Kilbane Happenings

So the kids were more than excited to come to grandma and grandpa K's house for Christmas-mostly because we told them there would be snow! And the weather didn't disappoint! We got snow and snow and more snow. The kids were disappointed that it wasn't "snowman making" snow, but they got to play in, helped shovel and even got a sled ride from grandma!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Santa was as good to you all as he was to us! The kids were so fun this, year opening their gifts and sharing in each other's excitement. They both got what they asked for from Santa (Kaitlyn - the Brave dress up; Brady the hot wheels looping mayhem double track). Along with some other surprises - they each got a Nook Color tablet! While we were really spoiled this year, let us remember that isn't the size of the gifts under the tree or how many you get to unwrap, but about the blessings that we have and often take for granted. I squeezed my little ones extra right last night and this morning thinking of the families in CT who woke up this morning still mourning the loss of 20 children and 6 adults. Peace to everyone! Merry Christmas

Ok, so I'm combining my last two days into one post. The ideas and projects I have pinned on Pinterest are endless. Recipes, tips, crafts, printables, educational activites.....the list goes on and on. I decided to do this blog challenge to see how many thing in Pinterest I would actually do and I found that I had already done quite a few. Tonight we complete our Christmas bucket list by having a "movie and popcorn night". Here are two Pinterest items that I completed before the holidays and was able to enjoy them during the holidays. The "HO HO HO" sign was made by applying scrapbook paper to 5x7 canvas and I made the words using vinyl. Hang with a red ribbon and DONE! My yarn wrapped wreath was made with a foam wreath mold, leftover white yard and a felt poinsettia. So simple.... I hope you have enjoyed these posts and I hope it has inspired you to do a little pinning of your own.

This elf....he sure has been getting into mischief since he's been at our house. This week, he's made into Kaitlyn's stocking (face first) looking for treats, I guess, in the pantry eating the kids' fruit snacks and now this......TPing the Christmas tree complete with a note reminding the kids how many days are left until Christmas! What will he get into next??

Day 9: 12/20/12 Making Reindeer food! Today we are making Reindeer food. This is something we do (I did get an alternative recipe on Pinterest) every year. We make a magical mixture for Santa's Reindeer to nibble on while Santa is having cookies and milk and leaving gifts under the tree. Dasher and Dancer get hungry too! Here is our recipe...remember this isn't actually for eating (just had to throw that out there). You can really use anything you want. The secret is in the "Magic" ingredient. 1 cup Oats (any kind/brand will work) 2 TBSP sugar 2 TBSP "magic"  sprinkles (This is what helps the reindeer fly!) I used Christmas cookie sprinkles that I have on hand - I let the kids pick which ones they want to put in their reindeer food. Place in a ziplock baggie and shake all ingredients. On Christmas eve, before you go to bed, sprinkle the Reindeer food on the lawn. The reindeer will thank you for the snack!

 12/19/12 Day 9: Fudge Peppermint Kiss Cookies I've had my eye on this pin since I found the peppermint Hershey kisses at the grocery store. I bought them and though, "What am I going to bake with these?". I found this recipe and I knew it was the one! It's easy, very few ingredients and quick baking time. Click the title above to be taken to the original pin/post. They turned out perfectly and are DELICIOUS! A must try if you are wanting to add a new holiday cookie to your list! This one is going on my list for sure! A few things to remember: The cookie dough will be shiny and look sticky - it's not. I used a teaspoon to scoop out the dough and then used my hands to form into a ball. I used parchment paper (the recipe calls for an ungreased baking sheet....parchment paper worked great - so sticking and no burning.) Ovens vary on time and temperature - adjust yours as you see fit. I kept the oven at 350, but watched the baking time which was between 5-6mi...

