Make Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater

Ugly Christmas sweater parties are so much fun this time of year, but have you seen the prices on those ugly sweaters?  I don't know about you, but I don't want to pay a high price for an ugly Christmas sweater that will probably only be worn once during what happens to be the most expensive month of the year.

When my daughter's youth group decided to wear ugly Christmas sweaters to the youth Christmas party I knew what I had to do!  Make one!  I'm really not sure who was more excited.  Bethany was super excited about the party and getting to wear an ugly sweater and I was super excited for the chance to make one.  I have had this idea for a while now, but never had a reason to make it!

Bethany actually found out that she was going to be able to go the party a day before the actual event.  She was originally supposed to work that evening, but plans changed.  We made a quick trip to Goodwill and Dollar General for supplies.

At Goodwill we found a men's green shirt.  We wanted something pretty large because I knew we would need something big for the hoop at the bottom.  For the hoop I used an old canopy I had.  You know the kind, the one's for a little girls bedroom covered with tulle.  Anyway, I sewed the hoop in using the sewing machine and we hot glued the rest of the items in place.  We had some gold garland and some ugly ornaments all purchased at Dollar General.  With the shirt costing $3.00 and the Garland and ornaments totaling $5.00 I was able to complete the whole project for under $10.00.

It turned out super ugly and she won first prize!

On our way there she had to ride in the back seat because the hoop was so big and and she was not able to put the shoulder seat belt on.  Don't worry, I was still parked when I took the pic!

We had to make a quick run into Walmart.  This picture may end up on the people of Walmart site.  I mean really..who goes shopping dressed like a tree?  But hey, if people can wear pajamas to Walmart...

We had five different people approach us and compliment her ugliness.  In fact several one person started by saying "you won"!  They were right!

Pumpkin Decorating

Sometimes I wonder how I managed to do anything creative before Pinterest.  It was the first place I looked when I found out our church was having a pumpkin decorating contest at our annual fall festival.  There were so many creative ideas and it was hard to narrow down our choices, but we finally decided on a gumball machine, movie theater popcorn and Superman.  I think they turned out great and the popcorn won first place!

Batman vs. Superman

Bethany's friend made a Batman pumpkin!

Camping Trip to Taum Sauk Mountain

We have been taking camping trips to Taum Sauk Mountain at least once a year for quite a few years now.  It is a place that is near and dear to my heart.  The scenery is just as breathtaking as the first time we went.

One of my favorite things to do while we are there is go up to the look out deck at night and lay down and look up at the stars.  The sky is simply amazing out there.  The stars are brighter and it seems as if you can see each and every one in the heavens.  This past trip I seen six shooting stars!  Simply beautiful!  While laying there we talk and we laugh.  It's the best!

While we are there it's my time to refocus, to clear my head, to be rejuvenated.  There are no interruptions, no social media, no television.  Just nature and its beauty.  I always feel a closeness to God there.  It's as if everything in all its beauty is crying out praises to the creator!

My kids are getting older and I know our trips like this are probably coming to an end soon.  The time will come that they will be too busy and have their own lives to lead.  And that is okay.  Life is full of changes and seasons, but one thing I know for certain...when I am old and gray these are the moments that I will look back upon.  They will fill my heart with smiles and I will look back on them with laughter and maybe even a few tears.   For now I will tuck them deep into my memory, not to be forgotten.

Friday Night Fun

My daughter went to The Muny tonight so me and my son decided to spend the evening together.  We had fun playing mini golf and he enjoyed the batting cages at Swing Around Fun Town.  We stopped and got nerd slushies from Sonic and ended the night with a movie and popcorn at home. :):):)  

Do You Want to Build a Snow....Dog?!

Rice Krispie Pumpkin Treats

These yummy Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats are super easy to make and the perfect fall snack.  We are taking a batch with us to a hayride tomorrow and I am sure all the kids will love them!  The stem is a tootsie roll and the pumpkin itself is an orange rice krispie treat.  

How cute is that?!

So if you have ever made Rice Krispie Treats before you will have no problem making these.  You use the same recipe and as you are mixing/melting your marshmallows in the butter you add a mixture of red and yellow food coloring until you get your desired pumpkin color.  After you mix in the melted marshmallows with your rice krispies you can start shaping them into pumpkins/balls.  We coated our hands with butter to keep everything from sticking and if you have little kids helping you, make sure the mixture has cooled a little before you start shaping them.   You don't want any burns!  I also unwrapped my tootsie rolls and put them in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make them easy to mold.  I gave them a little twist and pushed it in the top while the "pumpkins" were still warm.  That's all there was to it.  Simple and fun!

