Christmas Story Time

Tonight my six-year-old sat in my lap with a soft blanket tucked under his arms. We read one of our favorite Christmas stories before he went to bed. It's been a long day of checking off items on my very long to-do list for the holidays, but that moment, my friends, is what the best memories are all about. A few moments of cuddling up with a child and a good book go a long way for a happy life.

So if your collection of Christmas stories is looking a little slim this year check out a few of these fun books. And don't forget to take time for reading them with the little ones in your life.

As you might guess from the title, Mooseltoe is a cleverly worded story about a Moose who wants to make Christmas perfect. He almost does it but forgets one very important thing. You will smile when you see what lengths Moose goes to to make Christmas almost perfect for his family. 

This story is appropriate for any age, but considering some of the large words used I think starting in 2nd-3rd grade children will really understand more of the story and why it's so funny.

By Margie Palatini

Illustrated by Henry Cole

New this year is Olaf's Night Before Christmas. I recently read this book to a group of five-year-olds. They were captivated by the story. It's a mix of the poem we all know with the new characters we now love. 

By Jessica Julius

Illustrated by Olga T. Mosqueda

Russell's Christmas Magic begins with a nod to the favorite poem, T'was the Night Before Christmas, but then sends Russell on his own adventure with Santa that is different from the poem. The story is fun but I think it's the illustrations that keep me coming back year after year. 

By Rob Scotton

These snowmen have such great adventures! We love the story, the illustrations, looking for the hidden objects...we love it all!

By Caralyn Buehner

Illustrated by Mark Buehner

We love Duck and all the funny things he does on the farm. This Christmas, Duck runs into trouble when he tries to be like Santa. The farm animals want to help but it's Santa that saves the day. I think this book will appeal to children 2-8 years old.

By Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Potato and Zucchini Side Dish

I wasn't sure how this recipe would turn out. Potatoes, zucchinis and a pepper? It had never crossed my mind to put those things together! It's good to try new things! This is an easy tasty recipe.

adapted from allrecipes.com, submitted by Jana

Ingredients

2 medium zucchini, quartered and cut into large pieces
2-3 medium potatoes, cut into small chunks
1 medium red, orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 tbsp olive oil
paprika to taste
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions for baking

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a baking pan toss together the zucchini, potatoes, bell pepper, garlic, olive oil. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and lightly brown.

Directions for cooking in a skillet

Drizzle olive oil in pan and heat for a minute over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the zucchini, bell pepper, garlic, salt, pepper and paprika. Stir often for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes and zucchini reach desired tenderness.

My rating: 4 stars

Boys say: thumbs up

Gingerbread Pancakes

Considering the season I thought gingerbread pancakes sounded like a great idea. We decorated a gingerbread house but didn't actually eat any gingerbread! This was the perfect treat for our Sunday brunch.

adapted from allrecipes.com, submitted by CKINCAID1

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground dried ginger
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a bowl; set aside. Beat the egg in a separate mixing bowl with the vanilla and molasses until smooth. Whisk in the water until completely incorporated. Stir the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until just combined -- a few lumps are okay.
2. 
   
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip, and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

Husband rating: 4.5 stars

Boys say: thumbs up

Treasures

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

Thornton Wilder

I Was Tripping

I have run in many beautiful places. One of my favorite places to run is the 10 mile loop around Lady Bird Lake in Austin, TX. This path is mostly crushed granite. It is flanked by several varieties of trees. The Boardwalk section takes you right over the lake. It is a gem in downtown Austin and, as such, is a very busy trail.

One morning, about two miles in to my run I came to a bridge with wooden planks. A lady was walking on the bridge ahead of me. She wore comfortable pants, a button down light weight yellow top and, to my horror, a black bra underneath! Dark bras under light shirts have always puzzled me.

I was deep in thought about this outfit when I tripped on an uneven plank. I flew forward. With arms flailing I caught myself before I face planted! This kind woman made a comment about my good recovery. Embarrassed, I ran off quickly.

I learned a good lesson from this. Judging others will trip me up!

Veggie Combo Pizza

This is my favorite pizza. But I'm the only one in the family who will put this many veggies on a pizza so I understand if you think I'm crazy. But you won't be sorry if you get brave enough to jump out of the pepperoni box and try this! It's delicious!