Last week the kids had their Christmas concert at school. The preschool sings a few songs and then the kindergarten sings a few songs as well. They also recited a poem. Then the first-fourth graders perform a Christmas play. Brady's class was on the bottom row of the risers, so I couldn't get good photos of him from where I was sitting (see picture below of "my view"). Kaitlyn was on the top row of the risers, but with all the kids on risers, she still seemed to disappear. It was a very cute program and the kids did a great job. Brian was able to sit on the floor down in front and got it all on video. Getting in their spots to sing Smiling for daddy! This was my view....in between people and capturing their phones and cameras - not Brady Kaitlyn singing Right before the Kindergarteners began singing....Dylan looks really excited to be there! lol

This past week (Wednesday-Sunday) Grammy and Pop-Pop (a.k.a. my parents) came to St. Louis to celebrate Christmas with me, Brian and the kids. We tried to squeeze in all the holiday events that we could and really take advantage of being together to celebrate Christmas. This year we travel to Cleveland to celebrate with the Kilbane side of the family (last year they were here)...we alternate who has to travel and when. It works for us! Below are some pictures of our time together this weekend. The kids also had their Christmas concert at school. I'll make that a separate post. I couldn't get a lot of pictures as the seating was awful and it was hard to get a photo of my kids when I had rude and inconsiderate parents standing in front of me DURING the performance (sense my tone...). Enjoy! Gardenland Express train and poinsettia display at The Missouri Botanical Garden So excited for the trains. Getting help from Pop-pop to see the trians He was in the middle ...

Day 8: 12/17/12 Ok, so I apologize for the break in my "12 days of Pinterest" posts. My parents were in from Ohio the last 5 days and we were busy celebrating Christmas (early) and doing all the St. Louis holiday things there are to do (lights, train displays, Christmas concerts....you know!). Today I am doing a something that when I saw it on Pinterest - I knew I HAD to do it! We have a ton of ornaments. They are currently on our tree (duh) but when they are in storage the other 11 months of the year, they are kept wrapped in tatty tissue paper in shirt boxes that are falling apart. Every year I say "I am going to get one of those "ornament organizers" (the ones you see at Target and Home Depot)....and every year when I go to buy one, I go into sticker shock! How can a piece of plastic that holds 12 ornaments be $20! Of course we have more than a dozen ornaments, so I went on a hunt for something cheaper! Here it is! It cost me $2.50 to make. I used cardboa...

Day 7: 12/11/12 So this is a bit of an easy Pinterest post...but I had to post. All over pinterest are ideas on what to do with your "Elf on the shelf". After starting this tradition last year with our kids, we quickly ran out of ideas on where he would show up next. We had to keep him up high, as Brady was still too little to understand the rule on "not touching the elf" (he loses his North Pole magic). This year, I really wanted to get creative. As you may have read in an earlier post, he's been in a "cotton ball" bubble bath, hanging from the chandelier, playing cards with Ken and on a ride in the Barbie car! Here's one I've been wanting to do....our Elf, Chris, got a little naughty with the dry erase marker!

So yesterday I didn't get to post....we took a day off! Today we worked on crossing off items on our Christmas bucket list! We were quite busy this weekend and today we made Christmas cookies!!

Day 5: 12/8/12 So today for my "12 Days of Pinterest" post, I decided to combine a several pinterest ideas into one. It certainly was a crafting kind of day at our house! First, I saw several ideas for some super cute gingerbread houses. Instead on one BIG house, I bough a village that came with 4 smaller houses. This way the kids could each do their own house. Kaitlyn's is on the left, Brady's on the right The kids insisted I do one too....   I also saw several ideas on pinterest for things to make with leftover candy canes. I found a whole bag full of the mini candy canes in with my Christmas stuff. Not sure how old they are, I thought it would be a good idea to use them for crafting. The kids glued them to construction paper and when they dry we will cut them out and hang them on the tree! They made cute heart ornaments!   And finally, I found some super cute sun catcher kits at the store - this really isn't a pinterest pin, but I thought ...

Day 4: 12/7/12 So today I decided to try a painting craft with Kaitlyn. CLICK HERE to see the original pin and blog post. Here are some pictures of the process of how we created a snowflake on canvas. It was quite easy and I have materials for Brady to do one too. Kaitlyn chose purple paint...I may even try to print out a more detailed snowflake to pain over. Tape on canvas.... paint over canvas remove tape....