The kids made ornaments for Grandparents and Aunts. I made this little paper that tells who made which ornament! My idea was to make it look like a box of chocolates when you open it… with the paper telling what is in each compartment. I love how they turned out!
MISTLETOES CANVAS
Storm made a cute Mistletoes canvas for her Grandparents! I tried to wrap the Mistletoes canvas with cute red jingle bells. The grandparents live in different states, so we wrapped them and packaged them in larger boxes.
CANDY POTS
We made painted pots filled with candy for their teachers! A snowman face filled with mints and a Santa belly filled with Santa Hershey’s Kisses. I also sent one of these to each of my nephews!
COUSIN SNACK BOXES
Each of the kids made a snack and we put them all in these cute boxes that I found at the Dollar Tree for their cousins! “J is for Jesus” candy cane, “Snowman Soup”, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “Gingerbread girl Oatmeal Cream Pie”! The cousins live in different states, so we taped the lids on the boxes and packaged them up.
CHRISTMAS PACKAGING
I packaged the Ornament Boxes, Mistletoes Canvas, Candy Pots, and Cousin Snack Boxes into larger boxes. I used balloons to fill the empty space, which my nephews loved playing with when they opened the boxes!
Christmas Tree Fruit Tray
I also made my fruit dip that the boys LOVE! Mix one package of cream cheese with one jar of marshmallow cream, serve with fresh fruit!
Refrigerator Snowman
She sits in her swing while I work in the kitchen, so I made the refrigerator to look like a snowman for her!
Snowman Gifts
TEENY TINY GIFT
I made this tiny box from foam to trick the kids about their gift from Grandparents! They were so confused about what could fit in this box that was for the whole family! The note said that their was a trampoline in the shed for them!
My oldest in now 15 years old! 15 years ago he taught me that it is possible to “fall in love at first sight”! He is a sweet, loving, and brilliant young man.
Ingredients:
9 inch Graham crust
8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 cup Lemon Juice
1 tea. Vanilla
1 can Cherry Pie Filling
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
Beat in milk until smooth.
Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
Pour into crust and chill for 3 hours.
Top with cherries and refrigerate.
We let the 3 month old play with the balloons. We tied them to her hands and feet, since she is kicking an waving non-stop… She loved this!
My son wanted to have a secret agent spy birthday party with his classmates. It was so much fun, and the weather cooperated with us too!
Crime Scene Gifts
Secret Agent Badges
“First thing you all need to do is to create your Secret Agent Badge. To figure out your Secret Agent name, you will draw a name from this “First Name” can, and then draw a name from the “Last Name” can. Then you can write your Secret Agent Name on your ID card. Next you can add your fingerprint to your ID card. Gently press one finger into the ink pad and carefully place it on the box in your ID card. Last choose a badge holder and place your ID card into it and clip it on your clothing.”
One girl even drew the name “Secret Agent”! I found the Badge Holders on Amazon.
Spy Gear
“Before we get started, we will need to equip ourselves with some Spy equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment has been kept under lock and key, so you will need to work together to release the supplies. To open the cuffs there is a key maze inside each cuff. Insert the lock pick in the maze and the rotate the lock pick left, right, up and down to follow the maze to reach the bottom and unlock the hand cuffs.”
The kids followed the clues around the yard and solved the puzzles to find the laser maze at the end. We used the Spy Code games that my boys already had. There are several spy contraptions in each game that we pulled out and used in our Mission Possible scavenger hunt. They have Spy Code Operation: Escape Room, Spy Code Yulu Break Free, and he got Spy Code Safe Breaker as a gift from Grandpa.
“Things to remember, if you come to a ‘Mission Envelope’ that is not the next number, just leave it alone until you get to that number… the envelopes must be solved in number order. Use the walkie-talkies to communicate and don’t open any of the “Mission Envelopes” until all of your agents are present. Work together to solve the code, and decide who will work on the Spy contraption. Who ever is not working the code or contraption can use the walkie talkies to find the next clue after solving is completed. Do not open the next ‘Mission Envelope’ until both the code and contraption have been solved for the current ‘Mission Envelope’.“
Laser Maze
Licorice TNT
Pop Secret Popcorn
Root Beer Floats
I scooped the icecream into jars ahead of time, so the kids could choose their flavor or icecream and soda. They really enjoyed these!
Party Foods
Basically I put out some of his favorite red and yellow foods to stick with my color theme. Watermelon, pineapple, salami and cheese and crackers, popcorn, and licorice, lemonade, and Koolaid!
Secret Agent Cake
I made a red, yellow, and chocolate checkered cake with my homemade white butter cream icing. Then I made marshmallow fondant to create the decorations.
