Oh, What to Do with Those Plastic Eggs?

It's Eastertime and those bags of plastic eggs are everywhere.  So apart from putting candy into them for your children's Easter baskets, here are two other ideas for you to ponder.  So put on your crafter's hats, ladies, and here 'ya go:

Resurrection Eggs

Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are fun and exciting to some and I grew up in a household that celebrated both.  Who wouldn't love a big furry bunny giving you an entire basket of candy or a jolly old man who brings you a satchel of gifts?  I mean, come on!   However, now that I have kids of my own, we do still keep the surprise of these magical characters going in our household (until they start school and, I suspect, will discover the truth), but we also want them to understand that these holidays are about so much more than Santa and an overgrown bunny.

So this Easter I discovered from some friends this coined term of "Resurrection Eggs," which are 12 plastic eggs that each dislay a different station of the cross on the path to Christ's Crucifixtion and Resurrection.  I became curious and Googled and well, one thing led to another.  Next thing I knew, I had craft materials spread all over our kitchen table and I was gathering items from around the house to put together a set of these special eggs for both our family and a friend's family as a gift.  This seemed like the perfect visual for my children to memorize the details of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection.  It's like the ultimate Bible story in an egg carton and to us, this is so important for my children to learn so they can understand the real meaning of what we’re celebrating at Easter.

Resurrection Eggs are available at your local Christian bookstore for about $15, but making them yourself is less expensive, more personal and so much more fun.  It took me about 2 hours to make two sets of these eggs from start to finish so this is not a long-term committment.  Even if you are not a usually crafty person, I suspect you will be able to tackle this one.  Trust me, they are easier than making dinner on some days with a few fussy kids underfoot :).

A web site I had found created this PDF with the verses so you can print them out easily for your own use:  Resurrection Egg Verses

On the night before Easter, my family all sat around and opened all 12 eggs, one by one.  We read the verses, let the kids look at the visuals inside each egg and discussed what was happening in each verse.  Since our children are so young (5, 3 and 1), we actually used their Easter story book as an aid for several of the longer, more tedious verses and instead read that page of the book to them.  For other verses, we used The Message so that it would be easier for them to understand.  All in all, they really enjoyed them and the five year old, especially, was asking questions and seemed to recall parts of the story afterwards since he could relate it to the object inside one of the specifc eggs.

Enjoy!  I pray that you and your family find value in this project so that you, too, can enlighten your little ones on the amazing story of Christ's Death and Resurrection!

Here are our eggs:

Day 1: Palm branch. I cut up an old fake ivy leaf that I had around the house.
Day 2: Perfume. Put some perfume on a cotton ball.
Day 3: Towel. Cut a piece from an old towel.
Day 4: Little piece of bread or a cracker (matzo, Carr cracker, etc.)
Day 5: 3 dimes because Judas was paid 30 silver coins when he betrayed Jesus. And a sword, which can be made with a toothpick and foil.
Day 6: Crown of thorns. I just used a rose branch from our yard.
Day 7: Dice and a little robe cut out of a piece of cardstock or fabric.
Day 8: Cross and nails. I just used 2 little sticks and bound them together with embroidery floss.
Day 9: Sponge with a little vinegar. I soaked it in vinegar and then squeezed it out. The smell remains, but your sponge doesn’t stay wet.
Day 10: Spices. Use whatever whole spices you have. Cloves, Cinnamon sticks.
Day 11: Rock. Any small pebble will work.
Day 12: Leave empty so symbolize Jesus' body not being found in the tomb.



Easter Egg Topiaries

Well, here we are at our church's Easter fair amidst all of the splendors of Spring...live baby chicks, giant Easter eggs on the walls, carrots and Easter Egg Topiaries.  What?!?!  What is that, you say?  Well, if you are in need of an elegant decoration for your house that won't break the budget and will be complete in a few hours, then here you go.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photographs of the process, but these are very easy so I'll just attempt to explain it.

First, gather a tall container or display pot of choice.  Fill with floral foam and poke with a medium girth dowel, which you can paint brown or white if desired.  Fill the containers up with fake Easter grass and poke a 6-10" styrofoam ball on the top of the dowel.  Gather MANY Easter eggs; this takes more than you think.  I believe we had about 50 of them for each topiary and we used the 6" styrofoam balls.  Heat up your hot glue gun and begin placing the eggs around the styrofoam with hot glue, about 1-2 inches apart.  Once all of the eggs are on the ball, you can place a blob of glue between two eggs and then press a small handful of Spanish moss between the eggs.  Repeat until the entire surface is covered with eggs and filled with Spanish moss in betweem them.  Voila, that is it and now you have a lovely decoration for your home.

April MOPS Coordinator's Article

April is our annual Tea and Testimony event at MOPS. Today we will enjoy a tea party brunch while listening to two women share the spiritual testimonies of their hearts. It seems only fitting that our session this month is entitled Botony 101. Like the growth of a flower, women need to have the seed sowed, be nourished and start to grow before they can bloom into who they really are.

As a woman in her early thirties who is mother to three small children, I sometimes feel as if that blossom is clouded by dirty diapers, school field trips and folding laundry. The monotonous becomes routine and that growth—as a woman, a wife, a mother and a disciple of Jesus—seems to elude me. At least it seems that way when you focus on the day-to-day details. Should I make chicken or beef for dinner? Pampers or Huggies? Should I mop over naptime or do some office work instead? The idea that doing these everyday tasks could possibly encourage spiritual or personal growth just doesn’t seem possible. Where’s the growth that results from packing a lunchbox each morning or scrubbing a toilet?

Well, the truth for me is that when I look back over the past few years as a wife and mom the spiritual and personal growth is everywhere. I just have to take my eyes off of the details and look at the big picture to see it.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

Each day as I change diapers and direct the children in everyday activities, the Lord is giving me a lesson in patience. My, how I have grown from a once impatient person to someone who can listen to the dreaded why question from morning until night.

