Winter Fun List week 2 update!

We haven't done a ton around here since last week really in regards to our Winter Fun List, but here's what we did get done. Now that Jason's back to school this week, I'm hoping we can do a bunch of things on the weekend before the boys' Catechism class starts back up on the 25th. Also, I never though I'd say this, but I hope it snows again soon. Just a few inches - I'm talking 4-5 max - so we have a nice fresh coating on the ground. As of right now, we have slush and some snow and lots of patches of green/brown in the yard. Wanting to get out sledding, snowman-making and throwing snowballs at each, we would love a small snowstorm. NO snow days from school though!!! ;)

Our improvised King/Epiphany cake:

I wanted to do a tradition New Orleans style King Cake but had a hard time finding a recipe that I liked. We try to eat whole grains, and no artificial food coloring. While we could easily substitute natural food dyes for the fake petroleum-based ones, I couldn't find a whole wheat recipe. From all of the recipes I did see - I started planning this a little late - it's traditionally brioche dough, made into a round wreath, either braided or not, and then you place a plastic baby, a coin or a bean inside before baking. To decorate it, it's glazed and then drizzled with purple, gold and green icing. I didn't have green or purple natural dyes, although we do have orange left from a couple of years ago in the fridge.

To make it easier on all of us this year, I purchased a vanilla pudding cake that had white icing drizzled on it and placed a quarter inside from the bottom. We didn't actually have it until Tuesday, January 7th.

Jason laughed at me because I put candles on it, but I thought it was fitting as it's supposed to be a celebration of Christ's birth with the 3 Kings or Wise Men. The boys all liked that little touch.

We also discussed Epiphany and why it's celebrated last Sunday. We have the little blue book that our Parish hands out and there's always some interesting information in there. Although we didn't talk about St. Andre Bessette yet, we will learning about him and St. Hilary this week.

Before Mass yesterday, we were looking through Alex's Mass and First Communion Book that he got last year as a gift and started praying the Rosary together. It's nice because all the prayers are right in there: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc as well as all the Mysteries, and a nice illustration explaining the order. My plan is to spend 15 to 20 minutes a night praying with the boys and in the process have them learn the prayers. They both know the Our Father prayer, and most of the Hail Mary (I didn't realize they knew what they do!) but not The Apostle's Creed - I don't have it memorized either - or the Glory Be. Since both of them got a nice set of Rosary beads for their First Communions, they are all set.

It was so cold early in the week that we didn't get any outside activities in, and then it was back to school for the older boys Thursday and Friday. Saturday, Jason was working at City Airport, so we had a lazy day around here and Sunday was Mass in the morning followed by grocery shopping for me.

Thanks again to Learning Life with 3 Sons and Homeschool Camper for hosting this link-up! I'm hoping for a more exciting (and photo-filled!) week to share on next Monday.

Wordless Wedneday 2014: Capturing Snowfall

Joining in over at Wordless Wednesday today!

Winter Fun List - Hamer Style

Here's our official Winter Fun (or Bucket) List. We may add or change some things over the weeks, but here is an outline of activities that we are going to attempt to do. Joining in the fun over at Learning Life with 3 sons who is hosting a link-up for Winter Bucket Lists.

Books

• Find a new series to read together. Chose Anne of Green Gables series on 1/26/14
  
• Read a book about Michigan 1/27/14
  
• Read a book about Ohio 1/27/14

Faith-based activities

• Pick a Catholic Saint and/or special Feast (Holy) Day each week and learn more about them
• January
• 1st-4th - Mary the Blessed Virgin (Mary, Mother of God - Holy Day of Obligation Jan 1st) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 1/3/14
• 5th-11th - Epiphany (*1/5/14*) and St. Andre Bessette 1/27/14
• 12th-18th - St. Hilary 1/27/14
• 19th-25th - St. Marianne Cope 1/27/14
• 26th-Feb 1st - St. Thomas Aquinas 1/27/14
• February
• 2nd-8th - The Presentation of the Lord and St. Dorothy
• 9th-15th - Sts. Cyril and Methodius
• 16th-22nd - St. Finan of Lindisfarne
• 23rd-Mar 1st - St Tarasius
• March 
• 2nd-8th - St. Teresa Eustochio Verzeri
• 9th-15th - St. Paul Aurelian
• 16th-22nd -St Patrick(of course!) and St. Salvatore
• Learn the Rosary (more review for myself and teaching the boys)
  
• Read the Bible

Movies 

• Watch Frosty the Snowman
• Movie Night with popcorn

Outdoor

• Go Sledding
• Make a Snowman or Snowfamily
• Have a snowball fight 1/18/14
• Have a Bonfire
• Go Ice Skating
• Go for a hike
• Ice bubbles!!
• Snow Angels
• Get towed behind the riding mower on the sled 1/18/14
• Play in the snow 1/18/14