Buttercream Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup Crisco
4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon milk (if thick)
Directions:
Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
Marshmallow Fondant Recepie
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.
This is the first time that we have celebrated Star Wars Day. We had tons of fun with our snacks while we watched the movies.
Light Saber Popcycles
I made these Light Saber handles from felt. I used hot glue to hold them together and glued buttons on as well. We go though a bag or two of these popcycles a week at our house (even in the winter). My youngest loves that now his hands don’t get cold.
Light Saber Pencils
Since we are having school at home because of COVID-19 stay at home order, we got to use our Light Saber Pencils.
Wookie Cookies
We made our Wookie Cookies with a gingerbread recipe.
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
3/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 egg
White Chocolate Chips
Chocolate Melts
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Once dough begins to form a ball in the center, dust generously with flour.
Cover dough with plastic wrap or wax paper and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Dust a smooth surface with flour, and roll out a section of the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter slice out your Wookiees. Wookiees are tall, so you may want to stretch out the head and feet! Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and score the cookie’s surface with a fork to look like fur.
Bake at 350˚F/180˚C for 10-12 min.
With melted chocolate in a piping bag, add the bandolier, eyes and nose.
Add white chis to the bandolier.
Star Wars Snacks
We used Teddy Grahams for our Edible Ewoks, donut holes for our Death Star Donuts, and Rolos for our Han Rolos!
Light Saber Pretzel Rods
Definitely the favorite snack of the evening. I dipped pretzel rods in melted candies and chocolate. Then I added round sprinkles for the buttons.
7 Leia Dip
Last we had 7 Leia Dip with Trooper Scoopers for dinner!
My 4th grader now attends a private school, and the class worked together to create a class project for the school fundraising auction. The parents of the class also put together an auction basket too.
Collaborative Class Art
I had each child trace their hand up to their elbow (as close as they can). Then they decorated their hand with markers in any way that they wish. Then the children cut them out. I placed the cut out hands around a large black canvas. I stuck them to the canvas with Mod Podge. I then cut out and added some stars to the canvas around the hands. In the middle I used my Cricut cutter to add the quote to the middle of the canvas: “YOU have within you the strength, the patience, and passion to reach for the STARS!”
BBQ/ Grill Auction Basket
We purchased a small charcoal grill and sauces, spices, and rubs to fill it with. We also added 2 fun aprons that say, “King of the Grill” and “Always Cook with Wine”!
Since we are stuck at home for COVID-19 pandemic, no one could go with me to my ultrasound to see the baby gender. When I got home I made a gender reveal cake for the family to cut open and see the gender of baby. I also Zoom called extended family members so that they could be apart of the excitement too!
I mixed up a white cake mix then add either blue or pink food coloring for the reveal.
Then I greased 2 heart shaped cake pans and put half of the mix into each pan.
I baked them according to the directions on the box and then let them cool.
I mixed up some of my homemade buttercream to cover the cake with. 1 cup butter, 1 cup Crisco, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 tablespoon milk (if thick).
Last I colored the left over food coloring blue and pink to decorate the cake with, I wrote “Brother or Sister?” on the cake.
My husband cut open the cake to reveal the gender during our Zoom call with family!
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:
You have just 1 minute to…
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.
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:
Place a bell under each cup and spread them out on the table.
Place an empty cup several feet away. (We put ours in the living room behind us).
You have just 1 minute to…
uncover 1 jingle bell at a time and run it to the empty cup across the room.
Place the bells in the cup one at a time.
Jingle RunJingle RunJingle Run
Jingle Bell Race
Jingle Bell Race
Materials:
1 minute Timer
Straws
Masking Tape
Jingle Bells
Directions:
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.
In under a minute…
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:
Arrange the snowman cups at one end of the table.
In less than 1 minute…
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:
Players keep one hand in their pocket and try to keep two white balloons up in the air for one minute.
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:
Player needs 2 plates with 10 M&M’s on one plate.
In less than 1 minute…
Use the straw to suck up the M&M’s, one at a time and place them on the second plate.
Try to get all of the M&M’s to the second plate in less than a minute.
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:
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:
Each player needs 6 Hershey’s Kisses.
Players place one hand behind their back.
In less than 1 minute player opens all of the Kisses with one hand.
You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking Kisses.
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.
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.
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:
Glue the Star Wars logo to the top of the black board.
I used a pencil to free hand the words on the sign “May the Faith be with You”.
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:
I spray painted the bottom half of the pumpkin white and the top half of the pumpkin grey.
Let it dry VERY well, or the paint will come off with the Sharpies.
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:
Spray paint the pumpkins white.
Let it dry VERY well, or the paint will come off with the Sharpies.
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).