Here is the original Rice Krispie Treat Recipe just in case you have misplaced yours! ;)

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40)  Marshmallows
• OR
• 4 cups  Miniature Marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.   (this is the when you would add your food coloring)

2. Add Rice Krispie cereal. Stir until well coated. (after this step is when you would shape your pumpkins and then add your tootsie roll stems)

3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

Christmas Party Games

Every year my family and my sister's family comes together to decorate my mom's Christmas tree.  This has been a tradition of ours since the first year I moved away from home.  When our kids were little they loved it, but as they have gotten older their enthusiasm in it is not as great as it once was.  Last year we started a new tradition and turned the whole "Christmas Tree Trimming" night into a fun Christmas party and everyone loves it!!! We still have our usual party foods and decorate mam maw's tree, but now we have added fun Christmas games and end the night with Dirty Santa.  If you are not familiar with what Dirty Santa is, don't worry, it is nothing dirty.  Just a fun way to exchange Christmas gifts.  This does not take the place of the regular gifts we give to each other for Christmas, it's just an early fun gift giving game! 

Here are the games (and their descriptions) we played this year.

HUMDINGER

I love this game!  If you have ever played Cranium you know how much fun and laughter this game can bring.  A person hums and everyone else has to guess the song.  Of course for a Christmas party you need Christmas songs.  Here are the one's we used.  You can use your favorite holiday songs and make your own list!

Angels We Have Heard on High

Frosty the Snowman

Joy to the World

Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer

Baby It's Cold Outside

Deck the Halls

Go Tell It on the Mountain

I'll be Home for Christmas

Silent Night

Carol of the Bells

Jingle Bell Rock

Winter Wonderland

The First Noel

O Come all ye Faithful

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Hark the Harold Angels Sing

Away in the Manger

The 12 Days of Christmas

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Here Comes Santa Claus

Mary Did You Know

Do You Hear What I Hear

CHRISTMAS CATCHPHRASE

If you are familiar with Heads Up, the super fun tablet app, then you will know how to play this game.  A person has a phrase and has to try to get the players to guess the phrase by either acting it out or giving clues.  For example, if your phrase is Three Wise Men your clue could be:  "more than two really smart dudes".  Here is the list of phrases that we used.

Three Wise Men

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

The Grinch

Elf

Wrapping Presents

Caroling

Snow Angels

Mary and Joseph

Sleigh

Christmas Lights

Jingle Bells

Christmas Shopping

Little Drummer Boy

It's a Wonderful Life

Christmas with the Kranks

Frosty the Snowman

Ornaments

Partridge in a Pear Tree

Silver Bells

White Christmas

Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense

String Popcorn

CHRISTMAS ARTIST

See who is the most artistic in your family by giving them this fun drawing challenge.  I gave each person a sturdy piece of cardboard and a pen.  Each person then put the cardboard on top of their head and followed my directions.  

1.   Draw a line for the floor

2.  Draw a Christmas tree

3.  Add decorations

4.  Draw a star on top of the tree

5.  Draw a fireplace with a mantel next to the tree

6.  Draw a stocking hanging from the mantel

7.  Draw a present below the tree

Then we graded them

2 points if tree touches the floor

2 points if stocking is touching the mantel

1 point if star touches the tree

1 point if the star is above the tree

1 point for every ornament on the tree

1 point if your fireplace does not touch the tree because that would be a fire hazard. ;)

2 points if present is under the tree

There are several variations of this game as well and last year we played it a little differently.  We closed our eyes and did not do it on top of our head and we drew snowmen instead.  Just use your imagination!

HUMAN CHRISTMAS TREE

We got a lot of laughs out of this game.  We split up into two groups and each group was given a roll of green crepe paper, a package of red garland, candy canes, various colors of constructions paper, scissors and tape.  Each team had to choose one team member to be "the tree" and the other team members trimmed the tree!  Check out the pictures below to see how this turned out!

STOCKING SUPRISE

All you need for this one is a stocking and stocking stuffers.  After I put the objects in the stocking I pinned it closed and each person had to feel and try to guess what was in the stocking.  Here are the items I used, but you can use anything you have around the house.

ornament

coaster

pinecone

candy cane

jingle bell

pencil sharpener

spool of thread

yo-yo

Christmas bow

snowman figurine

bag of marbles

DIRTY SANTA

There are several variations of this game, but for our family we set a $5.00 price limit.  We all purchase and wrap our gift, but we do not include a name tag.  Then we put the gifts in the middle of the room and each person draws a number.  The first person picks a gift from the pile, the person with the second number can either pick a gift from the pile or take person #1's gift, and that goes on until every number has gone and we keep stealing until the last gift is finally chosen.   After that we go back to the person with number 1 and they open their gift and the person who purchased it lets them know it is from them....so forth and so on.  The only rules we have is that you cannot choose your own gift and you cannot have a tug of war with a gift. example - same two people taking back and forth from each other, you can however get the same gift back, but you can't take it back immediately.   I know some people choose to open the gifts and then steal them, but for our family we decided to wait until the end to open.  I have played it both ways and it is equally as fun!  

Here are a few pictures from our night of Christmas fun!