Whats on the Menu plus Pineapple Cheese Ball:

This weeks menu:
Monday: Spaghetti

Tuesday: BBQ Wings (just throw in the crockpot with BBQ sauce)

Wednesday: Cheddar Ham Soup (using leftover ham I froze)

Thursday: Crockpot Steak

Friday: Pizza night

Wow, I get to look forward to easy dinners this week. I love my crockpot and have several recipes for it. I will try to post some of them this week. I love recipes that taste and look great but are easy peasy!! Life is just too crazy for me to get real fancy with daily dinner meals.

This week I plan to bake goodies too. I enjoy making fudge and various cookies and other goodies. My neighbors get to enjoy cheeseball each year. One year I did something else and they were disappointed so that I went home and made my regular cheeseball. Made them smile bright and that is what it's all about. Besides my cheeseball recipe makes several and is EASY! Just add a sleeve of crackers and I am set!

Pineapple Cheese Ball

2 lg pkgs cream cheese

1 8oz can crushed pineapple- well drained

2 cups chipped nuts 

I use pecans because of a family food allergy to walnuts but you can use any nut- the edible nuts only ;-)

1/4 cup chipped green peppers

2 Tbs chipped onion

2 tsp seasoned salt

Stir together, roll in 2 cups nuts and chill. Serve with crackers.

I usually make 3-4 balls from each recipe. I also don't measure exactly, turns out great every time. Put your nuts in a salad bowl, spread them out and up the sides as much as you can for easy "rolling". 

I just put this on a Christmas plate with crackers and a bow. It's always been a success- in 2 different neighborhoods. We'll see how my new neighbors enjoy it!

Activity Days: Sock Hop

Our Sock Hop was a great success complete with balloons, pictures, rootbeer floats and poodle skirts.

One of the girls brought her Grandpa. He added a great piece by sharing memories of the 50's era. It was great.

We played a couple of different games.

First the 'couples' had to answer questions about each other. One of the girls came up with the questions which made it even better. They were like: what size shoe does your dad wear. What is her favorite subject in school. The winners got candy bars.

Then dad's had to pick their daughters hand and girls had to pick their dads feet from behind a screen. I think everyone got it right too.

Another one of the girls suggestions the shaving a balloon game. The girls had to shave to balloon. If they popped the balloon they would have cut their dad. I am proud to say none of the girls popped their balloons.

We served rootbeer floats. They tasted extra yummy to me. Good old fashioned Farr's ice cream with rootbeer. YUM!

I took the girls pictures with dad then made up a collage for them. They were excited to get them.

All in all it was a success. The dads had a great time with their girls. I think it is so important for girls to have a positive male role model in their lives, whether that be dad, uncle, grandpa or a family friend. It's important and it was good to see these dads taking part in their girls lives.

Christmas traditions....

Tis the season of family traditions,
I thought I would share a couple of traditions we havve.
First is early decorating.
Halloween comes down and Christmas goes up. Yes, I enjoy Thanksgiving and I take the opportunity to count my blessings. And I am thankfull to be able to put my decorations up early.
I just love Christmas!!
I love everything about it, from the shopping, to the baking, to the lights.
Most of all I love the feeling in the air. I usually am nearly done, perhaps just a few stocking stuffers, by Thanksgiving. I make a lot of Christmas presents and spend time shopping clearance deals as well as online deals. Having things done early allow me to enjoy the season without all the stress. One of my favorite things is to be out in all the hustle and bustle. I get a kick out of watching everyone rush around, frantically searching for the perfect gift for their loved ones. Of course, I have finished so I get to just sit back and watch. It would certainly not be fun if I were one of the frantic last mninute shoppers.
Dad and the boys all get involved in putting up the tree. The rest of the house decor is up to mom.

