Day 4 - Make Pumpkin Coffee Creamer

So even though it most definitely doesn't feel like fall here, I am going to continue my Pumpkin/Apple October.  Today I made a pumpkin spice coffee creamer.  I found this recipe on Pinterest also.  To get the recipe, click here.  It was good but what I didn't like was that the spices settled to the bottom of your cup making the last sip pretty gross.  It was super easy to make and took less than 5 minutes.  Probably way better for you than the bought creamers; however, I am not sure I will make it again.  The bought creamers definitely taste better.

Day 3 - Make Applesauce

Today I helped my best friend make applesauce for her freezer.  I had previously made some for myself.  We used Cortland apples and for a few of the batches we added cranberries. 

Day 2 - Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins

This morning  I whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Chocolate muffins.  They are super easy because they only have 3 ingredients:  box of devils food cake mix, 15 ounce can of pumpkin and a bag of chocolate chips. The best part about these muffins are they really aren't that bad for you!  My muffins don't look as pretty as they should because I was kinda lazy about putting the batter into the muffin tin.  That's what happens when I try to bake at 7:30 in the morning. 

Day 1 - Pumpkin Oatmeal Chip Cookies

It seems that the only way I post on here is if I make myself do something every day.  Since fall is my absolute favorite time of year, I decided I would attempt to create something apple or pumpkin each day for the month of October.  Today I made Pumpkin Oatmeal Chip cookies from a recipe I found on Pinterest.  You can find that recipe by clicking here.  Of course, I had to taste one and they are pretty good with only a hint of pumpkin.

Happy New Year!

We spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home with the kids and my nephew.  This was the first year we let the kids stay up to midnight.  We made lots of yummy snacks, played some games & watched a couple movies.

Still going strong!

Brie & Morgan at midnight

Happy New Year!  Hope it's a great one!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Nothing like sledding at 8:30am on Christmas morning.  Life can't get much better than this!

Day 24 - Put Milk & Cookies out for Santa

Day 23 - Go to Christmas Candylane at Hershey Park

So Day 22 was supposed to be go out for a Christmas treat, however it was cold & windy when I got home from work, so we decided to just stay in where it was warm.  We made the kids sundaes and watched a movie (and once again I forgot to take pictures).

Day 23 we went to Hershey Park with my sister and my one year old niece.  We had such a great time!

Pinterest Inspired Crafts

I will admit it - I have an addiction to Pinterest.  I am excited that I was actually able to make some of the things that I have pinned.  I have also tried several of the recipes that I pinned.  I had high hopes of making most of my Christmas presents this year, but somehow Christmas snuck up on me too fast and I didn't get most of them done (or even started).   Oh, well, there's always next year!

cupcakes I made for Brie's birthday

Tray made from peppermints

The trays were really fragile and broke so the kids tried to eat one

coasters made from tiles and scrapbook paper

Day 21 - Watch a Christmas Movie & Eat Popcorn

I know I skipped a day.  Day 20 was go to a Christmas Party, which we did however I forgot to take pictures.

On Day 21, we watched A Muppet's Christmas Carol.

Day 19 - Make a Treat for a Friend

Very much like the activity for yesterday, but I was running out of ideas.  We made peanut crunch to give to our friends in our small group.  I found this recipe many years ago on a blog I follow, www.justalittlesomethingforyou.blogspot.com.

In a large, microwave safe bowl, combine 1 bag peanut butter chips, 1 bag white chocolate chips & 1 Tbsp. peanut butter.  Microwave 2 minutes.  Stir until smooth.  Add 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts and 1 1/2 cups slightly crushed pretzels.  Stir together & pour onto wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Smooth out into a thin layer.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Remove from fridge & break into many pieces.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Day 18 - Bake Cookies and Give to a Neighbor

Tonight we baked Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies & "Grinch" Cookies to give to a few of our neighbors and for Brie's class party tomorrow. 

Hopefully we will be able to deliver our cookies tomorrow. 

Day 17 - Color a Christmas Picture

Not a very exciting activity for today, but it was nice to have something simple for the kids to do among all the craziness!

Day 16 - Take a Christmas Photo

Day 15 - Read the Story of the Birth of Jesus

Today we had the Shreiner family Christmas gathering and Brie was kind enough to read the story of Jesus' birth to us.  Uncle Nate was right there to help with all those big words that are in the Bible.

Day 14 - Drive Around to Look at Christmas Lights

Day 13 - Make Cookie Cutter Mini Pizzas

These didn't turn out quite as nice as I had hoped, but the kids still loved them!

Brie's plate - they are supposed to be a Santa head & a snowman

Brady's plate

Day 12 - Open a Surprise Present

I actually had something else planned for today, however with the week turning out to be so busy I came up with a different plan last night when I was at Target.  So I picked up a new shirt for each of them and wrapped them up.  The kids were pretty surprised to actually be receiving a gift today.

Day 11 - Make the House Smell Like Christmas

I found this "recipe" on Pinterest.  It really did make the house smell good.  And the best part is I can let it sit on my stove and just heat it up again whenever I want the house to smell good again.

1 orange
1/2 cup cranberries
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
sprinkle of nutmeg

Add water and simmer on stove.

Day 10 - Drink Hot Chocolate & Stir with Candy Canes

I sure was glad that today's activity was an easy one!