News with Naylors

This season has been my most favorite Christmas. We packed in so many fun activities, but most of all MEMORIES that will always be with us. Out of all the activities we did, my four and five year old said their favorite was having a sleepover by the Christmas Tree. Decorate the Tree and turn on some Christmas Music. Christmas Elf . Every year, my kids know that "Snowflake" is going to visit our home in December. She leaves us notes with activities we're doing in the day (like Grinch Night or Sinterklaas) and little surprises (like a box of lights to decorate our room, money to Christmas shop for siblings, or a lamb stuffed animal for our sleepover under the tree).  25 Days of Christ Advent Tree from New Tradition Crafts. This year, one of my main goals was to focus more on Christ. Starting on December 1, we read a scripture about Christ and added a corresponding ornament onto a small tree (you can sometimes find a small tree at the Dollar Store around Chris

One of my favorite instagram accounts to follow is Amber's Kitchen. She posted this cinnamon roll recipe I've been meaning to make for a while now. I halved the recipe below and made them for Christmas morning and they were incredible. I added in the almond extract in the frosting, and it made them over the top delicious. This will be my go-to cinnamon roll recipe from now on. Please see  Amber's Kitchen Instagram Page for the recipe.

For Christmas, we make a cake to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. This year, I made our first Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes. I couldn't wait to see the "lava" come out of the cake when I cut my fork into it. And then, nothing happened. I learned I baked them for too long. Haha. They still tasted amazing, and I am going to redeem myself soon.  Ingredients: 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate 2 eggs 2 egg yolks 1/2 cup sugar Pinch of salt 2 Tablespoons flour Directions: 1)  Preheat the oven to 450°. Butter and lightly flour four 6-ounce ramekins. Tap out the excess flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet. 2)  In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the butter with the chocolate. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the egg yolks, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale. 3)  Whisk the chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into the egg mixture along with the flour. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekin

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to invite some friends over for a waffle bar (breakfast for dinner), sing Christmas songs and enjoy a visit from Santa. Santa brings the kids a box of cereal and shares a short message of the Savior. This year, I bought a Belgian Waffle Iron and we topped them with whipped cream (see recipe below), fresh fruit, caramel, and buttermilk syrup (see recipe below)/maple syrup. I quadrupled the recipe and it made 22 big waffles. The kids mostly ate 1/2 a waffle and the adults  averaged  1.  Recipe from  The Salty Marshmallow .  Ingredients: 2 1/4   Cups   All Purpose Flour 1   Tablespoon   Baking Powder 3   Tablespoons   Sugar 1/2   Teaspoon   Salt 1   Teaspoon   Cinnamon 2   Large Eggs   Separated 1/2   Cup   Vegetable Oil 2   Cups   Milk 1   Teaspoon   Vanilla Extract Instructions: 1) Preheat your waffle iron, spray with non stick cooking spray and set aside. 2) In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking

This year, in efforts to focus more on Christ, we had some friends over to decorate a Nativity Gingerbread Scene. I loved the TIME spent with my kids making the dough, cutting out shapes, baking, taste testing (apparently my six loves baking soda plain), and decorating together. Whether you make gingerbread men or a nativity scene, the gingerbread cookie recipe from  • • Gingerbread Recipe 3 cups flour 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 Tablespoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 12 Tablespoons butter, softened (and cut into 12 pieces) 3/4 cup molasses 2 Tablespoons milk • • • Mix flour, brown sugar, baking soda and spices together in a large bowl (I used our Bosch). Add butter pieces. Mix until it looks sandy. Gradually add molasses and milk.  • • • Scrape the dough onto the counter on a piece of parchment paper. Roll dough out 1/4 inch thick (it will roll out to be about the size of a large cookie sheet). You can

Sinterklaas is a Christmas Tradition in the Netherlands. Sinterklaas had a long white beard, wore red and loved giving gifts to children. On 5 December, Sinterklaas rides his white horse across rooftops at night, listening through chimneys for the good children and leaving them treats in their shoes. Last year, we left our regular shoes out. A few months ago, I bought some wooden Dutch shoes from a Scandinavian Festival. And last night, we painted the wooden shoes, ate Danish Pancakes (Ebelskivers) for dinner, and left our shoes out for a special surprise in the morning. The focus of this tradition  is  on "GIVING" and how it brings happiness to others when we give. • • • Ebelskiver Recipe :  2 eggs  2 cups buttermilk 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup melted butter  • • • Separate the eggs and beat whites until soft peaks form. Set aside.  In another bowl, combine egg yolks and b