Chocolate Freezer Pies -16

My brilliant boy is now 16! He loves music, science, computers, games, outside, Lord of the Rings, family and friends!

Chocolate Freezer Pie

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Hershey’s bar
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 16 oz. Cool Whip
  • 2 Prepared 8 inch Graham Crust
  • 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

  1. Heat the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted.
  2. Beat the cream cheese and add the remaining milk. Add chocolate mix and beat until smooth.
  3. In a bowl, fold the chocolate mix into the cool whip and blend until smooth.
  4. Spoon the mix into the crusts. I decorated the pies with some extra cool whip and shaved chocolate bar for my son’s birthday.
  5. Freeze for 4 hours.

Sweetwater Music Store

I took him to the largest music store in the U.S. Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, IN. He was like a kid in a candy store. He played all of the instruments and then choose his birthday gift.

I got him an effects pedal for his electric guitar for his 16th birthday! He picked it out at Sweetwater.

His little brother got him a Lord of the Rings map.

My 16 year old is so handsome!

X-Men Trunk-or-Treat

This year it was unanimous that we wanted to dress as the X-men for Storm! I found most of the costumes at used clothing stores and made most of the other props.

X-Men Sign

Materials:

  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Brown Spray Paint
  • Gold Sharpie
  • Cricut to cut letters

Directions:

  1. Cut a large oval and small circle from the cardboard.
  2. Paint both brown.
  3. Cut out letters with the Cricut and attach to the sign.
  4. Use the Sharpie to make a gold ring around the oval and circle. Make a gold X in the circle.

Mutant Pumpkins

I took the kids to the pumpkin patch to find pumpkins. They choose “mutant pumpkins” which were perfect for our Trunk-or-Treat theme of X-Men.

X-Men Trunk

I decorated the trunk to look like the gate/wall outside of Professor X’s school. Stone wall, vines, sign with address for the school, and some “mutant pumpkins”. We dressed as the characters in the 80’s Animated X-Men Series.

X-Men Costumes

Storm

I made Storm’s costume from an old white onesie and some yellow ribbon. I also made the red circular “X” badges out of some buttons. She is the reason that we chose to dress as the X-men this year!

Professor X

My 15 year old son dressed as Professor Xavier. We barrowed my mother-in-law’s wheel chair and I found a green suit and blue tie at Goodwill. It was a perfect find!

Jubilee

My son’s girlfriend dressed as Jubilee. We found all of her pieces to her outfit at Goodwill as well. The gloves are just yellow, rubber dish gloves. I made her glasses with paint pens and an old pair of sunglasses that I found. I made the earring from the red buttons that I used from Storm’s costume. People who watched the cartoon as kids knew exactly who she was!

Gambit

My younger son wanted to be Gambit, so I found a Gambit T-Shirt on Amazon. Then he used a large brown and a ski mask. The wig was from Goodwill sold brand new!

Phoenix

My step daughter wanted to be Phoenix, so I found a Phoenix T-Shirt on Amazon. Then she used a green tights and boots with yellow dish gloves. The wig was from Goodwill sold brand new!

Rogue

I dressed as Rogue and found Rogue T Shirt on Amazon. I wore green tights, an olive colored jacket, black headband, gold boots, and yellow dish gloves. I made the X’Men coms with red foam and a black sharpie, then we pinned the to our outfits!

Wolverine

My husband dressed as Wolverine. I found his Wolverine shirt on Amazon too. The boys also had some claws in their play stuff, but we lost one, so he just had 1 claw in this photo!

14 Month Old Cinderella Toddler Photos

Disney’s Cinderella  is a typical “happily ever after” movie to introduce to the toddler. Cinderella’s dream is to build a better life, and she ends up standing up for herself to fight for a better future. Of course every Disney princess has a sidekick, and Jaq is such a loyal one.

Cinderella is a kind, attentive and graceful girl.

One of the songs that I sing to her is to the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”…

“Storm is a kind girl
Kind girl, kind girl
Storm is a kind girl
She’s my kind, kind girl”

We found this old church ruins to take her Cinderella picture this year. I also made a pumpkin carriage by carving a white pumpkin and adding blue jewels and a crown. The tiny silver clock that she is holding is from a thrift store. I also got her these silver  star magic wand to play with. Bippity Boppity Boo!

She wore a toddler Cinderella dress that someone gave to her. She wore this silver headband crown that we got for her baby pictures. She just started walking so she is wearing her soft sliver baby shoes with some white tights. She also wore her white pearl earrings.

