We had a fun ocean themed lunch at school for our “Anchored” week at school. Each day we found creative ways to incorporate all of the food groups. We also had to keep the calories and sodium counts down to meet the state requirements for serving food to the school children.
We used clear plastic cups for the pudding, jello, and the banana cup. We also offered milk everyday even though it is not pictured.
Monday
Ham & Cheese Sea Monster Sandwich Goldfish Crackers Broccoli Ocean Sprouts Coral Reef Fruit Cocktail Shark Pudding (Gummy Sharks)
Tuesday
Fish Shape Nuggets Barnacle Baked Beans Sea Dragon Punch Blueberry Bubbles Teddy Graham Beach Jello (Umbrella Toothpick)
Wednesday
Peg Leg Chicken Sea Shell Pasta Salad Green Sea Beans Dolphin Banana in Grapes Mermaids Delight Ice Cream (Mermaid Sprinkles)
Thursday
Hot Dog Octopus on Seaweed Spaghetti Crab Leg Carrot Sticks Sea Cucumber Slices Green Sea Turtle Apple
(We added the hotdog bun to get enough whole grain. And we added a banana, because we had extras left from yesterday.)
Friday
Sand Dollar Pancakes Sea Foam Scrambled Eggs Treasure Tater Tots Poseidon’s Red Pepper Sticks Orange Boats
I feel like Frozen is every girls favorite. She is starting to learn the songs now. We love playing Frozen it in the dvd player in the car every January to prepare her for her Elsa photoshoot!
Elsa is a powerful princess. She is learning how to control her powers and doesn’t want to hurt her family while she figures it out. She will do anything to protect her sister from getting hurt by her powers, even isolate herself from Anna. I love that the “one true love” at the end of the movie is the sister rather than the boy this time.
Storm also loves her family and tells me several times a day “Mom,” waits for me to answer and says, “I love you!” She is learning everyday too, and discovering new strengths as she grows.
We took her Elsa pictures in the front yard after out biggest snow ever. We had 17 inches in 24 hours! She wore an Elsa dress that someone had given to us last year with a crown that we found with blue hearts. She wore boots this year because of so much snow, and she wore her blue earrings are from a multi color pack that I bought when she was a baby. I put a loose braid in her hair and tried to put it over their shoulder. She wanted to bring out her giant stuffed Olaf and some snowflakes that we had.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Storm has dressed as Elsa on January 17 every year of her short life!
This year I really wanted to make a Teepee Tree for my girls to play in. The idea is that the kids can play inside of the Christmas tree for a month and then Santa puts the gifts inside of the Teepee on Christmas morning.
I really had no idea how to build it, and I couldn’t find any satisfactory directions. So I decided to go at it one step at a time (which took much longer than I wanted and was very much frustrating at times).
I started by purchasing a 5 foot Teepee. I put together the Teepee and saw that it was saggy since I wasn’t able to attach the corner stakes that go into the ground that hold it firm.
I decided to get some 1/2 inch PVC pipe to form the bottom boarder of the inside of the teepee. Since the teepee is 5ft x 5ft I made the PVC square, but the corner pieces that hold it together add about and inch on each side; so I had to cut an inch off of my 5 foot pieces.
Next I folded the flaps back, but I needed something sturdy to attach my garland to. So I got 2 six foot pieces of PCV pipe and a three foot piece to form a triangle door for my Teepee. I attached the six foot pieces to the three foot piece with 90 degree corner pieces. (The PVC pipe is much cheaper at Lowes or Home Depot.)
I used zip ties to attach the triangle PVC to my 5 foot square PCV. I also zip tied the top of my PVC triangle to the top of my teepee poles.
I used 250 feet of green Christmas garland for my teepee. I place the first row of my garland all the way around the teepee, securing it in the 4 corners with a safety pin where the tent stake goes through.
After the first wrap or two around the entire teepee, I needed to wrap the garland around the PVC triangle opening to my teepee every time I came around to the front to create the opening.
I noticed that the garland was sagging, so I used binder clips on the corner teepee poles to hold the garland tight.
I continued wrapping the garland back and forth around the teepee using the clips on the corners until I got to the top of where I wanted the door opening to be.
The PVC triangle doorway was showing quite a bit of white pipe through, so I wrapped some smaller pieces of garland around it to cover the pipes.
I then started wrapping the garland all the way around the teepee top to close up the top of the door.
I had extra garland and the top of my tree looked a little scrawny, so I used the rest of my garland and wrapped the top part of my tree t more times. Then I wrapped the top of the teepee poles with the last bit of garland.
For the lights, I just zig zagged them back and forth on the side of the tree that showed. I used the binder clips that were already on the tree to keep the lights in place. When the lights got to the top of the tree, then I could wrap the lights all the way around the tree.
We decorated the tree and put a tree skirt in the bottom of the tree.