He also has instilled in me a compassion beyond what I ever thought I’d have when God made me a mother. It is not that I was not compassionate before I had children but this virtue has increased threefold now that I physically know what it is like to know unconditional love.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” (Romans 12:4-6a)

It is amazing how God has allowed me to grow and flourish by way of the spiritual gifts and talents that He has given to me. I have discovered passions and skills that I never knew I possessed in my walk as a mother. It truly is awe-inspiring to know that God made me a mother and at the same time gave me specific gifts that would only shine in this new maternal role. Whoever would have thought that I would develop such a heart for other mothers of preschoolers and would come to lead the MOPS organization at BranchCreek? To me, that truly is a God-given gift and one that was only able to prosper once I became a mother myself and was in a position where I could relate to other mothers. Surely, God “knitted me in my mother’s womb” so He already knew that one day these gifts of mine would shine; it only took becoming a mother myself to bring them out.

So this month my challenge to you is to embrace your motherhood—spit up, laundry, dirty diapers and all—and ask God to grow you as a woman and mother in your role. In fact, as you look back on your time with your children, chances are that you, too, will be able to see just how much you really have grown. God works in funny ways like that. He knows exactly the right woman he wants to grow in her role as mother to your children: YOU. He will get you through these preschool years, and then the teenage years and adult years after, and will equip you for all circumstances. You are His child just as much as your little ones are your own children. So let Him guide you and grow you as a wife, mother and woman in Christ. He’s watering your soil so that you will blossom into all you can be.

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

Chores.  The idea of having a few extra hands help out with some of the household tasks on a regular basis sounds so appealing to me.  I can just imagine myself sipping a cup of tea while my dear little ones do the dishes, scrub the toilets and do all of the yardwork.  Well, kind of.  At this point in life -having two preschoolers in the house - I'm not putting down my Swiffer just yet.  I know that Andrew and I are the ones who will do the majority of the household and yard chores.  However, instilling a sense of responsibility and helpfulness in our 5 and 3 year olds is something that we feel very strongly about.  We want to get them used to the idea that in our house, we all help out.  Likewise, we want to get them accustomed to having a small allowance and  understanding how their money is to be used.

I have pored over various pre-made chore charts and ideas on how to instill a working chore schedule at home.  Some of them looked better than others and many of them have components we wanted to incorporate.  So, I took some ideas I had heard or read about and combined them with my own ideas to come up with our own custom Martin Chore Chart.  Voila!

At our house, every chore on the chart is mandatory.  We want the kids to realize that certain tasks are an inherent part of being in our family.  They do not have a choice as to whether or not they will complete them.  They are not optional.  Likewise, they know that as long as they do their chores, they will get their allowance for the week.  No exceptions, no breaks.  The chores get done each day and at the end of the week they get their allowance for being obedient.

The chart that I created is done on a standard piece of poster board.  I made 9 columns - 1 for the chore headings, 1 to indicate a weekly activity and 7 columns representing each day of the week for daily chores.  I have blank spaces to add additional chores as the children mature and can take on more responsibility.  Each child has a different color button, which is represented in the key at the bottom of the chart.  The buttons are affixed with a square of Velcro and a strip of Velcro is placed in each relevant row on the chart.  When the chore is completed throughout the week, a button is Velcroed to the proper spot.  Mentally, I know which chores each child is responsible for but this can always be documented in a notebook as well.  As you can see, our green-buttoned 3 year-old only is responsible for two chores - cleaning his toys and wiping down the table at the end of dinner.  Our 5 year-old is responsible for many more, merely based on his age.  At the end of the week, the buttons are un-Velcroed and we start again for the next week.

 Our banking system is not very advanced, but it definitely works.  Each child has a covered square storage box.  I bought these at Target for about $3 each.  I painted their names on the outside of the box and inside are 4 cups, snugly fitted next to each other.  Each cup represents an area in our "bank" where a portion of the allowance will go.  Each week, the boys' $1 alowance is split up as follows. 

$0.10 - Tithe to church.  We want the kids to realize the importance of giving the first 10% of our income back to God.

$0.30 - Savings.  This money is collected for future savings.

$0.30 - Gifts.  This money is collected and will be used to buy birthday and Christmas gifts for their siblings.

$0.30 - Spending.  This money may be saved up for a special purchase.

The kids are young enough where the actual monetary value of the allowance is not yet relevant and the true lesson is basically to get used to the idea of being given money and having to manage it responsibly.  As they get older, we can increase the dollar amount of the allowance, if desired.

So far, this method has been the best yet for our family in organizing the chore responsibilities and equating their tasks with their allowance.  The boys eagerly do their chores so that they can put one of their colored buttons onto the chart. They encourage eachother to get their own chores done and never let me forget when it is time to dole out the buttons or, specifically, if it is pay day!  I think we will be keeping this up for quite some time and God-willing, it will be a valuable lesson in responsibility and financial management for our two little men. 

Write me some comments if you have any other solutions that may have worked for your family when implementing a chore chart.  I look forward to hearing your ideas!

Family Movie Night: The Princess and the Frog

Title: The Princess and the Frog
Snacks: Princess wand cookies, gummy frogs, popcorn, Shirley Temples

This past Saturday night we had our friend JoAnn and her daughter Regan over for dinner and Movie Night while her husband is away in Japan with the military (safely!).  She is Nate and Abby's beloved teacher in their church classroom so boy were they ever excited to have her over for one of our favorite family activities.

In 8 year-old Regan's honor, the boys agreed to suck it up and watch a princess movie since "girls like princesses."  So, we all consulted and decided on The Princess and the Frog since nobody had seen it yet.  Cute movie despite the multitude of questions about what voodoo is from the kids :).  The witty frog made up for that minor shortcoming!

Given a movie featuring frogs and princesses, the snacks ideas were endlessly streaming through my head.  In the end I opted for pretty princess magic wand cookies and these fun gummy frogs that we had seen in a local supermarket.  What a hit!  The kids all loved them and they matched our theme so perfectly.  Our wands were 2 cutout cookies with a bamboo skewer sandwiched between them.  They were glazed in pink and decorated with decorating glitter and edible pearls.   Uh, if these don't make you want to wish for a fairy godmother, I don't know what will! :)  They were so much fun for all especially our special eight year old guest.  I may only have a toddler girl in the house, but I do know that little girls love pink, tulle and sparkly things! :)

MOPS: March Coordinator's Article

March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb. It’s that way this month when the bitter cold as we enter March is morphed into the beginnings of spring as April approaches. And, as human as we are, it is sometimes like that as we go through life and are faced with challenges that make us want to just roar like a lion!


