Thankful Tree

This year Xzavier has really been into thanking God for all the things in his life. Every night before bed we say our prayers then he lists (a million) things that he's thankful for so I knew it was time to start the Thankful Tree as a new Thanksgiving Tradition. When I told him about the project he loved it, he was even telling me things that Lennox was thankful for.

Xzavier; Bats (still Suck on Halloween), Trees, Cozy Bed, Letters, Sunshine, Leaves, Ourselves (X asked, "We can be Thankful for Ourselves Right?") & Little Bear (His special Teddy).

Lennox; Books, Food (X said, "Lennox loves books and all his food.", Big Bear (his special teddy), Toys & Family

Hand Print Mold, Turkeys

Recipe:
Equal parts Flour and Salt, We used 1/2 Cup Each
Add Water until mixture is like dough, We used 1/4 cup.  
Place dough on a small paper plate (ours was 7 in) covered in tinfoil. This will help the dough keep a circular shape.
Make hand impressions
Bake 250 degrees for 4 1/2 hrs
Once the dough has hardened and cooled.
Paint and Seal.

We made ours into Turkeys but I'm sure you could make something for any holiday or occasion.
I recommend making the dough a head of time. Although the kids did enjoy seeing and learning about how the matter changed from powder to dough to a hard mold. (that part is up to you).

It was a messy project, not one that I wouldn't normally pick but a friend learned of a similar one and wanted to try it. He turned to me to be the project mediator. Oh man the kids were a mess and so was my garage and all the toys in it. We allowed the kids to mix their own dough but when they lost interest (5 mins in) they began to wonder and touch everything in sight with their sloppy hands. Not to mention Lennox couldn't stop eating his mixture and licking his hands (Gross). The painting part of the project was a lot more fun and organized... Although they don't look like Turkeys, We know what they are :)

The Finished Product

Landen

Xzavier

Lyvia

Lennox, with my help.

2012 Turkey Bread Basket

As we did last year again we made a Turkey Bread Basket. Xzavier and Lennox decorated new feathers and we put them in the basket from last year and used the spoon turkey face from last year too. This year I bought a bag a gourds at Walmart for two dollars to add. I love this basket on my table. The kids are always so proud for their art to be displayed and used in our Thanksgiving Feast as the Bread Basket...

Homemade Pasta Sauce

I've been making homemade pasta sauce for my family for a long time now but never wrote down my recipe. Recently I took time to make notes on all my ingredients and measurements and I must say this was my best sauce yet... Like my grandmother most of my recipes are in my head and I end up throwing in this and that as I go so many times I can't replicate which totally sucks when something turns out really yummy!

Ingredients:
5 Italian Sausage Links or 1lbs Ground (mild, sweet, hot your preference)
4-5 Cloves of Garlic Finely Chopped
1 Large Onion Chopped
1/2 a Small Container of Fresh Mushrooms Chopped
2 Cups Sweet White Wine (my choice Mascato)
2 Tbs Dry Italian Herbs
1/3 Cup Sugar
1 28oz Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 28oz Can Tomato Sauce
1 28oz Can Tomato Puree
1 6oz can Tomato Paste
--Mothers, adding a jar or two of pureed veggies is a great way to sneak in some nutrients.


Brown your sausage (links or loose) over a med/high heat, using a small amt of water (1/3 cup at most) to add steam and help the meat cook through.

Add Onion and Garlic and let sweat out a little then add Mushrooms and Dry Italian Herbs. Cover and let the sausage continue to cook until finished through.

 Once Sausage is cooked through add Chopped Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce,Tomato Puree and Sugar. Let bubble over med heat for 30 mins.

Add White Wine and reduce heat to low for 30 mins.

Add Tomato Paste a spoon full at a time stirring it in until desired thickness is achieved.

Although you could serve now I normally let it simmer all day or at least two hrs.

 Kids love Pasta

Baby Xzavier 10 Mos

Xzavier 13 Mos

 

Lennox 12 Mos

Lennox 22 Mos

Combo Birthday, My Boys are 2 and 4!

This year, since their birthdays aren't 'mile stones', they have the same friends and to save some money, we decided to have the boys birthday party together. However Xzavier had his special day and dinner and Lennox will too.

The day was beautiful, sunny and 75 degrees so we were able to have the party inside and out. We have a bunch of fun and games planned I think the kids really enjoyed themselves. Thank you to all of our friends for coming out and making the boys party really special.

Since I waned the party to have special touches that were all about each boy, Xzaviers part of the party was Helicopters (by request) and Lennox's party was sports... Together our theme became, "The Xzaviertown Propellers playing at Lennox Field" with a pizza party tied in there somewhere!

Decorations;

Welcome to the Party!

Brutus Buckeye cake mold used as a big ice cube.

Pin the Propeller on the Helicopter

Football cake!

Pizza Making;

 

Playing Outside

 Cake Time!!

 Paper Football;

  Decorate a foam finger;

My Birthday Boys

I love you and your still my Baby!

Mikey, getting in on the FUN!

 Build A Helicopter;

These helicopters turned out to be really hard.

We were all sweating, having a hard time with them.

Some of us gave up...

and some of us kept trucking.

but the kids were definitely not into it.

The kids had more fun riding around in the garage...

Great Job Trevor!

More Eating...

 

 

Pin the Propellers on the Helicopter

By the end of the day we were all Super Exhausted... But it was a great Day!