Fun With the Kids

Mother’s Day Magic

May 13, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

Two years ago, I had arguably the worst Mother’s Day ever. My husband was away, I was sick, and the kids completely forgot the day altogether. Not only did they forgot about it, they didn’t even bother to help their ailing mother, either. It was so odd in it’s awfulness how it all went down that day. I suppose you could call it the Anti-Mother’s Day.

You can imagine that, when I got sick last week, I feared a repeat of two years ago. My husband is, yet again, away for Mother’s Day, and all I could imagine was the same scenario playing out in the same way. God help me, I’d been dreading Mother’s Day since.

Instead, in the past few days, I’ve seen the kids whispering to one-another. I’ve heard things like, “I’ve got the bacon,” or “You do that!” I know something is in the works, and it excites me to see them this excited. Maybe it was a lack of direction two years ago, but they all seem super-motivated to make the day special for me this year.

The funny thing is, everyday being their mom is a special one. (Even that crappy Mother’s Day.)

I don’t need fancy trinkets or glittery jewelry (although I will say I adore the mother’s ring I received many Mother’s Days ago). Give me a good, heart-felt card with a lot of kid-scribbled signatures on it, with crayon-colored pictures plus secret art surprises from school- those make my day. I love it when they try to cook for me, too, even if it is only PB&J and chips. I can’t stop smiling by all the love, attention and hugs I get. That is what makes the day for me.

The funniest thing my mom ever did was "She ran out the door like someone died but she was going for a run." LOVE IT!

That card above is one of those “things” that make us mother’s smile. They are some of the most interesting, hilarious, truth-telling gifts any mother could get; ones worthy of being put in the “save forever and ever” box that we can look back on, becoming permanently etched on my heart forever.

This year, despite being husband-less, I plan to make the most of my Mother’s Day with them, with a little help from the folks at Hallmark, using something even more special that their brilliant minds at work – their voice.

I.Could.Not.Be.More.Excited.About.This.

In a whirlwind trip to nearby Austin two weeks ago, I visited a lovely Mansion hotel for a breakfast reception. I was running late, (we couldn’t find anywhere to park), and was immediately met with the ear-to-ear smiles by my dear friend and one of my favorite moms, Kim of Prairie Mama. After many hugs and baby squishes between the both of us, I got to ogle at some of Hallmark’s newest products, and they lovingly gave us a goodie bag to take home. One of those products they gave us is the one I plan to use today with my kids.

As a military wife, I already knew how fanfreakingtastic their recordable storybooks are. Children can enjoy listening to their deployed parent read them a story anytime, anywhere. I have a soft spot in my heart for a company that changes lives like that. Turns out, they weren’t finished.

I couldn’t control the tears as I poured through the pages of this recordable survey book. Now I get to cement in time my kids’ voices answering these questions for me. I’m one of those REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS parents, and this is the tippy top of the icing on the cake for a collector-of-memories mom like me. So special.

Win it!

Would you like to win one of these Mom & Me books for yourself? Leave a comment to enter. You can earn extra entries for sharing this, one entry per share. Leave a comment for each. Contest ends May 21st 10pm CST.

Do you get mushy over cards like these, too? What’s the funniest thing your child has ever said on one of these? What is your favorite Mother’s Day memory?

Hallmark lovingly gave me the book, and a smidge of other prezzies to take home, but did not ask me to write this post. I just wanted to show them some love, in appreciation for their awesomeosity. Thank you for helping make my Mother’s Day special.

Decorating a San Antonio Fiesta Shoebox Parade Float

April 20, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

This is our first year in San Antonio and our first year experiencing Fiesta, which began yesterday. I am excited to experience this celebration over the next week, and even more excited to witness how the schools get the kids involved, too.

On the agenda at the elementary schools around the city today was what’s called the “Fiesta Shoebox Parade.” The kids get to dress up in Fiesta-ish attire and bring in a decorated shoebox representing a small “float” to pull on a string through the halls of school. Fun!

