My Kids Easter Creations

Last weekend my kids and I were doing crafts (surprised ?), and I was done and they wanted to keep doing more. So I told them to come up with their own stuff if they wanted to keep crafting.

So here is what they came up without any help from me:

Caity made cute bunnies with plastic Easter eggs.



I think the bunny looks cute under the flowers we made.



Colton made a carrots out of plastic Easter eggs. I love this idea. I thought this would be cute to leave the Easter bunny a thank you note in. Or to put candies in and hand out. I was really proud of this idea, he is only 5.
Caity and Cody worked on Easter pictures, that I have hung in the kitchen.

These are my busy crafters hard at work.

This is Colton's take on my Easter Bunny Napkin holders:

Caity made a flower holder to hang on the door knobs. I love this idea too. I think it is adorable.

If you do not feel like doing a craft, just give them some supplies and see what they come up with, their ideas may be better than anything you find in a book.

I did it and Miracle Monday

I do not know about you, but getting my hair cut is always a major ordeal for me. I always say, this time I am going to get it cut, I mean cut, get a style and everything. I always come home with about a 1/2 inch cut off the ends and that is it. My husband is always telling me to try something different and I always chicken out. But after long contemplation and many hour on Marie Claire.com's virtual salon, I did it (That is a fun site, you can down load you picture and try different hair styles and even make up colors.)



Is it hard for you guys to change your style or do you think, "Oh, it is only hair it will grow back ?" You would think I was a super model on how much it stresses me out. My hair is not great, but I have had some bad hair cuts and it is terrible.




So here is what I started out with:











This is what I came up with on Marie Claire.com:





This is what I came home with.



Now that is over, hopefully I will not have to make that crucial of a decision for while.




Enough about me, I wanted to mention my friend Beth has a really great idea for her blog. Starting this Monday she is going to be doing Miracle Mondays. This is where people are going to write a post on their blog about Miracles that they have experienced, then link them back to her blog. Then we can go read all these inspiring stories. I am excited to see what people will write about.

Slow Cooking Thursday-Upside Down Chocolate Pudding Cake

Upside Down Chocolate Pudding Cake

This recipe came from Fix It and Forget It 5 Ingredient Favorites


This is so yummy !!! It made my whole house smell like chocolate. Then to have a warm cake with a warm chocolate sauce over it , was terrific. My kids and husband loved it. We finished the whole pot in one sitting. The only thing that would make it perfect is to serve it with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

1 cup dry all-Purpose baking mix
1 cup sugar, divided
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, plus 1/3 cup divided
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 2/3 cups hot water


1. Spray inside os slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, mix together baking mix, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla. Spoon batter evenly into slow cooker.
3. In a clean bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, and hot water together. Pour over batter in slow cooker. Do not stir.
4. Cover and cook on High 2-3 hours or until toothpick inserted in center of cak-y part comes out clean.

Tip: The batter will rise and turn into cake. Underneath will be a rich chocolate pudding.

This is what it looks like finished in the slow cooker.
This is what it looks like served on a plate. I know, my husband told me what it looked like but it taste delious.

For more Great Slower Cooker Recipes go and see Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. She always has great recipes.

Easter Bunny Napkin Rings

I love this cute napkin ring, it is cute and easy to make.

You will need: Toilet paper roll, construction paper, glue, scissors, wiggly eyes (optional), marker. pom-pom or cotton ball.

Wrap and glue the toilet paper roll with construction paper. Cut the roll in half. Cut out ears and glue on to the top of the roll.
Next cut out the cheeks and nose. The nose is a small heart. The cheeks are a bigger heart with the point rounded.









Glue on the cheeks , nose and eyes. Draw on whiskers.
I cut out U shapes (with the inside not cut out) for paws and glued those to the bottom.
Last glue a cotton ball or pom-pom to the back for a tail.

Easter Egg Flower Garden

I am all already for Easter, so get ready for the Easter crafts. You know I just love to use toilet paper rolls for crafts, so this craft is perfect for me. I found this in an old Family Fun Magazine. I think it is so cute and would look great on an Easter table. I will be doing some crafts this week that can be used together to decorate an Easter table. So stay tuned.

For this craft you will need:

Toilet paper roll, Glue, Construction paper, Scissors, Craft foam, Plastic Easter eggs.


First wrap the toilet paper roll with green construction paper (or craft foam)Next print off the copy of the flower template or draw out your own flowers.

