Reindeer Marshmallow Pops

Ginger Bread Houses

Christmas Poems

Five Little Reindeer

Five little reindeer, prancing in the snow,
Waiting for Santa to say, "Let's go!"
The first little reindeer said, "Let's be on our way."
The second little reindeer said, "It will soon be Christmas Day."
The third little reindeer said, "The sleigh is full of toys."
The fourth little reindeer said, "They're for all the girls and boys."
The fifth little reindeer said, "We'll travel far tonight."
Then out came Santa with his "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
And the sleigh and the reindeer were soon out of sight.

Snowman

A funny little snowman,
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a rabbit,
And what do you suppose

That hungry little rabbit,
Looking for his lunch
Ate the snowman's nose---
Crunch, Crunch, Crunch!


Five Little Bells

Five little bells, hanging in a row.
The first one said, "Ring me slow."
The second one said, "Ring me fast."
The third one said, "Ring me last."
The fourth one said, "I'm like a chime."
The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time."

Christmas Finger Plays

My mom worked at a preschool for many years and is always full of great ideas and things to do with little ones. She recently passed along a list of Christmas Finger Plays that I wanted to share with you. My kids love them!

 

The Chimney

 

Here is the chimney, (fist)

Here is the top, (other hand over fist)

Open the lid, (remove hand)

Out Santa will pop! (pop up thumb)

 

Santa

 

When Santa comes down the chimney (Downward motions with hands)

I should like to peek (Peek through fingers)

But He'll never come, no never (Shake head)

Until I'm fast asleep. (Palms together beside head)

 

S-A-N-T-A

 

(Tune: Bingo)

 

There is a jolly, jolly man

And Santa is his name-o.

S-A-N-T-A (clap 5 times in rhythm)

S-A-N-T-A (clap 5 times in rhythm)

S-A-N-T-A (clap 5 times in rhythm)

And Santa is his name-o.

6 DIY Christmas Ornament Ideas

Painted Christmas Ornament

Salt Dough Ornament

Handprint Snowmen Ornament

Santa Claus Handprint Ornament

Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree

Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

I didn't get a chance to share Alivia's Christmas ornament last year so I am taking the time to share it now. She had a lot of fun making these felt Christmas trees and they are my favorite homemade ornament so far. They are easy and oh so cute!

 

 

 

Materials

 

Embroidery Thread

Felt

Fabric Glue

Dull Needle

Scissors

Cardstock (to make your patterns)

Marker

 

Instructions

 

1) Using the cardstock and a marker find several round objects of various sizes to make your templates. Cut the templates out. I used the bottom of baby cups, medicine cups, measuring cups, etc, to get various sizes of circles. We ended up with 5 different sizes for the base and then I free handed the small circle for the star on top of the tree.

 

2) Using your template cut out various sizes of circles using the craft felt. I cut 2 of each size (so 10 pieces for each tree).

 

3) Cut out a small rectangular piece for the trunk of the tree. (About 3/4" tall and 1 1/2" wide) Roll the rectangle length wise and secure with glue.

 

4) Using about 1 1/2' of embroidery thread and a dull needle thread through the center of your tree trunk and secure with a knot (see photo of ornaments).

 

5) Starting with the largest circles first thread two of each size through the embroidery string. (10 circles total).

 

6) Make a loop with the remaining embroidery thread to hang from the tree. Take two pieces of the smallest circle (star) and glue together with the embroidery thread "sandwiched" in between.

25 Books of Christmas (Our List)

We started this tradition last year and couldn't wait to do it again. Our collection has now grown from 25 books to 36 (according to Alivia's last count). There are so many great Christmas stories out there that I am afraid I can't stop. Which may be a good thing since Alivia and Bennett do not like to share. :)

 Here is a list of 25 of the books we have in our box. Do you have any must reads over the holiday season? I must say Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and The Animals' Christmas Eve are two of my favorites.

1) Berenstain Bears & the Joy of Giving

2) Berenstain Bears' Night Before Christmas

3) Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

4)A Wish to be a Christmas Tree

5)Bear Stays Up for Christmas

6)God Gave Us Christmas

7)Merry Christmas, Curious George

8)Clifford's Christmas

9)Angelina's Christmas

10) Mortimer's Christmas Manger

11) Alien's Love Panta Claus (The Underpants Book)

12) Llama Llama Holiday Drama

13) Merry Christmas Stinky Face

14) Merry Christmas Mom and Dad (Mercer Meyer)

15) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

16) How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?

17) The Animals' Christmas Eve

18) A Bad Kitty Christmas

19) A Charlie Brown Christmas

20) The Polar Express

21) The Little Christmas Elf

22) The Christmas Story

23) How the Grinch Stole Christmas

24) Yes, Virginia: There is a Santa Claus

25)Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

Happy Reading!!

Christmas Card Ideas

 I love this time of the year. It is crazy and busy and at times stressful but I love it! We have started many traditions over the last couple of years and one of my favorites is snapping a few photos and making our own Christmas card.

 

If you are looking for some ideas here is what we have done in the past.

 

2009

2010

2011

Thanksgiving Poems

Gobble, Gobble, Turkey

Gobble, gobble, turkey,
Running all around.
Gobble, gobble, turkey,
Pecking on the ground.

Gobble, gobble, turkey,
Standing up so straight.
Gobble, gobble, turkey,
Running through the gate.

Turkey Gourds



Today we spent the morning putting away our Halloween decorations and getting ready for Thanksgiving. Once the boxes were put away and the house was somewhat clean (I don't think "clean" exists in a house of two active children) we decided to do our first Thanksgiving craft. I must say it was fun and turned out super cute (in my humble opinion).

