Countdown to Christmas 2017

Holy smokes!  Where has the time gone??  

In my mind it's October 15th, but my calendar clearly states we are in DECEMBER.

It's Countdown to Christmas, y'all!

I'll be checking in daily on Instagram, showcasing our activities.

And I'll check in once a week here for a re-cap.

Consider joining in with your own Countdown.

I'd love to read all about your happenings!

You can find all sorts of ideas for crafts, activities, and outings below:

*North Pole Breakfast, Cookie Bakin', Tree Pickin', Craftin'

*Gingerbread Houses & Christmas Lights

*Snowflake Ornaments & Christmas Movie Marathons

*Cupcake Liner Christmas Trees

*Countdown Hershey's Advent Calendar

Go out and make some memories!!

Merry Christmas Wishes!!

Liz

Ringing In The New Year!

It is no secret that I am anxious to wave goodbye to 2016!

If you're like me, and surrounded by littles on New Year's Eve

{my favorite place to be!},

you'll love these super easy, kid-friendly, party treats.

Jello Dessert Cups:

We pick up "fancy" champagne glasses at the Dollar Store.

Make up your favorite flavor of Jello, but instead of using the full amount of water, replace 1/2 with Sprite or Ginger Ale.

Pour into cups, let set, and decorate with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Remember Oreo Cakesters??  

I can't find them anymore, but they were delish!

I melted white chocolate chips, and dipped the cakesters in the melted chocolate.

Then decorate with sprinkles and more frosting.

You could change it up a bit with any hostess dessert :)

My girls love these Orangesicles.

Contrary to what the photo would have you believe, there is no actual orange in it.

I fill a glass with ice, splash in a small amount of cream or half and half, then fill the rest of the way with orange soda.  Top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

More of these delicious Jello Dessert Cups!

Pepperoni and Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Bites.

This year we will be making super yummy individual layered dip cups &

turkey, bacon, cheddar, and chive roll ups!

I'd better get busy!

Breakfast Time

 

 In the spirit of more time with kiddos in the kitchen . . .

I present:

Pancake Décor.


Start with a mini pancakes,

add a little whipped cream and powdered sugar,

 

 

A dash of sprinkles,
 

Apparently more is more to a certain, just-turned-five year old.
 

And, voila! A festive, summertime breakfast treat.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids in the Kitchen ~ Popsicle Bites

 

 Our "finding the joy" adventures that I had planned in my head, took on new form when Tay started coming down with a virus.  Last week, when Kenners had started running a high fever and complaining of a sore throat, I had chalked it up to lack of sleep and stress.  But when Tay showed the same symptoms a week later, I had to accept that we were spreading some germs 'round here.
Yay. Summer Sickies.

Luckily, a sweet friend had recently brought dinner to us, and with that she included just about everything you could think from her garden. Fresh lettuce, spinach, onions, raspberries, and blueberries. Yum, yum, yum!

So. Straight to the kitchen we went, to make a feel-better-kids-snack.
{PS ~ This adult liked it just fine too!}

I knew I wanted to make popsicles, but they take such a long time to freeze, and Tay-Tay is not known for her patience; particularly when her throat is on fire.

So we started with these:
 

 

 

Little bites of creamy, yogurty, raspberry-y, goodness!

We found a mini ice cube tray, mixed our ingredients, and poured straight into the tray.

About an hour later, and they were done!
 

 

 

Then I found these plastic shot glasses that I had picked up at the Dollar Store awhile back.
And cut some cute, paper straws in half to use as sticks.

 

 

The PERFECT size for mini popsicles!

 

 

 

 Quick and easy, and oh-so-delicious!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 No need to wait for a sore throat! 
These little treats could be gobbled up as a sweet, Summertime, cool-down, snack! 
That's just what my older girls did!


The details: {In case you want to make your own!}


You'll need:

Raspberries {or your favorite berry!}
 ~ About 2 cups {more or less, depending on how many treats you plan to make}

Vanilla Yogurt {1-2 Cups}

A splash of Cream orrrrrr I used Vanilla Creamer. Oh Yum. Oh Yum, Yum, Yum.


