Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree

My favorite season is easily spring. The cold is gone, the trees turn green, and everything blossoms. It doesn't hurt that I live in an area where baby animals are in abundance as well. Bunnies, squirrels, deer, birds...we see all their cute little offspring roaming about.

But we especially love the blossoms!

One of our favorite springtime activities begins with a walk or drive through the neighborhood looking for blossoms. They look like popcorn popping on trees. Some of the popcorn is pink, some yellow, purple, and of course white. We choose a color, then go home and make popcorn balls!


It's something I loved to do when I was a child. I remember making them with my mother, while singing our beloved song- Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.

Don't know it? Have a listen. And while you're at it...here are the lyrics and hand motions: http://broadcast.lds.org/churchmusic.../words/242.mp3

I looked out the window and what did I see? (Make hands into binoculars)
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree! (Flick fingers open and closed)
Spring has brought me such a nice surprise,
blossoms popping right before my eyes. (Flick fingers open and closed)

I could take an armful and make a treat. (Swoop arms out and bring in)
A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet! (Cup hands together to make a popcorn ball, then bring to your nose to smell it)
It wasn't really so... (Wag finger back and forth)
But it seemed to be... (Nod head)
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree! (Flick fingers out)

The very same recipe my mother used when I was little is still my favorite.
Here is the link to the recipe:

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/popcorn-balls-50637.aspx

Want to make your popcorn balls even sweeter? Make some and give them to the neighbors whose trees inspired your sweet activity. I'm sure they'll love it!

Sweet Treats!!

Every Christmas season our family has a tradition of baking Christmas goodies! We love to package them up and choose a few families and friends to share them with- and of course we love to save some for our own family! This year we are way behind on our holiday baking. Come to think of it, we are way behind on a lot of things this season. (I guess I didn't do enough editing of my to-do lists)
While the snow fell outside, we were able to get a few of our favorite goodies made! With a snow day today and the kids home from school, I'm hoping to sneak in a few more batches of sugary goodness!!
Marshmallows dipped in chocolate or white candy coating..then dipped in nuts, chocolate or sprinkles.

Chocolate covered Caramel

Caramels with nuts...and we did some white chocolate with chocolate on top as well.

Chocolate dipped cresents

And one of our new favorites, White Chocolate cherry shortbread cookies....dipped in white chocolate of course!!! (are you seeing a theme here?) We dipped them in white non-perils and red edible glitter. I ate three of these in the process of photographing them. Shameful, I know. I should have had breakfast first!

I'll try to get pictures of more goodies as we get them made.

Hopefully we'll get our caramel corn (with chocolate and nuts) and chocolate covered toffee done today.

Ornaments every year

We have a tradition in our family of giving our kids an ornament every year. They also get one from their grandparents. We try to select something that will have special meaning and/or is related to something which happened during the year. We have given a bus ornament for a child starting kindergarten, 1st Christmas to a new baby, Flute to our new flute player (who quit a few months after Christmas- now its a great story teller), new driver, braces, etc. There are a lot of places to get ornaments that have to do with events, places, etc.

We continue to give them to the kids until their 18th year. At that time, they are on their own to create their own memories- and may very well be out on their own. When they do leave the nest, they take their box of ornaments with them to decorate their own tree with lots of memories!

"Family" for Thanksgiving

Growing up, Thankgiving was a huge deal that involved tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, and fun. It was a big crowd smashed into a small space and we loved every minute of it. We continued the tradition as we all grew up and started our own families.

Then our family moved across the country- away from the huge Thanksgiving festivities. It's pretty expensive to fly a family our size to a weekend event. But it wouldn't be the same with just our family.

Our Thanksgiving tradition is to invite other families who are far from their own to our home for the holiday. We enjoy the time with friends and for a day (sometimes longer) they become our family.

If you are far from your family, adopt someone else in the same boat. Holidays are meant to be shared with others you care about.

Christmas Gift Exchange

*I'm posting this ideas now in case anyone wants to adopt it into their own Christmas plans*

Every year among the regular gift giving, our family has a gift exchange. We are assigned a person in our immediate family and are charged with the task of MAKING a gift for that person. We don't really have a set amount that we are allowed to spend on whatever supplies are needed, and there really aren't any other restrictions other than it has to be made by you.

Little ones too young to make things themselves have had help from mom or dad. Some things we've done for preschoolers and under: Hand prints...on an apron, shirt, etc. Picture collages of that child (would be nice with them placed around a piece of art made by them as well). Sticky back gems place on a frame of a mirror. A decorative candy jar with colorful candy art layered inside.

Other things that have been made by our family members to give each other are:

Blankets

Rice sock

Puppet theater and puppets

Cloth Tee Pee

Road rug for toy cars to drive on

Decorated wooden jewelry box (can be purchased at craft store then decorated)

Decorated magnetic memo board

Recipe file

Scarf

There are so many ideas on the Internet and in books on homemade gifts and the possibilities are endless.

This is our favorite part of Christmas morning. We open the homemade gifts together. It has really changed the way we think about gift giving. There is so much thought, time and love put into these gifts and they are always received very well. I think the biggest joy comes from making them.

Do you have any gift giving traditions?

Thanksgiving appetizers

One of my favorite traditions for Thanksgiving when I was a kid was the "appetizer" we were given at the beginning of the meal. Each child was given a cup full of fruit cocktail with lemon-lime soda. It was a delight! Little did I know at the time, that while we kids were having our special treat, it allowed our parents time to fill both their own plates and a plate for those of us who couldn't fill our own. The older kids served up themselves while parents began eating and tending to younger children's needs.

Another benefit of the brilliant plan, was that the adults had first pick of the meal, and were then guaranteed to get a bit of jello goodness and candied sweet potatoes that were always devoured by children who took triple portions in lieu of creamed spinach and green bean casserole.

What holiday family traditions do you enjoy?

Halloween Ghosts

Every year my mom makes these treats and sends them across the country for my kids to enjoy. They wait anxiously for Grandma's package to arrive. I have to admit, she earns extra brownie points for sending enough for my husband and I. We love to make them ourselves as well...but usually resist the temptation and let Grandma cover it for the holiday. It's great fun seeing what creative accessories she's added each year and the kids love picking which ghost they will devour in 10 seconds flat.
(sorry- the ghosts were eaten before I had a decent picture of them. I'll try to find one from last year to post that is up close.)

You can make the Rice Krispies treats yourself, but since my focus here is the actual ghost, I'm not including those directions.

Halloween Ghost Recipe

Rice Krispies Treats
Marshmallow creme fondant
Circus Peanuts candy
Chocolate chips
Gum drops

Cut a Circus peanut candy in half and attach to front of a rice krispies treat at the base for the shoes. Drape marshmallow fondant over top of treat. Push two chocolate chips in front for eyes. Make a hat or other item by smashing a gum drop for the brim and attaching another to the top center. Place on Ghost. Everything is really sticky and you shouldn't need frosting to attach any items.

Marshmallow Creme Fondant

Planning Tip: Keeps well up to 1 week at room temperature in closed container

1 tub or jar (7 or 7 ½ oz) marshmallow cream (such as Marshmallow Fluff or Crème)
2 ¾ to 3 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar

(Tip: Before measuring or stirring the marshmallow cream, lightly coat measuring cups and utensils with nonstick cooking spray.)

Scrape marshmallow cream into a large bowl. Stir in as much sugar as possible, kneading in remaining sugar until a smooth dough forms. (Dough should be stiff yet pliable.) Wrap airtight in plastic wrap until ready to use.
(Originally from a recipe in Woman’s Day magazine in 1980’s or so; I got it from Mom!)