Reindeer Races

My church had the privilege of hosting a Christmas Party at a children's home this year.  I was placed in charge of the "Little Kids" Games basically 3 to 6 years Old.  I decided that we would have a bean bag toss and what I called reindeer races. 

You would not believe what I went through to find stick horses (because of course I was a little behind on schedule).. Anyway.. after calling Toys R Us they told me a store in my area had them.  I drove there and didn't find them.  Several employees told me that they didn't have them.  I finally found a gentleman that was nice enough to agree to go in the back and look for them.  I had the stock number and everything he needed. 

When I got the stick horses it was time to transform them into Reindeer.  I bought the reindeer antlers at Dollar Tree and replaced their bandannas with Christmas fabric.. I really think they turned out cute.

The rest of the game just consisted of a piece of masking tape on the floor about 12 ft long. Two at a time the children lined up on either side of the tape, ran to the opposite end and turned around and ran back on the other side..  The kids really got a kick out of it. 

 

First Grade Christmas Project

Savannah's class had to make an ornament for the silent auction..  Here is what I came up with... Each child in the class put their thumb print on the large Christmas ball.  I took it home to let it dry and made each one into a reindeer. Their noses are rhinestones for an extra sparkle, and the googly eyes made it cute especially all the ones that stay crossed-eyed most of the time..  I added a bow and the lettering for the class. 

Sweet Pickled Banana Peppers

I have a small garden this year. I have several banana pepper plants that are doing really well.  So, I made sweet picked banana peppers.

2 Cups of seeded banana peppers sliced into rounds
2 Cups of white vinegar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1/2 teaspoon celery seed

Sterilize 2 half pint jars.  Bring, vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, celery seed to boil.  Pack peppers into jars.  Pour boiling liquid into jars over the peppers.  Leave 1/2 head space at the top of the jar.  Wipe the edges of the jar before placing lid on top.  Finger tip tighten rings on jar and water bath process for 10 minutes.  Wait 2 weeks before enjoying!!!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I got this idea from http://go.tipjunkie.com/hm/518/www.greatoakcircle.com/homemade-laundry-detergent .  I found it on Tip Junkie but it originally came from www.greatoakcircle.com  go checkout their site they have a lot of great ideas. 

It is super easy to make and seems to work really well.

2 Bars of Fels Naptha Heavy Duty Laundry Bar Soap.  Grated ( I used a cheese grater and a lot of elbow grease it makes about 4 cups)
2 boxes of Baking Soda
6 Cups of Borax
4 Cups of Washing Soda

mix all ingredients together and put in storage containers.  Just an FYI it is very powdery mix it gently.  I actually put mine in a large plastic bowl with a very tight fitting lid and shook it to mix.  I let it settle before opening the top but I still got the taste of baking soda in my mouth from all the dust.

It will make 4 Quart jars of Laundry Soap
I made the tag from a download from http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ . I just downloaded one of her beautiful frames that she offers and added my own text.

Instructions:
Use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry.

Homemade Hamburger Buns

I used my new Bread Machine for the first time today. I made hamburger buns from the following recipe.  http://www.breadmachinediva.com/2010/07/hamburger-buns-in-the-bread-machine-updated/
They were wonderful!  They were super easy to make just using the dough cycle.  I did add a little butter to the tops of them when they came out of the oven.  You know us southern girls we love our butter!

Here is the recipe.  I used quick rise yeast and the quick dough cycle on my bread machine.

Hamburger Buns
1 – 1/2 Cups water
1 – 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 – 3/4 Cups bread flour
1 – 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
1 – 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 – 1/2 teaspoons active bread yeast


Use the dough setting of your Zojirushi Bread Machine. When the dough is done put it on a lightly floured board and divide into three equal sections. The goal is to get 9 hamburger buns of appropriate size and shape. When you’ve got the buns the right size and shape put them on a greased cookie sheet. Remember not to put them too close together as they’ll get larger as they cook.
Cover the buns with a clean, light-weight kitchen towel and let the buns rise for half an hour. Then remove the towel and put the buns in a 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Move the cooked buns to a rack to cool.