Christmas List 2023

Happy Holidays! I wanted to share some items on my kids Christmas wish list as well as some of their favorite toys to give ya’ll some ideas this Christmas season:)

ROOM ITEMS

Jellyfish Lamp (Asher got this for his birthday and loves it!)

Vision board (Another gift Asher got for his birthday. He loves to hang his projects on it!)

Star Projector

TOYS

Kid Drone (with camera) (Asher really wanted a drone for his bday so I found this one and he loved it! Not too expensive for a drone either.)

Kid airplane drone

Marbleworks

Hey Clay (Asher loves making the clay figures and has them all over his room lol)

Dominos (My boys were obsessed for months with these)

Magnetic Alphabet Maze Board (Good learning activity + nice for on the go)

Toddler dominos (Definitely more for younger children but still super fun)

Instant camera for kids

Baseball practice net

BIGGER ITEMS

Baseball practice net set

Ezy Roller (The boys have one and love them!)

Bounce house (We got a small one during Covid and my kids loved it. We brought it outside and inside and it’s held up the past 3 years well. We just forgot to pack in to Charlotte so may get another one for here.)

In group Trampoline( I was suspect about trampolines before we got our in ground trampolines put in but they are so amazing. I can’t say enough great things about them. Way safer and our kids are obsessed. We’ve had them for months now and everyday our kids..and Adam and I are on them. What a great workout as well!)

Arcades (Wayfair has a lot of great arcade games. We’ve talked about getting one or two but I know my boys would be addicted so would definitely need to set a time limit:))

STOCKING STUFFERS

Bath bomb with toy inside

Retro magic rail twirler

Smoothie cups

Kids Knife Set

Glow Sticks (Great for in the bath)

Magmen Magnetic travel toys

Kid harmonicas

Kids bath bomb potions

Giggles

3 & UNDER

Climb & crawl playset

Tot shot basketball set

Finger painting (Cora loves this! She loves to use her fingers to paint)

Nail Stickers

Busy Board (I got this for Cora to bring to the football games and she likes it)

Interactive toy soccer ball

Mini rainbow streamer

Sound book (Cora loves all books.. especially music books like this one)

Easy no bake oatmeal peanut butter bars

Ingredients:

  • 1 c old fashioned oats

  • 1 c unsweetened coconut

  • 1/4 c almond meal (flour)

  • 3/4 c creamy peanut butter

  • 1/2 c honey

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp vanilla

    Chocolate topping:

  • 1/4 chocolate chips (I usually use dark chocolate or carob chips)

  • 1 tsp coconut oil (melted)

    In a small bowl mix together oats, coconut, and almond flour. In a large bowl microwave and gently melt the peanut butter and the honey. Add the vanilla and salt and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Spread onto and push down on an 8 x 8 pan (I put parchment paper underneath). Put the pan in the freezer for about half hour to an hour. Melt and gently stir together the chocolate chips with the coconut oil. Take the pan out of the freezer and drizzle over the oat mixture and put back into the freezer for about an hour. Take out and cut! We enjoy them out of the freezer, enjoy:)

Recipes--Fall Favs

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In our house Fall is all about football, hosting people, and easy yummy foods! I honestly am not a huge pumpkin fan but the two pumpkin recipes below are my favorites (and not too strong of a pumpkin flavor). The pumpkin just makes them more moist and yummy! Try these recipes put for your family or the next time you need an easy breakfast meal or side dish when guests are over.

HEALTHY PUMPKIN MUFFINS

  • 1 c pumpkin puree

  • 1/2 c melted coconut oil

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/3 c maple syrup

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 2 c oat flour (I didn’t have any so I used whole wheat flour and it still turned out)

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 2 tsp pumkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg)

  • 1/2 c dark chocolate chips

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 350 and line a muffin tin with nonstick spray. In a large bowl add the pumpkin, coconut oil, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla & whisk until well combined. In a small bowl, mix the whole wheat (oat flour), baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Next, add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and stir until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Scoop into the muffin tin and bake for about 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Enjoy!

HEALTHY PUMPKIN BREAD

  • 2 eggs room temp

  • 1/2 c granulated sugar ( I used coconut sugar)

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • ⅔ c mashed banana

  • ½ c pumpkin puree

  • ½ c greek yogurt

  • 1 ½ c all purpose flour (I used whole wheat)

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 c chopped pecans

  • ½ c dark chocolate chips

    Instructions:

    Preheat the oven to 350. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. In a large bowl mash the bananas and mix in the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, and vanilla (until fully combined). Add in the yogurt and mix well.  In a medium bowl, add in the flour, baking powder and cinnamon & mix well. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon. Fold in chopped pecans and chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with extra pecans and chocolate chips. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool for about 20 minutes and enjoy!

EASY BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

  • 24 oz. frozen hash browns -about 8 cups

  • 1 c ground sausage (optional)

  • 1 c diced bacon (optional)

  • 8 oz. shredded cheese

  • 12 large eggs

  • 1 c milk -I used non flavor almond

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 baking dish. Add the frozen potatoes, meat, and cheese to a large bowl and mix to combine. Pour the mixture into the dish. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the hash brown mixture. Top with a little more of the shredded cheese. Pat everything down with the back of a wooden spoon. Bake for about an hour. The center should be set and the edges should be golden brown, enjoy!







