Tag: family time

Find Your Magical Moment

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Mama

Here we are at the tenth of December, just a mere 15 days from Christmas, and I’m still trying to figure out where November went. In fact, we just put up the Christmas tree last night. It’s not decorated, mind you, but it is out of storage and in plain sight. (Ashamedly the above picture is a visit from the ghost of Christmas past.)

Yes, I’m seriously behind most of you when it comes to decking the halls, but in the sprint to the 25th I know I will eventually finish with the berries and ivy, trees and gifts, shopping and wrapping, and baking and bundling. . . it may take me to Christmas eve, but somehow I’m okay with that. I guess I’m so far behind, that I figure stressing would only make it worse.

While the chaos of Christmas can be a bit overwhelming, it’s also one of my favorite times of year. I love the crazy crowds, memory making and gift giving with my husband, son, extended family and friends. But as much as I love the frenzy of it all, some of my favorite moments of Christmas are enjoyed completely alone. On those cold early December mornings when everyone else is still in bed I love to light a fire, turn on the Christmas tree lights and enjoy a hot cup of coffee in complete magical silence. It’s a wonderful indulgence and a perfect way to start the day before dawn breaks, the family wakes and mommy duties ensue.

Merry Christmas to all, and may you find a magical moment or two.

Strike Up Summer with Free Bowling for Kids

Posted on March 28, 2015March 28, 2015 by Mama

So you probably already know that last week was Spring Break here and we played host to my sister and two thirteen-year-old girls from Oklahoma. The trip was meant to be an inexpensive change-of-scenery trek, so we tried to keep ourselves busy doing fun little activities about town. One afternoon, we decided to hit the local bowling lanes for a few hours, which was my four-year-old son’s first foray into the sport. Of course foot stomping, tears and frustration followed, but when the bumpers finally went up he was a happy guy (thank you bowling alley guy who saw the tears, offered the lane next door and raised the bumpers to boot).

If you notice the presence of not one, but two bowling balls in the picture, you get the idea of why he was so upset. Yes, we finally got the green ball out of the gutter and moved on to happier times. Although it was a bit stressful at first, I would definitely do it again (and I think he would too), and thanks to the Kids Bowl Free program we can surely get our fill in the months to come, and maybe even then some.

Yes, I said FREE bowling! Simply visit the Kids Bowl Free site and locate a participating U.S. or Canadian bowling alley near you. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time during the summer. Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for two free games a day (shoe rental required) all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with certain schools and organizations. That’s an awesome deal, I’d say!

So if you’re looking for us in the heat of the coming summer, we’ll be enjoying the AC and knockin’ down some pins at the local lanes. I hope you’ll join us.

Make a Batch of St. Patty Playing Dough

Posted on March 14, 2014February 28, 2015 by Mama

Last night I gave this very green recipe a go just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. While my son loved the finished product; during the cooking process, I was really beginning to wonder why I emptied a few of my kitchen staples into such a venture. I started out with a gooey, sticky mess that progressively became tougher to stir, but patience won out and I was rewarded with a huge ball of St. Patty playing dough.

The recipe for this big blob of fun comes from Being Creative to Keep My Sanity, but I’m going to expand on it just a bit. It really is an easy recipe and doesn’t take much time; so if you have faith that it’s working, you’ll be rewarded with hours of entertainment.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 cups water
1 cup salt
green food coloring
green glitter

Directions:

Mix all of your ingredients together in a medium saucepan, preferably not the nicest one in the cabinet. It’s not like this process will hurt the pan, but it sure won’t be pretty when you’re finished. As far as food coloring and glitter go, the amount is up to you — add enough to get the color and glitz that’s toward your liking.
Put the pan of ingredients on medium heat and stir as it cooks. You don’t have to stir constantly, but I did give it a good mix about every other minute or so.
As the goo first starts cooking, it becomes a very sticky mess; but as it continues to cook, it will slowly change to a darker color, become a lot less sticky and will ball up a lot more. Cook until it becomes a big ball of dough and most of it is a darker color. Don’t over cook or burn.
Turn the dough out onto a piece of wax paper or plate to cool.
After the dough has cooled, it’s play time! Store your dough in an air-tight container.