Home on the Weekends: Cold Outside Fun Inside

It's Saturday morning and most us are experiencing some pretty cold weather  I know we are. But you know what?  I like it!  I love Fall and then Winter is a close second.  It's probably because of the family time and the cold weather.  I like to bundle up, hang out with my family and enjoy the Winter season!

But I know Winter has it's ugly side, first thing comes to mind higher heat bills, going out into the cold, and being inside a lot.  We've seen the higher heat bill, I don't enjoy getting out with the kids in the freezing weather ( I do like going out in the cold by myself), and the boys aren't getting their outside time.  Don't get me wrong they want to.  They would brave the cold to play outside, but they come back in with red, chapped faces and little runny noses.

 So I get why people are so ready for warmer weather.  But it's still Winter and you're kids are probably tired of watching the same shows and playing the same inside games, I know mine are.  So here's a few ideas to change things up this weekend...

• Make new rules up for your old board games
• Make puzzles out of card stock or old puzzles 
• Do a scavenger hunt inside
• Break out the big bucket of craft supplies and go to town.  Hello?  Pinterest!
• Make flags (Why? wait for it...)
• Build forts on opposite ends of the house, then play capture the flag 
• Read a book & use voices (I love to use different voices when I'm reading to the kids)
• Cook together kids love to cook with us  & you can make it interesting, maybe use unexpected ingredients & let them choose.  Note: I did not say set them free in the kitchen, I would definitely supervise.
• Hide & Go Seek, yes I said it, we played all the time as kids and you still can

And if all else fails, put your p.j.'s on (that's assuming you're not still in them, it IS the weekend) and turn on a movie!  I personally, love spending time with our family watching movies by the fire and just being together. It's good times.

Got a new game you invented?  Share it!  Have a craft that your kids love to do?  Share it!  A kid friendly recipe? Do tell!  Share your ideas that you've been doing to change things up during these cold days inside!  

A Beautiful Vue: Castles out of Cushions

Nothing is more fun these days, for the twins, than totally pulling all and I do mean ALL of our couch cushions off our couch and building a castle in the middle of the living room!  Watching them brings back my own memories of spreading sheets all over my parents living room to build a fort.  There was something awesome about crawling through tunnels of cushions and having lunch under a sheet tent in the living room.  Our boys like to make a mound of cushions leading up to the couch just so they can scale it.  They'll spend an hour just climbing and jumping into a pit of cushions.  

I love watching them play and pretend.  Yes my living room looks like a wreck for a little bit, but the time it takes to pick up a few cushions is so worth the time they spend laughing and playing.  And isn't that what children are supposed to do?  A happy and healthy childhood where they can be creative in their play, helps them to be happy and healthy grown ups who are  able to have fun and be creative as adults.  

I think our job, aside from raising them up right, is to also make it easy for them to play and laugh and just be kids!  Our boys' childhood is a precious gift and I hope they always have fond memories of being young as they grow up to the men that their Daddy God has called them to be.

Share your favorite childhood memory or what you love about watching your own children grow and play!  

Pumpkin Muffins--They're not just for Fall

I know Fall is over and we're in the middle of Winter here, but I needed a quick and easy breakfast the other morning and I had a can of pumpkin in our pantry that's just sitting there.  Pumpkin doesn't have to only be for Fall.  I picked up this recipe at Smitten Kitchen.  I substituted the oil for applesauce and I added some brown sugar and vanilla...what can I say they go together.  Now this recipe could totally go vegan by taking out the eggs and adding bananas.  Don't believe me?  I found a great site, The Post Punk Kitchen, has a post called Vegan Baking 101.  It has a lot of helpful info. Anyway, the recipe below is simple and delicious!

Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used half whole wheat & half regular)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice

1 cup (original recipe) to 1 1/3 cup  canned solid-pack pumpkin

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Put liners in muffins tin.  This recipe will make 12 regular sized muffins.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spice in small/medium bowl.

In a larger bowl, whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs,1 1/4 cups sugar, brown sugar, & vanilla. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just combined. Divide batter among muffin cups (each about 3/4 full).

Stir together last tablespoon of sugar and teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle over each muffin.  This part really gives this recipe something extra special!  Don't skip it.

Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature.

This was a hit with my crew!  Try it out and let me know what you think!