Create-Celebrate-Explore

Kidzui: Fun Winter Lunch Idea For Kids

Want to know how to make this fun snowman sandwich? Come on over to Kidzui where I'm sharing the instructions.

 

Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo

With our new San Diego Zoo memberships in hand (our main gift to the kids for Christmas) we decided to take in an evening at Jungle Bells a couple of nights ago.

We arrived late in the afternoon, at about 3pm and stayed until around 7pm.  The kids loved having a mix of daylight and dark to wander around.  During the daylight hours we visited the Petting Zoo and played in the Fisher-Price Discovery Playground, stood under the jumping waters, and wandered through the Insect House.  Then we took a short break from walking for Dr. Zoolittle's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas show at the Clark Theatre.  Then as the sun was starting to set we boarded the Skyfari and took a ride to the other side of the park, way out west at the Polar Rim.  We made our way around the Polar Rim just as it was getting dark, but having been able to see all of the magnificent animals.  From there we wandered down Park Way through all of the holiday lights and then made our way to Albert's Restaurant just in time to catch the last of the light and music show and enjoy a lovely dinner.  With full bellies and kids who were slowly becoming tired, we stopped briefly to listen to the bell ringer before heading outside the zoo and over to the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad where the kids took a ride on the holiday night train before we headed home.

Here are a few of my favorite photographs from the evening.

The startled look on the reindeers face had the kids in tears from laughing. 

I love this shot of the moon and Venus side-by-side above the skyfari.

The view from the skyfari as the sun was setting and a plane was coming in to land at San Diego Airport.

In case you missed those shots on my last post from Jungle Bells, here they are again.

More Christmas Photos

Here is a quick round-up of more Christmas fun ... if you missed it, here's part 1.

1.  Holiday Snow Days at Legoland  2.  A night ride on the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad  3.  Reindeer poop  4.  Nutcracker cupcakes  5.  Christmas Carolers who came a knocking on our front door.  6.  Lots of hot chocolate and Christmas movie nights  7.  Cookies galore were eaten  8.  'Twas The Night Before Christmas at the Clark Theatre (Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo)  9.  The annual building of The Polar Express while watching The Polar Express movie.  10.  Our Christmas lunch spread, how we had room for our big turkey dinner was beyond me.  11.  Brunch with Santa at Davanti Enoteca.  12.  The building of the Gingerbread Train.

Kidzui: A Last Minute Handmade Stocking Stuffer

I'm over at Kidzui today sharing how to make this fun Sleigh Bell Christmas Wand.  A perfect last minute stocking stuffer.

Kinder Christmas Art and Crafts

Have I mentioned how much I love the twins kinder teacher.  I've voiced my opinion before about the lack of art and crafts in school these days, but you won't hear a single complaint from me this year.  Their teacher does a lot of art and crafts with them and I love spending time volunteering in the class helping out.

Here are just some of the Christmas crafts they did over the past couple of weeks (there are still more hanging in the classroom).

Fingerprint Reindeer Christmas Cards made for the parents

Gingerbread people on plates which were used as props for their holiday concert to sing "Gingerbread Cookies".  Cut and paste snowman project.  Coloring stocking - note the matching colors to the number of objects in each section.

Christmas tree by numbers.  Poinsettias (these were framed for parents) - acrylic paint used for the poinsettias and watercolors to make the stained glass windows behind it.

Holiday Activities With Marshmallows

Looking for a quiet, and very fun activity to do with the kids over the next few days while you are busy wrapping, planning and getting organized for Christmas day?  Fill bowls with marshmallows then visit my post over at Multiples and More for some great ideas on things they can make.

Christmas Traditions

Traditions are an important part of our Christmas. I remember when I was a little girl that on Christmas Eve we would leave a special pillow case on the end of our bed and Santa would fill it with gifts that we would immediately dive into as soon as we woke up.

For my own children I began a new tradition. Instead of leaving a pillow case on the end of their bed, the kids each have a small tree in their bedroom that is decorated with ornaments that signify things they love. These are a combination of handmade and store bought ornaments, as well as sentimental ones such as those from their 'First Christmas'.