Another tradition:
Black Friday Shopping

yep, I go out to hit the deals. I go out by myself although I haven't sought out the big ticket items- until this year. We wanted a new tv so I set out to Walmart at 11:00 on Thanksgiving. After having worked the night before and only having a couple hours sleep I spent the night at Walmart shopping and waiting. I went prepared and took my craft books and Harry Potter to keep my occupied while I waited. It was crazy for the midnight toy shopping. My heart was just pounding. I think I finally stopped calling home around 2am. Dear hubby was glad to be able to sleep. After the toy sale was done the store was actually rather quiet. Most people just waiting in line for the electronic gadget of their choice. I filled my cart then became the first to start the line for the new T.V.

After getting all I wanted I went home and napped for a bit.
Then we go out as a family. The boys get to draw names to buy gifts for. We go out and split up to help them buy for each other. This year we headed into the city. We stopped for dinner at Famous Daves. Matthew absolutely LOVED it. He ate better than he had in several days

We had a great time. Plus it is a good opportunity for the boys to learn to GIVE and think of others rather than thinking of what they want themselves. We went to Jordan Landing. It is a great shopping center with numerous different stores around. We went to several, then we went to Target. Dad takes a couple of boys and Mom takes a couple. They have a $$ limit and have to pick something their brother wants- not what they themselves want. It is a trick for them but after a bit they catch on and come up with great ideas.

The Forgotten Carols have been a Christmas tradition since I was in high school. When Robin and I were dating I took him. We've been going together every since. This year will be our first year in SLC and 2 of our boys will be going as well. I love this show. The spirit- the True Spirit of Christmas is so strong. I enjoy celebrating The Reason for the season.

On top of these we have all the usual concerts and ward parties. We also enjoy Christmas movies and hot cocoa in front of the tree. My favorite Christmas movie: White Christmas. 

You just can't beat a classic.

Of course Robin's would be A Christmas Story...

It totally fits his family. ;-p

What traditions do you have?

Making my list to check twice

So very many great Christmas ideas and this is only the beginning. I usually make most of our Christmas gifts but with everything else this year (and my craft supplies mostly in boxes still) I didn't get any made. Don't worry dear family, still lots and lots and lots of thought put into what to get everyone. Thankfully the shopping is nearly done for us so now I can turn my attention to more crafty projects.

I quite like this planner. I am a list maker and have to write everything down so having a master list would be nice and kinda fun to look back on in the years to come....

Christmas Planner at eighteen25

Got mine done...and I must say it is coming in very handy, especially for Black Friday.

 Now for neighbor gifts and...

Maybe some teachers gifts....

Hand sanitizer from Sisters Stuff

 Post it Note holders from Sisters Stuff

Oven Towel from the multi-purpose life

I have also made rock magnents. I still have the supplies for them, hmm, maybe I can throw some of them together tonight. I love when I find an idea that I have the supplies for. It saves a trip to the store, the gas to go to the store and the $$ buying more stuff. Plus it clears up some of what I have. It's an all around win.

Of course I will always be on the look out for more great ideas. You never know when you may need a little something to give to someone.

Only 23 days left till Christmas!!

Neighbor gift ideas: project 46 of 52

My next project:

Thursdays are becoming a day I really look forward to. I get home from work about 6:45, lay down until 8:00, get up to get the boys off to school then spend the morning/day crafting with my dear friend. Today we made bowls with vinyl lettering for Christmas gifts.

"Believe" with stars on the ends.

I picked up the bowls from the DollarTree. I had the vinyl on hand from another project. 

We used my cricuit with a Christmas and George and Basic shapes cartridges. Oh, we also used Opposites Attract for the "Joy" letters.

 I love how they turned out. Kaylyn did several to fill with treats for ladies she visits.

"Let it Snow" with snowflakes.

 I especially like snowflake for the letter 'o'.

 The pictures just don't do them justice.

"Joy" with mistletoe on the ends.

Of course everything looks better filled with chocolate, or in this case, candy cane kisses!

You could fill them with kisses, M&M's, or any number of goodies then just wrap with cellofane.

What do you think? Not bad for $1 each eh?!