Snowflake/Snowman Party

Good Monday morning!

Readership Count - I had a total of 147 this week. If you divide that by 7 days of the week, I average 21 hits a day. Not 50, but slowly and consistently growing. I'll take it!

Christmas Card Count - No cards last week, but this week I have a gut feeling. I still haven't heard from four of my regulars (which could put me up to 70 if they come through). It's so exciting to run out to meet the mailman in January. She's kind of used to it during December, but January is usually "bill month," and I doubt many people are as eager to see her this month. (Maybe she's taking it as a compliment!)

The pictures in the Gallery this week are of Roxie's finished product from Painted By U. Not bad! I've added the picture of Monica and Roxie which will live in the frame for a few months.

I've added a picture of what Josh looks like AFTER an all night lock-in. Pretty cute. (I got his permission to show this picture. He was pretty out of it, but I think he said, "Uh-huh.") Somehow, the lock-in was moved to my house. At 10:00, Josh called to say they couldn't go outside and play ball because the police had been called for various reasons. The X-Box was broken, so for 20+ 15 year-old boys all that was left were two Wiis and one pool table, and everyone was in the big room where the movies were being watched, but you couldn't watch the movies because everyone was in the big room. Also, all the chocolate glazed doughnuts I had sent (per Josh's request) were gone. "Can we come home?"

"What do you mean 'we'?" I asked slowly.

"Me, Clint and Will," he answered. That was the answer I had been quickly praying for when I heard the word "we."

"Yes!" I answered, relieved. I called the other parents, and they were fine with the change of plans. I made a blender full of Lisa's Smoothies (again, see Lisa's Blog if you haven't tried them). I checked our popcorn, chips, milk, soft drink, miscellaneous junk food drawer supply -- good to go. We found them Saturday morning at 8:30 in the den passed out, but they did stay up until 6:00 or 6:30. Mike put on his tennis shoes and took them all home.

And if you're wondering if their poor Sunday School teacher was sad to see them go ten hours earlier than planned... well, Mikie said he waved them off with a big smile on his face. Three down, 17+ to go!

Roxie won her second basketball game... I think 30 - 4. She did very well, and her team plays great together. There's not a ball hog among them. They are a passing/scoring machine. It's fun to watch!

Melia came over for dinner Saturday night. I was mistaken about Fireproof being available for rent or purchase. I assumed since several churches in our area were showing the movie this past week, it had come out. Not so! It hits the bookstores on the 27th. So we ended up watching the movie Longshots. That was a very good movie and it was based on a true story. Again, I would probably put Ice Cube in the category of Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler as actors/singers I never thought I would take my kids to see their movies... but, he did a very good job and we enjoyed it very much. There are two or three curse words sprinkled here and there, so it is not appropriate for younger children.

If you ever want an accurate review for a movie OR a DVD, go to the Focus on the Family website (http://www.family.org/). Click on Entertainment and then Plugged In/Reviews. They have wonderful reviews and they put everything in categories (Language, Sexual Content, Violence, Drugs, etc.). They list each curse word and even count how many times it is used. They also list how many times God's name is misused. The only problem I have with the website is they usually come out with the review the same day the movie comes out. If you want to plan ahead for a birthday party movie or taking a friend, sometimes you have to change your movie plans at the last minute if you find the movie is inappropriate. It is a good resource though.

My Showcase Pic this dreary, cold week in January is a picture of Austin with Baloo and King Louie from Jungle Book which was taken when the band went to Disney to march in a parade last spring. When Mike and I first got married, even before we had kids, I bought him the video of Jungle Book. It was his favorite and one of mine, too. As a lover of all things Disney, I thought I'd put a little "magic" in the blog today.

Just an update on my Commenters. My friend, Robin, had a cooking accident Thursday night and has second and third degree burns on her hand. This, unfortunately, may mean she will be unable to comment for a few days as her hand heals. I will be keeping in close contact with her on a daily (a/k/a hourly) basis to make sure she is doing everything in her power to help the healing process along. (I didn't want you to think we had a "tiff." We are fine. Well, I'm fine... she's really injured.) She wanted to give me a picture last night of the pre-emergency room injury for the blog. I declined. (You owe me, people! Not a pretty picture... literally!)

This also means that the burden of commenting has fallen on my other Commenter, momof2boys. She has a lot on her plate. She has to take care of the "2 boys" and a husband and a house and a job (not unlike Robin who has the same scenario with the exception of having "3 boys"). This is a tough situation, but I know we'll muddle through somehow.

Robin, take very good care of yourself, and we'll hear from you soon. LeAnna, try to get a lot of rest as you will need it with this added responsibility on your already full plate. Jenny, I know you're out there. I know you're new to the blog, and like the other two Commenters your life is busy, busy, busy. But, I implore you... if you get a minute, please help LeAnna during this difficult time. Also, I'm having to pull my sister into the mix on a regular basis. We are going to avert this possible disaster, don't you worry! (Avert is a pretty good word, don't you think?)

Snowflake/Snowman Party

Sometime in January, plan a Snowflake Party. Dress the table in white (a sheet will do), use white plates, cups, napkins and silverware (paper products are fine) and use as many white candles as you can find. You will also need a bare little table top Christmas tree with no ornaments on it in the middle of the table.

You will serve white food for dinner. For example: noodles with alfredo sauce, popcorn, Oreos dipped in white chocolate, white yogurt raisins, milk to drink and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

You and your family will dress all in white. At the end of the meal, read from the Bible, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool," Isaiah 1:18. (Read on to see how to explain the verse in terms the kids will understand.)

After you have eaten your meal and dessert and read your verse, ask your family to look under their plate. Have a small crocheted snowflake with a red ribbon tied to the top. Tell the children the snowflake is us after we ask Jesus in our hearts... white as snow. The red ribbon is there to remind us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and shed his own blood for us. Have each family member hang their snowflake on the tree in the middle of the table. Say a prayer thanking God for sending his Son to earth as a baby and to later die for our sins.

Now here are a few fun games to play after this little Snowflake/Snowman Party meal. Pick a few and have some fun family time together.

1. You can serve your meal the way you build a snowman -- backward. Eat dessert first, then dinner, then an appetizer.

2. Depending on the age of the kids, play Pin the Carrot on the Snowman.

3. Hold an indoor scavenger hunt, racing around the house trying to find as many crocheted or paper snowflakes as you can hidden throughout the house. Have a time limit.

4. Play Bingo and whenever someone has a Bingo, they get to add a piece to their snowman. The three paper snowballs are already put together. As you win, you will add eyes, nose and a hat. The first person to finish their snowman is the winner.

End the evening with a nice cup of white hot chocolate.

NOTE: Ideas 1 through 3 came from the Family Fun Magazine, December/January, 2009 issue.

Have a great Monday. I have a sweet recipe for tomorrow, so please tune in. That, and I'll have an update on my Commenter's condition.

Talk to you tomorrow.