Munch: Snow Ice Cream

This is what we woke up to yesterday. It might just be the last big snow of the year (I hope so!), so we decided not to let it go to waste. But, to enjoy this fresh powder, we didn't pull out our gloves and hats. Instead...

we got out these ingredients!

1 Gallon fresh-fallen snow

1 Cup White Sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

2 Cups Milk

(We added strawberries)

Blend and mix! 

Enjoy and STAY WARM! :)

Munch: Indoor Smores

Smores are WAY too yummy (and easy to make) to only enjoy when it's nice outside. If you've got a wood-burning fireplace (thankfully we do!!), then you can enjoy some INDOOR SMORES!

Make: Bagel for Birds

This is an easy activity to do with your kids, and one that you (and your feathery friends) will feel good about! 

Ingredients: 

1/2 of a bagel

Peanut butter or honey

birdseed

yarn

Make: Heart Art

At least once a week I try to do a crafty little project with Landon. Paint is definitely his favorite medium...I'm sure you're surprised. :) If you're brave enough to pop those acrylic caps, here's a fun way to decorate your house with genuine love this Valentines Day.

Step 1:

Let your child paint a large piece of paper. We used red, brown, and white.The great thing about this project is there are no "lines" to stay inside of, or particular shapes or outlines to create. Just let your little one enjoy covering the paper with color!

Helpful hint: Paper Plates make great paint trays (in a home or in a classroom).

Step 2:

Trace various sizes of heart-shaped cookie cutters all over your child's painting. If your child is old enough, he or she can do this step too. The more mixed colors, the better!

Step 3:

Cut out the hearts and find fun ways to display them around your house! Here's my favorite way to show off Landon's love-ly art!

Make: Peek-a-boo Groundhog

Happy Groundhog Day! 

We Pennsylvanians are partial to good ol' Phil every February 2nd (did you know he's a Steeler fan?!), but this morning we had an extra bit of love for him. No shadow! Hooray! We're ready for Spring.

No matter where you're from though, this holiday is a great opportunity to teach your kids a few things about history, animals, science and weather. Here are some fun ideas.

1. Make! Landon created this adorable little Peek-a-boo Groundhog at preschool today. Very easy, and super cute! 

Make a cute, little brown blob on a stick...otherwise known as a groundhog. :)

Cover a styrofoam cup in some nice green grass (or leave it white to represent snow...much more authentic, actually).

Poke Phil's stick through the bottom of the cup. Play peek-a-boo as you push him up and down.

2. Sing! Most children learn through song. Try this one. 

"I'm a Little Groundhog" 

(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little Groundhog,

fat and brown.

Popping up, 

above the ground. 

I sure hope my shadow, 

doesn't show.

'Cause if it does, 

we'll have more snow.

by Diane Thorn

3. Watch! This video is just right for little ones, and very informative. Even I learned a few new things about dear Phil. Helpful hint...let it buffer for a few minutes while you round up the kiddos. 

Welcome Spring!! Thanks, Phil! :)

Move: Wii are Movin...in more ways than one!

The new year has brought quite a few new prospects, possibilities, and projects into my life. Rather than making a list of resolutions, I began 2011 making a very exciting, but very daunting To-Do list...paint my trim (again), call a realtor, begin clearing out my cluttered basement, look into school systems 2,700 miles away. Needless to say, while there has still been time for fun in our home, it has been a little less planned out and rarely photographed.

So, I haven't created personal resolutions this January (no time for that type of deep reflection), but I have determined that winter is hard on little boys...and therefore, moms. Or maybe it's just us...but I bet there's some mom out there that will agree with me, right?!? My kiddo seems to hit a point mid-day when he simply cannot contain his pent up energy anymore, and despite the fact that the couches have never really interested him before, he suddenly sees them in a new, exciting, and opportunistic light....and his body goes flaying over them. Again. And again. And again. So, I have resolved to find a way every day to help my kiddo have some physical fun...for all our sakes (that being his, mine, and the couches).

