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”.
Titus’s Middle School class Easter party had fun with a competition called Tournament of the Peeps. We had 4 teams, each a different color of Peep, and they played Minute-to-Win-it type games.
Angry Peeps
Stand 4 bunny Peeps of each color at one side of the table. 1 participant from each team will stand at the other side of the room. Use a rubber band to knock over the Peeps of the other team colors in one minute. Once all of your Peeps are knocked over you are out while the other teams keep playing.
Peeps in a Nest
One of your teammates will hold an Easter basket on his head, at one side of the room. Another teammate will get 10 Peeps and stand 6 feet away from the buckets. The teammate with the Peeps will see how many of the 10 he can toss into their teams bucket. You only have 1 minute.
Peep Tower
Teams will use 6 Chick Peeps to build the tallest Peep Tower in 1 minute. Peeps can be torn, stacked, or whatever other method the team comes up with to make the tallest tower (no other supplies allowed).
Peep in Your Face
Place 8 Peeps on a place at the table. 1 player from each team will stand at the table with hands behind their back. They player has 1 minutes to eat as many Peeps as he can.
Peep Catapult
Each team will build a catapult in 5 minutes. Teams will have access to craft sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons. First stack 5-7 craft sticks and use the rubber bands to fasten them on each end. Then make a stack of 2 craft sticks and fasten them together on 1 end only. Pull the 2 sticks apart and wedge the stack of sticks between them. Use 2 rubber bands to secure the spoon to the upper craft stick. Place a Peep on the spoon and hold the base of the catapult securely against the floor with one hand. Use the other hand to push down the spoon. Release the spoon and the Peep should fly.
Place an Easter basket 3 feet away from the catapult See how many Peeps you can catapult into your basket in 1 minute.
Each year our school does an auction fund raiser. Each class makes a collaborative art project and an auction basket. My 8th grader’s class worked together to create a wooden Christmas ornaments for the school fundraising auction this year.
Collaborative Christmas Ornaments
I had each child a wooden circle with a whole near the top. Then they decorated their hand with paint markers in a Christmas design. After they decorated them, we put twine through the whole and added a wooden bead or bow.
Dinner Menu Gift Cards/ Auction Basket
We found a chalk board that said “Weekly Menu” on it. Then strung twine back and froth across the front to hang gift cards from. We used tiny wooden clothes pins to hang the cards.
I made these Cinnamon Stick Candles for Christmas gifts. Each year we give small gifts to all of teachers, coaches, neighbors, coworkers, and our church pastors along with our family Christmas card and photo.
I used the hot glue to attach the cinnamon sticks to the outside of the candles. Some taller candles needed two rows of cinnamon sticks, one above the ribbon and one below. Then I glued the twine and ribbon around the candle and added the holly and jingle bells.
Each year we take a Christmas photo to put in our cards. This year I had the kids dress in their Christmas pajamas!
Our family Thanksgiving tradition is making Gingerbread Houses. This year we used a Wilton House Kit with the icing and candies.
We use the icing like the glue to hold the gingerbread house together. Then once it was pretty sturdy, we used the glue to attach the candy decorations.
This is a tradition that my little sister and I started when we were teenagers. I have continued it with my kids (and sometimes their cousins) for over 20 years now.
I wrapped diaper boxes and pizza boxes in brown packing paper. Then I mixed red and black paint and used a sponge to put it on the paper to look like bricks.
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
Gingerbread Christmas Tree
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
¾ Cup melted butter
¾ Cup sugar
½ Cup Molasses
½ Cup water
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp ginger
1 TBS Cinnamon
1 tsp Salt
1 egg
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients.
Once dough begins to form, dust generously with flour.
Cover dough with plastic and chill for 4 hours.
Dust surface with flour and roll out dough to ¼ inch thick.
Use a cookie cutter and place pieces on sprayed cookie sheet.
Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Christmas Day Snacks
Fruit Dip Wreath
Fruit dip is made with cream cheese and marshmallow cream.
Vegi Tray Wreath
Vegi ranch is made with sour cream and a ranch packet.
In a bowl mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt and put to one side for later.
In another larger bowl cream the butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth. Then beat in the egg and the food coloring.
Add to this mixture the dry ingredients you set aside earlier. Mix it all together until dough is formed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave the dough to chill for around 2 hours.
Place the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Separate the dough into 1 inch balls and roll each ball into the powdered sugar. Place dough balls onto a greased baking tray.
Bake cookies in an oven pre heated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Leave cookies to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled store in an airtight container. They should keep for 3 days.
Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with standing mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Gradually beat dry ingredients into butter mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop 2 tablespoons dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets lined with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; remove to wire racks and cool.
Once dough begins to form, dust generously with flour.
Cover dough with plastic and chill for 4 hours.
Dust surface with flour and roll out dough to ¼ inch thick.
Use a cookie cutter and place pieces on sprayed cookie sheet.
Bake 350 degrees for 8 minutes
Milk Chocolate Nut Melts
INGREDIENTS:
Milk Chocolate Chips
Chopped Nuts
Candy Molds
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
Put the chocolate in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
Spoon the melted chocolates into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and place in the chopped nuts.
Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Melts
INGREDIENTS:
Dark Chocolate Candy Melts
White Chocolate Candy Melts
Crushed Candy Canes
Candy Molds
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
Put the chocolate in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
Spoon the melted chocolates into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and place in the crushed candy canes.
Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.
Christmas Candy Melts
INGREDIENTS:
Red and Green Candy Melts
Tiny Christmas sprinkles
Candy Molds
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place a cup of water in a small sauce pan, and bring to a boil.
Lower heat to simmer, and place a glass bowl on the sauce pan.
Put the candy melts in the bowl and keep stirring for several minutes until smooth.
Place a piping bag into a large glass and fold the bag over the edges of the glass.
Spoon the melted candy into the piping bag and twist the top of the bag.
Cut off the tip and squirt into the candy molds and sprinkle in the Christmas sprinkles.
Refrigerate for half an hour and then pop them out.
Peppermint Bowls
I just cut out the red portion of 1 bowl and then placed it onto the other bowls one at a time while I spray painted them red. Then I wrapped them with clear wrapping.
Lots of teens and tots in our family photo this year! The toughest part of family time these days, is matching the schedule of these kids going every which way. They are all involved in so many activities I am sososososo proud of them all.
I set up my props in the backyard by our firepit and picnic table. I used vintage sleds, firewood, checkered tablecloth, wooden guitar, and some evergreenery.
The Tots
These girls are learning how to be good friends.
Pretty girls.
The Picnic Table
Our picnic table became the center of our photos despite my efforts to include all of the props that I set out.
The Tree
The big kids leaned against the tree by the woodpile for some of our photos.
The Guitar
I love that he plays guitar and enjoys music so much.
Small Group Photos
The Storm
She is so beautiful and loved sitting in this little seat at the woodpile.
The Dog
Arwen didn’t make it into very many photos. She is a very active dog and just wanted to play!
