Yummy!!!!! I love me some peppermint candy! The smell, the taste, the color, and the time of year. My kids love them too! I knew this project would be a sure fire hit with them (and me, tee hee hee!) I gathered my three oldest kids (knees and feet seen above) and had them help me unwrap all the peppermints! I let them eat one for every dozen or so they unwrapped, I was the BEST mommy ever (or so they told me) While they continued to unwrap I started gluing the candies onto the styrofoam wreath (which I got at the dollar store!!!) When it was all covered I added a bow and we all sat back and enjoyed what we had created together! It was so much fun to make, and pretty darn cute, if you ask me! … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
creative birthday party ideas
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As each year passes I learn more and more ideas of what I can do to make my child's birthday party a sure fire hit. (And if I am being totally honest- they probably would be fine with some cake and a candle to blow out, but the party is so much fun!) For my children's first birthdays I tried to keep with the theme of their rooms (i.e. my eldest child's room was frogs-so he had a frog 1st birthday party). I thought it would be fun to share a few tips, tricks, and ideas I have learned along the way. 1. A "themed" cake- Sure, it's not required but it sure does help bring the theme together. When you choose a cake make sure you keep in mind that for their first birthday you will probably want a smash cake (one they get to dive into all on their own). 2. First birthdays are the ones that most people will come to (so if you want to impress this is the one to do it, wink, wink). It is a ton of fun to share photos of their first year with people but be creative about it, plaster them … [Read more...]
Easy Fallen Leaves Tree Craft
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I came home from work the other day to discover these displayed in our living room: I guess my Mother-In-Law made them with the girls while I was gone and they were so cute I had to share them. Who knew my Mother-In-Law was crafty? I didn't! If you want to make these with your kids, here's what you'll need: A bunch of dried leaves with long stems (maple leaves work well) Markers, crayons, or colored pencils Cardstock, cardboard, or thicker paper (my Mother-In-Law used the back of clothes gift boxes so the project stood on it's own when done) Tape 1) Have your kids draw the trunk of the tree on the cardstock/cardboard. Let them add what ever other decorations they want to the base of the tree. Step 2) Bunch the leaves together like a bouquet of flowers lining the stems up together. Step 3) Tape the stem bunch to the cardstock/cardboard over the top of the drawn tree trunk. Step 4) Display and enjoy! … [Read more...]
Left-over Halloween Candy Treats
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Halloween is over and your kids collected TONS of candy. What do you do with it all (besides simply eat it)? Here are some fun (though still not healthy) ideas for left-over Halloween candy: Cut up chewy or nuggety candy bars into bite sized pieces and bake them into the middle of a cupcake. Frost the cupcake then crumble more of the candy bar on top. Mix crumbled candy bars or smaller candies into ice cream, add a little milk, and blend it to make your own candy milkshake. Mix crumbled candy bars, Reeces Pieces, M&Ms or similar candies into cookie dough and bake for an extra special cookie treat. Break up chocolatey or caramely candies into small pieces and stir them into brownie dough. Bake for a deliciously gooey brownie treat. Make a candy pizza. Just search "candy pizza" in your internet browser for a ton of different recipes. Make this really awesome Halloween Candy Advent Calender or other cool things that I found at Alpha Mom. (This is … [Read more...]
Fall Leaves Print
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The other day my kids and I were thinking to ourselves how sad we were that the pretty fall colors were almost gone (well, at least where we live) and how old man winter will be soon knocking on our door. I thought it would be fun to paint a photo of the pretty fall colors to "remember" them when we are staring out the window at the bitter cold white snow. It's really easy and relatively not messy! Here is what you need: Red, Brown, Yellow, and Orange finger paint A paint brush or sponge Paper A willing child Have your child paint their hand and lower arm brown (or if they are unable to do this you certainly can help out). Then place their arm and hand on the paper to look like a tree with the branches. Start with one of the remaining colors (red, yellow or orange) and use their finger tips to dot leaves on the top of the tree. Finish with the remaining colors. Ta-da...you have a pretty fall colored tree (and a keepsake of their hand print, make sure to date it!) … [Read more...]
10 Things we’ve learned as pediatric critical care nurses
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If you've been reading our blog you know that Lindsi and I met at a Children's Hospital where we were both nurses. Lindsi worked there for 5 years, 4 of which were in the critical care units. She is now a stay-at-home mom. Jamie continues to work there in the pediatric intensive care unit, and has been in critical care for 11 years. The biggest thing we have learned during our years is that if you don't have a little bit of humor, you will not survive pediatric critical care nursing. It's a difficult job some days, but one that neither of us regret doing! Without further ado, here is our (humorous) take on 10 (serious) things we've learned while working as pediatric critical care nurses. 1) Peanuts, peas, grapes, and popcorn can cause your child to choke. In fact, any food can cause your child to choke. It's probably best just to put a feeding tube in your child's stomach and not give them anything by mouth. 2) Along those same lines as above, young children like to put … [Read more...]