As a mother of preschoolers, I certainly humble myself to admit that there are just some days when that lion wrestles with my patience. You know, one of those days. Maybe something is on your mind or you had an argument with a spouse. Maybe you have a full calendar today that really doesn’t have room for wiping noses and tushies. Maybe your dear little ones are constantly arguing or whining or clawing at your leg as you try to do, well, anything. Maybe you just want to go to the bathroom in peace: alone and with the door locked instead of with a full house watching your performance.

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes it is just tough to keep that lamb safe from being attacked by the snarling feline within. If you put your guard down for a minute, it could eat you alive. Kids get snapped at, tears start, voices are raised. It is never a pretty sight. And to make matters even worse, episodes such as these are usually  followed by guilt and remorse. Who really is winning in this situation? Not the downtrodden mother or the tearful child, but only that sly serpent who is sitting back watching us take a bite of the apple.

Since becoming a God-fearing Christian woman, I have often prayed over James 1:19, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Yes, this means even when that 2 year-old has been talking the entire day; when that 4 year-old throws yet another tantrum (isn’t he too old for this anyways?); or when that 6 year-old begs you to play Candy Land for the umpteenth time this week when you really would prefer to get some work done around the house or in the office instead.

God has hand-picked these tender little hearts to be sculpted and shepherded by you, the one who often feels unworthy or inferior in the mother role. He knows that nobody is more perfect for your young one than you and believes in your ability to raise these children up to know the  Lord and to help to guide their path. He even provides us with instructions on how to best raise these little ones: the Bible.


So as a mother, when the days seem endless and naptime evades your household, take a deep breath, get out your Bible and recite James 1:19 a few times. It is such a calming, restorative verse that never fails to open my ears to listen to a round of why questions for the millionth time. It holds my tongue when I just feel like truncating that round of curiosity with a curt response. And it calms my soul when I feel like yelling at one of those sweet little ones. As Christian women, we know the Bible is the tool to keep that ferocious lion within us at bay so that the gentle lamb can rest peacefully. Let’s go ahead and use what God has given to us.

Blessings!

Favorite Pork Chop Recipes

Pork chops have never been my favorite food.  It is the meat that I would make out of duty since I felt it necessary to rotate some pork into our diet with our chicken, fish and beef.  It also was the meat that would often end up being thrown away when leftover after sitting in the fridge for a few days.  I don't have any qualms about where on the pig the chops come from nor do I worry that pigs are not technically "clean" animals, which, to some, may deem them non-kosher.  I personally would usually just rather have chicken or fish instead of "the other white meat." 

However, two pork chop recipes do remain my favorites and have redeemed the entire pork chop species in my mind :).  They are simple family recipes that are easy to prepare, can be done a few hours in advance (aka when the children are napping or at school) and produce moist, tender results.  Both are great if paired with plain buttered egg noodles, a veggie and applesauce.  Enjoy!

Nana's Baked Pork Chops
4-6 1/2" pork chops, either bone-in or boneless
flour
bread crumbs
2 eggs, beaten
3/4c. milk
vegetable oil

Place 2-4T vegetable oil over med-hi heat into a skillet or Corning Ware, preferably one that can be placed directly into the oven.  Put the flour and bread crumbs into separate shallow plates/bowls.  Dip the chops into flour, then egg, then bread crumbs.  Coat evenly and place into the skillet.  Pan fry until browned, adding more oil if needed.  Remove meat to a plate.  Add the milk to the same skillet, scraping up all of the brown bits.  Cook until boiling and then remove from the heat.  Either add the chops back to the pan if it can go right into the oven or pour the milk mixture over the chops in another oven-safe dish.  Turn chops to fully coat in the milk mixture.  **This will appear really strange, almost unappetizing, but the milk will help to make the chops tender while keeping the coating crispy and bubbly.**  Place into a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour; closer to 1 hour for bone-in chops and closer to 45 minutes for boneless.  Enjoy!

German-Style Pork Chops
4-6 1/2" pork chops, either bone-in or boneless
1 can sauerkraut
1/2 pound bacon
2T. brown sugar
PAM cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a Corning Ware or oven-safe dish with PAM.  Pan fry the bacon in a skillet and set aside to cool.  Drain excess grease.  In the same skillet using the light coating of oil from cooking the bacon, brown the pork chops; they will be raw in the middle.  Place in the dish.  Meanwhile, add the sauerkraut to the same skillet and saute.  Break the bacon into pieces,  Add the brown sugar and bacon to the skillet and continue to saute until golden and coated.  Pour this mixture on top of the pork chops.  Bake for 30 minutes, covered.  remove cover and bake for 15 more minutes.  Enjoy!

February MOPS Coordinator's Article

When you think of Valentine's Day, what comes to mind? Many people think about love, and spending time with the sweetheart in their life. Some people think of chocolates, flowers, dining out and taking time to let the person you adore know they're special. Still others may equate Valentine’s Day as a time to shower their children with extra love and kisses. Regardless, most of us use Valentine's Day to go that extra mile and show our love to the special people in our life. It’s that one special day every year when love is in the air and people just want to inhale it!

Well, spread your love a little further. This year, how about adding one additional special person to your list? Someone whose love for us never ceases. Someone who splurges on us daily by way of the many blessings He bestows. Jesus sends us valentines not only on February 14th, but everyday. His ultimate valentine was his own sacrifice for our sins. There is no greater love; it's a love that has produced priceless salvation to many. Our God is a god of grace, mercy, kindness, generosity and love; especially love.

Below is something I had heard a while back, which always blows my mind away when I really stop to think about it.

We give our loved one flowers; He gives us beautiful fields, mountains, oceans and tropical paradises.

We make special dinner reservations for our loved one; He is preparing a feast for us in Heaven.

We give our loved one our life in marriage; He gave us His Son Jesus Christ so that we could spend eternity with Him if we should choose Him.

