Monday's Discovery

I needed something quick to entertain Kaleb while doing an art project with J. So I pulled out some bottle caps that I was saving (for some reason) and a water bottle. I wanted to see what Kaleb would do.

First, he had to check to see if there was anything in the bottle worth drinking.

He plopped them in....

checked them out...

tried to take them out....

finally figured out that he could dump them. As you can see, this was serious business for him. He played with the bottle caps for awhile, in and out of the bottle, then he took the caps to various places around the room to put them in other toys. (I really had to watch where I was stepping!)  This was an easy, quick toy that allowed some serious exploration.

Monday's Discovery

This week, Kaleb discovered a chocolate bar. J was having a snack and Kaleb wanted some. J was reluctant to share because she really likes these Nesquick chocolate covered wafer bars. So, I gave him one of his own.

It doesn't look like he enjoyed it, does it? Needless to say, he ate every last bite. Not a single piece fell to the floor. (If it did, I am sure he got to it later.)

Monday's Discovery

We recently took several high school students from my DH's class on a work project outside the city. It was a great time to work on serving others. It was an adventure in itself but for today's discovery- Kaleb discovers grass.

I sat him on the ground....he is checking it out...

looking this way and that way....but wait for it.....here it comes.....

the finger! He explores everything with first with his finger, it is rather funny-him poking everything with his finger. It was definitely cold there since it is in the mountains so I didn't leave him long on the ground. He also wasn't too sure about the new dog they got - who persisted in licking him in the face. But he found a new friend in one of the high school boys and he enjoyed all of the extra attention he received from the girls!

Book-n-Craft Advent Activities December 24th

One last Christmas story- The Night Before Christmas. This is an older version with a mouse family but there are many versions you can choose from. We statrted with a reindeer craft that I found at Mrs. Pancake.

J had to makehim Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. She painted the reindeer and cut him out. I helped with the curvy parts. Then we put him together using brads.

Here J is giving her reindeer bunny ears, not sure why though. She asked if we could make a whole pack of them, not sure I am up to it, especially since Christmas is all most here. Maybe next year.  Our last book for the season and we have family here so I didn't do alot. But I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Love ya guys!

See you in the New Year! Love ME

Our Nativity (finally finished!!!!)

About two years ago, I found a pattern on Etsy for a felt nativity. I loved the simplicity of it as well as the ability for it to be loved by small hands without worry. So I ordered it and began the journey. It took two years and I finally finished it. It is not that the pattern was too difficult because it isn't. It was just that other things needed to be done or made and I just never could get it finished. Here is my homemade nativity:

a close up of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph

the three Wisemen that I finished this year....

a final view with our nativity by our phone in the living room so little hands can play with it. I would like to add some freestanding sheep but not sure how I would do that since it wasn't in the pattern.





Book-n-Craft Advent Activities December 22st

All most there -yay! Sadie and the Snowman by Allen Morgan- am I wishing for snow? Not really. I mentioned before that I am using every book possible for our Advent activities. I think when I am back in the states I will look for more Christmas books (sometimes hard to do since I am usually there during the summer). We started our book early by having a Christmas breakfast. I made J a pancake that looked like Rudolph with alittle imagination.

Needless to say,my little girl was thrilled! What does Rudolph have to do with the book? Absolutely nothing but it was fun anyway! After our Christmas pancake breakfast, we had some major baking to do. So, instead of a craft and a game, we made large quantities of snowman cookies to sell at our church bazaar. The bazaar's profits are to go to the victims of the earthquake in Van. Many people are still displaced, living in makeshift tents and winter has already arrived. The ground is covered in snow and these tents are not equipped to keep out the cold. Many are traveling there to build better shelters and this bazaar will help fund the building.

They turned out cute, now I just hope they sell. We are all most there. Hope everyone is enjoying the season.

Book-n-Craft Advent Activities December 21st

Our 21st book is The Jacket I wear in the Snow by Shirely Neitzel. This book might not be about Christmas but I felt like it could be used. It is a fun book that helps pre-readers join in the reading with pictures. We started with making simple snowman cookies using a circle cookie cutter. We added chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth and T M&M's for the nose.

J just loves her tutus!

After they were baked, they looked like this:

Kinda cute, huh? Very simple and no frosting needed. We will definitely be making these again. Our craft was to make a snowman from a popsicle stick. I used a jumbo craft stick so it would be easier to decorate for J. First, she painted it white.

After ir dried, J added snowman details like a scarf, hat, and a carrot nose.

J with her snowman ornament -

Instead of a game, I thought I would leave you with a video that Keke and J made for the school Holiday Talent Show. It is them singing and it turned out very cute! They are singing the song, "Anything you can do, I can do better!" (the song was my idea!) Hope you enjoy it.