Monday, December 31, 2012

Goodbye 2012

2012.

Definitely a year of living, laughing, learning and loving for our family.

We've gone from a two income family, to a one income family. God has indeed blessed us, allowing me the opportunity to stay home and find other resources to help supplement our income. We have two full time students in school- a sixth grader and a kindergartner. Our nest is filled with algebra equations, prepositions, sight words, and readers each night. Probably not much different than any other household in America.

We are also still flittering in and out of nest with a constant array of activities- football, basketball, ballet, PTA, Homeroom Mom, and church.

Our health has been good. Praise God. He has protected us from many things seen and unseen.

There are a variety of words to choose from for my 2013 word of the year, but seriously I have only one: FAMILY!



Thursday, December 27, 2012

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2012 Linkup: Final Week

Thanksgiving night The 4-Crow's were summoned by the doorbell and found a visitor from the North Pole. Malia Peppermint Patty joined our family that night.
Last year was our first year to participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition. We didn't exactly have a "real" Elf on the Shelf, so I called our daily link up Elf on a Shelf. We had Charley, a 40+ year old Whitman's Chocolate Candy Elf. 
In 2011 we hosted a daily link up where we asked our readers to show us the daily activities of their elf. This year we featured a weekly link up, showcasing a full 7 days of elf fun. Today is our last day of our linkup. As all of our elves have left our homes on Christmas Eve.
 Our Charley, I decided, had to retire. He is still a part of our household, but because he is "vintage", I decided he no longer needed to be serving in any reindeer games. He is actually pictured in the above button, see his rips? You can read more about Charley here, also feel free to visit last years 24 days of linkups and see what all kinds of fun he had around our nest. You may even catch a glimpse of him from time to time throughout the month, sometimes my kids need help staying in line.


What was Malia P.P. up to around our nest this week and did she have any help from a Vintage partner?






Do you have an Elf on the Shelf that visits your home each year? Won't you please link up and share with us what your elf was doing this week? You can share seven pictures, a few, or just one of your favorite Elf moments/memories of the week. All you have to do is grab the above button and put your blog link in the following linkup form. I look forward to seeing all of the Elf games and fun you are having!


Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2012 was posted the following Thursdays this year. 
Hope you join in!
December 27

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Friday, December 21, 2012

A Very Pinteresting Christmas: Final Day

Today's Pinterest project is one I found some months ago and have had so much fun doing. 
 Etching.
 This time it's for the neighbors Christmas Eve gifts, along with a few other people on my list. 
Sure hope no one is reading. I've shared with you before here and here the how on this project. You just need a Cricut, Armour Etch, contact paper, a glass object and an imagination.
This time I chose a oil/vinegar cruet

Did a reverse etch, taped off the edges, I wanted straight lines.

Brushed on the etching cream, let it sit for one hour

Once I washed it off with soap and water, I filled it up with dish soap and it now sits very pretty upon my sink.
And soon upon several neighbor's!
I hope you all have enjoyed this series of A Very Pinteresting Christmas with The 4-Crow's. If you have any Christmas Pinterest Projects, please link them up. 
Merry Christmas from Our Nest to Yours!

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's Linkup: Week 4




Thanksgiving night The 4-Crow's were summoned by the doorbell and found a visitor from the North Pole. Malia Peppermint Patty joined our family that night.
Last year was our first year to participate in the Elf on the Shelf tradition. We didn't exactly have a "real" Elf on the Shelf, so I called our daily link up Elf on a Shelf. We had Charley, a 40+ year old Whitman's Chocolate Candy Elf. 
In 2011 we hosted a daily link up where we asked our readers to show us the daily activities of their elf. This year we will be doing only a weekly link up, showcasing a full 7 days of elf fun. Our Charley, I decided, had to retire. He is still a part of our household, but because he is "vintage", I decided he no longer needed to be serving in any reindeer games. He is actually pictured in the above button, see his rips? You can read more about Charley here, also feel free to visit last years 24 days of linkups and see what all kinds of fun he had around our nest. You may even catch a glimpse of him from time to time throughout the month, sometimes my kids need help staying in line.

What Malia P.P. was up to around our nest this week and did she have any help from a Vintage partner?









Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Won't you please link up and play along once a week until December 27th? You can share seven pictures, a few, or just one of your favorite Elf moments/memories of the week. All you have to do is grab the above button and put your blog link in the following linkup form. I look forward to seeing all of the Elf games and fun you are having!