The girls liked to take their stuffed animals into their Christmas tent.
We made a variety of different DIY gifts this year for Christmas. We made Christmas carol canvases and fruit trees. We also made little Christmas bulb trees to put in the fruit basket. These were so fun to make with the little girls.
DIY Christmas Bulb Tree
We made these little Christmas trees out of 1.5 inch Christmas blubs. I made about 30 of these because I wanted to keep a few for myself. We put the trees in the teacher fruit baskets with nuts, pine twigs, and chocolates.
I got a 1×2 board and cut it at 5 inches (you may need to cut yours longer if you have larger bulbs). Then I found some old letter blocks in the basement to use at the tree stand. I got black spray paint and sprayed all of the wooden pieces.
Once the spray paint dried for 24 hours, I used wood glue to glue the block to one side of the board. Then I used my hot glue gun to glue 4 bulbs along the board, be sure to place the ornament hook in the back of the tree. Then I glued 3 bulbs on top of the 4, and 2 on top of the 3, and then 1 on the very top of the tree.
I just loved the way these turned out and they were small enough to fit in my fruit baskets perfectly.
Teacher Fruit Baskets
We made these Christmas fruit baskets for teachers, coaches, car pool drivers, neighbors, pastors, and coworkers.
I found these baskets at the consignment store. I wanted to use bigger basket for my coworkers, and I love the way that they turned out.
I needed about 10 smaller baskets for my sons teachers and coaches. I always save the Velveeta Cheese boxes for the past 10 years or so. I had about 30 of them, so I glued them together in threes and then wrapped them with Christmas paper. Then I stuffed the bottoms with brown packing paper to help hold the fruit up.
Next I added tissue paper and I went out to our yard to get some sprigs of evergreen tree. I placed my Christmas Bulb Tree in the middle and added the fruit around it. I wanted to stick with red and green fruit, so I chose red and green apples, pears, kiwi, and limes.
Last, I placed our family Christmas card in the box and wrapped it with cellophane wrap. I used tiny clear elastics to hold the cellophane closed and added a Christmas ribbon around it.
I took about 7 baskets to church pastors and friends as well. For their baskets I found these super cute boxes at the Dollar Tree and placed the tissue paper inside. Then I added the pine twigs, my Christmas Bulb Tree, fruit, and nuts.
Finally, I placed our family Christmas card in the box and wrapped it with cellophane wrap. I used tiny clear elastics to hold the cellophane closed and added a Christmas ribbon around it.
I used a large bowl from the Dollar Tree to make these last two baskets for our neighbors. I placed a Christmas candle in the middle and used up the rest of my supplies for these.
Here is our family Christmas picture that I put in the cards with the fruit baskets.
Kids Christmas Carol Canvas
The girls made Christmas canvases for their Grandparents gifts. We used 11×14 inch canvases and put Christmas Carols on them. The girls used different shades of green acrylic paint (Hunter Green and Spring Green) to paint the entire canvas.
After the paint dried, I printed out some old Christmas Carols and used Mod Podge to sponge brush it onto the canvas. I put the Mod Podge under the carol and on top of it.
After that dried, the girls used gold sparkle paint to paint the boarder of the carol paper.
Last we used red Dot Daubers to make the groups of 3 dots around the painting.
Beauty and the Beast is one of her favorites, for some reason she is fascinated with the Beast. She is starting to love all of the songs as much as I do too! We love playing Beauty and the Beast in the dvd player in the car every December to prepare her for her Belle photoshoot!
Belle is an adventurous girl who loves to read to experience excitement. She loves her father and friends more than anything, and will do anything to protect them. She is brave, bold and brilliant!
Storm is also adventurous, and brave. She is not afraid to wander in unknown places, and often explores with me following behind. We read books every night, hoping that she will develop a natural love of books as well.
We took her Belle pictures outside for the first time this year, since it got up to 50 degrees today. We just went into the yard and brought her props with us. Her beautiful yellow dress was given to us when she was a baby, and I’ve been saving it for her. I curled her hair and pulled the top portion of it back into a bun with a bun shaper. Then I wrapped a yellow ribbon around the bun. She wore her gold earrings that have the screw on backings. I got this old book at one of our library book sales. The Chip Mug was given to me as a Christmas gift a few years back. The mirror and rose just came from out local dollar store.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Storm has dressed as Belle on December 17 every year of her short life!
Every year we make gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving. We made a Nativity scene with graham crackers and gum drop people. We used coconut for the hay and animal crackers with candy canes as well. We tried something new this year, using peanut butter instead of icing; but it wasn’t sturdy enough so the gumdrops kept falling over. Next time we will have to add some powdered sugar to the peanut butter to thicken it up.
In a small saucepan, mix together 1 cup of water, 1 TBSP vegetable oil and a few drops of red food coloring.