We hang a sign on their bedroom door so Santa can find them and he leaves their gift under their little tree. They open that gift as soon as they wake up.

While I heat up croissants, my husband makes mimosa's (virgin ones for the kids using apple cider). We eat breakfast in the living room around the tree. One person is designated as 'Santa', they put on the Santa hat and hand out all of the gifts under the tree.

Throughout Christmas Day we watch all of the Christmas movies that we can, we play board games and we eat. We normally have a platter of cheese, crackers, dips, fruit and seafood for lunch while the turkey is in the oven, and then enjoy our big Christmas dinner as a family at the dining table.

Here is a peak at some of our Christmas fun so far. There has been a lot of crafting and decorating and even a school concert.

Now I'd love to know, how do you spread real cheer with your holiday decorating? Show me with your photos! Click "Add me" in the Cheer Tree below to upload your holiday decorating photos and share them with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends. Be sure to click on "Special Offers" to unwrap the hidden coupons and deals exclusively from Sears. Keep checking throughout the holidays--new deals are unlocked every day! For all your holiday decorating needs and solutions, don’t forget to visit Sears and discover real deals, real cheer!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine.

Kidzui Blog: Christmas Tree Party Treats

Are you in full holiday party mode?  We are.   Swing by Kidzui to get the details on how to make these quick, easy, and fun Christmas tree party treats to take to your next party.  The kids will love them ... and grown-ups too.

Recipe: A Festive Pavlova with Kiwifruit

Thank you to California Grown for encouraging me to connect with California growers and encouraging California consumers to "Choose California Grown" when they can.

I miss Pavlova so much.  This is only the second time I've made it since moving to the US from Australia, although I always indulge on my trips 'back home'.  Last Christmas we served pavlova at our extended family Christmas party when I took the kids home for an Aussie Christmas ... along with plum pudding of course. 

Ingredients:

• 6 large egg whites (bring eggs to room temperature before separating)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 tbs corn starch
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• salt

            Topping:

• Heavy whipping cream
• kiwifruit
• raspberries
• Lindt white chocolate

Turn the oven onto 275F.  Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

Combine the sugar, corn starch and salt in a bowl and set aside.

Blend the egg whites and cream of tartar on low speed at first (then gradually increase to low-medium) until soft peaks form.  Gradually add in the sugar mixture about 1-2 tablespoons at a time increasing the speed of the blender gradually to medium-high.  Continue blending until the mixture becomes shiny, thick and peaks form and hold on their own.

Pour the mixture either into individual size servings on the cookie tray, or into one large round (cake size - which is what I did).   Build up the sides slightly higer than the center.

Bake for approximately 50 minutes or until firm on the outside.  Turn off the oven, but don't remove the pavlova.  Crack the door on the oven and leave the pavlova inside until completely cooled.

Top with freshly whipped cream and fruit, then shave white chocolate over the top. 

Looking for more recipes using California Grown produce?  Try these:

California Kiwi Cream Cheese Ice Cream

Cherry Chicken Mole

California Bartlett Pear and Spinach Salad

 

Disclosure: I received 2 large boxes of kiwifruit from Jasbir Kullar of Kullar Farms and Sunrise Kiwi Packing.

Thank you again to California Grown for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about all of California Grown growers. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #CleverCAGrown #spon

Make and Takes: Reindeer Ears

The kids and I made reindeer ears before decorating our Christmas tree today.   Aren't they adorable!

They are from my friend Marie's new book Make and Takes.

This book would make a wonderful holiday gift for your child.  Package it with some supplies to make some of the craft projects.  It also makes a wonderful teacher gift as there are 50 kid-friendly craft projects (and a sprinkling of food crafts) for every month, season and main holidays.

Make and Takes is available at all major book stores and online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Wiley.com. 

Take a look at some of these other fun crafts you'll find in there:

 

If you are looking for a wonderful creative resource, check out Wiley Craft and follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: Marie had a copy of the book sent to me to review ... and my kids are very grateful.