2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

December 28, 2020 by Rachel 11 Comments

I know it’s a phrase we’ve seen and heard time and time again — there’s no way any of us saw 2020 going like this. While I still managed to hit some significant goals, the pandemic certainly forced my focus to be at home. And that’s not a bad thing. I’ve tried to pass that perspective on to my kids as well. Sure, we don’t see our friends. But we will! And no, we didn’t get to go on vacation as planned. But we will when it’s safe. And so I created this 2020 year in review printable for kids so that we can look at the bigger picture together.

What I learned this year

I’ve always been a ‘busy’ person. I used to commit to too much and then feel completely drained. And when March hit, my busy-ness came to a full stop. I immediately leaned into it. Because, well, what other choice did I have?

Distance-learning

Who knew that remote learning and distance learning would be such an important part of our vocabulary in 2020?! I’m certain none of us had any idea. When schools went remote in the Spring, I was ready for it. I saw it coming and new that I just had to do what we could to get through until Summer.

Truthfully, distance learning at that point felt more like homeschooling on our schedule. I was grateful. Granted, my son was only in the first grade at the time. But still. And, most of the time, we made it through easily. Sure, we had ocassional hangups; but nothing major.

Being at Home

Ya know, this part of the pandemic didn’t quite bother me so much. I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I primarily work from home, but I did also take a leave of absence at my part-time gig (followed by a lay-off). We would go days and days without driving in the car. And then, suddenly, I would just need to get out. But without anywhere to go, the kids and I would just drive around.

But my husband worked from home for a couple of months and, honestly, it was nice having him around. The kids hated when he had to go back to the office (which, honestly, is just him and one other guy — distanced and masked).

And, after we decided to cancel our August vacation (in April), we made the decision to put some work into our house. We hired a local contractor to put up a very long privacy fence. Shortly thereafter, we hired him to also put in a deck for us. Hours and hours were spent tearing down and then building up a new playset for the kids. Next we built a new sandbox. And, finally, we installed a hot tub.

But we also had more meals at home. More movie nights weigh the kids. And many, many, more memories made.

Why I’m grateful for 2020

I’ve never ever been a ‘roll with the punches’ kind of person. I like a clear, set plan. But, it turns out, when faced with a global pandemic, I learned to seriously just lean into taking this year for what it gave me.

Don’t get me wrong — I am straight up sad. I’m sad for the lives lost and those who have suffered. I’m even more sad for those on the frontlines who have had to deal with science deniers in the digital age. But I’m also happy that this year brought clarity — some of which was hard-fought. I have lost friends and acquaintances to differences in opinion; but I’ve also gained a whole heck of a lot.

I’ve gained the understanding that some people are only meant in your life for a season or a reason. Additionally, I’ve increased my appreciation for the basics: a roof over my head, food on the table, my family, and our health. I’ve also strengthened relationships with family and friends. And I do not discount that for a second.

2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

Whether or not you leaned into this year; whether or not you felt this year was majorly disruptive or a much needed slowdown; take a moment to check in with your kids. Be sure to use this PDF Printable and ask your kids to fill it out (or help them).

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Last Minute Easy Rudolph Brownies Recipe

December 23, 2020 by Rachel 7 Comments

We’ve been watching Christmas movies non-stop in this house. One of our all-time favorites is Elf. And, near the beginning of the movie, there’s a line where they call Santa’s elves and Christmas “The Big Game.” Well, folks. We’re here. We’re at ‘the big game’! Christmas is nearly upon us. If you’re like me you may be a little behind the eight ball. If you need a super last minute treat for your kids, you absolutely must try this last minute easy Rudolph brownies recipe!

What you’ll need for these fun brownies

As mentioned, these easy peasy treats are mostly pre-made.

1 sheet of premade Brownies. I picked up mine from Walmart bakery, but you can find similar brownies at Target or Meijer as well.
Large Candy Eyes like these.
Pretzels
Red M&Ms. I know that it’s not easy to buy just red M&Ms, but you can buy the holiday M&Ms and separate them out.

How to make Last Minute Easy Rudolph Brownies Recipe!

Easy Rudolph Brownies

Ingredients

1 sheet of premade Brownies from Walmart bakery
Large Candy Eyes
Pretzels
Red M&Ms

Instructions

Step 1 :

Cut the brownie into squares.

Step 2 :

Place two pretzels at each top corner for reindeer antlers.

Step 3 :

Take two eyes and place them on the brownies.

Step 4 :

Add a red M&M for a nose.

Last Minute Easy Rudolph Brownies

Step 5 :

Serve & enjoy!