I started with a store bought thin pizza crust. I added a little spaghetti sauce to that. Then I added a thin layer of mozzarella cheese. After that I had a great time adding everything on the right! Okay, not all of that! That wouldn't fit on one pizza! I had ham slices, broccoli cut into small pieces, orange and yellow peppers chopped, chopped red onion, zucchini (which I actually chopped smaller after I took the picture) and pineapple tidbits. I covered these toppings with more mozzarella cheese. I put my fabulous pizza into a preheated oven at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes or until the cheese looked melted and a little browned.

I could probably eat this every day!

My rating: 5 stars
Boys say: no thanks Mom!

The Monkey and The Bee

The Monkey and The Bee 

by CP Bloom

Illustrated by Peter Raymundo

This is a funny book with very few words. The same words repeat over and over but in new ways as the story progresses. The pictures and the words tell the story here. 

I hope these book reviews are inspiring you to read with your child(ren)!

Mad Cow Tacos

If you live near Austin you probably know the restaurant Torchy's Tacos. But did you know they have a secret menu? I learned about this recently and ordered the Mad Cow Taco from the secret menu. I really liked it. When I took my husband and boys to try it they all liked it too. 

But not all of you are lucky enough to live in Austin! So, here is my version of the Mad Cow Taco for you to enjoy at home.

1.5 lbs skirt steak

2 limes, juiced

1/2 c extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place the steak in a large ziplock bag. In a bowl mix the rest of the ingredients. Pour this mixture into the bag with the meat. Let marinade in the refrigerator for two hours. After two hours take the bag out of the refrigerator and let sit on counter for 20 minutes. Heat grill. Remove steak from bag, discarding bag and remaining marinade. Cook steak to your taste. Let the meat sit for five minutes before cutting into thin slices.

small flour tortillas, warmed

shredded colby jack cheese

1.5 c corn, warmed

1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed then warmed 

avocado, sliced

cilantro, chopped

your favorite cilantro ranch type dressing

To assemble tacos place the meat on the tortilla and then add desired amount of the rest of the ingredients (corn, beans, etc). It's best to have warmed tortillas but it's tricky to do that for a family of six! I use this tortilla holder my wonderful friend Anna gave me to keep the tortillas warm after I warm them on the stove. Then when we all sit down to eat everyone gets a warm tortilla at the same time.

While visiting my aunt this summer I was able to do a little cooking with her. For one recipe she pulled out these herb scissors. I'd never seen these before! These are so great! I found them at my local grocery store and have been using them regularly. They are helpful in this recipe to cut up the cilantro quickly and easily.

Switch out the flour tortillas for corn ones and you have a gluten free meal you can smile about!

Husband rating: 4 stars

Boys say: thumbs up 

Laura's Gift

When I decided to run a marathon I had friends who thought I was crazy. I have to admit, I understood where they were coming from. It sounded crazy to me too. Why would a person run 26.2 miles in a day? It’s one thing to like running. It’s another thing to run a marathon.

Training for a marathon was a major commitment. I had to learn how to fuel my body for hours of continuous exercise. I had to steadily extend my long runs to build my endurance. So I signed up for races of increasing length to prepare for the marathon.

At the end of my first half marathon my legs were wobbly and tired. But I had done it! It gave me the confidence to put my name in the lottery for the St. George Marathon. I was one of the 7,000 lucky runners chosen that year.

About a month before the marathon I ran a 20 mile training run. I started up a canyon in the mountains. As I came to the mouth of the canyon I felt good. I had run this path many times before. I had the trees around me, the river to one side and I was feeling strong. In the valley my speed remained consistent. I was rocking out to my tunes through the neighborhoods and eventually back along the river.

It was the last three miles of this run that were painful. I hadn’t prepared well the night before. I had never gone this far. And frankly, once I finally reached the end I didn’t think I wanted to run a marathon. I didn’t see any way I could run six more miles than I had just run.

The next week I visited with my friend Laura. When I told her I didn’t think I wanted to run the marathon anymore she said, “You have to. You can do it. It’s the best feeling.” Laura had run a marathon before. She knew the feeling of crossing the finish line. She knew it could be done and was worth doing. Her encouragement made the difference. I determined I would finish what I had started. I would run the marathon.

