Hello MacMammas and Papas:
I put up our Macaroni Kid Spring logo because I am just totally done with winter. Dangerously Cold Temperatures, done. Snow, done. Ice, done. School closings and delays, done. Salt-stained snow boots, done. Ugly down coat, done. Technically, we are less than one month away from spring. I saw an ad that Rita's Ices is opening up soon, so that's always a good sign. And click here for this cool countdown to spring. Just 28 days, 4 hours, 34 minutes, and 32 seconds left! Catch me in about 4 months and I will be complaining about the heat.
Right now, about the only thing keeping me happy these days is all the great TV I am addicted to. I feel like all I do every night is watch TV...The Bachelor, American Idol (loving this year's Top 24!), The Goldbergs, Glee's last season, Nashville. And my 3 new favorite shows of the year...Fresh off the Boat, Blackish, and Empire (totally obsessed, especially with Cookie!).
On a happy note, I am happy to announce that my son Josh just was hired for his first real job--he will be an Assistant Counselor at Frogbridge Day Camp this coming summer! Personally, I am just happy that I have one less kid to pay for camp! I can't believe that just 6 years ago, I was working as a counselor there and Josh was just a little camper! Arielle will be going on the same cross-country USY trip that Josh went on last summer. So, stay tuned for my weekly trip notes in a few months. Somehow, I think Arielle will spend a whole lot more money than Josh did last summer.
Did you know that February is official Bird Feeding Month? Well, neither did I, so in honor of this special occasion, we have easy-to-make bird feeder for you to make with your kids.
One of the things I miss most about being Miss Merri, the Mommy & Me teacher, is all the fun crafts I used to make with the kids. I always loved to make edible crafts, as well as ones that you could "scratch and sniff." Some of my favorites were strawberries painted with strawberry jello mix, apple pies sprinkled with cinnamon, and pumpkins sprinkled with pumpkin pie spices. So, I just love this fun Scratch and Sniff Painting craft featured in this issue!
So, until next week, think spring and maybe we will go a week without a snowstorm and all the dirty snow will melt away. Speaking of dirty snow, check out our fun recipe for a "dirty snow" snack using white chocolate pudding, oreos, cool whip, and marshmallows (hmm, that's even better than our infamous snow ice cream!). And then I can put my down (blanket) coat away in the back of the closet. I am dreaming of flip flops, sundresses, and capri pants right about now.
Peace, love, and macaroni, and thoughts of spring,
Merri and Sheri
P.S. If you are reading this and not yet a subscriber to our weekly e-newsletter then click HERE to subscribe. We have some great giveaways, and you MUST be a subscriber to win.Don't forget to follow us on Facebook. We are known to put a surprise giveaway up on there too! https://www.facebook.com/MacaroniKidWesternMonmouth