In another small bowl mix together 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt, 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice.
Turn the stove on medium heat and slowly mix your flour mixture into your water mixture.
Continuing mixing until the color is fully blended and the playdough begins to pull away from the saucepan. The batter will be lumpy but as you stir the playdough begins to form and sticks to itself.
Place the playdough on a piece of parchment paper and allow it to cool a bit.
Once it’s cool to the touch knead for a few minutes until soft.
Here are some of our other Thanksgiving Gingerbread posts:
Gingerbread House -23Thanksgiving Baking -20Kids Thanksgiving Treats -19
And here are some of our other Family Holidays:
Talk Like a Pirate DayEaster Minute-to-win-itChristmas Fireplace & Crafts
The Pocahontas Disney movie is one of my recent favorites, since I have started reading about the history of the United States. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every November to prepare her for her Pocahontas photoshoot!
Pocahontas is a respectful of nature and people. She is always outside with the river or mountains or cornfields. She spends time with her Grandmother Willow and the animals that live with her. Pocahontas tries to teach her new friend how to respect nature as well.
Storm loves nature as well. At school they call her “The Flower Hunter”. She can find wild flowers no matter what season. She also loves being outside and learning about animals too.
We went to a local park to take her Pocahontas photos this year. She wore her beautiful long hair down, to flow in the wind! She also had on a turquoise necklace that I had found at a consignment shop, and her turquoise earrings that we bought last year. She wore her Pocahontas dress that we bought last year after Halloween. I had her wear black leggings since it was colder this time of year than it has in the past. Last, she wore her golden sandals.
Amos 4:13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness
Storm has dressed as Pocahontas on November 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Pocahontas photoshoots:
Disney’s Cinderella is such a sweet movie that reminds us all to be kind in all situations. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every October to prepare her for her Cinderella photoshoot!
Cinderella is kind and gentle in all situations. The animals love her because she is so gentle with them, and she truly cares about them. The mice and birds also love her, helping to prepare her dress for the ball. All off the animals help with her coach going to the ball as well.
Storm truly cares about her loved ones as well. Every day when she eats something yummy she sets a small bit aside to save for when her niece comes over (even if it is days away). She is an empathetic girl as well. Whenever I am not feeling well or hurt myself (even if I just stub my toe), she rushes to me to find out how she can help. Mostly giving lots of hugs and empathetic looks.
We went to a local chapel to take these pictures on the front steps. She wore her Cinderella dress that we got from a resale shop and her white gloves, headband, and necklace. She wore her white dress shoes with the low heel and her pearl earrings. I pulled her hair backing using a bun shaper and added her headband. I found this large clock with the Roman numerals on Facebook for free. I spray painted a white pumpkin with silver glitter. And I found this star wand and tiny glass slipper on Amazon.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Storm has dressed as Cinderella on October 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Cinderella photoshoots:
September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We made a fun pirate themed lunch for the kids at school. The lunch staff also wore pirate hats and we bought eye patches for the kids.
Sea Shaped Fish Nuggets
Our food supplier doesn’t have fish sticks, but they do have fish nuggets in the shape of sea creatures.
Treasure Map Cheese Sticks
We just used Sharpies to draw a red X on the cheese sticks with black dotted lines for the trail.
We placed blue Jello in the bottom of clear plastic cups and added an orange wedge on the top. Then we added a Pirate Flag to the orange wedge to look like a Pirate ship.
Carrot Stick Planks
We cup up carrot sticks and called them “Carrot Planks”.
Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is such a fun and silly movie that Storm loves. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every September to prepare her for her Snow White photoshoot!
The 7 Dwarfs have such a fun and silly time with Snow White, bringing out her motherly side. They care about her so much that they, even Grumpy, warns her to be careful of letting anyone into the house. Snow White loves taking care of them and their house, cleaning, cooking, and loving all 7 dwarfs.
My Little Storm loves being silly and she also loves being my helper in the kitchen and watching her little niece. She is still learning what it means to be a diligent worker and to be aware of strangers. She loves EVERYONE that she meets and doesn’t know a stranger! I pray that one day she will grow up learning to love like Snow White and to make the best in all circumstances.
We took these pictures out in our backyard near the woods. She loves being outside and goes out every chance that she gets. She wore her Snow White dress that I found at the resale shop after last Halloween! Her shoes are the black flats with a bow and her earrings are from a multi color pack that I bought when she was a baby. We loved these earrings because they have the twist on backing and she wore the red earrings today. The red bow in her hair came from a colorful pack of bow that I had bought when she was a baby as well. This oval gold mirror I also found at a resale store several years ago. I used the wooden brown basket to put her apples in. I always buy Red Delicious because they look the most red like in the movie.
Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Storm has dressed as Snow White on September 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Snow White photoshoots:
