Author: Jessi Rose

Family Christmas Minute-to-Win-it

This year we decided to try some fun family time for Christmas. We played a few Minute-to-Win-it challenges together. Our family has a large age difference, so we tried to choose games that would be equally challenging for each of all.

Deck the Halls

Deck the Halls

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Cardboard Tube
  • Ruler
  • 6 Christmas Ornaments

Directions:

  1. You have just 1 minute to…
  2. place the ruler across the upright standing cardboard tube. Be sure that the ruler is smack in the middle so there is the same distance on each side of the tube.
  3. Then hang all 6 ornaments on the ruler (3 ornaments on each side of the tube).

Jingle Run

Jingle Run

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • 18 Jingle Bells
  • 18 Cups
  • Empty Cup (across the room)

Directions:

  1. Place a bell under each cup and spread them out on the table.
  2. Place an empty cup several feet away. (We put ours in the living room behind us).
  3. You have just 1 minute to…
  4. uncover 1 jingle bell at a time and run it to the empty cup across the room.
  5. Place the bells in the cup one at a time.
Jingle Run
Jingle Run
Jingle Run

Jingle Bell Race

Jingle Bell Race

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Straws
  • Masking Tape
  • Jingle Bells

Directions:

  1. Spread out the jingle bells on 1 end of the table and place a line using masking tape across the other end of the table.
  2. In under a minute…
  3. use the straw to blow the bells across the table across the tape line.
Jingle Bell Race
Jingle Bell Race

Snowman Slide

Snowman Slide

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Plastic Cups (with snowman faces)
  • Balloons

Directions:

  1. Arrange the snowman cups at one end of the table.
  2. In less than 1 minute…
  3. players stand at the end of the table and slowly release air from a balloon to knock the snowman cups off the other end of the table.
Snowman Slide

Snow Fall

Snow Fall

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • White Balloons

Directions:

  1. Players keep one hand in their pocket and try to keep two white balloons up in the air for one minute.
  2. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking away a balloon.

Candy Suck

Candy Suck

Materials:

  • 1 minute timer
  • M&M’s
  • Straws
  • Plates

Directions:

  1. Player needs 2 plates with 10 M&M’s on one plate.
  2. In less than 1 minute…
  3. Use the straw to suck up the M&M’s, one at a time and place them on the second plate.
  4. Try to get all of the M&M’s to the second plate in less than a minute.
  5. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking M&M’s.

North Pole Pop

North Pole Pop

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • White Balloons
  • Mittens

Directions:

  1. Player puts on mittens and has 1 minute to pop the balloon. (It’s much harder than is sounds.)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Hershey’s Kisses

Directions:

  1. Each player needs 6 Hershey’s Kisses.
  2. Players place one hand behind their back.
  3. In less than 1 minute player opens all of the Kisses with one hand.
  4. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking Kisses.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

Christmas Tree Stack

Christmas Tree Stack

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Green Plastic Cups

Directions:

  1. In less than 1 minute…
  2. players stack up a pile of cups like a pyramid.
  3. Then place them back into a single stack.
Christmas Tree Stack

Here is our Thanksgiving Minute to win it post

Christmas Crafts & Snacks

The kids and I made some fun snacks for our teachers, coaches, and neighbors… We placed a variety of Hershey’s Kisses on the square shaped pretzels and melted them for a few minutes. After they came out of the oven, we added M&M’s to the middles of them.

I saved our Crystal Light containers for the past few years, and then I wrapped them in paper and added a bow and tag.

We made fun ornaments in my son’s class Christmas party… Snowman, Santa, and Roudolph.

Kids Thanksgiving Treats

One of our family Thanksgiving traditions is making Gingerbread Houses. This year we continued our tradition with mini Gingerbread Houses and Waffle Cone Christmas Trees. I also tried something new this year, I made a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board with foods that my family enjoys.

Mini Gingerbread Houses

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. We each chose our houses and gently broke apart the pieces… one of the houses broke in the mail. But we were happy with the rest of our houses.
  2. We helped each other hold the pieces together as we used the icing to “glue” them into place.
  3. Then we decorated our houses with the candies using the icing as the “glue”.

Waffle Cone Christmas Trees

Ingredients:

  • Waffle Cones
  • Royal Icing
  • Green Food Coloring
  • Tiny Christmas Candies

Directions:

  1. We dyed some of the icing green and covered our waffle cones with it.
  2. Then we used the candies to decorate our Christmas trees.