The day of the race was cool and rainy. As I neared the finish line of the St. George Marathon I was completely soaked but I was excited to be on that road. I saw friends who yelled out my name and cheered me on through those last steps. I saw my family waiting there with signs that said they loved me. I was so emotional I could hardly breathe. I’m not sure how it is for everyone but I can’t cry and run at the same time! Laura was right. Finishing the marathon was one of the best feelings ever.

I finished the marathon with the feeling that if I could do that I could do anything. But I never would have had this experience if it weren’t for Laura. Laura’s gift to me was a life-changing moment made possible by her encouragement.

I’ve learned many lessons through running. I’ve even learned how to be a better friend. I want to be like Laura. I want to be the kind of friend who helps others reach their goals. I want to be the kind of friend that tells them they’d be crazy not to set their goals high.

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

By Chris Van Dusen

I don't know how I missed Chris Van Dusen and his books on the first three children! I'm so glad I found him in time to cuddle together and read these clever rhyming books with my youngest son. 

The look of this book, like all of Chris Van Dusen's Mr. Magee books, is unique. The colors are vibrant. The characters make you smile. It's just the kind of fun every children's book should be. Make sure you add this one to your collection!

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Flo

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Flo

by Laurel Molk

These funny mice are always trying to catch something! And Flo wants to help. Our family enjoyed the artwork as much as the words of the story. Be sure to watch for Flo and her popcorn!

Courage

Something Beautiful

Mother Teresa once said, “My prayer is that you make your family something beautiful for God.” As I thought about this it occurred to me that if I were able to contribute to making my family beautiful for God that would be enough for me. In all my pondering about what to do with the time I have there really isn’t anything more important for me to do.

I love the simplicity of this goal. I can do my part to make my family wonderful. And not just wonderful but wonderful for God. God has given me this family. What I can give Him is what I make of it.

This changes how I see challenges in my family. I feel more patient with family members I struggle with because I now see this as a way to prove where my heart is. Is it full of anger and bitterness or full of love? Can I be loving with the goal of creating a better family for God? And really, the irony here is that I feel I am doing this for God, but by following His commandments I get the blessings, not Him! When I am loving and kind I feel happy. I have fewer, if any regrets. I feel His love for my family and for me.

I’ve come to understand that really loving someone is its own gift. When I do something kind for my husband I feel joy. When a son sits in my lap and we read books together I am happy. When I play games with my boys, when I’m totally present in that moment, I savor that time together. The immediate result of loving my family is I feel happy. I am blessed by loving.

It’s easy to miss seeing motherhood in this way, especially when my child decides to be the most stubborn human on the planet! But when I look back on our annual photo albums and recall all the happy times I see the frustrations in their proper place. They are things that happen, but they don’t define our family.

When I see motherhood as a way to love and serve others, even a way to make something beautiful for God, I don’t look at the everyday hard work of cooking, cleaning, nurturing, taxiing, playing, refereeing, teaching and disciplining as terrible work. I see it as the gift God has given me to make, little by little, each day, something lasting and beautiful.

On a morning run along a lake I passed a fenced-off condominium construction area. There were bricks, tools and debris everywhere. I had the thought that we make a big mess in the process of making something beautiful. There’s really no way around that!

Next time I feel like I’m in the middle of a mess at home, figuratively or literally, I’m going to remember that I’m building something beautiful for God.

Gratitude

Shrimpy Pasta

(Picture coming next time I make this! I guess we were hungry. I forgot to snap a picture!)

1 tsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 lb large frozen shrimp (cooked or not, deveined and peeled), thawed and tails removed

1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce

12 oz linguine noodles

Heat a large pot of water to boiling. Cook noodles according to package instructions.

In a large pan heat 1 tsp olive oil to medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook over medium-low, stirring often, until onion is softened; at least 10 minutes. 

Add shrimp. If the shrimp has not been cooked heat it over medium heat, stirring often, until it is pink and then add the sauce. If the shrimp has already been cooked heat for only a minute or two and then add the pasta sauce. Heat through. 

Serve over linguine noodles. Pair this with roasted green beans and you have a great meal.

Husband rating: 4 stars

Boys say: thumbs up

Pomegranate Power

I thought I'd get creative with some pomegranate juice I had left over from a recipe. This is what I came up with:

1 1/2 c pomegranate juice

1 c frozen blueberries

1 tsp chia/flax seed mix

1 banana

1 c frozen peaches

1/2 c vanilla greek yogurt

Mix all ingredients until smooth. If you need to go dairy-free I think this would still be good even without the yogurt.