So here's a simple way that we're moving around here. For this particular activity, it doesn't even matter if the weather outside is frightful! We're movin together, and loving it...in more ways than one! :)

For more on Wii games can get kids moving, and families connecting click here.

Make: Easy Snow Globe

Waiting for a white Christmas? Create one inside a simple, plastic container!

Have you child pick out an item or two to put inside your snow globe. Happy Meal toys work great! We actually found this festive tree at the local Dollar Store ($1/each). Use a glue gun to adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid. Press down firmly.

While the glue is drying, allow your child fill the plastic container 3/4 of the way full with some sort of household oil. We used baby oil, but canola or olive would work too. Oil is preferred to water so that the sparkles float and flutter more slowly when shaken.

Add a couple teaspoons of glitter to the oil. Landon loved this part! 

Mom can now put the lid back onto the container. For an extra tight seal, I applied a thick layer of hot glue all the way around the lid.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Make: Light-Up Coffee Filter Ornaments

Pardon the hiatus...we've had some big things going on at our place. We have managed to fit some fun into the mix though! Here's a simple, fun little activity that I came across from Kids Craft Weekly. We altered the idea a bit to make our creations into light-catching ornaments. Hope you're having a fun holiday season! 

Materials: 

coffee filters, scissors, markers, clothespins, glue, water (spray bottle)

Cut Christmas bulb shapes out of coffee filters.

Color with washable markers. Press down firmly, and cover all white space.

Spray a little bit of water (one or two squirts) on each light. Let dry.

Glue a clothespin to the back of each light.

Clip to tree branches, turn on "real" Christmas lights, and be amazed! 

Make: Mayflower Mercy Ship and Giveaway!!

Today I'm posting over at one of my favorite sites, Women Living Well about how to make this yummy decoration. My little boy and I have been calling it our Mayflower Mercies Ship, and our family has been filling it with notes of thankfulness all week. It has created such a feeling of gratitude in our house, and was fun (and tasty!) to create!

I also used the following book to teach Landon about the first Thanksgiving, and the pilgrims journey on the Mayflower. It's a GREAT resource! He likes it so much I think we're going to still be reading about Thanksgiving in February! :) If you'd like to be entered to win a copy of this book, simply leave a comment below! In hopes to get the book to the winner as quickly as possible (before Thanksgiving?!?), this Giveaway is for today only. Name will be announced Saturday morning. Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!

~Leslie

PS. If you participated in Operation Christmas Child this year, be sure to leave a comment under this recent post too! We're giving away a Christmas Veggie Tales DVD about the joy of giving to others. :)

Move: Make a Difference...Win a Giveaway!

I'm so excited to share this week's "MOVE" activity! If you've never participated in Operation Christmas Child, your whole family is in for a very special experience! 

"Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ (thecarpentersyard.org)."

Landon and I prepared our shoe boxes for our "Special Time" yesterday, and it was such meaningful, precious time spent together. I explained to him that we were going to go shopping to find fun toys for kids that might not get Christmas presents otherwise. I also showed him the flyer of two children smiling ear-to-ear after receiving their Christmas shoe boxes. With faces put to the mission, he couldn't wait to get started! We spent the rest of the afternoon searching store shelves together for treasures to delight friends (as sweet Landon referred to them) across the world! 

Philippians 2:4 says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This does not come naturally to us. It also doesn't come naturally to our kids (especially when they're standing in a toy aisle...). But, what a great way to teach a biblical lesson! 

Fellow, Moms, I challenge you to do this week's MOVE activity with your children. So much good can be accomplished in such a short amount of time...for you, for your kids, and for our "friends" across the world! Here's all that you need to do:

1. Pack a Shoebox:
Here's what Landon and I came up with after our shopping adventure! Visit this link to learn some great suggestions of what (and what not) to include in your box: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/

2. Download a Label: 
This website will allow you to download and print as many labels as you need! Don't forget to include your donation for shipping and handling ($7 suggested per box). You can do that online too.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf

3. Drop it off: 
Many churches participate in this amazing ministry, so there is probably a drop-off site right around the corner! To find out for sure, simply visit this site and enter your zip code: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Drop_Off_Locations/

4. Report back!
If you are participating in this activity, please leave a comment below (or on our FunMom Facebook page) letting us know! Tuesday, November 23rd, one family will be entered into a drawing to win a very special prize: Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving. This movie, which emphasizes the importance of giving over getting, will be a fun, and fitting, addition to your holiday collection.