The love that Jesus gives to us is so strong, yet so surreal and unfathomable that it is in our sinful human nature to glaze over it and not take notice. It’s easier to acknowledge that dozen red roses from our husband or that homemade valentine from our child than it is to remember that everything we are given in this world comes from our Savior because He loves us. He blesses us with gifts everyday, despite our greed and ungraciousness.

So this month, as you go about the days approaching Valentine’s Day, shower your spouse, children and other loved ones with hugs and kisses. Send cards and order flowers to your heart’s content. Take Proverbs 3:3 to heart, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you...write them on the tablet of your heart.” However, also remember the lover of your soul and don't forget to show your love toward Him.

Make a Dinner Party Memorable

My husband and I just love to entertain.  We love the idea of having an open door policy in our home where friends and family will always feel welcome to come and visit us.  Nothing is as much fun to us as knowing that we have a gathering planned where we will have our home filled with people we love, celebrating the seasons of life together or just enjoying each other's company for no reason at all.  We eagerly anticipate our next opportunity to plan a gathering and look forward to those events that have become regular ones for us - a cookout in the summer, several children's parties throughout the year including birthdays and also Halloween and Valentine's Day get togethers, and especially our annual Christmas dinner party with our closest friends. 

The Christmas season brings that extra twinkle to my eye in general, so planning a formal get together to spend time with our dearest and closest friends has become something that we both truly enjoy and cherish.  I was asked to put a post up regarding entertaining so I think nothing exemplifies this better or brings more notes to my mind than the planning of our Christmas dinner party.  Below are some elements that I feel are key in making your next dinner party go off without a hitch so I hope that they are useful to you, too. 

1. If possible, use real dinnerware, flatware and stemware instead of disposable products. 
That is, if you are looking to create a more elegant, formal appearance.   When setting the table for a formal event, this is a must for us, even if we will be cursing our decision after the party when we are stuck with 5 loads to put into the dishwasher and a sinkful of "hand wash only" items to wash as well.  They'll get washed eventually and you'll be glad that you made the choice you did when you look back at your photos.  It's only once a year...

While I would love to someday have a Spode or Lenox set of Christmas dinnerware, for now we invested in Gibson's $15 set for 4 place settings.  I found these at The Christmas Tree Shops and any discount store would have some reasonable sets around the holidays that will not break the budget.  For $75 we now have service for 20 in our Christmas pattern and I can't tell the difference from these and a more expensive set, looks-wise.  For something we use once or twice a year, this works for us.  Here is a picture of our table set at our party this year:

2. Meat Thermometer, meat thermometer, meat thermometer!
I can't stress this enough.  If you will be cooking any sort of meat or fish whenever you have company, a digital thermometer will save your sanity, your culinary reputation...and your roast!  It is easy to get distracted when the guests start arriving so 45 minutes in the oven can easily turn into 60 if you are not paying careful attention...or if you do not have a thermometer that will beep and let you know when your meat has reached the proper temperature.  Instant read thermometers work great, too, but I am absolutely in love with my digital thermometer because it stays in the meat the entire time you are cooking it, it lets you set it to any sort of meat at various levels of doneness, and it has a timer and alarm.  My roasts are never overcooked with this, which is always my biggest fear when working with a good cut of meat.  I bought mine at Williams-Sonoma for about $25 and this one looks identical to mine, only under a different name, for $18:



3. Pick a few signature drinks to serve.
If you are interested in serving alcohol at your party, I would suggest coming up with a few signature drinks to offer instead of having an open bar.  We typically offer red and white white and then a few different mixed drinks to choose from.  It helps to limit the cost in alcohol and also the inventory you need to stock and helps to make people's decisions easier when choosing what to drink.  Personally, I like to keep any punch we serve non-alcoholic since some people do not want to or cannot drink alcohol.  Here are two popular drinks we served this year, which were fun and festive.  Typically, we have 2-4 signature drinks to choose from.

Candy Cane Tini - This drink added a festive touch and helped the ment o get in touch with their feminine side since it quickly turns a nice shade of pink when the candy cane is added.  They sepnt the whole night denying that they had a "girly" drink. 
1/2 oz. Schnapps, peppermint

1 oz. Vodka

1 piece (Mini candy cane) Candy

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into glass. Place a candy cane in the glass. It will turn the drink pink and adds to the flavor.

Bellini - This sparkling peach drink is made with champagne so it adds a festive touch to any Christmas, New Year's or other gathering that gives you reason to celebrate!                                                                  1 part chilled peach nectar or white peach puree

1 part peach schnapps
4 parts Italian dry Sparkling wine or dry Champagne

Chill all ingredients ahead of time.   When ready to serve, pour the peach nectar and peach schnapps into the bottom of each fluted champagne glass. Fill each glass with sparkling wine or dry champagne and serve to your guests.

4. Food Quantities.
There are many rules of thumb out there for serving sizes when entertaining.  These are my own, based on past experience cooking for a crowd.

Appetizers:  Plan on 3-6 of each type per person for individual hors d'oeuvres; consider each dip, etc. to serve about 10 people and double/triple your recipe accordingly.

Meat:  Plan on 1/3 lb. per person for boneless meats; 1/2 lb. per person for bone-in meats.

Side Dishes:  Plan on each recipe to serve 10 people and double/triple accordingly.

Rolls/bread:  Plan on 1.5 rolls person.  Many people will only take one and several people will take two.  Typically, this gives me a few extras, which means to me that everyone had their fill and I had enough food, but not too much.

Desserts:  Plan on one slice of cake/pie per person and 2-3 individual pastries, cookies, etc.

5. Favors
We always love to give a small favor to our guests when they leave, as a final token of friendship.  Often, I will make some homemade truffles or other goodies to wrap up and give out, since I love to bake.  Other times, I have found a nice store-bought favor such as Christmas votive holders I found one year or an elegant ornament.  This year, knowing that most of our guests have young children at home and wanting to do something more unique and homemade, I created some hot chocolate packages.  What I included were a packet of hot chocolate for each member of the family, a small baggie of homemade marshmallows and a small baggie of chocolate covered spoons.  I tied all of these together with a tag.  We feel that the time spent putting these together is worthwhile when this small touch adds just that "little extra" to the event, giving a last memorable item to hand out to your guests as they leave.

