Category: Family Time

Christmas Day Kids Foods

We do all of our Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve each year. So for Christmas day I decided to put out finger foods for the kids as they were coming and going throughout the day. This way I don’t have to be in the kitchen cooking, so I can enjoy Christmas day too.

Hot Chocolate Bar

My kids are crazy about hot chocolate. We got some different flavors, but I also just made some in the crock pot to have out all day. Then we added marshmallows, mints, chocolate chips, chocolate wafers and chocolate stirring spoons. I added a scoop of peppermint bark ice cream to mine… YUM!

Cheeseball Platter

My husband loves cheeseballs so we have one almost every holiday. I placed salami, crackers, and cheeses along with the cheeseball.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients :

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

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan.
  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 the fruit into tiny pieces.
  5. I placed the left over fruit and dip in a platter for the kids.

Vegi Pizza

Ingredients :

  • Crescent Roll Dough
  • Sour Cream 1 tub
  • Ranch packet
  • Vegetables Diced Tiny

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan.
  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 the vegetables into tiny pieces.
  5. I placed the left over vegetables and dip in a platter.

Cheesecake

My simple little pleasure, cheesecake!

Christmas Potpourri

I got the idea for Christmas Simmer Pot gifts from https://mommymadethat.com/stovetop-potpourri-gift/. We made these for teachers, baby sitters, coaches, and neighbors. Just add orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and pine tree sprigs to some simmering water. Smelled delightful all weekend.

Family Christmas

The kids all got X-men Storm shirts from Baby Storm this year!

I love, LOVE, love, love, LOVE these kids!!!

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!

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.

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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!

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!

Homemade Christmas Crafts & Gifts

Snowball Bucket

Glitter Tree

Button Tree

Jingle Bell Sled

Jingle Bell Bulb

Handprint Bulb

Christmas Wreath

Santa Bulb

Button Wreath

ORNAMENT BOX

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!

Cherry Cheese Pie -15

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:

  1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
  2. Beat in milk until smooth.
  3. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
  4. Pour into crust and chill for 3 hours.
  5. 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!

Spy Birthday -10

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.”

I placed the Spy Gear in the Top Secret Boxes that I found on Amazon, then I cuffed them together with the boys Spy Code Yulu Break Free game. In one box I had Walkie Talkies that I had gotten my son for his birthday gift. Another box had face disguises like mustaches. One box had Invisible Ink Spy Pens and Pads. And the last box had the Spy Look Behind Glasses that the kids loved.

Mission Possible

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:

  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.

Marshmallow Fondant Recepie

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
  • 3 TBSP water
  • 2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
  • Crisco

Directions:

  1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
  2. Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
  3. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
  4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
  5. Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
  6. 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.
  7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

May the Fourth (Star Wars Day)

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:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Once dough begins to form a ball in the center, dust generously with flour.
  2. Cover dough with plastic wrap or wax paper and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  3. Dust a smooth surface with flour, and roll out a section of the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
  4. 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.
  5. Bake at 350˚F/180˚C for 10-12 min.
  6. With melted chocolate in a piping bag, add the bandolier, eyes and nose.
  7. 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!

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