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”


You might enjoy Storm’s other Cinderella photoshoots:


Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:

Princess Carriage Pumpkin Carving

I got a white pumpkin with 2 little pumpkins to make a Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage for Storm. I also used the gem stickers to decorate it.

First we cut of the top and pulled out the pumpkin insides.

She tasted the lid before replacing it.

Then I carved a coach door and windows.

Next I added some blue gem stickers to the carriage and some sliver gem stickers to the smaller pumpkins for the wheels.

Last I added a Cinderella crown to the top of the pumpkin.

f

The Lion King Dinner Night

We love Family Movie Night and we love Disney as well. Tonight for our Lion King movie night, we made a Lion King themed dinner to eat first. The kids voted to watch the live action version this time. This was so much fun; with much of the family helping to plan, prepare, and enjoy the meal. I hope you have as much family fun as we did.

Appetizer:  Lion King Snack Mix

Ingredients:

  • Cheetos Paws
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Dipped Pretzels
  • Crunch N Munch with Peanuts
  • Reese’s Pieces

Entrée:  Hakuna Frittata

Ingredients:

  • 8 eggs
  • 1 tub Chive & Onion cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup onion  finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup fresh spinach finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup green peppers finely chopped
  • 1 cup diced ham
  • Shredded Cheddar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a muffin pan (non stick or silicone).
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream cheese, salt and pepper until smooth.
  3. Stir in peppers, spinach and onion and fill muffins cups (about ¾ full). 
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until centers are completely set.
  5. Sprinkle with cheddar and melt in the oven for a couple of minutes.
  6. Serve immediately or cool to room temperature to store. 

Vegi:  Simba Vegi Tray

Ingredients:

  • Carrots
  • Red and Yellow Peppers
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Leafy Greens
  • Olives
  • Ranch Packet
  • Sour Cream
  • Large Round Wheat Crackers

Ranch Dip Instructions:

  1. Mix a tub of Sour Cream with a packet of Ranch.
  2. Place it in a small round bowl.
  3. Save the bottom of a pepper with 3 humps for the lions snout.
  4. Cut olives to place on the snout and eyes.
  5. Use the end of a red pepper stick for the nose.
  6. Add round wheat crackers for the ears.

Platter Instructions:

  1. Cut the vegies into long strips.
  2. Place the green vegie around the outside of a round tray.
  3. Place the round dip in the middle of the tray.
  4. Place the colored vegies around the dip for the lions mane.

Fruit:  Rafiki’s Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups 1/2 inch cubed fresh pineapple or 4 cups canned pineapple
  • 2 oranges, peeled and divided into sections
  • 2 mangos, peeled and diced
  • 1 bananas cut in 1/2 inch slices
  • 2 tablespoons Lime Juice
  • 2 tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
  • 1 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

  • Combine fruits in a bowl.
  • Combine lime juice and brown sugar and add to fruits; toss to coat.
  • Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
  • Sprinkle with coconut.

Drink:  Circle of Life Sunset Drink

Ingredients:

  • Sprite
  • Pineapple Juice
  • Grenadine Syrup
  • Ice for glasses

Directions:

  1. Fill glasses with ice.
  2. Take glass and fill 1/2 full with Sprite.
  3. Top the remaining half off with Pineapple Juice.
  4. Add a splash of Grenadine Syrup.
  5. Serve to friends and family with a straw.

Dessert:  Timon & Pumbaa Bug Grub Brownies

Ingredients:

  • Brownie Mix
  • Chocolate Frosting
  • Crushed Oreos
  • Gummy Worms

Directions:

  1. Bake brownies according to the directions on the box.
  2. Cool and cut 9 wholes the size of nickels.
  3. Cover with chocolate frosting.
  4. Stick the gummy worms into the wholes.
  5. Crush the Oreos and sprinkle them on the top.

This meal was “Oh So Yummy!!! Thanks to my kids for having so much fun with me!

13 Month Old Snow White Toddler Photos

Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  is still a bit too scary for her, but she likes the dwarfs songs. Snow White’s dream is to fill the world with sunshine, and she has to push past her fears to build a new life for herself. Of course every Disney princess has a sidekick, and The Seven Dwarfs are such protective helpers.

Snow White is so sweet, compassionate and comforting.

I like to sing an uplifting song to her, I sing to her is to the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”…

“Storm is a sweet girl
Sweet girl, sweet girl
Storm is a sweet girl
She’s my so sweet girl”

We took these picture in our back yard again this year. This white rocking chair, oval gold mirror and brown basket I also found at a resale store.

She wore a Snow White dress that a friend had given to her. Her shoes are the red sparkle flats and her red earrings are from a multi color pack. The red bow in her hair came from a colorful pack of bow that I had bought when she was a baby as well.