Indoor 

• Family Portrait 
• Holidays in Henry Ford Museum 1/2/14
• Play payday
• Play twister
• Play Labyrinth 12/24/13
• Video game "contest" - Wii sports, Wii Fit, etc
• Coloring contest
• Detroit Institute of Art
• Have a party with friends (games, fun food, etc)
• Find a new museum to visit 1/25/14
• Library event
• Swim lessons for the boys Started these on 1/18/14 for E & A
• Make a fort
• Go to skyzone
• Bowling

Food

• Make Homemade Marshmallows and Drink Hot Cocoa 
• Make S'mores
• Buckeyes - peanut butter dipped in chocolate. Yum.
• Bake cookies (and give some to our neighbors)
• Make/Eat a King Cake for Epiphany 1/7/14
• Try a new restaurant
• Make cupcakes for Valentine's Day
• Breakfast for dinner 1/15/14
• Try a new recipe/food - KIDS choice! 1/27/14

Crafts

• Make paper snowflakes 1/3/14
• Make snowmen in jars
• Melty bead ornaments 
• Paint a picture
• Make homemade Valentines
• Origami

Reader participation needed!!

With winter fast approaching, and in Michigan, that means lots of snow and lots of cold temperatures, we will spending more time doing "nothing".

In an effort to combat that, I'm going to take an activity we participated in over the summer (although I don't think I posted about everything, we did about half of our summer bucket list. I think I was a tad bit overzealous when I made that list, though ;) ) and do something similar. 

Julie over at Learning Life with 3 Sons - my friend and former co-blogger here - has been doing a Fall Bucket list. I had intended to do one "with" her but never did. I suppose there's still a little time, but I don't want to try and rush through something.

Now, with the snow just around the corner and the days getting shorter, I won't really feel like doing things with the boys that involve going outside or to other places. To motivate myself and to keep it fun (and somewhat educational ;) ) for all FOUR boys - yes I'm including Jason in there, lol - I want to make a Winter Fun list. I will also share what our personal Winter Fun list is in a few days. I'm working on it now and want input from the boys :)

 

Now for the participation mentioned in the title: I want to give ideas to and get ideas from YOU! 

I'd like input from my readers. What are your favorite (indoor or outdoor) wintertime activities? Since we may all live in different locales, obviously location-based activities aren't always going to work for others, but feel free to share anyway. You never know of there's another reader nearby or perhaps visiting the area. Free and inexpensive things are best, because we all know with a family, it can add up quickly. However if there's something that does cost, but is really unique or is a favorite for your family, feel free to share!

Submit via comments, Facebook, or email if you like. Deadline for ideas is December 1st. After I receive and sort the ideas, I will compile a list for you all. You may find something new to do, or remember an old favorite! Either way, it could be fun! 

So that's 2 lists I plan to share in the coming days. The first will be our personal Winter Fun list, hopefully posted within the next week. The second, a list of ideas and activities from all of you to inspire you and myself alike!

Warmer climate is calling my name...

I've been sitting here for about 45 minutes trying to churn out a post, and I just keep typing and erasing (or making drafts to come back, reread and possibly rewrite later, LOL). I've either got nothing coming to mind, or what does isn't coming out the way I want it to.

This morning, I realized how much I don't like winter. Seriously. Not one bit. Well, at least not when it comes to our mini-van. Who's bright idea was it to put the rubber seal on the OUTSIDE of the sliding doors?! (Anyone? The answer is Dodge, by the way, in my case. If you got it right, you get a cookie. But not really. Cause I don't have any. And also because you answering that in no way made my life any easier. ;) )

Yeah. The weather has taken a turn for worse, and in Michigan, that means snow - albeit, a very light dusting - as well as much, much colder temps. This morning, my door was stuck a little, but I got it opened and started the van, with the heat full blast. Even gave it 20 minutes to warm up and thaw out a little. Still couldn't open the sliding doors, until I pried the rubber from the metal. Yeah. So not happening again. Jason said he'll put something on it, but it won't last long. This on top of an annoying ticking noise that we haven't pinpointed yet. If we didn't have a loan on it, we'd probably trade it in today. But that's the problem, we most likely owe more than it's currently worth. I say likely but we could get lucky. I'm thinking something older, less expensive, but big enough and safe enough for all of us, and not a gas-hog. It would be really cool to not have to have a huge payment on something too...

If only we could come to an agreement on other stuff, it might make this easier, too! ;) I live with a very indecisive - he calls himself picky or finicky - man. I'm someone who likes to do all the research, make lists of anything that we could need to do or know and find the answers, and also make pros/cons lists. I've done all that - mind you, this is not about the van - and presented it all to him. The ball is in his court, as they say, and while I would love to say I'm patiently waiting, I'm not being very patient. I want a yes or a no. Like yesterday. But it is a big decision. Should we sell our house and move to a different house? Should he look for or take a different job and we move somewhere else? There are a lot of factors at play here. Truly, I understand why he is questioning all of it and taking his sweet time, but it is driving me nuts!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I'm thinking an older station wagon would be kind of cool! Something that would still be big enough for all of us, and have cargo room, but not big like an SUV, and maybe better on gas. Not sure where we'd even find one at...