My rating: 3.5 stars

Better Lunches

By this time of year you might be getting sick of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for your kids to take for lunch! You check the lunch menu at school and decide that you'd rather make lunch than have them buy nachos (really? how is that a lunch?) or hamburgers or pizza, yet again. You want your children to have healthy eating habits and, unfortunately, that school lunch just isn't cutting it. But what can you and your children pack for lunches each day? Here are a few tip to mix it up and keep it healthy.

• This time of year I start making soups again. Last night I made Chicken Wild Rice Soup and had enough left to pack in a thermos. This thermos is the perfect size for a lunch box. And it's nice that the boys can have a warm lunch some days. If you don't have time to make soup buy the canned kind. Maybe you could get a Mexican chicken soup and add apple slices, tortilla chips and guacamole. You can also send left over pasta, stew or chili. There are ways to make it fun and give the kids something to look forward to.
• When you need to keep a lunch cold these ice packs are very handy. They give you more options when you're making a lunch. You can find these in the grocery store or even online at sites like Amazon.com.

• Try ham and cheese on a bagel. I don't know why but anything on a bagel seems more fun to my boys. 
• Make a turkey wrap. Inside a tortilla put honey mustard, turkey, provolone cheese and spinach leaves and wrap it up. 
• Club sandwich-If you've made bacon that morning save some for a sandwich. Bacon, turkey, cheese, lettuce and a tomato will make a sandwich that is filling. Don't forget the whole grain bread.
• Peanut butter banana tortilla. Yes, you read that right. I know, I think it's weird too, but my kids like to have a tortilla with peanut butter on one half. Then we slice a half a banana and put those slices on the peanut butter. We fold the tortilla over and you have something my 6 yr old will eat! 
• Peanut butter and honey sandwich. On whole wheat bread this sandwich will give the kids some energy but leave them with some protein that will keep them going for a while. We like the thick honey that comes in tubs.
• For little ones you can get away with finger foods for a lunch. Put turkey, ham slices or even jerky, cheese slices or string cheese, crackers, and veggies or fruits all in little baggies. It's a fun way to have something different for lunch.
• For sides try to avoid the chips. It's easy and quick but there isn't anything good in them for your kids. Always reach for the fruits and veggies first. Kids don't always like veggies, but they do like to dip their food. I have bought compartment tupperware where one part is smaller for the ranch and one part is bigger for the baby carrots, sugar snap peas or cherub tomatoes. I find my boys will eat their apples if I cut them up at home instead of putting a whole apple in their lunch box. Grapes, chopped melons, strawberries, bananas are all good options. Also, yogurts and string cheeses are good side options. This is where those ice packs will come in handy! And don't forget the plastic spoon so your little one can eat the yogurt.
• I would recommend not putting a treat in the lunch box every day. It creates a habit of always having something sweet after a meal. That's not a good habit! Every now and then makes it a treat. Every day makes it a habit.
• Don't forget to add a note! Once in a while I'll put a note on the napkin or on a sticky note and toss it in with the lunch. It's a fun way for my children to know I'm thinking about them while they are away from home. My mother used to do this for me and it made me feel special. Draw a funny face, tell them something you appreciate about them, tell them you love them. These little acts create positive moments that strengthen a relationship. 

Pineapple Yellow Curry

I was in Trader Joe's the other day buying more bbq sauce when I saw a jar of Yellow Curry Sauce. That reminded me of a pineapple curry dinner I had at a Thai restaurant once. I loved that and wanted to make something similar at home. This is what I came up with:

Pineapple Yellow Curry

2 tsp olive oil, divided
1 chicken breast or 2-3 pork chops, cut into small pieces
1/2 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow pepper, chopped
1/2 cup pineapple tidbits
1 jar Trader Joe's Thai Yellow Curry Sauce (or more depending on how saucy you want your dinner)

Coat a pan with 1 tsp olive oil and heat to medium-high. Add the meat and cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through. Remove meat to a plate and cover with foil.

Add the last tsp of olive oil to the pan. Add the onions and carrot. Cook over medium heat for 7 minutes. Add the peppers. Cook, stirring often, for 7 minutes.

Pour the sauce into the pan. Put the chicken and the pineapple in the pan. Mix to coat everything and heat through. Serve immediately over your favorite rice.

