Christmas Greetings

 

 

Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas

and

Best Wishes for a wonderful New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

Playdates from HELL!

Folks, I need some help!

The last few playdates my 6 year old daughter has had have been quite hellish.  Now, I do not like to use that word, especially with children!  But, we clearly have some issues.  We always talk about the playdate in advance, plan snack or lunch and some activities to do. Her input is valued and she knows it.  We also talk about some toys that she might not want to share (American Girl Doll) and put those away.   I also try to schedule the playdates when the twins are at school so it is just her and her friend at the house.

She is going through a phase that my son did not go through.  She is bossy, she doesn't share.  She is mean to her friends. She is bratty.  I do not know where this creature is coming from!  We all schedule playdates to keep our kids occupied so we can get stuff done.  This has been backfiring on me with children coming in every 2 minutes complaining about something.  I am a big fan of working it out amongst yourself, but that just isn't working!  This morning I have spent more time as a referee then getting things done.

Any suggestions?  Eliminate playdates all together?


(Now I know with everything going on this may seem trivial.  I am so Blessed to have my children. But any suggestions would be appreciated!)

Honoring Noah Pozner

Noah Pozner was the youngest victim in Friday's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary.  Little Noah was six years old and a twin.  His twin sister was there that day in the school, in another classroom.

As a mom of boy/girl twins and a 6 year old, Noah's story especially pulls at my heart.  A twin group that I a part of is raising money to honour this sweet boy with a tree in Central Park, NY.

Please consider making a donation.  Every little bit helps. 

May God be with and Bless the families of Newton, Connecticut.

To make a donation for Noah's Tree, please visit:

http://fundly.com/honor-noah-pozner

Thoughts & Prayers

Heartfelt prayers to the families of Newton, Connecticut.  

May God Bless them and be with them. 

Twiniversity

Twiniversity is a wonderful online community created by a mom of multiples for moms of multiples!

Be sure to check out my latest article, featured on their website on how you can extend the life of your holiday gift:

http://www.twiniversity.com/2012/extending-the-life-of-your-holiday-gift/


Happy Reading!

Joy to YOUR World!

One of the twins - Baby B on her first Christmas December 2009



Christmas will be here in 29 days!  I'm sure you have a list as long as Santa's with things to do, purchase, make and clean!  What are some of the things that you do for YOU during the Holiday Season?  Things that help you take a break from the "Christmas Crazies", things that help you enjoy the holiday a little more?  I like to listen to Holiday Music and drink Peppermint Mochas!

This year I am cutting back and delegating, I'm also saying NO, but nicely!  "I'm sorry, I cannot attend that Holiday Party and I'm sorry, I just can't volunteer in the classroom that day, but I was there at Halloween and will be there for the next one."  With four kids and three classrooms, plus activities we have a lot going on and it all seems to triple during the holiday times.  Letting go is very, very hard. But 30 years for now will it matter that in 2012 I was the mom that dropped off the cupcakes and sent the Santa plates in the backpack?  I don't think so!  (Well, I hope not!)

Some of the dishes that I normally make for Christmas Eve, I am now going to make for Christmas Day.  Hopefully this will help with the "too much food" that my family falls victim to each and every year and will make things a little easier for me in the kitchen.  I am also going to cutback on the amount of Christmas Cookies I make.  I am a decent cook, but not a very good baker.  This year, I am going to embrace my limitations and only make the cookies that my family members will eat. (Some years we had some cookies that they wouldn't even give to their dogs - and it wasn't because they contained chocolate!).  I am very good at making Italian Christmas Cookies.  That is something that the kids and I like to do each year.  So we will make those.  I am also very good at making candy and holiday treats (of the non-baking variety) like peppermint bark and chocolate covered pretzels.  We will stick to those!   My husband is picking up more of the "Santa" duties than normal.  I sent him an email with a list of specifics for each kids, quizzed him about a million times and am going to try to let it go.  So what if we missed out on that free shipping at American Girl Store, so what if one of the gifts the twins are getting for Christmas will completely ruin the idea I had for their birthday (it is in January!), so what if the kids cry on Christmas morning because one kid has more presents than another.  Easier said than done, that's what!

I've been spending a little more time than normal at Starbucks.  But that 10 minutes with a Tall Skinny No/Whip Peppermint Mocha is worth every penny!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please share some of your tips for conquring your holiday to do lists!

Puppy Chow

I know right now you are thinking about Turkey and Pumpkin Pie!  But this is a great recipe that the kids can make with adult supervision.  Great snack for Thanksgiving Day to keep the little ones occupied while you cook, or shop!  I found the original version on line and made some modifications.  I will give you both recipes!

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 1/2 cups Chex or Crispix cereal
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Put chocolate chips and margarine in a microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave for 1 minute and stir until well blended.

Add vanilla and stir.

Put Chex cereal into a large bowl.

Pour chocolate mix over the cereal and stir.

Once cereal is coated and after it is cooled, pour cereal and powdered sugar in a bag, seal bag, and shake.

Now, I follow the above recipe, except I will use 1/2 Chex and 1/2 Cinnamon Toast Crunch for the cereal part.  When it is finished sometimes we will add in mini marshmallows, raisins or m&m's!

Enjoy!

Wishing you and yours and wonderful Thanksgiving!