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Christmas Tree Car Craft for kids with template

December 22, 2020 by Rachel 5 Comments

We’re only a few days out from Christmas and the kids and I are still cranking out holiday crafts and treats. I must admit that we are a family that has decided an artificial tree is the way to go. But I grew up with a real tree year after year. We never went to cut our own tree, but we did pick our trees up and tie them to the roof of the car. And, while my kids haven’t experienced that per se, they have seen enough Christmas movies to know that tying a tree down to the roof of your car is kind of a tradition. So we decided to make this super cute and super fun Christmas tree car craft for kids.

Here’s what you’ll need to make these

colored craft papers or cardstock
craft glue
a pencil
scissors
this template

How to make this Christmas Tree Car Craft

Christmas Tree Car Craft

Materials

Colored craft papers or card stock
craft glue
a pencil
scissors

Instructions

Step 1:

Select red, gray, white and blue colored craft papers for the car craft. Select green craft paper for the tree and brown to cut the strips. Using this template trace the car and the half-circle shapes on the red paper, the squares (windows) on blue paper, the big round shapes (wheels) on gray or black and the small round shapes on white paper.

Step 2:

Grab the 4 round paper cutouts. Stick the small ones in the center of the big ones. Use a black sharpie to trace outline of the small circles and draw small circles in the center of the small circles.

Step 3:

Stick the paper wheels on the half-circle paper cutouts, keeping the round edges on the outer sides.

Step 4:

Stick the 2 square cutouts on the car base pattern, on the top part.

Step 5:

Stick the paper wheels along the bottom side of the car base.

Step 6:

Stick both wheels on the bottom side of the car base, making sure to keep a good distance between both wheels.

Step 7:

Trace and cut out the tree pattern from a green colored craft paper. Stick 2 thin brown paper strips criss-cross wise on the tree and then stick the tree on the top side of the paper car.

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Holiday Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe

December 20, 2020 by Rachel 10 Comments

Okay, so hear me out — We all know this holiday is going to look majorly different. On a personal and private level, I’ve hemmed and hawed about this holiday season. I’m bummed that our extended family won’t be together, but I’m trying my darn best to lean in to this crazy time. But here we are — less than a week out — and I have yet to complete most of my holiday tasks. The one thing I do have ready is my delicious holiday bourbon glazed ham recipe!

The Christmas Ham

The Christmas Ham, also known as the Yule Ham, comes from the English-German tradition of where a wild boar was supposedly the sacrifice of choice to the Norse god Freyr. In the 2,000 years since, the Christmas ham has become a staple of the holiday meal.

This comfort food has been a staple in our home for the last 8-plus years. And, this year, we’re doing things a tad bit different. Because, well, 2020, am I right?! Instead of a traditional Christmas ham, we’re making a delicious holiday bourbon glazed ham recipe that is to die for!

Why Bourbon?

I’m a big fan of cooking and baking with wine, beer, and liquor. It gives food a flavor that can’t otherwise be duplicated.

What you’ll need for this Bourbon Glazed Ham Recipe

One (8 to 10 pounds) fully cooked, bone-in ham
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup bourbon (I use Jim Beam)
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon prepared ground mustard

Bourbon Glazed Ham

Ingredients

1 (8 to 10 pounds) fully cooked, bone-in ham
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon prepared ground mustard
¼ cup bourbon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush the ham with 2 tablespoons of bourbon.

Bake the ham for 2 hours.

Just before the timer expires, stir together the brown sugar, molasses, prepared ground mustard, and remaining bourbon.

Carefully remove the ham from the oven and brush or spoon the glaze over the ham.

Return the ham to the oven and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 140 degrees.

Allow the ham to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

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Holiday Peppermint Truffles Recipe

December 17, 2020 by Rachel 5 Comments

We’re nearly a week out from Christmas and I’m still not quite ready. By that I mean that I have all of our gifts purchased; nothing has been wrapped and nothing has been shipped. I have a lot of work left to do. But that won’t stop me from baking up a storm with my littlest loves in an effort to bring some normalcy to this holiday season. And this holiday peppermint truffles recipe is the most perfectly delicious holiday treat!

What you’ll need for this recipe

You’ll need a few pieces of equipment for this holiday recipe. The first of which is either a hand mixer or a stand mixer. I used to have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, but now I use a KitchenAid hand mixer simply because it takes up less space, storage-wise. But you’ll also need a food processor. If you are in the market for a food processor or blender I highly recommend just getting a Vitamix. The company itself is a awesome because they have an incredible 10-year guarantee on their product. But it is also super versatile.