Husband rating: 4 stars
Boys say: thumbs up

Better Days Tips-Think of Your Favorite Things

A week ago I didn't write a new quote on the chalkboard. I left space for everyone to write what some of their favorite things are. It was fun to see what all my guys added. And good to spend time thinking about what and who we love.

Better Days-Travel Light

We can all tell a tale or two about a terrible traveling experience. But very few people can top my friend Amy's* story. Amy was on the plane with her children. Enough said, right?! She took one son to the bathroom. She helped him, which was tricky in such a tight space for two people, and then needed to use the toilet too. Amy turned around, sat down and, to her horror, started to feel warm liquid running down the back of her legs and onto her pants. The toilet seat lid had closed and she didn't realize it! She had to wrap a sweater around her bum to cover her wet pants and sit in it the rest of the flight.

But that could never happen to you, right? What about your checked bag showing up in a different country than you arrived in? Or maybe the bag does arrive in the country with you but you can't get through customs fast enough and someone else mistakes your bag for theirs and takes it. That happened to me in Spain.

To avoid these scenarios and so many others, help yourself out and pack light when you travel! Pack light enough that you don't have to check your bag and can keep it with you at all times.

When my husband was unexpectedly sent to Europe right around his birthday we decided to make a couples trip out of it. After his work I met him in Munich for a trip we'd been dreaming about for 17 years. I was there for 12 days. If you can believe it, all I had with me is pictured above!

And if that doesn't shock you, then the fact that I took this same luggage and large handbag with me two weeks later on a trip that lasted 24 days should impress you! How did I do it? I consulted ricksteves.com for travel advice. Rick Steves has travelled Europe for decades. He knows the best ways to pack.

Here are a few tips that helped me:
1. Bring the smallest size toiletries possible. I packed all my liquids in one airport security approved bag. That also made getting ready in the morning easier because I just had one little bag to grab. On the first trip I learned how long the hairsprays, the shampoos, the contact cleaners and other things would last me. It was easy to restock on the 24 day trip. There was no reason to bring all that I needed for more than three weeks from the beginning.
2. Do laundry! I didn't need 12 different outfits for Europe! I brought versatile outfits and I did laundry when they were dirty. I did the best I could to limit the shoes I brought. Shoes take up a lot of space!
3. Don't take a hairdryer. I never needed one anyways. All the hotels had one. Or I threw my hair back in a pony tail and spent time exploring amazing places instead of being in a bathroom doing my hair! I did take a hairdryer on the 24 day trip but I didn't take as many shoes on that trip. You have to be strict with yourself on your load. It's so easy to come and go with only a small roller bag and a big purse.
4. Check the size requirements for carry on bags on international flights. These rules have changed recently. You don't want to go to all the work of packing light only to have your bag checked because it's too big.

Give it a try! You can do it! Once you do you will never go back to lugging around huge bags on your trips! And if you happen to have an accident between your house and your destination you'll have clothes to change in to!

*name changed to protect the identity of my embarrassed friend!

Better Books-The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

When someone asks me, "How do you keep your house clean?" I'm pretty sure we are both adding the same thing to the rest of that question-"How do you keep your house clean with four boys?!" It's no small feat keeping the Legos, Bakugans, Skylanders, Beyblades, Pokemon cards and basketballs off the carpet and in their homes! 

I used to think that keeping the house clean meant throwing all that "random, don't know what to do with this" stuff in the unfinished basement space. But I don't have a basement anymore now that I live in Texas! And, the "throw it all in the basement and close the door" mentality was a problem too. When I needed documents I had to sift through bags of it on the floor. When I went in that room to organize it I usually walked back out because I was overwhelmed by the task. No room in our homes should be overwhelmingly awful! Our spaces should contribute to us feeling happy. 

Once I moved to Texas and had to open every box and find a home for it's contents a major change occurred in my life. I found the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and in it found tools for how to make good decisions about what stayed in my home and what didn't. I no longer looked at a gift and felt I had to keep it. The gift had served its purpose. It was a symbol of friendship and love. I still cherished the friend and the kindness shown me. But I didn't have to store the Christmas decoration year after year and never use it, or dust it or look at it. Too many things are just too many things! 