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Ingredients:

  • Wooden Board
  • Small bowls or containers
  • Small spoons, knives, tongs, etc…
  • various Meats and Cheeses
  • various Crackers and Breads
  • fresh and dried Fruit and Berries
  • Candy Pumpkins or Candy Corn
  • Sage or Thyme

Directions:

  1. Place your bowls on your board. We put olives, craisins, frosted cranberries, and roasted pumpkin seeds in our bowls.
  2. Place your cheese. We used a sphere of Gouda cheese and a bacon ranch cheese ball.
  3. Place your meats around the cheese. We like pepperoni and hard salami.
  4. Place your crackers and breads. We used 3 different types of crackers, blue corn chips, and a sliced baguette.
  5. Place some herbs around the edges of the board.
  6. Place your fruit and berries. We used grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and clementines.
  7. Last we placed our candy pumpkins and added the utensils.

Chocolate Freezer Pies -14

He wanted chocolate freezer pies again this year… he just loves these.

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.

Star Wars Trunk-or-Treat

We have been dressing up for Halloween as a family for the past few years. Since the kids are getting older, this year we decided to participate in the Trunk-or-Treat event rather than attending it. We volunteered our trunk at each of the boys schools and also at our church. So we could use our Star Wars decorations more than once! Two of our event were moved in doors due to an early snowfall this year.

Star Wars Sign

Materials:

  • Black Poster Board
  • White Paint and Paint Brush
  • Print out a Star Wars logo
  • Glue
  • Pencil

Directions:

  1. Glue the Star Wars logo to the top of the black board.
  2. I used a pencil to free hand the words on the sign “May the Faith be with You”.
  3. Then I covered the pencil with the white paint.

R2D2 Pumpkin

Materials:

  • Oval orange or white Pumpkin
  • White and Grey Spray Paint
  • Blue, Black, and Red Sharpies

Directions:

  1. I spray painted the bottom half of the pumpkin white and the top half of the pumpkin grey.
  2. Let it dry VERY well, or the paint will come off with the Sharpies.
  3. Then I used the Sharpies to decorate the pumpkin to look like R2D2.

BB8 Pumpkin

Materials:

  • Large Round orange or white Pumpkin
  • Tiny Flat orange or white Pumpkin
  • White Spray Paint
  • Orange, Black, and Silver Sharpies

Directions:

  1. Spray paint the pumpkins white.
  2. Let it dry VERY well, or the paint will come off with the Sharpies.
  3. Then I used the Sharpies to decorate the pumpkin to look like BB8.

Star Wars Trunk

We decorated the trunk with a black table cloth hanging in the background. Then we hung white Christmas lights all around. We added some Star Wars Light Sabers with our sign and pumpkins. We passed out glow sticks instead of candy.

Star Wars Costumes

  • Chewbacca (My older son had a Chewbacca onsie costume that he wore).
  • Luke Skywalker (My younger son wore his Martial Arts top with a belt, some khaki pants, and wrapped some old white socks around this ankles. He also took one of his toy Light Sabers.)
  • Princess Leia (I braided my hair on the side and wrapped it over my head. I also wore a white button shirt with khaki pants and boots. I had a tan jacket that I wore too. My son gave me a toy gun as well).

Art Birthday Party -10

We had an Art Birthday Party for Raegan’s 10th birthday. There were several art stations set up outside and then we had the food inside.

Decorate Your Own Cupcake

Materials:

Directions:

  1. I printed out pictures of wooden paint palettes and laminated them to place the cupcakes on. Then I placed a cupcake of each color on them.
  2. I made chocolate and white cupcakes and used different colored frosting for them (the kids could have iced the cupcakes themselves too).
  3. I added different sprinkles to the plastic paint palettes and placed a cupcake in the middle of the palettes.
  4. The kids could choose a paint palette and decorate their own cupcake.

Creative Juice

We had blue Koolaid in our Creative Juice, but you could choose anything that your child likes. I also found these crazy straws for the kids!

