Gingerbread is my absolute FAVORITE. I could eat it errday. Forrealz.
In honor of that, here’s my boys’ lunches for tomorrow:
I made gingerbread boy shaped apple butter sandwiches. I added details with Food Writers and chocolate covered sunflower seeds (which I also threw in the lunchbox, as well). I also packed snap pea crisps, red grapes, carrots (Smalls), corn (Bigs), yogurt with gingerbread boy sprinkles, and Trader Joe’s gingerbread boy cookies.
Gingerbread 4 life.
Kristin
In his Kindergarten class, my son is studying Jesus’ special birth and all the events that led up to it. This season is so very important to our Christian faith and he’s so excited to be immersed in such a beautiful story each day in class. For tomorrow’s lunch, I made a ham and cheese Star of Bethlehem (lolz). That star (the real one, not the hammy version) is so symbolic of the birth of the baby who would go on to save us all, for all time, no matter the cost. The star shone so bright in the night sky, leading the Wise Men and others to the humble stable where our Savior was born.
I made a star shaped ham and cheese sandwich and I sprayed it gold with a bit of food safe spray. I also packed dried cranberries, pita chips, a mandarin orange, red grapes, a shortbread cookie, and a few red/green/white chocolate covered sunflower seeds.
May the light of the Lord shine brightly during this special season for all of you,
Kristin
My Biggie Bigs loved his pumpkin and cream cheese sandwich so much, he asked me to make it again for tomorrow! With that, I also packed a few chocolate covered sunflower seeds, charred corn, homemade berry fruit snacks, freeze dried jack fruit, snap pea crisps, and an organic yogurt squeeze (I forgot to put today’s in his lunchbox from the freezer again – oooops!).
Kristin
Last Friday was my first Co-op Helper Parent day in my 3 year old’s class. We had such a great time and it was a real hoot to see him in his classroom environment. We got to sick on kid-sized chairs and each lunch together, too.
Here was my lunch:
I packed pizza (I LOVE cold pizza), kiwi, blueberries, carrots, and broccoli.
And for my boys:
Pizza, snap pea crisps, apples (with blueberries for my Bigs), a chocolate chip cookie, and a few chocolate covered sunflower seeds. I meant to add an organic yogurt squeeze for Bigs too, but forgot about it in the freezer…and boy, did I hear about it later!
Kristin
Tomorrow is my Co-op day! I’m excited to hang with my big buddy in class. I packed three lunches for tomorrow.
For me:
A salad with greens, yellow tomatoes, carrots, celery, and a whole avocado. I also packed bleu cheese dressing (although I’ll probably just mash up the avocado and use that as “dressing”). I also packed a mandarin orange, pineapple, and grapes.
For my Biggie:
I made a puzzle out of a PB&J sandwich. I also packed Goldfish crackers, pineapple, grapes, a few caramel rice cakes, and some chocolate covered sunflower seeds.
And for my Smalls:
He got half of a PB&J, some Goldfish, halved grapes, caramel rice cakes, and chocolate covered sunflower seeds for dessert.
Almost almost Friday. Let’s do this!
Kristin
9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
In continued celebration of our Savior’s birth story, I came up with this angel themed lunch for my Bigs. I used my angel cookie cutter on a PB&J, and added yellow details (halo, wings, dress) with my Food Writer and sprayed this most important angel gold. I packed goldfish crackers, raisins, red, white, and green chocolate covered sunflower seeds, apple slices, half a mandarin orange, some red grapes, and an organic yogurt squeezy.
This is my last Christmas themed school lunch for this year. I’ll be doing fun “home” lunches from here on out!
May you feel the warmth of this heavenly story,
Kristin
So, I told you I made cake. Remember that? I’m sure you do. I mean, if you told me that you made a cake, I would not forget. Cake isn’t a flippant thought in my mind. Anywhoooo…
Isn’t this a sight to behold? A thing of beauty? A real looker? I used one of my two go-to chocolate cake recipes, this one being the one-bowl selection. To decorate, I chopped up those magical Ferrero Rocher candies (I used a pack of twelve, four each of three flavors, for this 9×13 sized cake). I distributed those around the edge of this beast and sprinkled some Christmas nonpareils on top.
Sure, my butter wasn’t fully softened and left little chunks in the frosting. Can’t win them all. But hey, when were chunks of rich, creamy butter a bad thing, in a rich, creamy chocolate frosting? Maybe you CAN win them all.
This cake is incredibly moist and the frosting equally smooth. It’s a winning combo, especially with the addition of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. I realize this sounds like a sponsored ad, but it isn’t. Although, Ferrero Rocher, if you’re listening, I’m up for sponsorship. #pleasesponsorme #anyone #anyone? My Bible study ladies seemed to really enjoy it. I know I did!
I mean, lookee.