Fav workout christian hits

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Freedom is coming- Hillsong Young & Free

Glorify- Jordan Feliz (ft Lecrae & Hulvey)

River of life- Mac Powell

Joy Comes in the morning- Baylor Wilson

Walking Free- Micah Tyler

House of the Lord- Phil Wickham

For the good- Riley Clemmons

Stand in faith- Danny Gokey

Sunday Sermons- Anne Wilson

In the house- Crowder

From the day- I am They

Eyes on you- The Belonging Co & Sarah Reeves

10,000 Armies- Influence music & Jonathan Traylor

Good things- Futures

Into the Wild- Josh Baldwin

Say I won't - Mercyme

Stand- Newsboys (ft. TobyMac)

Desert Road- Casting Crowns

Come What May- We are Messengers

Relate- for King & Country

My God is still the same- Sanctus Reel

What if- Matthew West

My Jesus- Anne Wilson

River of Life- Mac Powell

I Am Yours- Needtobreathe

For the Good- Riley Clemmons

My Lighthouse- Rend Collective

Build your Kingdom here- Rend Collective

You Will never run- Rend Collective

More than Conquerors- Rend Collective

Joy of the Lord- Rend Collective

I will be Undignified- Rend Collective

Greater- Mercyme

On our Way- Mercyme

As for me- Rend Collective

Battle Belongs- Phil Wickham

Bleed the same- Mandisa

Not today- Hillsong United

What I see- Elevation Worship

Echo- Elevation Worship (ft Tauren Wells)

When we pray- Tauren Wells

Until Grace- Tauren Wells & Rascal Flatts

Undefeated- Tauren Wells (ft. KB)

All about you- Tauren Wells (ft. Hollyn)

Run Devil Run- Crowder

Dead man walking- Jeremy Camp

This is living now- Hillsong Young and Free (ft Lecrae)

Your love awakens me- Phil Wickham

Go Hard- Lecrae (ft Tedashii)

Happiness- Needtobreath

All I need is you- Lecrae

The Comeback- Danny Gokey

Old Church Choir- Zach Williams

Soul on Fire- Third Day (ft All Sons & Daughters)

Not Backing Down- Blanca (ft Tedashii)

Awake and Alive- Skillet

I Just need you- Tobymac

Happy Dance- Mercyme

Strong enough- Matthew West

Got Taught me- Zauntee

Die for you- Zauntee

Gods not dead- Newsboys

Shine on us- Josh Wilson

The Comeback- Danny Gokey

Everything comes alive- We are Messengers

Lifer- Mercyme

I’m Turnt- Lecrae

Look up child- Lauren Daigle

O’Lord- Lauren Daigle

Hard Love- Needtobreathe (ft Lauren Dangle)

Come back home- Petey Martin & Lauren Daigle

Coming in hot- Andy Mineo ft Lecrae

Alive and Running- Kristian Stanfill

Soul on fire- Third day

Shake- Mercyme

Chili season

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White chicken chili

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 to 3 breasts), 4 c low-sodium chicken stock, 2 15-ounce cans reduced-sodium white beans, 2 4.5-ounce cans diced green chiles, 3 cloves garlic minced, 1 small yellow onion finely diced, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro, fresh lime wedges

Directions:

Place chicken in the bottom of a larger slow cooker. Top with the chicken broth, white beans, green chiles, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate. Once cool enough to handle, shred and set aside (I like to shred it with a hand blender). Stir in the shredded chicken and cilantro. Portion into bowls and top with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and some shredded cheese.

Crockpot Taco Casserole

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs hamburger browned, 2 cans Ro-Tel tomatoes and peppers, 10 ¾ oz cream of onion soup, 1 package dry taco seasoning mix, ¼ c water, 6 Tortillas cut into ½ inch strips, ½ c sour cream, 1 c cheddar cheese shredded

Directions:

Combine beef, Ro-Tel, Cream of Onion soup, taco seasoning and water in crock pot. Cut up tortillas and stir into mix. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. Spread the sour cream over casserole and sprinkle with cheese. Cover for additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted

Slow cooker chili

Ingredients:

2 lbs lean Ground Beef, (90/10 or 93/7), 1 large onion, diced, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 2 tsp cumin powder, 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 15 oz black beans, (drained and rinsed), 30 oz kidney beans, two 15oz cans, (drained and rinsed), 30 oz diced tomatoes, with their juice, 10 oz diced tomatoes and green chilis, with their juice, 30 oz tomato sauce

Directions:

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté beef until it releases fat (4-5 minutes), breaking it up with a spatula. Add onion to the skillet and sauté until tender (4-5 minutes). Add minced garlic and seasonings: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Cook another 30 seconds stirring constantly. Transfer to a 6 Qt slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients into the slow cooker: rinsed and drained beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, diced tomatoes and green chilis with juice and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Season to taste if desired and serve warm with shredded cheese and chips.

Comforting one pot chicken chili

2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 medium onion, diced, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1 lb ground chicken (I used ground bison), 1 tsp cumin, 1 packet taco seasoning, 2/3 c water, 1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilis, 1 c chicken broth, 1 16 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, 1 c frozen corn, 2 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes. Add ground chicken (or beef) and break up while cooking. If using ground chicken, let it cook until chicken turns white. Mix in cumin, taco seasoning, and water until well combined. Cool down for 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, corn, and salt and pepper. Bring to simmer, cover and reduce the heat to low for about 20 minutes. Load chili in your bowl with your favorite toppings. Eat and enjoy!

Enjoy these family favorite chili type recipes on these cold Minnesota winter nights:)

(Recipes off of Pinterest)

xoxo,

MRS T