Story Night: The Biggest Apple Ever!

Story Night: The Biggest Apple Ever!

I have had so many people say that they love seeing my posts on what I do with my kids on Wednesday nights and to "post the directions" or "can I have that recipe" so I decided to get the ol blog going with each night's events. With having 8 children, it can be very hard sometimes to get them all together at once. Somehow, no matter what the age, they love our Wednesday nights. Coming together with their siblings, crafting, discovering and learning, cooking or baking...it makes for a fun night! We go back and forth weekly between "Story Night" and "Discovery Night". Story Night is basically what it sounds like. We read a kid's book, usually pertaining to the season or holiday, do a craft that coincides with the story and also a dessert that is just as fun! Discovery Night is usually a science experiment also having to do with the season or holiday, no craft on this night, but still a yummy dessert! We switch off each week to keep the kids enthused on what will be coming next! 

September 18th was our first Fall event and it was a Story Night. 

We read "The Biggest Apple Ever!" Our craft creation were Apple Stamp Crates and our dessert was Apple Pie Snack Cups. 

Our Story: 

For our craft, we needed: 

Apple Halves

Red Craft Paint

Construction Paper: Green and Brown

Black Markers 

Glue

Dip the apple half in paint and just start stamping! Make sure to have them close together as you will be cutting the brown paper into strips to recreate a rickety crate design. The green paper will be used for tiny little leaves that will be glued down on the marker made stem. (see the finished pic below for a visual of how our crates came together)

The kids had fun stamping with something other than a foam stamp!

Our Apple Crates are ready to take to the Farmer's Market or in our house, The Art Wall.

We chose Apple Pie Snack Cups for our snack. So easy to make, just layering like a trifle! 

Find the recipe here: https://www.fivehearthome.com/apple-pie-trifle-snack-cup-recipe/

We used granny smith because we already had them on hand so ours will look a little different than from the site we found them on. The kids adore doing anything that requires no adult having to do it for them which is why the kids love these nights so much. Check out the smiles! 

Unfortunately, I deleted the final pic, but you can see it in the collage pic at the top of the page. Don't forget to watch for our first Discovery Night of Fall, coming soon! 

Til next time, 

2019 Goals!

2018 managed to fly (as do all years once you have children). I am not so sure that I hit all goals from last year and it is to be expected...I tend to set a ton of goals! One year, I will be able to say that I hit all, but for now...I will just put them up and work towards them, we will see what happens. Many are repeats....will 2019 be our year? 

1. Get in touch with old friends. This one is H-U-G-E for me. Whether it be just a "hello" on FB or getting together for lunch, I would love to be able to let my friends and family know that I am thinking of them. 

2.  Foster Animals. I set this as a goal last year and had a really hard time getting hubby to comply. He does not believe that we have time to give with everything we are constantly dealing with, but I feel differently. I believe there is always love to give...I hope this one becomes a reality in 2019. 

3. Make 1 mini trip per quarter. We take 2 vacations per year, 1 to Myrtle Beach (our second home) and to my in-laws who live in Emerald Isle. However, I am an explorer all the way and love finding diamonds in the rough and that means getting out and finding it! I mean...how else do you find a huge snowman in the middle of a country field?!!! This guy offers wonderful shaved ice in Portersville, PA. 

Did you know that you can feel the coziness and festivities of Christmas any time of the year at Tis the Season Christmas Shoppe in Millersburg, OH. 

How about getting an up close and personal ride with a real Amish person? You can do that at Hershberger Farm and Bakery also located in Millersburg, OH. 

Here's to 4 mini's this year! 

4. Hit Lifetime again. I do enjoy my food...I mean, who doesn't? Time to get to where it "doesn't show so much". Who is up for some portion control? Right here! 

5. #5 for last year was for Greg and I to finally finish our "Top 100 Love Movies on the Silver Screen" List....and WE DID!!!!! It took almost 5 years on the nose to do it, but we did! What a great bucket list! We will now be scouting out another list....dram...maybe comedy?

6. Always keep wishes....I tend to never want much of anything, always keeping what the kids need at the top of my list. I have found that when occasions coming around, everyone has to fight me for ideas on what I wish for. I am going to keep track this year, whether experiences or a few things that will make me smile. 

7. Pay it Forward...I have been a giving person my entire life. Every year, for many years, I have taken down a list of people to "pay it forward" to sometime during the year. This year, I have a different plan that will hit a lot more people when it is absolutely needed. I am excited for this new idea! 

8. Focus more on me and my family. I always make a plan to do more personally, but my work tends to always take the top priority...whether Avon or Flea Market, I never seem to manage my time correctly. This year...bucket lists for every season, family days, parent/child day out...they need it....I need it. 

8 Goals....lets do this!!!