I hope this has helped some of you as you plan your own parties.  If there are any other items I did not touch on that you would like advice on, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.  Happy entertaining!

MOPS: January Coordinator's Article

Typically, January is a time for change. For resolutions. For a reevaluation of one’s life and the subsequent plan to make this new year the “best one yet”. Diets are started, gyms are joined, projects are begun and attitudes are changed. That is, until the motivation wears off and we go back to our old ways, leaving us even less satisfied with our lives than before.

Yet why should we be so dissatisfied with ourselves? We have recently been through the Christmas season, with all of it’s splendors in the form of gathering with loved ones, giving and receiving gifts, an over-abundance of delicious food and most importantly, the celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth. After being given all of this, how can we not be satisfied with our lives?

Unfortunately, many people are dissatisfied with themselves, even amidst such abundance. Instead of seeing a table full of food at dinnertime, so many of us complain about what’s to eat. Instead of seeing a closetful of clothing, some of us claim that there is “nothing to wear.” Our mirrors and scales become our biggest enemies when reality differs from our mind and society’s ideal.

Our problem, however, is not a lack of possessions, worth or possibilities. Rather, the problem here is inward focus, which results in dissatisfaction and discontent. We become blind to what we have been given and instead focus only on what we lack, or think we lack. We are focusing on ourselves instead of on Jesus, the one on whom our eyes should always remain.

Jeremiah 31:14 has been written as a means for reminding us where our focus should be. “’And my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,’ declares the Lord.” When we focus on God’s goodness, we can plainly see all of the blessings He has bestowed on us. His Goodness has hand-carved each of us to be who we are with unique personalities, characteristics and talents. He has given all of us so much, which is evident when we open our eyes in thanksgiving. And when it gets right down to it, what more can we really want? God has already given us everything in Jesus Christ, in the Word made flesh, the light that has overcome the darkness of sin and death.

So why not start 2011 as a Year of Satisfaction, rather than ferreting out all of the areas in which we are lacking? Be content with what God has given to you and how He has made you. Know that you are perfect the way that you are. By focusing on His goodness, we are honoring ourselves in the way in which He meant to create us. God loves you the way that you are and longs for you to embrace this. So go ahead and make this your resolution for 2011. You’ll be glad that you did. More importantly, Jesus will.

Christmas Cutout Cookies

Like many Christian families, we enjoy making Christmas cookies and candies in preparation for the holiday.  We have a fun time making them together and also packaging them up to give out to friends and family.  I will have a few additional posts this season with some other recipes and ideas, but this one is specifically for my friend Jessica, who requested that I put this up on my blog.  I believe I first made her these cutout cookie sandwiches for her office baby shower many years ago (seven??).  Yes, I do make these for other occasions in different shapes, but for the most part I make them at Christmastime.  I also sometimes do not make them into sandwiches and just keep them as plain cutout cookies.  I have another butter cookies recipe I do make at times, too, which is harder in texture, but these ones are one of my favorites because they are such a soft cookie that retains its shape for ease in cutting and baking.  Enjoy!

1c. butter

3oz. cream cheese

3/4c. sugar

1tsp. vanilla

1 egg

3c. flour

1/8tsp. salt

About 1c. lemon curd, seedless raspberry jam or apricot jam

powdered sugar

Beat butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg in large bowl with an mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Stir in flour and salt until blended.  Cover and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.  Heat oven to 375.  Roll a fourth of the dough at a time to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured board.  Cut dough with cutters and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until very light brow and set  Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.  When cool, make cookies into sandwiches by putting 1/2tsp. jam or curd on the bottom cookie and covering with another.  Mix approximately 2c. powdered sugar with 1/4c. water.  You may add a dash of almond or vanilla extract, if desired.  Fill a pastry bag or a Ziploc with the corner snipped with the icing.  The consistency should be stiff enough to not spread out when a line is drawn but thin enough to be able to easily write.  You may also opt to just spread icing on the cookies instead of outlining and using the writing tip to decorate.  In either case, sprinkle with colored sugars very quickly after the icing is put onto the cookie and shake off the excess.  Let dry completely and enjoy!

Family Movie Night: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Movie: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Menu: Hot chocolate and Cheerio Christmas Trees










Tonight our family will get our Christmas tree together so what better way to end our evening than to have a Family Movie Night starring Charlie Brown, Lucy and the gang.  Our boys just love Charlie Brown and I have recently coerced them into not watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every other day.  So, I believe it's time for a holiday shift starring our favorite blockhead and Joe Cool. 

So that Charlie is not the only one with his infamously, eh, interesting "Charlie Brown tree," we opted to make 8 of them ourselves this morning to enjoy as our special treat.  So, ta-da, eight little Charlie Brown Christmas trees, made with Cheerios, marshmallows and lots of love.  We had loads of fun with the green food coloring and we had to do a little reshaping of our trees everytime a candy ornament was placed on one of them (with a little too much pressure), but they survived and are now all decked out for the big occasion tonight.

To make these yourself:
3 cups Cheerios
3T. butter
Approximately 2.5 cups of large or mini marshmallows
Green food coloring
Assorted small candies

Over low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows until creamy and completely smooth.  Place the Cheerios into a large bowl.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the Cheerios and stir.  Add green food coloring to your liking.  Spray hands with PAM and gently shape approximately 1/4 cup of the mixture into a Christmas tree shape and place on waxed paper.  Decorate with candies by pressing into the trees gently.  Enjoy!

We really enjoy Rice Krispie treats in our house but ever since receiving the Cheerios cookbook, we have often opted towards using Cheerios in lieu of the Krispies.  You can basically use them interchangeably.  I would highly recommend the Cheerios cookbook for any family with young children.  It has easy recipes that the kids can help prepare and some cute craft ideas, too.  A really cute birthday or new baby gift, especially if coupled with the Cheerios play books.  All are available at Amazon and links are below.