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2012 will be posted the following Thursdays, hope you join in!
December 20
December 27
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A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 14: Kindergarten Tree Ornaments

I am serving as Home Room Mom in my daughter's Kindergarten class this year. I love this job. My have to do duties include two parties. 
Winter and Valentines.
 (I still detest the use of the term Winter over Christmas) 
The other duties I take on are simply because I am asked or I volunteer to do them. I take this job very seriously and never say NO! Schools need all the volunteers they can get. I love these kids and I love her teacher! In addition to planning and organizing the food for the party tomorrow, I also planned a craft for the little kinders. 
Pinterest inspired of course.
These paint chip tree ornaments are short and fat. Love them. Lowe's donated them, I guess they don't carry the tall & skinny samples any more. I have all the prep work done ahead of time. Made a template, cut the trees out, punch a hole, tied a ribbon. All the kids have to do is apply the foam stickers and glue the trunk of the tree on. There are so many fun things to do with these. Sequins, glitter, photos, etc...
I just chose the easy way out and made a keepsake ornament.

Be sure to visit The 4-Crow's each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button on the left side of my blog and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 3-21 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A Very Pinteresting Christmas, Day 13: Christmas Treats

Today I am making Christmas Treats. 
One is a recipe Kaybrie's Pre-K teacher made last year and has now become a favorite, and the other is a recipe passed on from another life, that we have coined the Crow name on. 

Teacher inspired:




Past Life Inspired:







Crow Bars
1 T Butter 
1/2 C white sugar 
1/2 c white syrup 
3/4 c peanut butter 
3 c crushed cornflakes 
1pkg milk chocolate chips 
1pkg butterscotch chips 

Bring butter, sugar and syrup to boil. Add peanut butter and cornflakes, mix well. Press into 8 1/2 x 11 pan. In double boiler melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. When melted pour over cereal mixture. Let cool. Do not Bake! Cut into squares. Can be doubled, but I do not double the chocolate chip mixture, it is too rich! Use a 12 x 18 cookie sheet/pan if you double.


Be sure to visit The 4-Crow's each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button on the left side of my blog and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 3-21 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 12: Our 2012 Christmas Card

Our Christmas card this year was so much fun to make and even more fun to take! I think by now all of my cards have been received, so I can now show it off!
It of course had a few images that were Pinterest inspired, and then I added my own twist. I wanted a card this year that  featured my babies, but also captured some of their orneriness.



I use Shutterfly each year to make my cards and annual photo book. This year I picked the Wishing You a Merry Christmas card. The prices are good, and I of course love, love, love all of the discount codes that are offered. But, I need to remember to order an extra 10-15 next year. 50 just doesn't cut it.

Here are larger Pinteresting shots of my kids.




I have to admit they had a lot of fun just being themselves with these pictures. I love taking pics of my kids. Moments to cherish forever. 

Be sure to visit The 4-Crow's each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button on the left side of my blog and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 3-21 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

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Monday, December 17, 2012

A Very Pinteresting Christmas, Day 11: Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments




Have you ever made Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments? I honestly had never heard of them until last year when my daughter was in Pre-K. Never heard of or smelled something so deliciously Christmasy ever!


I finally found the "recipe" after searching around on Pinterest.

Ingredients
Applesauce
Cinnamon
Elmer's Glue
All Spice

I made a double batch which actually made about 12 medium sized ornaments and a few smaller ones. But I am giving you the original recipe without doubling.
Mix 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/2 cup cinnamon together. Then add 2 TBSP of glue and mix well. Add a dash of All-Spice. You want a dough that can be rolled out so if it is too runny, add more cinnamon and All-Spice.

Once the mixture has formed into a dough ball, remove it from the bowl and place it onto wax paper. Slightly press the ball down and cover with another sheet of wax paper. This is where your children finally get to learn to use that rolling pin that has been stored on top of your cabinets as decoration for 9+ years.



You want it anywhere in between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch thick. Remove the top piece of wax paper and cut out shapes.


After you have several shapes cut out, carefully remove the excess dough from around each shape and start the process over until all the dough is used. Be sure to add a small hole in each of the shapes so you'll have somewhere to attach ribbon. I used a kabob stick to get the perfect size hole.


Next you will take your shapes and place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 150 degrees for 2 hours. Then, turn off the heat in the oven and leave the pan in the warm oven for 5 to 6 hours. If you leave the wax paper under your ornaments to bake, remove about halfway through and flip the ornaments to the opposite side, so they bake all the way through. 

