Wednesday, December 7, 2016
gingerbread 10 different ways
I absolutely adore the flavor of gingerbread and will try to get my hands on every variation that comes my way. Gingerbread is a major part of our holiday celebrations; from eating gingerbread to reading our favorite gingerbread books.
Do you remember hunting for the gingerbread man in kindergarten? As a class we made a large gingerbread man and took him down to Marsha and Kay (our loving cooks) in the school cafeteria to bake. While we waited we read the book and discovered our very own gingerbread man was trying to run away. I remember how much fun it was to hunt for our tasty creation by searching through the halls, different offices, the gym and finally ending up back in our own classroom just to discover him waiting for us to return. That memory is very nostalgic for me and I believe it was what induced me into a gingerbread frenzy my entire life. Those experiences are incredibly special, but often forgotten.
Do you remember hunting for the gingerbread man in kindergarten? As a class we made a large gingerbread man and took him down to Marsha and Kay (our loving cooks) in the school cafeteria to bake. While we waited we read the book and discovered our very own gingerbread man was trying to run away. I remember how much fun it was to hunt for our tasty creation by searching through the halls, different offices, the gym and finally ending up back in our own classroom just to discover him waiting for us to return. That memory is very nostalgic for me and I believe it was what induced me into a gingerbread frenzy my entire life. Those experiences are incredibly special, but often forgotten.
When I found out I was pregnant with Kensi, Jan Brett was coming to our area for a book signing. Mike and I had purchased a set of our favorite books written by her and had her sign The Gingerbread Baby for our growing family. I was so excited to share my fondest memories of such a festive season with our new little baby. Today, now five years later, it's one of the first holiday books we read together.
Today, the kids and I made gingerbread biscotti cookies (recipe is linked below). Our kitchen is covered in a dust of flour and powdered sugar right now. While mixing up our dry ingredients the kids got a little excited with the flour and it turned into a full on sensory activity. Using measuring spoons and cups, they poured, scooped and dumped flour into everything. They were literally covered in flour from head to toe and I used the vacuum to clean them up.
Once the biscotti cookies were done, Finn had the responsibility of sprinkling extra powdered sugar. He interpreted it as licking all the powdered sugar instead. Being able to share these experiences with them is truly amazing. I love watching their excitement and cherish moments like these because they are seriously growing up so fast. Time needs to slow down!
There are so many ways to make gingerbread and we have tried nearly all of these recipes below. I can’t wait to share more with our kids in the next few weeks. I hope you try a couple of them too and cherish the moments they create for your family, like they do for mine.
Today, the kids and I made gingerbread biscotti cookies (recipe is linked below). Our kitchen is covered in a dust of flour and powdered sugar right now. While mixing up our dry ingredients the kids got a little excited with the flour and it turned into a full on sensory activity. Using measuring spoons and cups, they poured, scooped and dumped flour into everything. They were literally covered in flour from head to toe and I used the vacuum to clean them up.
Once the biscotti cookies were done, Finn had the responsibility of sprinkling extra powdered sugar. He interpreted it as licking all the powdered sugar instead. Being able to share these experiences with them is truly amazing. I love watching their excitement and cherish moments like these because they are seriously growing up so fast. Time needs to slow down!
There are so many ways to make gingerbread and we have tried nearly all of these recipes below. I can’t wait to share more with our kids in the next few weeks. I hope you try a couple of them too and cherish the moments they create for your family, like they do for mine.
\\ Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes \\
It just isn’t Christmas without Mike making these. It’s a must have for our friends’ gatherings.
It just isn’t Christmas without Mike making these. It’s a must have for our friends’ gatherings.
\\ Gingerbread Brownies \\
I wish I had a bake sale I could make these for, instead I may just have to settle on gifting them to neighbors so I eat the entire pan!
I wish I had a bake sale I could make these for, instead I may just have to settle on gifting them to neighbors so I eat the entire pan!
\\ Gingerbread Lattes \\
This (& the Holiday Spice Flat White) is my favorite holiday drink from the coffee shop.
This (& the Holiday Spice Flat White) is my favorite holiday drink from the coffee shop.
\\ Gingerbread Houses \\
This is our go to recipe; it holds well and tastes delicious. I’m so excited to try a city scene this year!
\\ Gingerbread Doughnut Waffles \\
What can be better than waffles and donuts combined? We are definitely making these for our Saturday morning breakfast this week.
This is our go to recipe; it holds well and tastes delicious. I’m so excited to try a city scene this year!
\\ Gingerbread Doughnut Waffles \\
What can be better than waffles and donuts combined? We are definitely making these for our Saturday morning breakfast this week.
\\ Gingerbread Diffuser Blend \\
To make the entire house smell like gingerbread without doing all the baking just make this simple diffuser blend.
3 drops Ginger + 3 drops Cinnamon Bark + 2 drops Clove + 1 drop Nutmeg
To make the entire house smell like gingerbread without doing all the baking just make this simple diffuser blend.
3 drops Ginger + 3 drops Cinnamon Bark + 2 drops Clove + 1 drop Nutmeg
\\ Gingerbread Biscotti \\
Perfect pairing with coffee in the morning, or at night if you’re anything like Mike and I.
Perfect pairing with coffee in the morning, or at night if you’re anything like Mike and I.