Here’s the original recipe:
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/06/one-bowl-chocolate-cake-made-from-scratch.html
And the frosting recipe:
http://myrecipemagic.com/recipe/recipedetail/moms-chocolate-frosting-the-best-frosting-recipe
I also made lunches for my boys (obvi).
For my Bigs:
It’s a wreath-shaped PB&J and a teeny little gingerbread-shaped PB&J. I also packed colby jack cheese, a few pretzels, half a mandarin orange, a few apple slices, and some of that freaking good cake. I promised my Bigs that I’d try to save him a piece. He’ll be so happy to have it. I also sprinkled on a few red, green, and white chocolate covered sunflower seeds just because. Unfortunately, he got sick in the middle of the night, so he’ll be enjoying this from home today. (if you think of it, say a little prayer for his recovery? he’s got a Christmas performance at school tomorrow that I know he’d really be sad to miss being a part of – thank you!)
And for my Smalls:
For him, I packed a PB&J in the shaped of a little tree and a little gingerbread boy (which I’ve ruined with a big ol’ face, but he won’t notice), colby jack cheese, apple slices, half a mandarin orange, honey-roasted peanuts, and a few of the chocolate covered sunflower seeds for his little dessert.
Many blessings to you!
Kristin
O, Star of wonder, star of night
Star of royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
The birth of Jesus is an incredible story. To ponder what Mary (and Joseph!) was thinking when she was told by an angel that she would be with child and that her son would be called Emmanuel and be the King of Kings, is just overwhelming. She must have felt such fear, only to be comforted by the fact that her son would be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And then to travel, heavily pregnant, and give birth in a stable – with only the peace from God to comfort her. Such courage. And that baby, that precious baby, who took his first breath, surrounded by animals and his two loving parents – that baby would would change the course of the world, as it was known, and forevermore. Mary and Joseph must have felt such pride, holding this wonderful gift from God. I can only relate on a worldly level, being a Mother myself. I cannot even imagine knowing that my child would have such an important destiny in His life.
I just love reading the story of Jesus’ birth. I love imagining Him as a sweet baby, an energetic child, a dedicated teen, a leader, a teacher, a Savior, all the while knowing His own purpose on this Earth.
I LOVE celebrating Jesus’ birth this Season. He is my Father, my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father, my Prince of Peace. He is our reason for this season. CHRISTmas.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. – Isaiah 9:6-7
In thinking of how the Stars over Bethlehem showed the Wise Men their way to greet the new born King, I was inspired to make a Star lunch for my Bigs.
I made a gold star shaped PB&J (I used gold food-safe spray and used my yellow Food Writer to outline it). I packed goldfish crackers, yogurt raisins, red, green, and white chocolate covered sunflower seeds (dessert), grapes, apple slices, seasoned corn, and a cranberry oatmeal bar.
Blessings,
Kristin
You know when you try, not your hardest, but close to it, and something doesn’t work out? And you just keep it crappy and serve it? I’m referring to meals here. And in particular, lunches. Kid lunches. Christmas kid lunches.
This Christmas kid lunch:
Oops. It looks like the Grinch left his mark on that left side of the sandwich. He left his heart there, as well as a green smudge from his Grinchy hand. Yup. That’s what this lunch is. It was supposed to be a holly leaf with three, distinct, little red berries. You can see that, right? RIGHT? While I’d never label [good] bread as a “mistake”, I think in this case, the hearty French loaf, filled with yummy bubbles and indents lent itself to the sad end result. Whatever. I’m already over it. It’s still good bread. Just with a Grinch hand on it. The other side is a candy cane. It’s PB&J. I put some colby jack cheese in there, as well as a mandarin orange, some red and green grapes, another TJ’s cranberry bar, and some red, green, and white chocolate covered sunflower seeds.
I wonder if my Bigs will even notice?
Blessings!
Kristin
We’re baaaaack. Did you miss me? Say yes. I need to know you missed me and my little food.
I hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving. My family did. We ran a 5K early in the morning and the weather was just gorgeous. We ate dinner with my husband’s family this year. It was just wonderful. And now we’re back in the school groove, with the first of only eight school days left in the year. I can’t even. It’s all going by so quickly. I can’t wait for winter break, where I get to have both my babies home with me!
Here is the lunch I packed for my Bigs for tomorrow:
I know what you’re thinking…that this Santa looks a little dead behind the eyes. I’d like to adjust your thoughts on him. Think of him as more Avant Garde Santa. He don’t need no lips, nose, or beard. He rocks just the hat and eyes. That’s art.
Boom.
Anywho. In addition to Dead Behind the Eyes Santa PB&J, I also packed assorted raisins, assorted grapes, a few cheddar rice cakes, applesauce, a Trader Joe’s cranberry bar (cut up), and a few red, white, and green chocolate covered sunflower seeds for dessert.
Here’s to my “art” and Bigs’ lunches looking less freaky deaky in the next few days,
Kristin
Sprinkles in my Lunchbox 