suggested that I make it for the Mother-Daughter Cookie Swap.  She was excited when I told her that she could make it.

This would be great for a holiday morning breakfast or anytime!

Cinnamon-Apple Brunch Bake
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup of light brown sugar
• 1 can of apple pie filling
• 2 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
• 1 can of refrigerated biscuits
• 1/2 cup of chopped nuts

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and then stir in the brown sugar, apple pie filling, cinnamon and vanilla.  Spread half of the mixture in a shallow 2 quart baking dish.  Next, cut your biscuits into quarters and arrange with the points up and spoon remaining mixture over biscuits.  Sprinkle with nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  Let stand for 5 minutes, serve warm.  Serves 8.

Cookie Swap Idea

I just wanted to share an idea with you all of something that I doing with my girls this year.  I decided to throw a Cookie Swap, but not just any old cookie swap, we are doing a Mother-Daughter Cookie Swap. 

I have been to a few cookie swaps but have never held one myself.  I have wanted to do one for quite a while but never had, until now.  I just really thought it would be lots of fun to include my girls.  They can help me bake the cookies and have their friends at the swap too! 

I decided to do it on the second Saturday in December, you know, it's about the time everyone starts getting crazy about the all the shopping they need to do.  We are doing it at 10:30 in the morning and we are having a brunch.  I am going to be making a Baked French Toast, Breakfast Casserole and Cinnamon-Apple Brunch Bake (recipe coming soon).  I have asked everyone to please bring something to add to the table.  I will also provide drinks. 

Everyone has until December 1st to RSVP and once I have a totally head count I will let everyone know how many cookies to bring.  Depending on how many people are going to come we will make 6-12 cookies per family.

The other day I remembered that I had previously ordered snowman paper products to use for a holiday party that didn't happen.  So guess what, I believe I already all the plates, napkins and cups that I am going need for the party.  I am going to try to remember to order them again at the end of the season for next year.  I think I had ordered them from Oriental Trading for a super good price. 

I am really excited and hope that all goes well.  Lord willing, I would like to make this a yearly tradition.  I will of course post pictures and let you all know how it goes!

Do you all have anything special planned this holiday season?