Well....

So as you see I didn't post over the weekend.  The girls have struggled this weekend.  They fought and didn't listen and about drove me crazy! (we are also house hunting and church and birthday parties and feeling sick...its just been rough)  So Bell was actually going to "go away" on Saturday but I was so worn out that I forgot to put him away.  So he wrote a letter that basically said "if you girls fight and not listen to your mommy and daddy, I'm going back to the north pole until you start behaving."  Well that didn't do that Saturday, so Bell went bye bye.  The girls were upset, so I though surely they will behave Sunday....oh how wrong I was.  So once again this morning Bell was not here.  I think they were just frustrated today.
But thankfully they were much better today and Bell will make his debut again tomorrow.  So I will have a new challenge and verse to post.

For those of you who having been following the advent calendar with our elf, I'm going to post Saturday through Sunday for you:
Day 7: Luke 1:51-56:  And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name. 

 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation. 

 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 

 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble. 

 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty. 

 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful 

 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Day 8: Matthew 1:18-22: 

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Day 9: Matthew 1:23-25:
 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.


 
So since my sweet little angels were behaving like they deserved coal, I decided to post a fun little treat to do: Coal Rice Krispy Treats!  This can be fun little treats for your little one.

 
3 Tbsp butter
6 cups marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups cocoa krispies**
1 cup crushed oreo
Black food coloring
 Pour the rice krispies and oreos in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Next, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat until melted. Turn the heat down to a simmer and add the marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are mostly all melted (this will take a few minutes--low and slow is key for perfect texture). Add in the vanilla and black food coloring (keep adding until you get the color you want) and finish melting.

Once it is fully melted, take them off heat and pour over the rice krispies. Stir to combine until everything is black. Dump everything by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet, so they look like funky coal shapes. Allow them to cool about 20 minutes.Try not to eat them all!!!