I looked at my books. I LOVE books. But in about an hour my husband and I went through all our boxes of books and kept about 1/3 of them. Those "I really should read this" books were given away. I had never read them and didn't have any idea when I would so I released them into the world to benefit someone else!

All my clothes were looked at with the thought "Does this bring me joy?" If the answer was yes I kept it. If the answer was no I gave it away or tossed it. And I still do this. When I notice I haven't worn a shirt in a while I ask myself why. I recently took 10 items out of my closet that I never wore. I have now made room for cute new things that I will wear. And, as a side note, this was a great thing to do at the end of summer. All the summer clothes were on clearance so I found good deals on the new items! 

Now all the boxes are gone. Everything has a place where it lives in our home. When I need to get something out for a craft project I know just where to find what I need. When we need to replace batteries or lights I know where they are. When I bring food home from the grocery store everything has a place to go. It's a life-changing, freeing, happy way to live! Having an organized home full of items that bring me joy (like the reading chair I purchased when I considered what type of life-style I wanted in my home) is a wonderful way to live.

And back to that question of how we keep it clean with all these boys-we have worked with them to have a home for each of their toys. The hot wheels have a bucket. The Legos have a bucket. When it's time to clean the playroom everything has a place to go. And if it's not put in its place we have another motivator-the Marmalade Monster! 

One day I found a tote bag I wasn't using anymore. I gave it to the boys, along with some permanent markers, and told them to decorate it and come up with a name for it. Thus, the Marmalade Monster was born! This monster comes out without warning. Usually it comes out after bedtime or after the boys have gone to school and left their toys all over. The toys eaten by the Marmalade Monster are not returned until the weekend. And sometimes we forget to bring it out for weeks since no one actually misses what has been eaten! But when the monster gives back what has been taken the boys have a set amount of time to put the toys away, throw them away or if they are left again I get to decide what to do with them!

Berry Banana Twist

adapted from ninjakitchen.com

1 c frozen strawberries

1 c frozen blackberries

1 banana, peeled

1/4-1/2 c greek vanilla yogurt

1 c orange juice

1 c water

1-2 tsp flax chia seed blend

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

I like to add the flax chia blend to my smoothies for the extra omega-3's and protein. You really don't notice it's there.

Apple Crisp

It's fall and the perfect time to make apple crisp!

from ourbestbites.com

FILLING

• 10 cups peeled, sliced Granny Smith apples (about 5 medium apples)
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

TOPPING

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted

Instructions

• 1
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13" pan.
• 2
  To make the filling, place the sliced apples in the prepared 9x13" pan, Mix together the remaining filling ingredients and sprinkle over the apples, then toss to evenly coat the apples. Set aside.
• 3
  To make the topping, toss together all the topping ingredients except for the butter until well-mixed. Drizzle the butter over the mixture and stir to combine. Evenly distribute the topping over the apple mixture.
• 4
  Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. When done baking, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
  
  
  The easiest way to peel and cut the apples is a tool such as the one I have pictured below. 
  
  
  
  
  
  Husband rating: 4.5 stars
  Boys say: thumbs up
  
  

Quotes-Never Give Up

Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnzes is one of my favorite books. Yes, I love to run but I would love this book even if I didn't run. Dean is superhuman. Really, he can do things most people can't. He can run farther than most people and write better than most people too! He also inspires people by doing what he loves. He not only tells people life is better when you get out and are active, he shows them. His writing is humorous and real. 

This quote is from his first 100 mile race. When he was near the end and didn't think the could go one step more his father told him this. 

We all have our challenges. Whatever they are remember to keep going, crawl if you must, but keep moving forward!

Two at the Zoo A Counting Book

Two at the Zoo

by Danna Smith

Illustrated by Valeria Petrone

A boy and his grandfather go to the zoo. They have a great day discovering the animals. Along the way they also get to practice counting to 10. The illustrations keep you smiling on each page.

One Boy

One Boy

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

This is a clever counting book with surprises on each page. A word is used on one page and then part of that word is also used on the next page in a new word. This is fun to read multiple times and rediscover the way the cutouts in the pages work for each new thought.

Kangaroo and Cricket

Kangaroo and Cricket

by Lorianne Siomades

This book helps children discover what two different things have in common. Our boys enjoyed hunting for the hidden worms in the pictures. I like the simplicity and the colors of the illustrations. 

Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping

Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping

Written by Julie Markes

Illustrated by David Parkins

This book is clever because for each person it shows sleeping it shows a room full of things from that person's day. For example, a farmer has a barn-shaped bed. The baker has baked goodies in her room. This is a great book for talking about different occupations. The illustrations are terrific.

Favorite Toys and Games

With Christmas right around the corner I've been thinking about the toys and games that are winners. These are the toys that are still loved weeks and months after Christmas Day. Hopefully this gives you ideas for your family's wish list!

Games

Whenever we tell someone about Qwirkle they have usually not heard of it. I love the square wooden pieces of this game. You match the color or the shape and make new lines. You score points for using your pieces. You earn a Qwirkle-12 points-when you finish a line of a color or shape. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins. It's easy to see why this is an award winning game.

We play Rummikub with a speedy twist. We allow everyone to pick their tiles and then we say Go! Everyone plays as fast as they can! There are no turns or waiting for someone to strategize. We've played this way with two people on a team and arms are flying all over the place to grab a needed tile! It's fast, fun and everyone 5 and up can play it.

Hoot Owl Hoot is a unique game. The players work together to get all the owls back to the nest before the sun comes up. It's a great way to play as a team where you win or lose as a team. This game is appropriate for ages 3 and up.

King of Tokyo is a really interesting game. You pick a monster and try to be the King of Tokyo by earning 20 victory points or being the last monster standing. This game is different every time. Several different strategies can be tried. We bought it for our six-year-old, who can play it if we read the cards to him, but our 9-13 year-olds want to play it as often, if not more. 

Big Picture Apples to Apples is a great game for everyone. I love the concept of choosing a picture to match a word. The younger players learn new vocabulary. It's funny to see what pictures are chosen. It's also funny to see what the judge chooses each round. One word of caution: I did remove about 20 of the cards that I didn't think were family friendly. I'm probably overly cautious but it's a good idea to go through the cards and make sure you feel good about all of them before you start game play.

Spot It! is a fast-paced game of matching that only takes a couple of minutes to play. And once the round is over the kids will be asking to play again! I still don't know how they make every card have one match with every other card. It's amazing!

We forgot to bring Word on the Street to a family reunion once and we were in big trouble! My husband's competitive siblings enjoy this game. There are two teams. Each team is given a topic and has to come up with a word that will pull letters to their side of the street (the game board) before the time runs out. Once a team captures six letters that team wins. It's a fast-paced fun game.

Toys

Legos! You can't go wrong with Legos. Our boys play longest with the castle sets. We have one castle set and one dragon set and they have battles. They love the mini figures that come with the sets. The imaginative play with the figures is great. Once the boys take apart a set they keep the pieces all in a large bucket and go to that on rainy afternoons to make new creations. My nieces like the sets with the cityscapes such as a fair ground with rides.

Every remote control anything we've bought has broken! I had decided to never buy a remote control toy again until we went to visit family and saw our nephew's helicopter. It crashed over and over (he was still learning how to fly it) and kept flying! Three of our boys used their money to buy this Syma S107G 3.5 Channel RC Helicopter with Gyro and all three still work. For about $20 you can't go wrong with this toy.

For the little ones these non-toxic foam Wonder Blocks are the perfect gift. I know they will leave you with blocks all over your floor, but at least they are soft! They can go in the bath, they can go in the mouth (doesn't everything a one-year-old touches?!), they can become a castle for your favorite animals or a garage for your Hot Wheels. 

I did not buy this for our boys! What parent wants to bring sand in the house?! This was a gift and it was a hit! As long as we kept the sand on a cookie sheet we were able to contain most of it. And it really is fun to play with.

Of all the indoor hoops we've tried this is the best one. We attached this SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop X-Large to my sons wall. He and his father, his brothers, his friends and even I have played basketball in his room. This hoop has held up to all that play. This hoop has provided hours of enjoyment.

Magformers are expensive! But they are fun. We've had ours for years and none have broken. We've made everything from crowns to balls to rockets. Magformers are great for girls or boys.

What little boy doesn't love nerf guns? But then you have nerf darts all over your house! And the darts break. We bought two of these Lazer Tag packs. This way we can have teams of two playing against each other. When friends come over they love this active game. 

Note: I have not been paid by anyone or been given these games or toys for a review. I'm sharing what our family likes. If you have a family favorite game or toy please share it in the comments!