Rice Krispie Paint Brushes

Ingredients:

  • Rice Krispie Treats
  • Food Coloring
  • White Chocolate Melts
  • Craft Sticks

Directions:

  1. After I made the Rice Krispies I cut them into rectangles and placed a craft stick into the bottom of them.
  2. Then I melted the white chocolate and added different colored food coloring to it.
  3. Then dip in the Rice Krispie treats to look like paint brushes with paint on them.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients :

  • Crescent Roll Dough
  • Cream Cheese 8 oz.
  • Marshmallow Cream 1 can
  • Colored Fruit

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan and then cut out a sliver one one side and a hole to make it look like a paint palette.
  2. Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
  3. Mix together the Cream Cheese and the Marshmallow Cream to spread on the Crescent Roll.
  4. I cut up different colored fruit red strawberries, orange mandarins, yellow pineapple, green grapes, blue berries, red grapes.
  5. I placed the left over fruit and dip in a platter for our guests.

Vegie Pizza

Ingredients :

  • Crescent Roll Dough
  • Sour Cream 1 tub
  • Ranch packet
  • Colored Vegetables

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan and then cut out a sliver one one side and a hole to make it look like a paint palette.
  2. Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
  3. Mix together the Sour Cream and the Ranch packet to spread on the Crescent Roll.
  4. I cut up different colored vegetables red cherry tomatoes, orange carrots, yellow bell peppers, green cucumbers, green broccoli, purple onion.
  5. I placed the left over vegetables and dip in a platter for our guests.

Crayon Cans

Materials:

  • Tin Cans
  • Crayons
  • Glue Gun
  • Ribbons

Directions:

  1. I glued the crayons around the tin cans.
  2. Then I glued a ribbon around them.
  3. I placed the plasticwear in the cans.

Living Photo Frame

I used some large cardboard boxes and paint to create a living photo frame for the kids to take pictures in.

Tie Dye Station

Materials:

  • Tie Dye
  • Paper Plates
  • Rubber Bands
  • Plastic Bags
  • Sharpie
  • Something White to Dye
  • Bucket of Water
  • Plastic Gloves
  • Paper Towels

Directions:

  1. Write name on a plastic bag.
  2. Place the shirt in the water and squeeze out all of the water.
  3. Twist or tie the shirt with the rubber bands.
  4. Put on gloves and pour different colored dye onto the shirt.
  5. Place the shirt in the plastic bag and keep it there for 2 hours.
  6. Rinse it out in the sink before washing alone for the first time.

Sidewalk Chalk Station

I placed sidewalk chalk on this table.

Rock Painting Station

I placed rocks and paints on this table.

Slime Making Station

Materials:

  • Glue
  • Sta-Flo
  • Food Coloring
  • Glitter and Sequins
  • Bowls
  • Large Spoons
  • 1 Cup
  • Plastic Bags
  • Sharpie

Directions:

  1. Write child’s name on a bag.
  2. 1 cup glue mixed with 1 cup Sta-Flo.
  3. Keep mixing until thick enough to hold in hands.
  4. Add food coloring, glitter, or sequins.
  5. Place the slime in your plastic bag.

Sand Art Station

Materials:

Directions:

  1. Using the funnels, place the sand in the stars.
  2. Glue on the lid.

Canvas Painting Station

I put out little canvas’s and paints for the kids to create their own masterpieces.

Independence Day Foods

Our family LOVES lighting fireworks in the backyard. Occasionally, we also have fun foods too. This year I tried some new recipes for taco dip, and fruit desserts.

Patriotic Taco Dip

Ingredients:

  • Tortilla Chips
  • Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
  • 2 cans Refried Beans
  • Black Olives
  • 1 1/2 cups Guacamole
  • 2 cups white Shredded Cheese
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 16 oz. Sour Cream
  • Taco Seasoning Packet

Directions:

  1. Place refried beans on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Place the guacamole on the beans.
  3. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. Then place it in the dish.
  4. Place the shredded cheese on the top.
  5. Next place the olives in the top left corner like the blue field of the American flag.
  6. Last place the tomatoes in stripes on the cheese to look like a flag.

Berry Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

  • 2 Angel Food cake mix
  • Blue and Red Berries
  • Cool Whip

Directions:

  1. Bake the angel food cake according to the directions for 3 baking pans and let it cool.
  2. Wash and slice the berries, we used strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
  3. Spread some of the cream on one of the cakes and add a few berries.
  4. Place another cake on top of the berries and spread some more cream and berries on that cake too.
  5. Then place the last cake on the top and spread some more cream.
  6. Last place the berries in randomly or in a fancy pattern if you want!