Besides equipment, you’ll also need:

White Cake Mix
3 eggs
⅓ cup of oil
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
Crushed Candy Canes or Peppermints
White Chocolate Melting Wafers, Almond Bark or Candy Coating

How to make this treat

Peppermint Truffles

Ingredients

White Cake Mix
3 eggs
⅓ cup oil
1 cup water
1 tsp peppermint extract
Crushed Candy Canes or Peppermints
White Chocolate Melting Wafers, Almond Bark or Candy Coating

Instructions

Prepare Cake Mix according to box directions.

Add in the peppermint flavoring to the cake mix.

Bake the cake according to mix instructions.

Let the cake cool completely.

Prepare the truffles:

Place the fully cooled peppermint cake into your food processor on the thickest setting to begin with. Once the cake is broken up and forms crumbs, move the processor down to the smallest setting.

Let the cake mix until it turns into a dough.

*If your food processor is unable to mix the cake into a dough, let it mix until you can effortlessly squeeze the processed cake into a ball.

Using the cookie scoop, roll small, evenly-sized balls of cake dough and let rest on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Prepare the Chocolate:

Put the white chocolate wafers into a heat safe bowl.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave by melting for 30-second intervals and stirring in between.

Once the chocolate is fully melted you will want to test how fluid it is. The chocolate should flow off a spoon, If it doesn’t it's too thick. Add ½ tsp of vegetable or melted coconut oil to thin out the chocolate until it flows off a spoon.

Dip all of your cake balls into the melted chocolate. Use the aid of a spoon to scoop them out of the chocolate and tap lightly on the inside rim to release any excess chocolate.

Place on parchment and allow to harden at room temperature.

Have sprinkles and or crushed peppermint ready to be added to top of cake truffles while they are still warm and not yet cooled.

Holiday Peppermint Truffles Recipe

Let cool completely and ENJOY!

Notes

The Peppermint Cake can be made in advance if you’d like to split the project into two different days.

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Kid Friendly Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

December 15, 2020 by Rachel 12 Comments

As a kid, one of the most memorable parts of Christmas was baking cookies with my mom. My sister and I would gather in the kitchen for what seemed like hours — making some of our favorite cookies. From holiday cutouts, to snowball cookies (my dads personal favorite), to thumbprints, and then candy cane cookies — it just seemed to make the holidays magical. I am trying to keep up the holiday magic with my own family by creating the same traditions. And one of those traditions is making this delicious candy cane cookies recipe!

Candy Canes and Nostalgia

My mom has always been an excellent baker. And, for as far back as I can remember, baking has always been an important way for us to bond. Unlike myself as a parent, my mom didn’t shy away from having us kids in her kitchen. She invited the chaos! I, on the other hand, am a bit nervous about letting my kids in the kitchen with me. It’s just so… messy!

But what better time to learn to embrace the chaos than this year, am I right? So I’ve invited my kids to take a step back into my childhood with these candy cane cookies!

What you’ll need to make this Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

1 Cup of Butter (softened)
1 Cup and 2 Tablespoons of Granulated Sugar
¼ Cup of Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
2 ½ Cups of All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon of Peppermint Extract
1 teaspoon of Baking Powder
½ teaspoon of Salt
Red Gel Food Coloring
2 Tablespoons of Crushed Candy Canes (2 Candy Canes)

The recipe itself is super easy. Just be sure to reserve the 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar for the second part of the recipe, and you’re good to go!

Here’s how to make this Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients

1 Cup of Butter (softened)
1 Cup of Granulated Sugar
¼ Cup of Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon of Peppermint Extract
1 Egg
2 ½ Cups of All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon of Baking Powder
½ teaspoon of Salt
Red Gel Food Coloring
2 Tablespoons of Granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Crushed Candy Canes (2 Candy Canes)

Instructions

With an electric mixer cream together butter and sugar, add in the egg, vanilla, and peppermint and mix until well incorporated.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and powdered sugar.

Add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and mix until well incorporated.

Remove the dough and form it into ball or log and cut it in 2 equal halves.

Add red gel food coloring to one half and gently knead it to mix the color in. Add more if needed to achieve a nice deep red.

Wrap each dough color in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

To make the cookies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl mix together 2 Tbsp. of sugar and crushed candy cane, set aside.

Scoop out a teaspoon of each color dough.

Roll the dough into 5 inch long ropes.

Twist the ropes together and shape into a candy cane shape and place onto a cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle with the candy cane and sugar mixture, allow to cool on cookie sheet for about 3 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Cool and ENJOY!

Notes

Between batches of baking, scrape the excess sugar/candy cane off the cookie sheet so that it doesn’t melt.

Store cookies in an airtight container.

Tell me — what’s your favorite family baking tradition?