Once the ornaments have hardened, remove from pan and attach ribbon or string, or whatever you'd like. Your home is going to smell delicious and you will have some fun new ornaments to hang on your tree, use as gift tags, or give away as a gift. These go just perfect with my burlap this year. 
What do you think?



Be sure to visit The 4-Crow's each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the button and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 3-21 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Last Minute Shopping Anyone? Let #WBHoliday Widget Help! #Giveaway





"Ho Ho Ho, it’s the holiday season and that can only mean one thing... Shopping! But finding presents for your loved ones can be no easy task! That’s why Warner Bros. has come up with their awesome Happy Holidays Blog App featuring some classic and new movies out on Blu-ray sure to please everyone from your teeny nephew to grandma wrinkles!"

What movies are on your shopping list this Christmas?
How would you like one of these titles to add?

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, Classic Christmas Favorites or Dr. Seuss’s Deluxe Holiday Collection.

One of my readers is going to get their very own copy* of one of the movies listed above, just by visiting the widget and telling me their results from The Holiday Movie Challenge, then filling out the easy Rafflecopter form.  Bonus entries are available!

Here are my results:


WOWZA!

That was impressive. Authentic Cinephiles like yourself are a rare breed -- so wear the title with pride! Keep watching, and HAVE A MAGICAL HOLIDAY!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Prize will be chosen randomly from the above Blu-ray titles!

Disclosure: The 4-Crow's did not received compensation for this particular giveaway. This post is sponsored by PartnersHub and Warner Bros. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally or believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.
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Taking Refuge in Psalms 147:3

As a mother to express my words and thoughts of yesterdays tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut is very hard. I just have the reassurance that my children are in God's hands and take refuge in this Bible verse as my heart aches:

 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. -Psalms 147:3


This verse has been said a lot over the past 24 hours, but our God is big and there is nothing he can't handle or do. We have his promise. I was contacted yesterday by local Fox 23 reporter Danica Lawrence to talk with her about how Jason and I would be talking with our children over the events. I will post video along with this post as soon as it comes in.


"When mother, ShaRhonda Crow got the news there was a deadly shooting in Newtown, Connecticut an elementary school, her first thought was her children’s safety.

She was at her son’s school Centennial Middle School in Broken Arrow volunteering with the nurse’s staff for student’s eye exams. She looked on her phone noting that maybe 20 children had been killed by a gunman. Crow has a 12-year-old Braden, who turned 12 two days ago, on 12-12-12. She also has a kindergartener, 5-year-old Kaybrie.

She hugged Braden the moment he came home.

“Braden came through the door and I hugged him immediately and he was like, ‘Mom what is wrong?’ and I said ‘Baby I love you so much.’” said Crow.

Then she asked him if he heard what happened today in Connecticut and he said no.

“I was so impressed that the teachers let the parents tell our children,” said Crow.

Then she went to pick up Kaybrie from Kindergarten.

“She says, ‘Mom I have homework.’ I’m like ok, ‘Friday homework? What is it?’ ‘ I love you.’ ‘What is it?’ ‘That was it to tell you I love you. I love you my mommy.’ ‘Wow, those are the moments I need because I just cannot imagine those mommies aren’t hearing that anymore.”

Kaybrie brought Play-Doh home with her and made Christmas ornaments. She made some special ornaments too, angel ones.

“They watch over me at night,” said Kaybrie.

SharRhonda and her husband, Jason Crow, plan to tell Kaybrie what happened to the children and staff members in Newtown, Connecticut after her husband came home Friday evening.

“My husband I have agreed we are going to talk about it with her together,” said Crow. “I tend to be the more emotional one and he is my solid rock, so he will talk with her really well about it. I think she’ll have questions but realistically, I think she will think about it after we talk with her and that is when it is going to hit her.”

The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Professor of Psychology, Dr. Elana Newman said as a parent they should start the conversation and allow their children to ask questions.

“I think it’s really important to ask your kids, do you know what happened today (Friday),” said Dr. Newman. “It’s important that you are as calm as possible around your child and that your fears and your nervousness is not translated, because that is a lot of it too, your child is watching your reaction. And there is nothing wrong with saying to your child that you are sad, there were a lot of kids killed today and I am really sad.”

The Crows hope the angel ornaments that Kaybrie made remind her of the children becoming real angels after they were taken so ruthlessly for no reason."

Reported by: Danica Lawrence
Email: Danica Lawrence

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