Good grief, Snoopy, that was easy enough, now wasn't it?  Here's to a happy and healthy Christmas season to you and your family.  May you and your family have as much fun watching Charlie Brown as I know we always do every year.  And as Linus likes to remind us in the Christmas pagent at the end of the movie,

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"......That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Quick and Easy Peppermint Treats

Christmas is quickly approaching and many of you are probably thinking about doing some Christmas baking for your various family and friend gatherings.  If, like me, you enjoy making elegant looking treats that are both delicious and easy to prepare, then the following list of peppermint-themed treats may be appealing to you.  You can enjoy these yummy Christmas treats that you can make either alone or with the kids. With a minimal amount of baking, if any, they are easy for everyone to help out.

Oreo Peppermint Truffles

8oz. Cream cheese, softened

1lb. Box of Oreo cookies, or equivalent
1/4c. Finely crushed candy canes
2c. Dark, semi-sweet or white chocolate, melted

Mix cream cheese, candy canes and about 3/4 of the Oreo crumbs well. Shape into approximately 48 balls and place in the freezer until very firm, at least an hour. Dip in melted chocolate, sprinkle with extra cookie crumbs or peppermint pieces. Place on waxed paper sheets. Refrigerate 1 hour until firm.

Peppermint Bark

12oz. Dark chocolate chips
12oz. White chocolate chips

1 box candy canes, coarsely chopped

Line a 10x7 baking dish with wax paper, wrapping around the top and taping to the edges to hold in place. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or with a double boiler. Spread evenly in the pan. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Next, melt the white chocolate and spread on top of the dark chocolate. While still wet, sprinkle the top with the chopped candy canes. Refrigerate until firm and break into “bark-like” pieces.

Peppermint Meringues

2 egg whites

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 peppermint candy canes, crushed

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with foil. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until shiny with stiff peaks. Drop by spoonfuls 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy over the cookies.  Bake for 1-1/2 hours. Meringues should be completely dry on the inside. Do not allow them to brown. Turn off oven. Keep oven door ajar, and let meringues sit in the oven until completely cool. Loosen from foil with metal spatula.

Peppermint Chocolate Spoons

40 plastic spoons of your choice in color

12 oz. dark chocolate candy melts

1/2c. Finely chopped candy canes

Melt chocolate wafers in the microwave or with a double boiler. Spread a piece of wax paper out on your counter or table. Dip the spoons into the chocolate to thoroughly coat, going a few inches up the handle. Sprinkle with candy cane pieces and place on the waxed paper to dry. Wrap up as a gift by tying several together with a ribbon and placing into a bag. These are delicious when used to stir your coffee or hot chocolate.

MOPS: December Coordinator's Article

As I look through my family’s photo collection, I realize that we have an overabundance of Christmas photos. Pictures from my childhood, from my husband’s childhood, and of us as a couple with our three young children. Babies in Santa hats, little boys in matching argyle sweater vests...all of us in our Christmas Eve finest or our Christmas morning robes.

I love seeing these memories, some taken on the same sofa or in front of the same fireplace every year with only our changing hairstyles, ages and outfits to mark any difference. They show how our families have grown and changed over the years. That photograph of the squishy baby propped up against a giant gift is as endearing to me as the gawky teenage pictures of myself with 1990’s bangs, a tacky Christmas sweater and legwarmers.

But those photos really only tell part of the story. What about everything leading up to and following the Big Day? The kitchen covered in flour as Mom bakes cookies with three young children and the chaotic mass of wrapping paper on the floor Christmas morning are all part of what makes this time of year special. It's those times when we forget to take out the camera to capture "real life" because we are anticipating the beautiful moments when we will all look picture-perfect on one special day.
Most importantly, why should the photographs of ourselves trying to look perfect be the most treasured when we all know that we are not perfect. Not even close.

Have we forgotten to capture the beauty in the mayhem because we are too distracted to see it? Or see Him, for that matter.

This Christmas season Santa may be at every mall and in every catalog, but Jesus’ quiet entrance into our world so many years ago is the reason why we are even decking the halls with boughs of holly today. Santa may be asking your little ones what they want for Christmas this year. But the excitement on a child’s face when he gets to pick out a gift for his sibling and practice the art of giving is priceless.

Maybe everyone isn’t smiling in that sought-after formal Christmas photo, but treasure the time that you have with your loved ones instead of mourning the lack of a good photograph. Memories of times shared with your family and friends will outlive that Polaroid.

Jesus was born to love you. He wants you to follow Him on a daily basis. Most importantly, he yearns to celebrate his birthday with you, as a friend.

So this season, rejoice in the “real life” moments that typically would pass you by. Start traditions with your family and friends. Show your kids that giving can be just as exciting as receiving. Above all else, rejoice that Jesus was born to be your Savior and to love us unconditionally, today and always

“For unto you is born this day, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas together celebrating Jesus!

No-Sew Blankets

I am certain that I am not the first person to ever make a no-sew fleece blanket.  In fact, I may actually be the very last person on earth to attempt making one, given the number of individuals buying fleece in 1.5 yard lots at Jo-Ann fabric when I was there. Now that I know how simple they are to make, I can only surmise that anyone buying fleece must certainly be making one.Or three.  What started out as a homemade Christmas present I'd give to my 1-year-old daughter this year, since she really doesn't have an ultra-warm blanket bigger than an infant size, turned into me deciding to make a blanket for each of my boys, too.  Our house gets so cold in the winter since it's 160 years old, so tucking them in at night with a double-layer fleece blankie sounded like a great idea.

So, about $10-$15 each for material and approximately 1.5 hours each later, I now have three no-sew fleece blankets to wrap up for my children for Christmas in fun patterns that I think they will all enjoy. 

Now, I certianly was familiar with these blankets before this week.  My friend Amy had actually made me one for my baby shower in a fun frog print.  We still use it regularly in our playroom, as a blankie to crawl around on, cover each other with, put babies on, etc.  It just never occured to me to find out how to make them myself before, until I started thinking about some useful items I could give the children for Christmas this year.  All of a sudden, I found myself at Jo-Ann fabric, deciding between flowers or polka dots, pirates or baseballs. 

What really enticed me, however, was the "no sew" tagline.  Granted, I do know how to sew and I do own a sewing machine.  However, my crafty skills lie elsewhere and sewing is usually not my first love.  I love the project ideas you can make by sewing and have vowed to look into more of them this year, but for now, my bobbins remain empty.  So, without a doubt, the fact that I can make these blankets with nothing more than a ruler, some masking tape and a pair of scissors is very exciting to me!