Psalm 103:8 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”


You might enjoy Storm’s other Snow White photoshoots:


Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:

12 Month Old Sleeping Beauty Toddler Photos

Disney’s Sleeping Beauty  is a bit scary with the evil mistress, but the fairies make it fun. Sleeping Beauty’s dream is to be free to explore life, and she keeps believing that dreams do come true. Of course every Disney princess has an sidekick; and Flora, Fauna and Merryweather is such protective caretakers.

Sleeping Beauty is so loving, beautiful and graceful.

I often sing an encouraging song to her, I sing to her is to the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”…

“Storm is a pretty girl
Pretty girl, pretty girl
Storm is a pretty girl
She’s my pretty, pretty girl”

We went to our local Rose Garden to take her pictures. I brought this newborn photo bed prop for her to sit on, and wrapped some pink flowers and vines around it. Then she just held the single red rose too.

She wore her toddler Sleeping Beauty dress and her gold headband crown . She wore her white dress shoes with the bow. Lastly we put in the gold and pink earrings that I had bought a few years ago for these photoshoots.

Hebrews 13:1 “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”


You might enjoy Storm’s other Sleeping Beauty photoshoots:


Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:

Watermelon Party -1

She just loves watermelon, so we did a “One in a Melon” party. She just loved the balloons and swimming pool.

Watermelon Tie Dye Shirts

I made tie dye shirts for the kids!

Watermelon Shoes

I found a pair of read shoes and added a green stripe with a Sharpie around the base, then I added black seeds!

Watermelon Decorations

Baby girl loves the balloons and points to them everyday for a week after the party!

I made a watermelon banner of monthly photos of Baby!

“One in a Melon”

Watermelon Food

We had lots of watermelon themed foods and candies!

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

  • 1 Sugar Cookie Dough
  • 1 Marshmallow Cream
  • 1 Cream Cheese
  • strawberries
  • kiwi
  • mini chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. First grease a pizza sheet and place roll out the sugar cookie dough about 1/4 inch thick.
  2. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
  3. Let it completely cool.
  4. Mix together the marshmallow cream and the cream cheese and cover the cookie.
  5. Cut the fruit to small pieces and decorate to look like a watermelon.

Watermelon Cake

I cut off the sides of the watermelon and made stacked the chunks together. Then I added berries with toothpicks.

Watermelon Punch

INGREDIENTS:

  • 14 lb. seedless watermelon
  • 1 and 1/2 cups pineapple juice
  • 1 and 1/2 cups sparkling water

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Cut about one third off the top of your watermelon, then scoop out all the insides from both sides, and save the larger half for your “watermelon bowl”.
  2. Blend the pieces of watermelon in a blender for several minutes to be sure there are no chunks.
  3. Add pineapple juice and sparkling water to the “watermelon bowl” and pour in your strained watermelon juice.
  4. Mix together and chill the punch and bowl in the fridge for about an hour or until ready to serve.

Watermelon Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • Red and Green food coloring
  • Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions:

  1. In a bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
  2. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms.
  3. Divide dough into 2 parts and color one part red and one part green with food coloring.
  4. Shape the dough like a watermelon and add mini chocolate chips as the seeds.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  6. Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned and let cool.
  7. Add buttercream icing (see buttercream recipe below) and mini chocolate chips.

Watermelon Cake

I followed the directions on the white cake box, but use the Minute Maid Watermelon juice instead of water and added pink food color. After I mixed up the cake I add the sprinkles to act like the seeds!

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Watermelon Smash Cake

I made a smaller version of the cake for her smash cake, which she wasn’t too into.

Water Play

I found a watermelon sprinkler blow up pool and added water balloons too. This was a BIG hit with the bigger kids!

Watermelon slip-n-slide fun!

Happy, Happy Birthday to you, Baby Girl!

Baby Book List (9-12 months)

Baby Girl is really starting to enjoy her books. We try to read the same books a few days in a row and leave them out on the table so she can look at them throughout the day too.

Sing Song Rhyming Books

Hokey Pokey Elmo by Abigail Tabby

Mr. Brown can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss

Rainbow Colors Peekaboo! by DK Publishing (Touch and Feel Book)

Five Little Monkeys jumping on the bed by Eileen Christelow

Farm Animal Books

Noisy Farm

My first book of Animals

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Bedtime Books

Why I Love my Mommy by Daniel Howarth

Your Baby’s First Word will be DADA by Jimmy Fallon

Time For Bed by Mem Fox

Good Night Mermaids by Adam Gramble

Adding books to our bedtime routine has helped Baby create a love for books and reading.