The template for the flower petals is right here: http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/global/printables/templates/0207_egggarden.pdf

After you have copied the template, glue it to a piece of cardboard or paper plate to make the paper more sturdy when tracing it on to the craft foam or construction paper. Also your can save that template for next year.

Trace the template on to the craft foam and cut. Next trace a hole in the center of the flower petals. Use the toilet paper roll as your guide and cot out the hole. If you are using craft foam the circle does not have to be to exact because the foam stretches. But if you are using construction paper make the circle a little bigger to make sure it fits over the roll with out ripping.

Put the colored petals on top of the green.




Now glue the 1/2 the egg on top or if you do not want to use an easter egg you can use pom-poms.

Toilet Paper Roll Race Cars

I know a lot of my crafts are on the girly side, but this is perfect for the little boys in your lives (girls like this too).

You will need toilet paper rolls, construction paper, brass clips, scissors and markers.

I roll the toilet paper roll with construction paper and then let the kids decorate as they please.



Caity added a person made from a pom-pom.




This blue one is Colton's.












Colton's made this one too, it has flames coming out the back because it so fast.

This lovely one is mine.

Cody made a rocket. The great thing about crafts are it has taught me that it is O.K. if the kids do not make what I want them to make. Also it has really showed me my kids are very creative, much more than I am.

Have a Great Weekend

Hey guys,

I have not been posting a lot or visiting blogs because I have been busy and fighting a cold. What ever I have I can get through the morning but by the afternoon I am wiped out. I had Dip Club today and after I straightened up the house I feel asleep on the couch. I did the same thing yesterday. I do not know what I have but it is kicking my butt. I am going to take the weekend off. Hopefully I can get rested up and get my creative juices going to gear up for Easter.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Yeah, spell check is working, I do not have to torture you all with my horrible spelling anymore.

Slow Cooking Thursday

My family really enjoys this recipe. It is one that is good for just the family or if you are having guest.

Chicken in Sour Cream Sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
6 bone in chicken breast halves removed
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup (8oz) sour cream
1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms sliced

Combine the first 4 ingredients; rub over chicken. Place in slow cooker. In a bowl, combine soup, sour cream and wine or broth; stir in mushrooms. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken juices run clear. Thicken the sauce if desired.
Makes 6 servings.

I also want to share a really good recipe I made for my MOPS group this week. It is not a slow cooker recipe but it is very good and easy. You can make it for a breakfast or an appetizer.

Smokey Bacon Wraps

1 lb sliced bacon
1 package(16oz) miniature sausage links
1 cup brown sugar

Cut each bacon strip in half widthwise. Wrap one piece of bacon around each sausage. Place in a foil-lined 15 in x 10 in x 1 in baking pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake, uncovered at 400 for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crisp and sausage is heated through.

So many people asked me for this recipe, these things are sooooo yummy.

Guys I am so I am behind on blogging, I hope to catch up soon. Hope you are having a great week.

Quick and Easy Treasure Hunt

I was trying to get the some things accomplished this weekend but the kids kept interupting . So I was thinking how can I get them out of my hair for a little while. I had read at Sunshine's Blog , her son had done a treasure hunt for her on Valentine's Day. And at the end there was candy and a big card he had made. It is a very sweet post. Anyway, I thought I can do that, leave clues around the house and they could find something at the end. I used a stuff animal for their treasure. The hunt was suppose to be the fun part, not the prize.

I took 3x5 cards and wrote simple clues on the them.

I know you guys can come up with clues, because I read your blogs and you are all very creative but I will still give you some examples:

It is where you sleep that is high in the sky - Top bunk
It is very cold here. Brrrrrrrr! I a freezing. - The freezer
Where you put your dirty clothes- Laundry Room See you can reenforce good habits
Use it to eat- Utensil drawer
Let James out!!! - Open the front door
You like to pick me out - where we keep the movies
Bikes are kept here- Garage

You get the point. My two older kids would read the clues out loud and everyone took turns trying to find the next cards. After that, the older kids made their own clues, so it kept them busy for a little while.
You may say that is a good idea, but my kids are to young to read. I thought you could take 3x5 cards and place pictures on them from old magazines. For example, paste a picture of a tooth brush on the card, they would have to go where you keep the tooth brushes, next cereal box picture. They would go to the pantry or cabinet where the cereal is.

Another good idea from Beth, was to use words they can sound out or may be learning. Such as bed, bath tub, sink, etc. You give them a card that said BED, when they got to the bed, the next card would be there and it would say bath tub and so on. I love that idea for teaching words around the house. Thanks Beth.

My kids really enjoyed playing this, have you done anything like this if so what ?