In case there is someone out there who, like me, has always wondered how to make these blankets but has never tried, or someone who is maybe hearing about them for the first time, I am including instructions below.  There are several weeks left until Christmas and each of these blankets took me less than 2 hours to make.  So, it is definitely a doable homemade gift idea for someone special on your list.  Just don't go showing my children this photo before December 25th, ok? :)

No-Sew Fleece Blankets
2 pieces of fleece, 1.5 yards each. 
scissors
ruler
pins
masking tape

Cut the seams off of your fleece pieces and line up, with right sides facing outward.  Pin together as best as possible.  Do one "clean up" trim around the edges of both pieces of fleece together, so that they are the exact same size.  If they are slightly off, no worries!  The nice thing about these blankets is that the fringe will mask any slight indescrepancies in measuring. 

Cut out a 4"x4" square from both pieces of fleece together, at each corner.

Pull one long piece of tape across the entire side of the blanket, to make a line of masking tape across your entire project.  Line the bottom of the tape up with the top of the 4" square in the corners and continue an inch or two past each end of the blanket to secure it to the table.

Trim 1 inch wide slits into both layers of the fleece on the taped side, going from the edge right up to the masking tape line.  Continue until the entire side is cut into slits.  Tie the corresponding slits together in double knots, this will be one top piece and one bottom piece of fleece.  As you tie them into knots, your fringe will be forming.

Continue on all sides until all sides have been slitted and all slits have been tied to make fringe.

Coffee: My New Lifeline

What happens to most in college, medical or law school or after they have had their first child and realize that four hours of sleep a night just doesn't cut it day-in and day-out, only recently happened to me: coffee.  I have always enjoyed coffee on an occasional basis, don't get me wrong.  But, I always was more known as a tea drinker.  When I was looking for that soothing, hot drink to relax or warm me up, I always broke out the PG Tips or Twinings.  Until now. 

Well, let me defend my first love and say that sometimes I still just need to have a good cup of black tea.  Other times I have a craving for a chamomile or another form of herbal tea.  But lately, I have been migrating towards "the other caffeinated drink" and just can't explain what has happened.  It may have something to do with the plethora of yummy flavored creamers out on the market (ummm...have you tried the Caramel Macchiato one yet?) or the Keurig personal coffee brewer I got for Christmas last year or even something called Wawa convenience stores, which has, in my opinion, one of the best cups of coffee out there at convenience store prices.  Quite honestly, I don't know what the impetus for this new love of mine is, but I am coming clean and saying that it can no longer be ignored or denied:  I am a coffee drinker.

To get the facts straight, I am not yet what I would consider an addict.  I'm not shaking when I wake up in the morning, only to be calmed by the beep of my programmable Cuisinart coffee maker indicating that the brew is complete.  I don't have to start every day with a "cup 'o Joe" nor do I even have to have a cup of coffee at all throughout the day to function.  In fact, I typically don't have one every day and my habits are quite sporadic: some days I will have more than one cup and then I may go a few days without this "need" for coffee.  In fact, dare I say, that I may actually have tea some mornings instead (gasp!).  But, what has changed in me is that I do have that feeling of calm come over me now when I sit down and make a cup of coffee.  I also do have that yearning for nothing other than a big mug of coffee some afternoons when my kids nap.  I no longer forget to make coffee at a party I am throwing, even though I have remembered every other detail.  And I must admit that sometimes I'll reach for a K-cup when I am having a bout of tiredness and know that I do not want to be asleep by 8pm.  So add all of this up and I'll be the first to admit that I now consider myself a part of the Latte Club.

It's a joke in my family that in a year, I went from someone who had every appliance out there but was still using an old 10-cup Gevalia coffee brewer that I brought to college with me (and hardly ever used!), to someone who now has a Keurig, a K-cup carousel, a nice Cuisinart brewer, and a Cuisinart coffee grinder on my coutertop.  That's right, only the most frequently used appliances make it to "the big time" of being stored on the countertop instead of in the cabinets or pantry.  I am happy to report that my coffee accoutrements have "made it" and have joined my Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor and my toaster oven on my counter.  They were even purchased in black and stainless to match our decor.  To boot, there are also a handful of flavored creamers in my fridge at all times.  This is getting strange.  Nonetheless, in the short time that I have been a sleep-deprived, coffee drinking, mother of three, I have a few thoughts on coffee that I thought I'd share.  I already gave my disclaimer that I am not a coffee connoisseur but I do know what I have enjoyed in my experimentation, so if it's helpful to anyone out there, then I've done my part in building up the Latte Club.  Enjoy!

1. Myth:  I can't enjoy coffee because nobody else in my house drinks it and I don't like instant coffee.  I'm not going to make a pot for myself.

Well, your answer to this one is either a single-cup coffee brewer, a French press or a Keurig personal coffee maker.  I personally can recommend either a French press such as the one below, that will easily allow you to brew a small amount of coffee for yourself and it will be the freshest you can make, or the Keurig, which offers so much convenience and variety.  There are K-cups for the Keurig available in so many different styles, flavors and brands.  Amazon, Costco or Kohl's are great places to buy your K-cups for a good price (I use my Kohl's cash as a little gift for myself sometimes). My favorites are Timothy's Italian blend and Gloria Jean's Butter Toffee.  Hello?  Did that not just convince you or what?

2. I am looking for a good, reasonably-priced coffee maker.  Which features do you like the best?

The above is the maker I have and really like.  What's irking me is that I bought it last year for about $40 more than the list price now!  So this would be a great deal for you.  It brews a good cup of coffee and I just love the auto-off beep (since I never remember to turn it off) and the programmable feature.  We host our weekly Bible study and also other events so it's nice to set up the coffee and find it already brewing when I finish putting the kids to bed and head downstairs to wait for my guests.

3. I have never tried to grind my own coffee.  The coffee from the store is just as fresh.

This, again, is another item that I paid a lot more for last year when it was newly on the market so it would be a great deal for you.  I recently got into grinding my own coffee, especially when we have company over, and it is so yummy.  It's a lot fresher than the pre-ground and is so easy.  I think of it as a special treat when we have guests, especially, or even just for myself sometimes.  This grinder is sleek looking and has an option to automatically grind enough for a certain number of cups in the maker.  Very fast and reliable.

