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Monday, December 31, 2007

Family Creations

Family Creations:

In our house we have something called family creations. It gives you and your children the chance to have some creative fun with out costing you a bunch of money,actually it is free.

The first thing you will need is a bunch of different colored pens,markers,pencils or whatever you have available. Then you will need some magazines or newspaper articles. The next thing you will need is some blank paper and scissors,tape or glue.

You and your family members can go through the articles together and cut out words or pictures.

Ex: I usually go through the papers and cut out the words that my children know and can read by themselves.
Then you'll want to decorate your paper with the colored markers or such.
I take the words or pictures that I cut out and let the children make their own story with them. Then I glue them or tape the words and pictures down for them. This is great fun for your child getting to make up their own story.
Then let them read their story out loud to you and your family.
This will make them feel really good about making a book or whatever you help them make. Good luck! If you have any questions please feel free to post a comment.:)

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I love you card (Kids activities)

Children's Interests:
Giving your child a purpose for writing directs his/her attention away from random scribbling. It is important to give your child a specific task with paper and writing instruments. Creating a greeting card is a great incentive for your child to practice writing.

Materials: Card stock paper in different colors
Crayons
Markers
Pencils
Stamps
Old greeting cards

Getting started: Set up the table with all the art supplies within reach. Have a few old greeting cards for your child to look at for ideas.

Invite your child to the table to make and I love you card for a family member.
Ask him/her to recall cards they have sent or received for a birthday or holiday. Show him/her some of the old cards.
Explain that your child can use any of the writing instruments to make his own card.
Ask him to work on both the front and the inside of the card. If your child asks,record his dictation on the card.
Encourage your child to talk about his work as he completes it. Your child,what do you think should go inside the card?
Allow him to make multiple cards for other family members or friends.

Closing: Allow your child to make one card for any occasion,following the basic format of a card. Surprise your child by making him a card,further reinforcing the purpose of this form of writing.

My Photo Book Kids activities

New and fun activities to do with your kids.......
My photo book:
Children learn about print through everyday activities. To help your child understand that print carries a message,use photos of himself to spark conversation and make a book.

Materials: Pictures of your child
Blank sheets of paper
Glue
Guiding your child's learning: Ask your child to tell you what he/she is doing in each picture,writing down what he says under the pictures.
Glue,staple or tape the pages together to make a book.

Getting started: Glue or tape the pictures near the top of the blank sheets of paper. Write a story to go along with your pictures for your book.

Closing: Help your child read the finished book with you,encouraging them to use the pictures to help him/her remember the words you wrote down.

The challenge: ave your child think of a title for his/her book. Then make a cover page. Then have them write their name as the author.

Activity Extensions: Have your child cut pictures of his/her favorite foods from magazines. Glue or tape the pictures on paper plates. Write the names of the food under the pictures. Punch holes in the sides of the paper plates,combine them to form a book and secure them with small metal rings.

Candy Cane Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup Fleischmann's Original Margarine-stick, softened
1/2 cup Egg Beaters 100% Liquid Egg Whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
12 drop red food coloring
Icing
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons reduced fat (2%) milk
1 tablespoon Fleischmann's Original Margarine-stick, softened
1/2 teaspoon almond extract



Directions
Dough: Mix flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl until well blended; set aside.
Beat granulated sugar and Fleischmann's in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add Egg Beaters, vanilla and 1 teaspoon almond extract; beat until well blended. Add flour mixture; beat just until blended.
Divide dough in half; set one half aside. Stir food coloring into remaining dough until well blended. Shape each dough piece into ball; wrap individually with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350F. Divide each ball of dough into 32 pieces. Roll each piece into a 5-inch rope. Twist 1 red and 1 white rope together; bend one end to resemble candy cane. Place, 2 inches apart, on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or just until set and lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets; cool completely on wire racks.
Icing: Combine confectioners' sugar, milk, Fleischmann's and 1 teaspoon almond extract; beat with wire whisk until well blended. Add additional confectioners' sugar or milk, if needed, to reach desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over each "candy cane." Let stand until icing is set. Store in airtight container at room temperature

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Time Clock

Five seconds on the clock,
The tired boy crouches down
Seeking his enemies out,
Looking to the left,
Then right.
He hesitates,breathes,
He slowly slides the football between his legs,
Balances it with his right hand,
Raises his left hand.
There's a stillness in the team,
Before he screams out the plays,
Two thirty two.
The ball slides up and into the player behind,
Who catches it,runs,...
Touchdown!
HYC 9/18/05

Favorite Recipes

Chocolate chip cookies
2-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. McCormick Pure Vanilla extract
2 Large eggs
1 pkg. (120z) Nestle' toll house Semi sweet chocolate morsels
Optional: (1 cup chopped nuts)

Preheat oven to 375F
Combine flour,baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar,brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.
Add eggs one at a time,beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts (optional). Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes:remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Makes 12-20 cookies depending

Favorite Recipes

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookie Cups
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine,softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1-2/3 cups (11oz. pkg.) Nestle' Toll House Peanut butter & milk chocolate morsels, divided
2 Large eggs
1 can (14 ozs) Nestle' Carnation Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 F. Heavily grease 36 mini muffin cups. Beat butter and sugar in small mixer bowl until creamy. Add flour and beat until mixture is evenly moist and crumbly. Roll rounded teaspoon dough into a ball: press onto bottom and halfway up side of muffin cup. Repeat with remaining dough. Place 5 morsels in each cup. Beat eggs in medium bowl with a wire whisk. Stir in sweetend condensed milk and vanilla extract. Spoon into muffin cups,filling almost to the top of each cup. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until centers are puffed and edges are just beginning to brown. Remove from oven to wire rack(s). Gently run knife around the edges of cakes. Let the centers flatten. While still warm top cakes with remaining morsels. They will soften and retain their shape. Repeat with remaining morsels. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. With tip of a knife release cakes from cups.
Makes 36 cups

Monday, December 17, 2007

Candles

I would like to tell you about these candles I use. They are the best scented candles I have found so far. I love candles they are all over my house.
They are made by American Spirit Candle Company LLC. It is a local company around where I reside.
These candles have a 35 to 40 hour burn time on their 8oz. candles and even longer on their 16 oz. They have a variety of scents such as blueberry,vanilla creme' brulle'(a fave of mine) ,maple pecan struessel and so many more.
They are more than just a candle company. They make a variety of things. Such as.... Reed diffusers, which are nice and filled with joyous scent,they are hand dipped in the scented wax and are packaged with the reed sticks and the scented oil. They also have scented bears or bear room fresheners. Also dipped in your favorite scented wax. These last for up to 18 months and if they start to lose their scent you can use a normal blow dryer to heat them up real quick. And restore the scent.
There are so many great items and they are very affordable. Once you buy one of these great products you'll never go back to ordinary candles again.
My favorite part about it all is the candle burns evenly all the way down to the bottom. No more fighting to get the wick lit. Check it out for yourself. If you are a business they have special offers for you. I guarantee that you'll like the products they have to offer. Just go to their website at americanspiritcandle.com
Enjoy! If you buy something after you have tried it let me know how well you like it.

The Smile

I saw a smile on a child today,
A little girl who was hard at play,
She was playing hard at the fun at hand,
Like any young girl in this fair land.

She ran and laughed and jumped on a swing,
And went up in the air like a bird on the wing,
She sailed up high then came back down,
Went up in reverse and looked down at the ground.
She sailed back up and her heart went wild
And happiness swelled in this little child.

Yes, I saw a smile on a child today
And that smile washed all my cares away!

HYC1998