With a combination of planned activities and heavy snowfall we kept ourselves VERY busy this weekend. We gave the library program – a puppet show – a miss this time… instead we spent our afternoon indoors AWAY from the crazy drivers on roads direly in need of plowing… BUT we made it to the Michaels Make-it-and-Take-it program. After all there were THREE activities for the kids to do. We were the first ones there… and right at the dot of 10am no less. Figured best to skip the rush there and the increase in traffic as the day wore on.

They started with a stocking – making a snowman face and then we put their names on them… I plan on putting these up on their doors or the cabinet they take pictures in front of.

Then was the Christmas cards – made with  triangles of Christmas paper and pom poms.

And finally the boxes. The boys each chose the one they wanted and then painted them using the 3 colours available. When we got home and they were all dried I let them glue on either star sparkles or gems. They are VERY pleased with them and looking forward to gifting them to people this year.

On top of Michaels the boys also continued their Advent colouring pages. This time (and for basically the FIRST time) Trinity joined in with her very own paper and crayon box – the broken ones but that pleased her anyway. She sat there for almost an hour playing with the crayons. No throwing them around OR drawing on anything other than her paper! Kept her thoroughly entertained.

OH! back tracking another day – I have a new recipe to share – Friday night I got this urge to make chocolate muffins so I hunted down a recipe online and gave it a go – very yummy!

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F (Gas mark 4 or 180 deg C).
2. Grease 6 extra large muffin tins or cups (paper muffin bake cups are recommended) or 12-15 medium cups.
3. Beat the eggs with sugar, mix with flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla and milk.
4. Fold in the melted butter.
5. Add chocolate chips; coat them with flour before mixing into the batter.
6. Bake at 350 degrees until a until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes for XL muffins, about 20 minutes for medium size muffins.

The Chocolate Muffins may be served hot or at room temperature.

Variations

1. If you wish to use less saturated fat, try substituting ½ the butter with a good quality vegetable oil.
2. If you wish a strong chocolate flavour you can add 1-2 more tablespoons of cocoa powder.
3. You may add vanilla or white chocolate chips instead or regular ones.
4. If you want lean muffins you may use 1+½ cup flour and ½ cup of butter instead of the amounts given in the recipe, and in addition add ½ teaspoon of salt (suggested by Daphne Tipton, January 2009).
5. Chocolate chips should be added the last five mins so it will just stay on top of the muffins, and if you put sweetened cocoa it tastes better (suggested by Justin, March 2009)

Saturday night we had Kristen and Fydo and Sean over to play Arkham Horror as I mentioned in my brief entry last night. A much faster game this time. Chris and Chris dropped by briefly with some yummy shortbread cookies. Definitely a great way to spend an evening.

This morning the twins and Ken headed off to church for an extended Christmas pageant practice. The twins are singing Away in a Manger and dressing as angels apparently. They are VERY excited about it. We are going to take the camcorder and actually record it as our camera HATES the sanctuary when we try to take pictures. They had Sunday School during service as usual and made up neat wall hangings of their hymn and then had lunch with their teacher (all 3 boys got special lunchables as a treat).

Left to our own devices at home the little ones and I hung out with Sean (who was over from the night before) and Emanuel played with some foam stickers. It was a nice relaxing time… well except for when Trinity decided to go a little crazy pulling down everything in sight.

I had to sit down and go through Trinity’s current fancy dresses and pick out the ones for the next few events – Christmas with my brother and his family at mom’s (a lovely little cotton number), the Christmas Pageant (a cute little flowery dress in Christmas colours) and Christmas Eve service (last year’s Christmas dress that still fits!)… I love going through her fancy clothes… the only one I DON’T have figured out is the 20th – the twins have their in class Christmas party so I am debating something with just a winter flavour. Next year I am definitely going to have to get her some new party clothes for the season (don’t have any Christmas ones to grow into).

I started and completed another pattern over last night and today. This one I will NOT be posting on the blog until after it is given (the full piece at least) BUT here are images of the Christmas Tree balls! I plan on having these up on the site for purchase for 2.00 for the set. They were a fun stitch and again another one I could easily change the colours on. You just need a darker colour and then a brighter to contrast a little with whatever colour of beads you think would look best. I still have ANOTHER idea for a Christmas bauble that uses the mistletoe theme but I am not sure if I will have the time to complete it before THIS Christmas.

In fact, our patterns are getting up at a nice rate now. Tonight Ken is going to fix the link for the Harley Davidson one… the Chibi Dragons should be going up with a new picture and I am hoping to see a few more over the next couple days. The still life piece will be going up as well – Fydo and Kristen were pleased with their commission. Though the pattern posted will just be the pears and not the lettering as well. It is our most complicated to date.

The special treat for all 3 boys today was the opportunity to decorate some of the sugar cookies with green icing… they had a blast with their plastic knives.

So this week is relatively quiet. The latest commission payment has made me pretty much meet my amount for the kids’ special chairs! So Monday instead of going to the No Idle Hands we are taking the kids for a special treat – Ikea dinner! The meatball platter is still on sale from 5pm to close Monday and Tuesday and I think we ALL deserve a special treat! Now if Ken can just get the wanted AND needed results from the MP tomorrow morning it would be a TERRIFIC start to our week! So fingers crossed!