In Georgia we don’t get a lot of snow. When we do, it is a celebration! This year was quite the celebration because we got about four inches of snow. I know, to some of you that sounds like a balmy spring day. It was a family affair as we made snow angels, tried to make a snow man (is there some kind of tutorial on THAT?!) and yes, had a snowball fight. We were soaking wet when we got inside but it was worth it.

The next morning I was trying to think of something else to do with the snow. Then I remembered something about snow candy! You know, in Little House on the Prairie, Laura and Mary pour maple syrup on snow and then eat it like candy. So, I scoured the internet and found HARDLY ANYTHING!

Is this such common knowledge in snowy areas that no one would ever write about it? Or is it something that’s been forgotten? Well, I’m going to add to the internet archives my own tutorial for Maple Syrup Snow Candy. (Catchy title, huh?)

All you need is snow & REAL maple syrup. I used a cup of maple syrup and boiled it hard for about 7-10 minutes.

While this is boiling, it would be a good time to send your hubby outside with a few plates to get some big piles of snow.

Then pour your VERY HOT maple syrup into a smaller container. I used a 2cup measuring cup. Then pour onto the snow in squiggly shapes and lines.

It cools almost instantly, so once you see it looking less liquidy, just grab it up and eat it!

We ate so much of this stuff we totally forgot about lunch! Now tell me north-dwellers, have you done this before?

And while you’re at it, here’s some more fun snow-y stuff:

BOOKS

Snowflakesby Kenneth Lbbrect {see individual snowflakes photographed with microphotography!}

Little Honey Bear And the Smiley Moonby Gillian Lobel {a sweet glittery, sparkly book about some forest friends who go out on a snowy night}

CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES

Snowman Blocks from No Time For Flashcards {a fun activity and craft using empty spice containers!}

Fun Snow from Color Me Kate {use food coloring to spray your snow!}

Snow Prints from Ordinary Life {a beautifully frosty way to use sunprint paper}

SCRIPTURES

Psalm 51:7 …Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. {fun to look at the clean snow & thank God for washing us!}
Proverbs 25:13 A messenger trusted by those who send him is like cool snow at harvest time. {great to talk about being trustworthy!}
Isaiah 1:18 Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. {compare colors to the whiteness of the snow! nothing is as white!}

all photos from their respective sites. please click thru and tell them hello!

Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them. Matthew 18:20 (NIrV)

I’ve continued to talk to Elias about the times that God is there with us, and we are focusing right now on showing respect during those times – specifically at church.  I wanted to do something together that represented a church… and I’ve been wanting to do something cool like these leaves, which got me thinking about waxed paper stained glass windows like these…

While our church building does not have stained glass windows, Elias does sing in a children’s choir at a church in downtown Richmond that has beautiful stained glass windows.  So it was easy to make the connection with him about God’s presence being with us in a church, and that some churches have stained glass windows.

…so while I was thinking about making some cool stained glass windows with crayon shavings, I started thinking about a bag of brightly colored marshmallows sitting in my pantry (I popped the bag in my grocery cart a while ago, not knowing what to do with it, but I figured the boys would love whatever we did…).

What do marshmallows and crayons have in common?  They melt! And could possibly make some beautiful wax paper stained glass windows.  Depending on how you do it….

Let’s gather some supplies:

A bag of neon marshmallows, some wax paper, some no-stick cooking spray, and an iron.

Tear off 2 squares of wax paper, and draw a picture of a “stained glass window” on one side of a square… Flip the wax paper over and spray the other side with the no-stick cooking spray.

Give your child the freshly-sprayed wax paper design and a handful of neon marshmallows.

Then another handful, as he has already scarfed down the first one.

Then show him how he can use the different colors to fill in each different part of the stained glass design.  And give him another handful of marshmallows.

And give the other kid at the other end of the table a handful of marshmallows, too.  So he doesn’t feel left out.

No, he’s fine.

Spray one side of the blank wax paper with no-stick cooking spray, and lay it over the saccharine-flavored stained glass design your little one made.

Iron.

