Edible Snowmen

My Snowman Family....




We lost power for about 6 hours while up in the mountains at the Marino Cabin one morning. So I thought this was a perfect opportunity to make edible snowman out of powder donuts. The Fish Heads thought that was a fun breakfast with Hot Cocoa. However, little Emily wasn't impressed with eating a carrot with powdered sugar on it - she said it was GROSS! Next time - I'll add pretzel sticks for arms. And I even thought about using fruit-by-a-foot fruit rolls too. They would make a cute scarf (trim the edges of it to look like fringe).

Emily's cute little snowman...

Nutter Butter Santa Clause Cookies

Gum Drop Christmas Tree Craft

You will need:
Various sizes of styrofoam trees (found at Michael's craft stores)
Bags of gum drops (harder to find these days - Lucky Grocery Store has them)
Toothpicks cut in half






This is a perfect project for little fingers. Have an adult stick the tree with many toothpicks and then the child can easily stick on gum drops.

Christmas Traditions

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER CALENDAR



I started this calendar out of desparation with little kids and December being such a crazy, busy time for moms.

The rule - the kid's cannot lift the flat or sneak a peak until the morning of that day. Why? 1/2 the time I don't have our December schedule figured out or I might have to readjust an activity. It just gives me a ton of flexibility!

I tried to make these "no cost" things. Some activities are decorating the Christmas tree, sleeping under the Christmas tree, addressing Christmas cards, visiting Oakland Temple to see the Christmas lights, reading Christmas stories (multiple nights), family game nights, hot chocolate nights while driving around looking at local Christmas lights, baking with Grandpa, making gingerbread house, inviting friends over for a special Family Home Evening.


BUILD A SNOWMAN










BUILD A CHRISTMAS TREE








BOB'S WORLD to see Christmas Lights
Devin will end up taking Emily to Bob's World about 5-7 times each year. That is something special that they do together. As a family, we usually go about 2x's a year.


NATIVITY DRESS UP






SINGING RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER

Grandma Alfano's Christmas Jello

(The Christmas Jello is pictured above - it's the green jello in the glass pan).


In a 9x13 pan make a small raspberry jello (and add a carton of fresh raspberries). Put in refrigerator to set.

Make one small lime jello (and add one can of crushed pineapple; drained very well). Leave on counter in bowl to cool down; you can even put it in the refrigerator to get it cooled and slightly set.

Add one container of sour cream to the top of the raspberry jello.

Carefully spoon the lime jello over the sour cream.

Braided Cream Cheese and Cherry Bread

Carmel Apples and Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Snowman Cake and a COOL SNOW Birthday Party

Jake wanted a SNOW Birthday Party for his 6th birthday. It turned out so well I have reused these ideas many time for Cub Scout Pack Meetings or School Holiday Class Parties.

Snowman Birthday Cake...





Turn your garage into an igloo...




Have a boy vs. girl SNOWBALL FIGHT California Style -- each kid is given a brown paper lunch sack with pieces of cotton batting aka SNOWBALLS






Build an IGLOO out of Sugar Cubes...


Build a SNOWMAN contest using toilet paper....






Throw a SNOWBALL and try to hit Mr. Schwanhauser (using styro foam craft balls for snowballs)....




Sign your name on our igloo. The kid's loved this!