Captain America Fruit Platter

Ingredients:

  • Cherries
  • Marshmallows
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • 1 package Cream Cheese
  • 1 jar Marshmallow Cream
  • Large Round Platter
  • Small Star Dish

Directions:

  1. Mix the cream cheese and marshmallow cream and place it in the star dish.
  2. Place blueberries around the star.
  3. Place a circle of marshmallows around the blueberries.
  4. Place a circle of strawberries around the marshmallows.
  5. Place another circle of marshmallows around the strawberries.
  6. Last place a circle of cherries around the marshmallows.

Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Cake -9

For my son’s 9th birthday, we tried a new ice cream cake recipe. He loves mint, chocolate, and ice cream… and Andys Mints as well! This cake has a brownie base and ice cream and other delicious toppings!

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Brownie Mix
  • 1/2 cup Oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 quart Mint Chip Ice Cream
  • 1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pure Peppermint Extract
  • 8 oz. Cool Whip
  • 1 bag Andys Mint pieces
  • Green Food Coloring
  • Andys Mints

Directions:

  1. Make brownies according to directions on the box. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake according to the box directions.
  2. Cool completely, then place in the freezer to chill.
  3. Stir the ice cream until it is smooth enough to spread.
  4. Gently spread evenly over the brownies, then place in the freezer again.
  5. Heat the cream over medium heat until hot and bubbly.
  6. Add chocolate chips and stir until smooth, then add peppermint extract.
  7. Let cool to room temperature (so it doesn’t melt the ice cream).
  8. Drizzle an even layer over the ice cream.
  9. Sprinkle some of the Andys mint pieces over the chocolate and freeze.
  10. Add a layer of cool whip and more Andys mint.
  11. I made some of the cool whip green to write “Happy Birthday” on the ice cream cake.
  12. Freeze for a couple hours. Pull out the ice cream cake to sit out about 15 minutes before cutting to serve.

Purple Succulent Wedding

We had a beautiful rustic wedding with lots of purple and succulents. I created a lot of DIY items for the wedding and my family helped with all of the food as well. I ordered most of my larger Succulents on Amazon. I also ordered some smaller Succulents on Amazon too. I also made my own wedding cake.

Cousins

Wedding Announcement

I made signs with my Cricut that said, “My mom”, “and My dad”, “are getting married”! Then we took the kids to the farm where we wanted to have the wedding and took pictures with them.

Family Unity Sand

I found some champagne glasses at Goodwill to use for our individual sand. Then I found the large clear glass vase with the marble topper at Goodwill as well. I added a scrapbooking sticker that says “Family” to the vase. I bought the colored Sand on Amazon. Then during our wedding ceremony we took turns pouring our individual sand into our family sand vase!

Place Setting Jars

We placed rocks in jars and wrapped the jars with burlap and lace. Then I printed our names on the cards and attached them to craft sticks, and stuck them down into the jars.

Drink Table

We had lemonade, tea, and flavored water at our drink station. I found clear plastic glasses with sliver glitter on them. I also found the black “LOVE” sign and spray painted it with silver glitter. We used pails for the sweetener and stirring spoons. The large white pail in the back that says “BLESSED” has the ice in it.

Cake Table

I decorated my wedding cake with succulents and twine. I also made purple cupcakes with buttercream frosting and added blackberries to the tops. We got our white plates with silver rims from Amazon along with the silverware.

Taco’ bout LOVE

We had Qdoba cater our wedding since we just LOVE tacos! We also brought some extra things like black olives, jalapenos, diced onions, and tomatoes to add.

Center Pieces

I found small dishes and bowls at the Dollar Tree. I filled them with purple and green chocolates. Then I planted some of my succulents in some small pots. We sliced a log tree from the backyard to place our succulent plants on.

Here Comes the Bride

My oldest son played the Wedding March on his keyboard as I walked into the barn. My youngest son and my step daughter held signs that I made that say, “Here comes my Mom” and ” Here comes the Bride”. And my dad got to perform our wedding!

Dancing

My oldest son has always LOVED music. Since he was a toddler he has played instruments and danced when he heard music. He helped my husband and I create our playlist, and he stunned us all with his amazing dancing skills as well!

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