And then turn up the iron a bit more until the marshmallows actually start to melt together.

Then realize that you need to wait longer to try to unveil the masterpiece, because melty marshmallows take a minute to cool down.

OK – they need more than a minute.  They need a half an hour in the fridge.

And then several hours in the freezer.

And they definitely needed more no-stick spray.  Because they were still sticky.  Even after several hours in the freezer.

But it’s OK that it took hours and didn’t turn out the way you expected.  Because you got a picture of these cheeks deep in concentration.

Concentrating on making a cross all on his own.

And pictures of the other little guy, enjoying the sugar rush and time with his big brother.

You know, I get so worked up trying to think of the perfect activity for my boys, so consumed with perfectly conveying whatever lesson I want them to learn…  I forget the important part is spending time with them.

And when I get discouraged that they don’t want to do the craft I prepared?  I need to step back and let them do the craft (or no craft) that they want to do (haven’t I said this before?).  And enjoy the time with them.  Laugh with them.

And I need to learn whatever lesson I’ve planned in my heart – and model it for them. What does it tell my kids about how much I respect God’s sanctuary when I take off my shoes in the middle of worship?  It’s a little thing, but it says tells my boys that I don’t have enough respect to keep my shoes on.

That’s what I’ll be working on from now on… not the perfect lesson or craft, but my heart. Living out Christ’s life in me is the best lesson I can prepare for my boys.

Remember the great kiwi plans I told you about? The plans I didn’t want to tell you for fear I might not do them? Well, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, my kiwi-polymer-clay bead necklace plans have evaporated. I loved our peach pit necklaces so much, I thought it would be fun to make more jewelry to symbolize each Fruit of the Spirit. I googled polymer clay beads and thought I could figure it out–even though I’ve never held polymer clay in my life.

I headed out to our local craft store, looked through the clay (there’s LOTS to choose from) and found a great pack full of many different colors. I also bought some ribbon and other supplies for Asa’s birthday party (on Saturday!!). Well, a day went by and I thought, “Hm. Where did I put that bag of craft supplies?” But I was busy and didn’t look for it. I’ve thought about it off and on for the last few days and after a thorough search of the car and house the craft bag is nowhere to be found. My only conclusion is that I paid for the items and then left the bag at the store. How ridiculous is that?!

I say all that to say: I HAVE NOT DONE ANOTHER KIWI CRAFT. I’ve been really focused on my son’s birthday party which I’ll be able to blog about next week–wheeee! So, instead I thought I’d share a few fun kiwi stuff I found online. I’ll be doing one of these until I can get back to the craft store and see if they held onto my bag. GRRRR.

Felt Kiwi Slices from CardsCorner’s etsy shop. How cute are these? I love felt play food. I don’t sew, but I could probably glue some of it and hand stitch enough to make these!

Mini Kiwifruit Polymer Clay Video Tutorial. There are so many tutorials on youtube it is unbelievable! If you wanted to start a mini fruit making business, you’d be set!

Kiwi Fruit Knitted Hat. I certainly do not knit. But it would be funny to make a little hat with this pattern—we could paint or color a hat. That might be fun!

Fruit Flower Bouquet from Family Fun. This might actually be a great thing to do with all our Fruit of the Spirit fruit. I may save this one and do it when we ever finish. Kind of like a finale!

Kiwi Recipes from Zespri Kiwi. Who knew kiwis were so versatile? I totally want to make the Tropical Kiwi Pops and the Circus Parfait pictured above.

But my very favorite is this Kiwi-Colada Sipper from Conversations with a Cupcake. HOW ADORABLE IS THIS?! And totally yummy, too. I think I have all the ingredients here. If Lydia would ever take a nap today, I’d make this for her when she wakes up!

That’s all I got, folks! If my posting is light this week it’s because I’m up to my EARS in first birthday preparations!

Joy is…

…banana cake with carmamel icing…

…banana milk…

…your daughter dancing and singing “I’ve got the Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! down in my heart!” at the top of her lungs!

What gives you Joy?

see all our FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: JOY activities here.