2016 Super Bowl Commercial Bingo Cards

We have been throwing a Kid-Friendly Super Bowl Party for three years now. Our party would not be complete without our homemade Commercial Bingo Cards. 

Using the website adage.com (http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/super-bowl-50-ad-chart-buying-big-game-commercials/301183/), I am able to find the ads that are most likely to be shown early in the game, so the kids can win before bedtime. 

This year, I have made them on Google Docs so it is easier for others to use them for their own party. Simply click on the link below and you will receive five different bingo cards. If you need to make more, you can make a copy of this document and add more. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17CSSBciLiaJar-J43Sm5y8p4FBEwSaQY60TgCbtqeJM/edit?usp=sharing

Comment below if you have any questions. 

Little House on the Prairie House and Peg Dolls

I have been reading a chapter out of the Little House on the Prairie books most nights to the kids. They love the books, and I love rereading the books that filled my childhood. 

I found a huge pile of Lincoln Logs just collecting dust in the boys' closet, so I decided to turn them into a model of the little house on the prairie. I got out the hot glue gun and started building. I had to make do with the sizes of log that I had, but I think it turned out pretty well.  The roof is actually the green flat pieces that come with Lincoln logs. I painted them with brown acrylic paint and hot glued them together. All of the other furniture is made from small and regular size Popsicle sticks. The loft is a piece of cardboard covered with some cork-board scrapbook paper I had. 

I bought a peg doll Nativity set after Christmas in the clearance at Hobby Lobby. I used five of the dolls from there to make the Little House characters. I used a pencil to sketch the clothing and face designs on each doll. Then I colored them in with Sharpie. I used white acrylic paint for the final touches on the girls' dresses. 

All of the furniture is Popsicle sticks hot glued together. 

I used a couple of pieces of cardboard to finish the peaks in the roof. 

The fireplace and kettle are all made from felt and hot glued to the house. 

Rachel had to make sure we had a crib and high chair for baby Carrie. Baby Grace will be added when we get that far in the series. 

Fire Ice Cream

For a fun addition to your ice cream, try lighting it on fire. I took some sugar cubes and soaked them in lemon extract for about 30 seconds. I put one sugar cube on the top of the kids' ice cream and lit it on fire. The kids loved it! 

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

These chocolate pretzel decorations really look cute in a cupcake or can be used alone to dress up a plate of cookies. 

I put melted green chocolate in a disposable melting candy plastic bag. I swirled the chocolate on top of a pretzel stick that was on a piece of wax paper. I Immediately topped with sprinkles and let the chocolate set. Then I picked up the pretzel stick and placed in the cupcake. My kids don't like coconut, so I just sprinkled white sugar sprinkles on the cupcakes for the snow. 

Ribbon Wands

Rachel loves to play with ribbon wands at dance class. So, I decided to make her a couple to play with here. I just used plastic shower curtain rings I bought at Wal-Mart. I cut a piece of ribbon and double knotted it around the ring. They work very well and are inexpensive. 

Cookie Cake

The kids love the idea of cookie cakes, so I bought a couple of pans and tried them out. They turned out great! (Plus they take a lot less time than a batch of cookies.) 

Ingredients:

(This amount will do one cookie cake.)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chocolate chips

Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix in flour, soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips. Spread in a greased pan. Bake about 15 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Decorate as you wish. 

Star Wars Birthday Cake for 7 1/2 Birthday

We like to celebrate the kids' 1/2 birthdays. Here is the cake we had for David's 7 1/2 birthday. 

He started the day with Star Wars pancakes.