Toy Memories Christmas Tree

I started this tree when my oldest 2 (who are now in the 20’s) were toddlers! A coworker had one and I thought it was such a great idea.  Even with just 2 kids under 3, we were amassing a huge amount of dolls and stuffed animals.  We had weeded out a few that they weren’t fond of, but most of them were much loved and they didn’t want to part with them.

The problem was solved with the stuffed animal tree…

Their beloved friends were saved from the goodwill box.  My kids still are filled with wonderment every year,  seeing their long-loved animal friends again!  So cute! 

And the rest of the year, the animals are neatly stored in Rubbermaid boxes…

Smaller animals and dolls go at the top, gradually getting larger toward the bottom,  Save the biggest to go around the trunk.  Double knot the yarn around the neck and keep stacking those animals onto the tree. 

If you use lights on your animal tree, make sure they are LED lights, as they will be resting against the stuffed animals in some places.    

My coworker had an elaborate wood and chicken wire, cone-shaped structure that her husband made.  It’s really heavy and nice, but it doesn’t collapse and we don’t have room to store one!  Our animals are simply tied onto a cheapo 5 foot artificial tree.

 

 

The teddy bear toy soldiers presiding over the top of the tree are the oldest toys in our collection and my favorite…

My Grammy tied them on our Christmas packages many years ago and they’ve been a part of Christmas ever since!

When you are ready to pack it away, just clip the yarn and repack the toys in their boxes. Simple!

 

 

So.  If you have room to store them, consider saving those cherished animals and dolls for a toy memory tree…

Merry Christmas!

Santa’s Beard Advent Activity

 

 

 

 

Saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be fun to make for Nolan and Skyleigh….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: oopseydaisyblog.com via Prairie on Pinterest

My version has a little brighter colors, but it’s close :)

Santa is a little different, too.

Sorry for the picture quality.  I was racing to get Santa to the post office before they closed!

Hope they like it!!

Easy Coffee Cake with Variations

A basic, from-scratch coffee cake with 4 quick and easy alterations.  Fast, easy and the texture is always perfect… moist and fluffy. 

I made blueberry today :)
BASIC STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE 2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup margarine or butter (softened)
1 cup milk
1 egg
STREUSEL:  1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 Tbs. margarine or butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

{Mix all of the streusel ingredients until crumbly. (I use my kitchen aid).  Set aside while preparing the batter}

Dump the batter ingredients in your mixer bowl.  Mix on low 30 seconds, scrape bowl and beat for 2 minutes on medium.  Spread 1/2 of the batter in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle batter with 1/2 the streusel.  Top with rest of batter and spread around a bit, but it doesn’t have to fully cover the streusel layer.  Sprinkle with remaining streusel  Bake at 350 degrees 35-40 minutes.   

RAISIN SPICE VARIATION:  When mixing batter, add: 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/4 tsp. allspice.  Stir 1/2 cup raisins into the batter before pouring into pan.  May be made with or without streusel.  Either way, bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. 

ORANGE (or LEMON): 
Use 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup orange (or lemon) juice instead of 1 cup milk and add 1-2 tbs. grated orange or lemon peel to batter ingredients.

BLUEBERRY: Omit streusel.  Spread 1/2 of batter in 9 x 13 pan.  Sprinkle with 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries.  Top with remaining batter.  Sprinkle with another cup of blueberries.  Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool slightly and prepare the glaze: GLAZE: 1 cup powdered sugar,
1 tsp. lemon juice
1-2 Tbs. milk
Mix until smooth.  Use 1 tbs. of milk to start and add more if the glaze is too thick.  Drizzle over warm cake. 

Sunday inspiration

I will praise God’s name in song

and

glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Happy Thanksgiving!

We give thanks to you, O God,

we give thanks,

for your Name is near;

men tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 75:1

Sunday inspiration

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him

and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving

Source: 3meadowlakecottage.com via Prairie on Pinterest

When I turned on the radio the day after Halloween, I heard one of my favorite sounds... Christmas music!

But I remember thinking, Christmas music already?  It seems the airwaves are not alone… from store ads to emails, blog posts to Pinterest pins, it seems the world can think only of Christmas.

And it saddens my heart that Thanksgiving is deemed less worthy of the months of preparation given to Halloween and Christmas. 

In all my memories of childhood, November was for Thanksgiving and it was celebrated first.  Time stood still for a moment while families were thankful… for each other and all the blessings enjoyed over the years.

And guess what -  Christmas was not diminished in the slightest.  In fact, it made the Christmas season THAT much more special and anticipated.  

Lately, I find the more Thanksgiving gets pushed to the side, the more intentional I become about celebrating it…planning, decorating, crafting, cooking and baking with the same enthusiasm as I do Christmas. 

Here are some of the projects I have made for Thanksgiving this year… in hopes my children’s memories of this holiday will be as fond as mine are!






  Thanksgiving Subway Sign

                                     
                             

                               Scarecrow Crunch

    Thanksgiving place cards

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Prairie on Pinterest

Make ahead this week (and freeze) gravy, rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffing and pie crust.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?