November MOPS Coordinator's Article

It’s that time of year when all of the holiday hustle and bustle starts. Your grocery purchases are accumulating points towards your free turkey and your mail is inundated with circulars telling you which toys are the ones your child truly wants for Christmas this year. The weather outside isn’t quite frightful yet...but it certainly is getting colder. That soon-to-be winter chill is in the air! Personally, I love fall and all that it entails. To me, the anticipation of what’s to come over the next two months makes up for feeling chilly most of the time and for the extra time it now takes to get everyone buttoned up and out the door in the morning (and then realizing you still need to scrape the ice off your windshield).


What I never anticipate fondly are the sniffles and sneezes that come with the season. The coughs. The fevers. The vomiting. You name it, it seems that at least someone at school, work, church or daycare has it from early fall through the winter. No matter how many vitamins I take, how bundled up we get when we go outside or how much antibacterial hand sanitizer we go through, it seems inevitable that at least something will infect someone at home. Which then leads to five infected people in no time at all. You’ve been there before, I’m sure you have.

Recently I had a day just like I described. Several incidents early-on turned a normal Wednesday into a “down in the dumps” day by mid-afternoon. And then my two youngest children both woke up sick from their naps, after only sleeping for 40 minutes. Just what I needed to make a bad day even worse! There were tears. There was whining. There were sniffles and sneezes. There were overpriced co-pays for the medicine we ended up having to get at the pharmacy. Wow, this day couldn’t get any worse! Or so it seemed as I sat around having a pity party for myself that night after finally getting two crying and overtired babies to sleep. Way to put a damper on my holiday spirit, God! Somehow going “over the river and through the woods” on the upcoming Thanksgiving day seemed like the last thing in the world that I would ever want to do, now that my good mood had been spoiled as a result of drippy noses and Pink Eye.


As I sat down at my computer to write some to-be-determined Coordinator’s Article (after stealing a much-deserved mini Heath bar from the kids’ Halloween stash!), the verse we had related to today’s MOPs meeting hit me square in the face. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Be joyful always. Not only when things seem to be going my way, when my kids are germ-free and my day has gone as I’ve anticipated.

Pray continually. Now there’s something that didn’t even cross my mind in the midst of all of my grumbling and worrying. Hmm, interesting how things start to seem not so bad when we let God into the equation and hand over our planners to Him.

Give thanks in all circumstances. That’s right, all circumstances: good or bad, sickness or health, richer or poorer. Pretty much God deserves our thanks at all times. It’s funny how long the list of things we have to be thankful for really is when we stop and take notice. Our “bad days” and misfortunes suddenly become the minority when we enumerate all of the bountiful blessings God has placed into our hearts and within our families.


For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Just as we parents desire our children to use good manners, to pray regularly and to be thankful to others, God has specially designed each of us to live a certain life and to handle different circumstances. We are not all alike. We are each uniquely designed by Christ to navigate our own life’s path, no matter what it may bring. And it would please Him and make Him glow with parental love to hear us use these manners that we teach to our own children in all circumstances.


So this Thanksgiving season, as you sit down to turkey and pumpkin pie, don’t focus on which family members aren’t present or how awful your travels were to get where you are. Instead, remember to thank God for all that he has given to you. We are not even worthy of the blessings he pours out on each of us, but as our Father, he gives them to us anyways out of love.

Family Movie Night: An American Tail

An American Tail. Menu: Chocolate Cherry Mice, popcorn, Shirley Temples.

Yeah, I know.  Another Family Movie Night post with nothing else in between.  I apologize for not having updated the blog regularly lately.  It's been busy around here with a birthday, a holiday, some colds, some visitors, and other various activities that somehow believe they are more important than updating The Proverbs 31 Chronicles.  Hee hee.  I do have several post ideas I have noted and I hope to get to them on a more regular basis again in the very near future.  For now, enjoy this post about our latest Family Movie Night. 

We watched the 1986 classic, An American Tail, the movie about the young immigrant mouse named Fievel who comes to America, the "land without any cats," from Russia and suddenly gets separated from his family en route.  So, he needs to fend for himself in this strange land, meeting all sorts of friends and having lots of adventures in the meantime.  Through everything, he believes that his family is "Somewhere Out There," and all he longs for is to be reunited with the people he loves.  You have the Linda Ronstadt/James Ingram song stuck in your head now, don't you?  Good luck getting that out.  I've been humming it for two days now :).

Our movie night this time was extra special because Nana was visiting and was able to join us.  Yes, Nana was well-behaved and shared nicely all day so she was issued the special "Nanas Attend For Free on Saturday Night" ticket at dinnertime.  Another name for this is not having enough physical tickets printed off for guests when the boys are insistent that everyone gets a ticket for Movie Night.  They play our game a little too well sometimes :).  But this seemed to suit them just fine.

Eagerly waiting for Movie Night to start with Nana...after stealing a chocolate mouse to munch on.  We're into cheesy smiles at our house, so at least Nana looks nice!

And finally, the moment you all have been waiting for:  the Chocolate Cherry Mice. Come on, aren't they adorable?  A little too realistic looking to eat...that is until you find out they are made with dark chocolate, cherries and almonds.  Yeah, I think I can get over the fact that they actually do resemble mice in size!

These guys are so easy to make.  They'd make perfect treats for any mouse-themed movie, or even during the Nutcracker at Christmastime.  They are also especially yummy...and healthy since they have almonds, fruit and dark chocolate.  Fooled you, didn't I?

Basically, dry off 12 maraschino cherries with stems on paper towels.  Take 1/3c. dark chocolate chips and melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals until perfectly smooth.  Dip the cherry into the chocolate, holding by the stem.  Place on waxed paper and immediately press a dark chocolate Hershey Kiss into the front.  Let sit for a minute or two and then wedge two almond slices between the Kiss and the cherry.  Let dry completely.  Put a little frosting into a decorating bag or a Ziploc, either fitted with a small writing tip or with just a small snip out of the bag corner.  Make eyes on your mice and let dry.  Enjoy!