 

 

Meet Reggie (you guessed it...we also caught the movie "Free Birds" over the weekend). He graces our kitchen table. 

 

 

 

Materials

 

Gourd

Brown Paint

Paintbrush

Felt

Googly Eyes

Craft Glue

Scissors



 

 

Directions

 

1. Paint the gourd. This is the body of your turkey.

2. Cut out feathers, feet, and beak out of felt.

3. Glue the feathers together and then glue to the back of the gourd. Also glue on the feet, beak, and googly eyes.

4. Enjoy this turkey season!

 

 

I am still in shock that it is already November! Where did the year go? 







Its Almost Pumpkin Patch Time

Halloween Crafts

It is officially my favorite time of the year!

 We have so much fun in our house during the fall. I love watching football games, baking, and enjoying the cool fall weather. I also love that there is an endless list of crafts for the kiddos and I to do.

 I have a list of projects for this month but for those of you readers that are new or just stopping by I put together links to all of my previous Halloween projects. Enjoy and Happy October!

Friendly Ghosts

Jack-O-Lantern

Painted Pumpkins

Pumpkin Mosaic

Roll Out Sugar Cookies

Footprint Ghosts

Candy Corn Necklace

Crafts Gone Bad

Our projects do not always go as planned. Some of them seem can get pretty messy. I have lost count of how many times I have turned away for a second only to discover that during that second mass chaos happened. Usually I don't think to grab a camera but here are a few of the instances where I did.

(Check out my new ink!)

(What do you mean I was supposed to paint the popsicle stick?)

(Check out my new cast!)

(I didn't splatter the paint!)

Footsie Painting

Check out my blog post over on momaha.com today!

 Alivia had so much fun painting with her toes. This was the craft paper left over from this project last spring. I guess I had better buy more craft paper since painting it has been such a hit and the holidays are coming up.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Melissa & Doug Printable Menu for Felt Food Sandwiches

Last Christmas Alivia received a felt food set from Melissa and Doug (sandwiches to be exact). She loves playing restaurant with this set by putting something together and sending it to us on a plate.

When I came across this printable from the Melissa and Doug blog I knew that it was meant to be. This was perfect for Alivia's "restaurant" and I loved that each item had a picture along with the word.  Also, this seemed like such a fun way to practice matching things and making patterns.

Click for the:  Melissa & Doug Printable Menu Cards

This project was so easy and Alivia loved it! First I printed the menu off of the website. The blog post suggests laminating or placing the paper in a plastic sleeve. Neither option was available to me so I improvised and used packing tape to cover the front and back of the menu. I think it will last and works perfectly!

Next Alivia and I had to locate all of the pieces that were on the menu. Against all odds we found every single piece of felt food. I am still pinching myself in disbelief over that one!

And then we were ready to play! Multiple sandwiches were made and Alivia had a blast making sure everything that was checked on the menu was in the sandwich.

There are also menus for a felt pizza and taco set. If you are curious as to where you can purchase these sets I found all three on Amazon for a reasonable price. I have a couple of birthday parties coming up and I think this might be on the list. I am also really contemplating purchasing the pizza set. My kids love pizza!

House Progress Part 5

The last time I posted a house update it looked like this...

 

And although two months later we still have a long way to go it is getting better and looks like this...

The building process has been frustrating at times. I am hoping to be able to move in by December but often joke that we will be moving in February right in the heart of tax season. I picture myself spending next summer trying to figure out where my husband put everything.

A lot of our setbacks have been due to our contractor not having the supplies to the builders on time. When the builders run short on supplies they move onto other jobs and come back once those jobs have been completed (which I don't blame them). I am guessing that of the five months we have been at this, our builders have averaged 3 days of work a week. 

We did contract out some of the jobs ourselves (heating, foundation, septic, and insulation) and my husband has done all of the dirt work and helped with other jobs to help alleviate some of the costs. 

My husband is definitely ready for this build to be over. He is constantly working with the crew and on the house. Our motto has become "One year of h*ll for a lifetime of bliss." You have to laugh when things are stressing you out right?!? 

But in the last week things have really started to come together.

All of the equipment was installed last week. Don't ask me what all of it is. All I know is that is will turn our hard well water soft, take the rust out of our water, and allow our water to be safe for drinking.

Our geothermal unit also arrived last week and is ready to go. The pipes have been laid and hopefully they can get the system up and running soon.

Our fuse box was set up last week and we have some "live" outlets and lights throughout the house. Our electrician should be back this week to finish things up then things can can be inspected.

Also, a couple of weeks ago our plumbing was started. Here is a snapshot of our 3/4 bath.

But the best thing to happen since my last update is that all of our windows are in. They are Marvin Integrity windows and I love how they look. I also love that I no longer have to hang on to the kids when we go up to house for fear they might fall out. They love looking out the windows!

This is a shot from our future kitchen looking into our future living room (photo was not possible prior to windows!).

Here is a shot looking from the living room into the kitchen and dining area.

And today I was greeted with actual siding on the house! Something that was slated to be done two months ago.

 The siding is 4" double dutchlap in Clay by CertainTeed. They started in back and have most of it finished.

The front and side visible to the front will have trim around the windows and doors in a lighter color for some contrast (to much of an upgrade for the entire house). Here is a shot of the trim. I cannot wait to see more of it tomorrow!

So we are making progress. Just not at lightening speed. But both Liv and Bennett are enjoying their time in the dirt (always a silver lining)!