Never having experienced this before, and not knowing what the “norm” is for these floats, my seven-year-old son decided to go with what he knows – Power Rangers.

We used Gorilla Tape to keep his Power Rangers stuck to the box without gluing. We used Super Glue to attach three Matchbox cars to the bottom of his box so that it rolled down the hall, and we used a shoestring to pull it through the halls.

We used alphabet stickers, feathers and construction paper cut-out

I always have construction paper, crayons and crinkle scissors on hand for craft time. I also was lucky enough to have my craft box that made this a lot easier to complete, too. Add to that a little Elmer’s School Glue, and we’re in business, baby!

We added some foam letters and sparkly shapes with glue

To make the fringe on the bottom, you cut slits using scissors. This helps hide the wheels at the bottom (the way real floats do).

You can use crinkle scissors to cut out a sign and glue it to a larger, contrasting paper with another cut-out design, such as we did above in yellow and blue.

You can get creative on how to mask the tape you use to affix your action figures, Barbies or dolls to the top. I just happened to have this paper “grass” substance from a package I was sent.

We used this hay-like paper filler from a package to mask the Gorilla Tape

I saw many children use tissue paper twisted into flowers and stapled as ruffles to symbolize the “flowers” on the float. I saw pipe-cleaners used, stickers, balls taped to boxes with stickers. There really is no wrong way to do it. one little girl had a tiny toy shopping cart she pushed that was decorated. Another little girl had her barbies on her brother’s skateboard. Some floats had balloons, some used dyed coffee filters to make flowers instead of tissue paper – the choice is completely yours. Have fun with it!

Don’t live in San Antonio to participate? Why not make a little shoebox parade at home with your kids? My little ones made one together, so they could participate, too. (And Baby Dude borrowed his older brothers, too.)

Crappy cell phone pic FTW!

I am looking forward to experiencing our first Fiesta here. I love moving and traveling to different cities with my military family and experiencing things like this. Have you ever experienced something like this before?

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Covered Ritz Sandwich Crackers

April 11, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

Peanut butter fudge + Ritz Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers = HOLY DESSERT TO DIE FOR, BATMAN!

Holy smacks, friends! I finally did it! I finally didn’t screw this one up! I finally got the chocolate fudge to the right consistency (by adding peanut butter) and I did the (seemingly) impossible!

(And if you choose to make this, you are going to LOVE me for doing it!)

Behold, dessert of wonder! I bow to you in all your peanut buttery awesomeness!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Covered Ritz Sandwich Crackers

Get ready to go shopping, here’s what you’ll need.

36 peanut butter Ritz sandwich crackers
1-2 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter
1.5 cups of chocolate chips (approximately half a 32oz bag)
1 tsp vanilla
3 tsp butter
parchment paper

Directions:

Set up a double boiler (a microwave isn’t going to cut it) and put water on to boil. (I, personally, don’t have a double boiler, so I used a metal bowl that sat over a pot of boiling water. It worked perfectly, I just needed an oven mitt to hold the bowl.)
Melt all the ingredients into the bowl, stirring until smooth. While holding carefully (and bravely, you tend to burn yourself a little, but it’s worth it), hold the crackers into the melted chocolate, swirl around a little, and place on parchment paper on a plate to cool/set. Repeat until all crackers are covered in awesome and you’re stomach is grumbling.
Here comes the hard part – you have to let them cool. (I know, I know, you want to snarf on ‘em all right now, I know. But you can’t.) Once cooled, place in the fridge so that the chocolate hardens enough to remove from the parchment paper. (SWEET TORTURE, I know, but after 15 minutes, you’ll be good. You can do it, you can hold out for it.)

Are your fifteen torturous minutes over with? Are you ready? Seriously ready for it? The salt and sweet and crunch and OH MY SWEET BABY JESUS LAYIN’ IN A MANGER, it is goooooooood.