Can't wait to hear from you!
~Leslie

Munch: Caramel Apples

A few weeks ago Landon and I saw beautiful (and expensive!) caramel apples in a candy store window. He  wanted one (and so did his mama), so I told him that we would try to make them. 

Ta da! They were surprisingly easy, and really yummy!! As an added bonus, they look very festive and cheery on my kitchen counter. Here's how we did it..

Ingredients:

1 package of Brach's Milk Maid Caramels

2 Tbsp of water

8-10 small apples

8-10 craft sticks

Toppings (see below)

1. Wash apples and remove stems. Insert a craft stick into each one.

2. Melt the caramel and water over very low heat (about 5 minutes).

3. Using a spatula, "paint" the caramel over the surface of an apple.

4. Immediately begin covering the apple with toppings. You might have to press them into the caramel...it hardens very quickly! For our toppings we used sundae nuts, candy corn, and sprinkles.

Enjoy!! We sure did! :)

Make: Painted Pumpkins

If you're looking for a simple, quick activity to do with your kids, let them paint a pumpkin. You'll be amazed how much they enjoy spreading paint over the bumpy surface (WAY more fun than paper!), and then you'll have a sweet little homemade addition to your fall decor. 

Move: Visit Your Local Children's Museum

Children learn through play. So, I say, bring on the fun! 

Our local Children's Museum is wonderful...and I bet yours is too! This website will help you find a kid-friendly museum near you. Check it out...they're everywhere!

Here's a sampling of what we did at ours yesterday:

We made very colorful paper...

created a purple silk screened T-Rex...

built a box with some "real" tools...

learned about levees and dams...

and worked on some (very fun) leaky pipes. 

Learning through play...kid-tested, mother approved!

Made You Laugh: Mom Quiz

You Know You're a Mom if You've Ever...

MomSense Magazine 8/10

1. Have you ever spit on a Kleenex to wipe another person's face?

2. Have you ever excused yourself to "go potty"?

3. Have you ever danced and/or sung in celebration of someone else's potty success?

4. Have you ever carried on a conversation with an imaginary playmate?

5. Do you pack for a trip to the grocery store like you're preparing to climb Mount Everest?

6. Do you possess extensive knowledge of another person's bodily functions?

7. Have you ever performed an extraction of a piece of cereal from an ear/nostril?

8. Have you ever developed a weight loss plan that included avoiding eating food from your kids' plates?

9. Have you ever looked at your legs halfway through the day and realized you've only shaved one of them?

10. Have you ever gone to bed with one person, and woken up with three?

11. Do you remember the last time you went to the bathroom without an audience?

So...what was your score?

Munch: Molasses Spice Cookies

These are a yummy fall favorite in our family. The recipe is easy to follow, and there are several steps that are very kid-friendly. Landon and I just made a large batch of these tasty treats, and then tromped together through the fallen leaves to our neighbors' houses to deliver warm platefuls straight from the oven. Mmmm...we may need to make some more!

Ingredients (for 3 dozen cookies):

1 box spice cake mix

1 tsp soda

2/3 cup shortening

1 tsp ginger

2 eggs

3 Tbsp molasses

1. Mix cake mix, soda, and ginger. 
2. Stir in eggs, shortening, and molasses. 
3. Beat til smooth (batter will be VERY thick). 
4. Cover and chill 1 hour before baking. 
5. Shape into balls...little hands are great for this! 
6. Dip top of each ball into sugar. This is Landon's favorite part. 
7. Place 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Cookies flatten quite a bit during baking.
8. Bake at 375' for 8 minutes. 
9. Let cool. Share with your little kitchen assistant!