Mix it all up {I like to crush the berries a bit}, and pour into whatever mold you choose:
Popsicles, ice cube trays . . .

Toss in the freezer, and you're on your way to frozen goodness!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cupcake Bake-Off

The girls LOVE to be in the kitchen.  Whether they are helping me prepare dinner,

or I allow them free reign, they enjoy creating yummy food for us to eat.

They are also highly competitive.  My older two, anyway.

So the other day, one of the two decided to challenge the other to a cupcake bake-off.

Complete with time-restrictions, surprise ingredients, the whole thing.
 

 

  

 

It was such fun to stand back and watch as they made their own treats from start to finish, with zero help from me.

And it was a little funny to listen to the smack-talk that was being slung back and forth as they raced to beat the clock. 

 

 

In the end, Makenna made a delicious Vanilla and Oreo Cupcake . . .

 

 

 

And Sierra made a perfectly sweet and fresh Lemon Cupcake with Raspberry Cream Frosting.
 

 

And they were ALL delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

♥ Valentine Kids Treats ♥

Last Summer I found adorable yogurt bites on Pinterest, and fell in love. 
They are the perfect size for little hands, and we made them often.

A few weeks ago I found the cutest heart ice cube trays at Target,
and thought what fun it'd be to have little heart ice cubes in our drinks on girls nights.

So last night, as I was putting the little girls to sleep, and trying to come up with ideas for Valentine treats for all of my girly girls . . .
 

I had an idea . . .
 What if I piped yogurt into the heart ice cube trays?
 

 And added sprinkles, of course {you all know how we feel about sprinkles}.

{Though they are just as lovely without sprinkles, see?}

When the girls woke up this morning to Frozen Yogurt Hearts, you should have seen their faces!
{Hey, that's what I should have snapped a picture of . . . it was pretty adorable!}
 

I made up a pan of the mini yogurt bites too.  Taylor LOVES them!
 

 

 

 It's simple and delicious!  What's not to love?

What kinds of fun treats/crafts are y'all whipping up for Hearts Day?

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Not *Exactly* How I Envision It

Creating in the kitchen . . .

It's not always exactly how I envision it.

In my mind I see neatly organized flour and sugar jars. 

A crisp, clean apron.

Dough, the perfect consistency.
Spotless floors.

{Sorry, but this is my fantasy.  And I fantasize about spotless floors.  Don't judge}.

In real life? 

Everyone wants to climb on counters.
There's fighting over who gets to measure out the next ingredient.
More flour ends up on the floor than in the bowl.



{I'm pretty sure Kam was reprimanding Kenners for trying to sneak some dough.  Kitchen police, that Kam!}
And there are lots of . . . shenanigans.

But we're making memories.

And memories can be messy sometimes ;)
And in case anyone cares what we were makin' in the kitchen . . .
I found a yummy looking recipe at Bakerella.
We just had to try these yummy chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.



Yep.  It was pretty much pure chocolatey, doughy, goodness.



and the girls had such fun dipping and sprinkling! :)

We All Scream!

We're trying to get into the summer spirit here {despite the low temps, and RAIN, phooey!}, and nothing says summer like . . . homemade ice cream!!

It's super easy to make, and delicious to eat!

All you need is: 1 Tbsp. Sugar, 1/2 Cup of Milk  1/4 tsp. Vanilla  6 Tbsps. Rock Salt  1 Pint Size Ziploc Bag
1 Gallon Size Ziploc Bag  and  Ice

{We added caramel to one batch, and it was SO yummy!}

Fill the gallon size bag half way with ice, then add the rock salt.  In the pint size bag pour in the sugar, milk, and vanilla.  Seal the bag and place inside the gallon size bag.  Then start shakin' it.  You're only supposed to have to shake it for 5 minutes, but it took us at least 10 minutes to get the ice cream to set up.  I guess we're not very efficient at shakin'!









It is seriously the yummiest treat ever!  And so much fun for the kiddos.

So . . . . I'm curious.  What kinds of kid-friendly summer fun have you been up to?  Any recommendations for other simple fun summer treats that children can help with?  I need some inspiration :)