\\ Dark Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles \\
I love baking and cooking with our Young Living Essential Oils. This is a great recipe to try for the festive season and for bringing to a party.
\\ Soft Gingerbread Cookies \\
One of my all time favorites all year round. I can never resist a good ginger cookie. My favorite is from Paradise Bakery, but we don’t have one close so I make this copy cat recipe and always dust them with powdered sugar.
One of my all time favorites all year round. I can never resist a good ginger cookie. My favorite is from Paradise Bakery, but we don’t have one close so I make this copy cat recipe and always dust them with powdered sugar.
\\ Gingerbread Pancakes \\
I’ve shared these on Instagram and they are a total must for the Christmas season.
Happy Memory Making!
xo
I’ve shared these on Instagram and they are a total must for the Christmas season.
Happy Memory Making!
xo
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
birthday boy giggles
Over the weekend we celebrated Finn’s second birthday with a visit to Santa, new toys and yummy coconut cake. I can hardly believe he’s already two. He is quite the little nugget of the family. He is constantly making us laugh with his craziness and cuteness. He still isn’t talking much, as him and Kensi have proven to be late talkers, but he has his own crazy jibberish language of his own. The few sayings he has down are Hi There, Mom, More, Mine, Kensi, and Dada. He’s great at saying 'no' which is usually accompanied by a scream and says ‘yes' by opening and closing his mouth quickly. It’s his form of nodding and it cracks us up every single time. He has the sweetest heart for a little boy. He constantly asks for hugs, kisses and snuggles throughout the day and blows kisses to grandmas and grandpas on FaceTime.
Finn loves playing with trucks, legos and play kitchen. He is always whipping something up in the kitchen and enjoys playing shop with Kensi. He’s a great customer and loves filling up the grocery cart or stroller with all sorts of quirky things. We can’t even count how many times we’ve tripped over his trail of toys that scatters from the playroom, living room and kitchen. He often goes into destroy mode as we call it.
For his birthday we gave him a set of PJ Masks figurines and he also got the Toy Story Trio of Buzz, Woody and Zurg. He absolutely adores them to no end. All week long he’s been flying Buzz through the house and saying “Ooooooody!!!!” Cutest thing EVER! Poor Kensi is getting rather annoyed by the noise making toys since he insists on sleeping with them. She came downstairs the other night saying she couldn’t sleep because Finn kept playing with Woody and all she could hear was “There’s a snake in my boot!” Too funny!
We are so honored God chose us to be his parents. We are so thankful for our crazy little dude and can’t wait to see how grows in the next year. We love you so much Finnley!
Monday, December 5, 2016
all wrapped up
Since the day we put the tree up, Kensi has been a broken record asking if there are any presents. Oh there are presents, hidden in my closet because we have sneaky eyes and I’m not sure if I’m ready to pull out my super mom energy for little fingers picking the paper off each wrapped gift throughout the day. However, I know I’ll only be able to keep them hidden for a few more days solely based on my own excitement.
For me, part of the fun is wrapping each present. When I was little I would set up an old orange table in front of my parents bedroom door and create a gift wrapping shop. I had different paper prints, tags, ribbons and bows. My mom would allow me to wrap everyone’s presents, but she always put them in a plain box, secured well with tape so I couldn’t peek. I loved setting up my shop each year, it was something I took pride in and always looked forward to.
Kensi has also taken an interest in wrapping all on her own. She actually used part of her chore money to purchase her own princess Christmas wrapping paper. She goes around the house and finds different items to wrap up for her baby dolls. It’s quite hilarious because sometimes it’s as simple as a book or oddly creative like our orange peeler stuck inside a straw to make a wand. Her creations are endless.
To help her cultivate her inner wrapper we hit up Target for all the essentials and created her first ever gift wrap shop. We found all the fixings we needed including some super cute trimmings. I showed her how to address each gift and with a little help from me, we finish with a bow. She’s excited about it, but I’m so excited too! I know the gifts under our tree won’t be neatly wrapped. There will be wonky folds, torn paper and parts of the box trying to peek out, but that is what is going to make them perfect. It’s allowing our kids to be themselves and fall head over heels in love with the Christmas spirit and season year after year. I hope she loves her gift shop and this can be something she looks forward to each year with her brother and sister like I once did.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
dear santa
Today we made the trip to visit Santa. Kensi has been eagarly waiting to see him and discussing what she wanted to ask him for Christmas. In early November she drew up her list with pictures and her own words and included items for her baby dolls. She even tried coaching Finn on different things he could ask for. Now every time we ask him what he wants for Christmas he roars and Kensi believes he would like a lion! So a lion it will be.
With so much excitement built up, when it finally became our turn to see Santa Kensi froze. She became scared and was like Scotch Tape on my leg. Finn was good up until Mike placed him on Santa’s knee and he totally lost it. We had the epic so-upset-can’t-breathe-now-let’s-release-a-blood-curdling-scream episode. We got our photo with all three kiddos and Santa and Mike grabbed Finn and we were cool. Kensi was finally at ease and asked for baby doll crib. This picture was taken after the freak out and everyone was happy! Of all three babes, Olivia kept her composure, hilariously looking at Finn like ‘Dude, what’s your deal?’
Poor baby boy. Maybe next year we’ll do a little bit better.
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