Wordless Wednesday: Snow...

Sunday night we got our first, and probably last, snow of the season!!

Holiday Festivities | Leading up to Christmas (Part four)

Wow, so sorry I am still writing about Christmas.  Luckily, I only have a few more posts (including this one) to write.  I always get on a roll, and then life happens and I stop blogging.  So, here is my attempt to get caught up....Luckily, January was a slow month, so I won't have much catching up to do there!!!

Tuesday, December 20

Gingerbread House Decorating

Danny was out-of-town the week before Christmas, and Emerson didn't have her normal dance class on Tuesday, so we decided to decorate a Gingerbread House.  It started out as a great idea, but, as you will see, Emerson faded fast.  Turns out she woke up with a fever the next morning, so that explains her lack of excitement.  Needless-to-say, I ended up decorating most of the house myself.  Maybe we will try again next year!!  

Picking out which gingerbread house she wants to try and make.  

We let the icing set-up while Emerson took her bath, and then decorated!

She's Done!!  She didn't want to have anything else to do with the house.  

First attempt wasn't horrible, bring on next year's house....I'm ready!!!

Thursday, December 22

Visiting Santa

Danny was back Thursday afternoon so we picked Emerson up early from school and headed to the mall.  We waited until the last possible minute to visit Santa this year.  Unfortunately there was a bit of a line, but it is always worth it to see the smile on Emerson's face.  We love the Santa at our mall, he is so patient with all the kids and pulls off the perfect Santa.  Emerson loves sitting on the wall, watching all the other kids sit on his lap.  It's a great way to kill time in a very long line!!  Emerson was very excited to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas but was concerned he might not have time to make everything.  We quickly reminded her, "Remember, Daddy texted him, so he's known for awhile what you wanted!!!"

And the official Santa photo....so glad I take my camera along for some real pictures!!!

Friday, December 23rd

Santa's Sack | Delivering Presents

You may remember our shopping spree at Target a few days before, for the Santa's Sack program at the Children's Hospital.  Friday morning, we delivered the gifts to the program coordinator.  Emerson was very excited to help this year, since last year I took them while she was still in school.  We had a few presents leftover from Emerson's birthday party (yes, still haven't blogged about that), so we included them with the presents for this year's gift drive.  So happy Emerson got to deliver presents this year and see the value of giving to others, especially during the holiday season!!

Emerson couldn't get enough of the new rotating door at the Women's Hospital entrance (where we met the program coordinator).

Wordless Wednesday: My Little Ballerina!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Go Heels!!!

In honor of rivalry week and one of the best rivalries in college basketball history....

Hoping the Heels pull out the big WIN tonight!!!

As we were getting ready this morning, Emerson said, "Mommy, I can't wear that shirt, it's not the Tar Heels!"  I responded, "Yes it is, see the sparkly Tar Heel wording." To which she said, "But Mommy it's Duke's colors!!"   She's got a very good point!!

GO HEELS!!!

Holiday Festivities | School Treats

School Treats

December 18, 2011

Between our trip to Target and our Jingle Jolly party, we took some time out of the day to make this year's school treats.  Thanks to Pinterest (my obsession), I was able to find two adorable, easy treats for the kids at school. 

Reindeer Food

We started our crafts by making Reindeer Food so the kids could all sprinkle it on their lawns Christmas Eve for the reindeer to eat.  We included very stale Cheerios from our pantry, store bought oats, red and green sprinkles and cookie sprinkles of all sorts.  Emerson did a great job making these bags almost all-by-herself.  I printed off an adorable free printable from The TomKat Studio (one of my faves), to serve as the gift tag and adorned with ribbon.  How cute!!  We hope all the kids sprinkled their lawns, sidewalks, or decks for their special reindeer visitors on Christmas Eve.  

Peppermint Play Dough

Our second crafty treat of the day, wasn't a treat at all.  We decided, instead of making an edible treat, we would make something the kids could play with and keep for months to come.  So we settled on Peppermint Play Dough.  It was a toss-up between gingerbread or peppermint, but ultimately the peppermint won out when I found the adorable candy cane cookie cutters at Michael's!  We used the recipe from a post on Pinterest via the Idea Room (again, love it!!).  You may remember our play dough making for preschool last year.  I always think it's going to be so messy and take forever, but it's really pretty simple.  I'm not sure I will ever buy PlayDoh again, except maybe for convenience. And, now I know you can any essential oil to it and make it whatever flavor you want.  YUMMY!!  Another great school treat idea!!

Had to buy these for the containers!!

Peppermint Play Dough Recipe

(via the Idea Room)

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar 
1 Tablespoon Peppermint Oil Extract 

* I used Peppermint extract and used a lot more than a tablespoon
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water

1. Mix flour, salt, & cream of tartar in a medium cooking pot.
2. Add water, peppermint extract and oil.
3. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes stirring constantly.
4. When mixture forms a ball in pot, remove.
5. Knead until smooth.
6. Play and explore with this fragrant, brightly colored dough as you would any play dough.
7. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate to store.