Scrabble {aka Chex Mix}

We have made 4 double recipes of Scrabble {aka Chex Mix} around here this holiday season already!  In our defense, 2 batches were for a friend and we have given away the majority of the other 2 batches.  This is how we make ours {the directions below are for a huge double batch}...



Mix 1 bag Corn Chex, 1 bag Rice Chex, 1 bag Wheat Chex, 1 bag Crispex, 1 bag of pretzel sticks, 2.5 pound nuts, 1 box Cheese Its and 2 bags goldfish {I used 1 original and 1 mixed-up}.  Then mix up 4 c. canola oil, 4 T. Worcestershire, 4 T. Lawry's and 2 t. garlic powder...



We mix ours up like this...



I put all the cereal in a garbage bag and "shake it up"!  I then pour the oil mixture in and "shake it all about" again!  I pour the mixture into 2 huge pans...



Then bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes {I also switch the pans round after stirring}...



I leave mine in the oven to cool down over night.  {Please excuse my oven, I am going to set it on self-clean in the am.}  Then you can bag it up for all your friends and neighbors...



Trust me...they will love you for it!  We also included it in our holiday goodie basket for our teachers...

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning, we attened a brunch with this guy...



We finally talked Mary Reese into joining her brothers.  But she would only do it if she was glued to me.



I am not really sure what was happening with her...she did fine last year!  After a delicious brunch and visit with Santa, we got to decorate cookies!  We had a fabulous time with Santa and all our friends!

Field Trip to Santa's Village, Elf University & Train Depot

Thursday was the last day of school for Banks.  His class had their Christmas Party on Wednesday because on Thursday they were off on their first field trip of the year!  Our class started the day at Santa's Village {Constitution Village transforms into Santa's Village for the season}.

Here is the lively group {minus 2 who were sick}...

Grayson, Jack, Sam, Eppes, Clint, Trinity, Marque, Banks and Ben

Lucy, Jamie, Ashton, Hilton, Savannah, Ellabee, Ninah, Adrianna, Mariah and Carmen

{Ian and Ja'Larris - not pictured}

While at Santa's Village, we saw 2 of Santa's reindeer, became Christmas ornaments...



...listened to a blacksmith who is in charge of repairing Santa's sleigh {this was Banks' favorite part}...



...tried to pile all 19 kids into Santa's sleigh...



...I thought it kid of looked like a clown car!  It is magic that he manages to get all these presents in there!  They also practiced their cookie making skills...



...posed as snowmen {Mrs. Propst is the big snowman in the middle}...



...and listened to a special story read by Mrs. Claus herself...


Then we headed over to Early Works to attend Elf University!  We tested toys for Santa, had a present wrapping relay, played in Biscuit's Backyard and made our very own elf ears.  Banks was more interested in becoming a reindeer...



Our last stop was the Train Depot.  We listened to The Polar Express aboard an old traincar, helped return all the presents to Whoville, played reindeer games...



...and saw an enormous display of Christmas village...



This crew had a full day!  Thankfully none of them had to go to school the next day!

Gingerbread Houses

Last weekend, the kids made their annual gingerbread house...



The hardest part of those gingerbread kits are getting the house to stay together until the icing dries. This year I was going to outsmart Wilton...I had my glue gun in hand ready to hot glue those houses together. Little did I know...Wilton was one step ahead of me!


When I opened the boxes, I was THRILLED to discover they were pre-assembled...



...HALLELUJAH!  Do you remember the disaster from 2 years ago?  Let me just give you a reminder of the final product...


Mary Reese and I made the one of the left and Banks and Jody made the one on the right.  Banks is still torn up with Jody for not getting his house to stand!

I had everything ready for the crew to do the decorating...



They did it 100% themselves!  I think they turned out fabulously...



...best of all, they had a blast doing them and it kept them entertained for over an hour!

Bowling Party

Saturday afternoon, Banks had his bowling party in celebration of turning 7!  He has been planning it since this summer when we took him to the Station 2.  Our cake lady created this delicious and delightful cake in honor of the day...


This is the first year in 3 years that I have let Banks and Mary Reese have their own parties.  It was the first time ever I let them pick the theme and the guest list.  They had the best time planning their parties!

This crew of boys {plus Mary Reese}...



...bowled...



...with 15 pound balls!  The first one tried it and got a stike {with the bumpers up} so the rest of them thought the heavy ball was the key to getting a strike!  The also ran and danced to the "disco" music...



...thankfully we were the only ones bowling at the time!  After a close game {Mary Reese bowling the high score - a 101}, we sang Happy Birthday and dug into some cake...



...then we loaded the kids up with some tokens and headed to the arcade!  Everyone left with an arcade prize and one of these...



...a "7" Rice Krispie!

9 Months

I can't believe he is already 9 months! It has truly flown by... the stats: 23 pounds 29 inches

& we cut our first tooth this week

in comparison...

Banks - 22 lbs, 9 ozs & 28 1/2 inches long

Mary Reese - 18 lbs, 3 ozs & 28 1/2 inches long

Owen is still weighing and measuring bigger than the other 2. The boy loves to eat! He is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything. His teachers at "school" believe that walking is in our near future! His first tooth {bottom, right} popped through on Tuesday!

SEVEN

This little man turned 7 today {at 11:33 am to be exact}...



...weighing in at 8 lbs, 6 ozs and 21 inches long {the biggest of the 3}! It seems like yesterday. I can't believe he is already 7...time is flying!!!

Last night, we had the family over for Chicken Pot Pie, Strawberry Pretzel Salad and these...



...white cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting!

This morning he woke up and got to hang his ornament on the Count Down to Christmas calendar...



...before heading off to school with these to share with the class...



He has partied all day! He even got this birthday message...



...from our elf - Dasher Minty. Who knew our elf was such a techie!

HAPPY 7th Birthday, Banks!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Saturday morning we woke up to this...



All Mary Reese wanted was a huge bowl of snow for breakfast...



All Banks wanted to do was scrape it off the cars...



It wasn't much snow and it was all melted in a few hours...but it was fun while it lasted!

Tatoo?

When I stripped Owen tonight before I put him in the bath, I busted out laughing when I saw this...


...one of his nice siblings decided he needed a tatoo I guess!

Meet Dasher Minty

I think we are one of the last families in the United States to adopt one of these Elf on the Shelf elves. Meet Dasher Minty - the Dasher part came from Banks and the Minty from Mary Reese {poor Owen didn't get any input}. She appeared on Sunday night. Her mission - to "report" our doings to her boss!

She travels to the North Pole every night to give Santa a full report, returning to a new "hiding" place by morning! The kids run downstairs to see who can find her new hiding place first! The first morning we found her...


...hanging from the light fixture in the kitchen.

This morning we were every surprised to find her hanging out here...


...she got a little mischievous and decided to roll the light fixture in the dining room! We can't wait to see where she'll turn up next!