Homemade Hot Chocolate

This is an old favorite in our house.  I shared this recipe last year and thought with the cold weather and Christmas almost upon us, that I would share it once again!  (The photo of Kiddo #3 is from last year's batch.  You can probably tell that he looks much younger!)  :-)

The Kiddos and I like to make this up and place it in a festive mug for Christmas gifts.  Kiddo #4 is giving one to her sewing instructor this year.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups powdered milk

1/8 cup cocoa

1/3 cup sugar

mini marshmallows (optional)

Directions

Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

When you are ready to use, scoop out 1/2 cup of the mix and place in an empty 12-ounce mug.  (My daughter used  about 3 tablespoons for about 8 ounces) Fill the mug the rest of the way up with boiling water, but leave room for a few marshmallows!  Or, if you prefer, add whipped cream.  Enjoy. 

We love it here.  Hope you do, as well!  :-)

CAN I ASK YOU ALL A FAVOR?  Home to 4 Kiddos was nominated in the "Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog" category of the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Would you kindly vote for us?  Just click on the circle to the right of "Home to 4 Kiddos" and click VOTE.  You can vote once per day per device.  Thanks SO much.  Click HERE to bring you to the voting page. 

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and the Chicken Chick

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My Week in Review #17

Can't believe Christmas is in one week!  Wow.  Where did the time go?  Speaking of time, however, it is definitely time for you to share all about your week!

Linked in the first spot below is my post all about the 3rd week of Advent in our home.  I hope you enjoy!

CAN I ASK YOU ALL A FAVOR?  Home to 4 Kiddos was nominated in the "Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog" category of the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Would you kindly vote for us?  Just click on the circle to the right of "Home to 4 Kiddos" and click VOTE.  You can vote once per day per device.  Thanks SO much.  Click HERE to bring you to the voting page. 

An InLinkz Link-up

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My Week in Review/Weekly Wrap-Up December 20

We finished up school this week and have continued to focus on Advent.

Our tree is decorated

Our Advent chain is getting shorter and shorter (I can't believe Christmas is literally days away!)

The Jesse Tree continues to fill as we learn about the geneaology of Christ

I have put up the memory tree (a tree I made with photos of loved ones who have passed away)

And Mary and Joseph are getting closer and closer to "Bethlehem" (I found that beautiful little state on Ebay, believe it or not)  Our church has as beautiful display with a similar (but a bit larger) making its way through the hilly 1st century streets to the manger.  It is stunning.  I will try to remember to take a picture of it this weekend.  Until that display went up, I had never seen a statue of Mary expecting and being led on the donkey by Joseph.

Not Advent related, but worth mentioning nonetheless, lol--  one night I picked up a pattern and some elastic for Kiddo #4.  By the next afternoon, she was wearing her Winnie the Pooh pajamas.  She amazes me!  :-)  In class, she is working on a dress.  In another week or so, it will be done and I will be happy to post a picture of it.

We have also baked, attended an Advent prayer service at church and the kids went on their annual shopping trip with their grandmother.  She takes them to a store (actually several stores!) where they can pick out gifts for each other and for my husband, parents and I.  They so look forward to it.  It is something very special they do together and I love how excited they still get over picking out (and then wrapping and actually giving) the gifts to each other and us.

CAN I ASK YOU ALL A FAVOR?  Home to 4 Kiddos was nominated in the "Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog" category of the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Would you kindly vote for us?  Just click on the circle to the right of "Home to 4 Kiddos" and click VOTE.  You can vote once per day per device.  Thanks SO much.  Click HERE to bring you to the voting page. 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful last weekend of Advent!  God bless!

Linking up today with:  My Week in Review,  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week and Collage Friday

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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- December 16

I can't believe it is Tuesday again and that it is almost Christmas!  Where did the time go?  :-)

The most viewed post from last week's hop was:

Rolo Pretzel Turtles from My Sweet Mission

CAN I ASK YOU ALL A FAVOR?  Home to 4 Kiddos was nominated in the "Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog" category of the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Would you kindly vote for us?  Just click on the circle to the right of "Home to 4 Kiddos" and click VOTE.  You can vote once per day per device.  Thanks SO much.  Click HERE to bring you to the voting page. 

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My Week in Review/Weekly Wrap-Up- December 12

Advent is in full swing.  We lit our candles, read special books, prayed special devotions and did Lenten-focused activities (like our Jesse Tree and Advent chain)  Kiddo #4 made a beautiful purse in sewing class.  (Here is my Mama brag-- it it fully lined and has a zipper, too!)

Last Monday was an awesome day for Kiddos 2, 3 and 4.  They all passed their tests and advanced to new belts in Taekwondo!  Kiddos 3 and 4 broke a half-inch board with their elbows (ouch!) and earned their green belts.  Kiddo #2 broke a one-inch thick board with his knee (double ouch!) and earned his blue belt!  We are very proud of them!  :-)

We also celebrated a special birthday for Kiddo #3!  (we now have 3 teenagers! yegads!!!)  :-)

Kiddo #4 got up super early, made her brother a delicious breakfast of pancakes and muffins, as well as having decorated the kitchen with streamers that she sewed herself!  She bought 3 different colors and sewed them together to make a bunting!  Wasn't it pretty?

In our homeschool, birthdays are field trip days, with the birthday kiddo choosing wherever they would like to go.  Kiddo #3 chose the zoo.

The weather cooperated as best it could do in December and we had a great time.  The zoo has begun to put in overhead walkways for the animals to wander about.  How incredibly cool is it to have a cougar sit and watch us eat lunch?  As soon as we were done and went outside to say goodbye to him, he stayed just long enough for us to do so and then went on his way.  Just like he was giving a special gift to the birthday boy.  :-)

It was also awesome to see the new lion cubs and other great exhibits and animals at the zoo.  The Philadelphia Zoo is America's First Zoo and has much to offer.  I think Kiddo had a great birthday.   :-)

We also baked some Christmas cookies, made some crafts and got our tree and decorations up.  Phew!

Hope your week and weekend were fun and productive, too!  :-)

Could I ask you a favor?  Home to 4 Kiddos was nominated as the "Best Homemaking and/or Recips Blog" in the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Would you mind clicking HERE to vote?  You just have to click on the circle to the right of Home to 4 Kiddos and then click vote.  You can vote once a day per device until the 29th!  :-)  THANKS so much!!!!!

Have a wonderful week.  God bless and Happy third week of Advent!  :-)

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My Week in Review #16

It is that time of the week again-- to share all about your adventures.  I can't wait to see what you all will link up!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Disney Memories

As many of you know, my parents took us on a wonderful trip to Disney over Thanksgiving.  What a  blessing, indeed!  The kids had an amazing time (as did the adults) and we were definitely very grateful for their generosity.

We visited Magic Kingdom

and had a birthday girl

Kennedy Space Center (and literally got up close and personal with a Space Shuttle!!!!! WOW!)

Sea World (and got to have Thanksgiving dinner with Shamu-- I'm not kidding!)

Animal Kingdom

and Epcot

And, here are some photos with the "grown-ups" :-) in them:

Even a week doesn't do it all justice, but definitely gives us reason to try to get there again someday!

**Home to 4 Kiddos has been nominated for the "Best Homemaking and/or Recipe Blog" Award in the Homeschool Blog Awards.  Can I ask for your vote?  You can vote once per day per device. Click HERE to go to the page to vote.


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