Frozen Bubbles

We've had a cold winter this year in Minnesota. Though most of the time we keep our kids indoors when the weather is well below freezing, there are times when sub 0°F can be a lot of fun!

Take bubbles for example...they are a summertime or indoor activity, correct?  No!  Take them outside when it's below freezing and watch what happens!
The colder the temp outside the faster the magic happens, however, don't go outside when it's too cold or you won't be able to do it for long. Also a bit of a hint, make sure it's pretty calm outside. Any breeze and your bubbles will fly away before you get to play with them.

Don't have bubble solution or a bubble wand? No problem! Make the solution out of dish soap and water. Use a straw as a wand.

Experiment by blowing a bubble, letting it freeze, then taking it inside. What happens?

Freezing bubbles was a ton of fun with my girls and I'm sure your kids will have just as much fun!

Ice Fishing with your kiddos

Every year, the day after Christmas, we take the long journey to the great wide open (also known as Papa Tractors). This year was extra special because, this year Papa Tractor took our oldest son ice fishing. He had a special hat made just for him and bought him his very own ice fishing rod. It was special indeed! He reserved a special ice house just for us for the entire day. We hopped in a Bombardier (see the photo)and headed to 5 mile point. It was five miles out in the middle of the lake and it took us nearly a half hour to get there. But was it worth it? Indeed!

We spent nearly 7 hours out there and the only person who caught anything was Papa. But, it didn't really matter because the day wasn't totally about catching....it was more about the memory, the special time, the incredible gift of grandparents. It was a successful day for sure!

Have you ever been ice fishing? Do you have any amazing memories with your grandparents you want to share?

Playing In The Snow WITH Your Kids

*There is no Pinned it, Did it! this week as we have been spending time with our families.  Instead, enjoy this post that was originally posted on the 17th but was taken down for a post about Sandy Hook.
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We finally had our first big snowfall of the year last weekend.  We got almost a foot of snow in one storm!  Needless to say, the girls were anxious to get out and play in the white stuff!

Most of the time I sit in a chair and watch my kids play in the snow.  After all, they have way more energy than I do, I don't really like getting all bundled up, and I hate being cold and wet.  However, every now and then I do like to re-live my childhood by making snow angels.

I had a blast a few years ago when we took the girls sledding for the first time.  Tottie was too little to go down the hill by herself so Hubby and I had to go down with her.  At the end we were tired, cold, and wet but we all had smiles on our faces!

Last year there wasn't enough snow to really play in.  Needless to say, this year my girls and I were extremely excited about the near foot of snow.  I was looking forward to making snowmen with them and taking them sledding again.
Unfortunately, thanks to un-plowed and icey roads last Sunday, I got into a minor car accident on my way to work.  I ended up with whiplash and have been battling the pain all week.  No snowmen or sledding for me yet!

That's not the point of this post though.  The point is, you'd be amazed how much fun you will have and how much MORE fun your kids will have if you join them in the cold, wet fun!  This year, I will not be one of those parents who sits at the top of the hill and just watches.  As soon as my neck heals, we'll be heading to our local sledding hill and I'll be racing my kids to the bottom!  Maybe we'll make a snowman and some snow angels in our yard first!
Do you play WITH your kids in the snow or do you just sit by and watch?

Christmas Tree Bunting

Some of you may remember my Bunny Bunting Banner I made last spring for Easter. If not be sure to HOP over and check it out (sorry, I couldn't help myself).  I loved the way it turned out so much that I decided to make one for Christmas this year, except put a spin on it. Instead of using colorful paper (which you can still totally do) I decided to use Christmas colored fabrics and make little trees! I am SO excited with how it turned out and I thought I'd share it with you for a little inspiration as well.

Gather enough fabric to make several trees. Cut and stitch them each, leaving the bottom open for turning right side out and for stuffing and adding the tree stump.
*If your kids are good with scissors, they can help you cut the trees out.

My least favorite part of sewing is making sure my corners (or points) are nice and precise. My grandma was a stickler for perfect sewing so I kind of feel like I would be letting her down if I gave it half of my effort. Using a small scissors or a knitting needle (or even a chopstick) carefully push out the three corners so that they come to a nice point.
*If you trust your children not to poke through the fabric, have them help you push out the corners.

Stuff each tree and blanket stitch (here's a link to how to blanket stitch) each tree shut, don't forget to add in the tree stump too!
*This step your kids can definitely do and they'll love it too!

Attach all of your trees to a pretty ribbon and hang! I am in love with how it turned out. Whatcha' think?

Do you let your kids help you with sewing projects?

Minty Chocolate Love

One of my favorite "seasonal" beverages is a Ho Ho Mocha. Kind of a silly name but a fabulous drink for the chilly air! This beverage contains two of my favorite flavors: mint and chocolate. I have finished decorating for Christmas (yup...I'm that person) and I was thinking up some new ways to enjoy the tastes of the season.

What you will need:
mini candy canes
wax paper
dark chocolate chips (you can use milk or white too)
festive sprinkles

Lay out your unwrapped candy canes on the wax paper in a heart shape, making sure to leave space between each heart.

Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave safe container in 30 second intervals...stir between each 30 seconds. Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic bag and snip off a TINY piece of the corner to allow the chocolate to be squeezed through (like a piping bag).

Fill each heart with chocolate and add sprinkles. Let the candy hearts set (this should take about an hour) without being disturbed until the chocolate hardens again.

Remove from the wax and enjoy!

Advent Calendar Making

I remember when I was a kid that I had an awesome felt Advent Calendar to use every year during the month of December. My grandma made it for her kids when they were young and it was passed down to me. Sadly, I have no idea where the calendar ended up (I sure wish I knew). I was thinking to myself that it would be fun to have one for my kids to use every year....and maybe pass it down to their kids. So I got to work!
I Google-searched 24 images of items I wanted for the calendar and printed them out on paper, then cut them out and used them as templates for the ornaments.
I made 2-3 ornaments each week during the summer and really tried to add as much detail as possible to the ornaments to make them extra special. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. What do you think???

I made a stocking for each one of the kids

Santa, Christmas bag, Cardinal (for my grandma), Candy Cane

Christmas Tree, Hot Cocoa, Gift, Bell

Gingerbread Man, Ice Skate, Baby Jesus, Holly

Poinsettia, Snowflake, Light, Frosty the Snowman

Angel, Mitten, Wreath, and Rudolph

Decorated Tree

undecorated tree

Did/Does your family do an advent calendar?  Do you have special memories of it growing up?

Ten things to do in the winter with your kids

Since today is our "Hodge podge" day where we post pretty much whatever we like (ha ha ha) I thought it might be a good time to post some ideas of fun things to do with your kids during the winter months, especially since we're in the thick of it right now.
Hope you find some great tips from this list!

1. Explore tracks- take time to go outside and explore the different shaped animal tracks in the snow (or dirt) and see if you can figure out what they are. This adventure offers a few great things: a little science learning, quality time, and creative thinking.

Photo courtesy of Five Elements Arts

2. Make a trail hunt- Go outside during their nap time (or a time when they can't see you) and make a trail throughout the yard, twisting and turning and jumping between steps. Have them go outside and follow the trail.

Photo Courtesy of Log Like

3. Make a "headless snowman". We all know snowmen have three circles...well this snowman has only two....then have your child stand behind them and THEY get to be the head. Snap a photo and use it for a card or a special surprise.

Photo Courtesy of Disney Family Fun

4. Use mini marshmallows to make a snowman indoors! An easy thing to do and tasty too!

Photo Courtesy of Happy Home Fairy

5. Google search "free snowman coloring pages." I don't know about you but my kids love to color pages that are "seasonal or holiday appropriate." For example, they are really into snowmen right now. Once you find the photo you like print it out and let them create and color.

6. Toilet paper snowman game. All you need is a roll of toilet paper and some winter gear. Have your kids wrap each other in the toilet paper and put hats, mittens and scarfs on each other. (This one reminds me of that silly game I've played at bridal showers where you have to create a wedding dress out of toilet paper.)

I couldn't find the source for this photo. I do not take credit for this photo.

7.  Snowman Relay Race. This one is great if you have lots of kids in the neighborhood. You need two laundry baskets- each with a pair of boots, a hat, scarf, two charcoal bricks, a carrot and a broom. Build two snowmen at one end of the yard and place the baskets at the other end. Yell "go" and have each team race to the snowmen and see who can dress him the fastest.

Photo Courtesy of Be Different Act Normal

8. Bake together! You can make cookies from scratch or you can buy a mix and make snowflake cookies. Have fun experimenting with decorations and frosting's.

Photo Courtesy of Annies Eats

9. Make paper snowflakes. Raid the printer paper at home and sit down together and make those lovely snowflakes you always made as a child. It's a great time to share with them the memories you had from childhood.

Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart

10. Play Roll a Snowman together. Cut out six parts to a snowman. Use one die and roll it. The first person to build their snowman first wins.

If you roll a 6- head, 5- arms, 4-hat, 3-body, 2-carrot nose, 1- scarf

Photo Courtesy of Tip Junkie

What are some things you like to do with your kids in the winter?

Tortilla Chip Snowflakes...FAIL

I labeled this "tasty treats" because NORMALLY it IS a tasty treat but when you get distracted and side tracked they burn in the oven and then they are no longer tasty =)

Making your own tortilla chips is REALLY easy and they taste amazing (most of the time).
Here is what you will need
tortillas
cooking spray
sugar
baking sheet
oven
scissors

I used a circular cookie cutter to cut the tortillas into smaller circles first (if you get the burrito size you can get quite a few smaller circles from each one)

Once you have the amount of circles you desire fold them in half and start snipping pieces out (much like you do when you make paper snowflakes)

Place them on a baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking spray

Bake at 350degrees F for 7 minutes (NOT 20 like I did...LOL). Then sprinkle with sugar once you remove them. ENJOY!

Here is how they are supposed to look (this was the only one that wasn't burned to a crispy black dirt flake)
*just a little funny thing to share----I was so mad when I realized I burned them that I tossed them out in disgust and didn't snap a photo*