What can I do fun tonight?

With Silly Putty's birthday today, Dr. Seuss's Birthday today, Porky Pig's birthday today, and Elmer Fudd's birthday today, I think I can come up with something.

After School: A little Seuss music, maybe some cartoons of Elmer and Porky, and making Silly Putty. (recipe below)

Dinner Prep: While I am making dinner, they can play with the Silly Putty we made, Seuss coloring pages, and watch the Sneeches movie, or cat and the hat movie.

Dinner: Of course! Green Eggs and Ham!

Bed Time Reading Time: Of Course! Dr. Seuss!

What a fun little night we can have!

Silly Putty:
1/2 Cup Elmer's Glue
1/2 Cup Liquid Starch
Food Coloring

Slowly Combine the starch with the glue and knead the mass with your fingers. The longer you work with it the better the silly putty gets. Add food coloring to get desired coloring.

Go to this website if you want Dr. Seuss Printables, like this one, http://k2printables.com/seuss.htm

Two of my favorite things!

Well I decided to highlight two of my very favorite things that help me be clean and be a good mom. They both are the Shark Steamers. Very easy to use, no chemicals just water that turns into hot steam, and you can use it on everything! This the pocket steamer. It cleans crayon off the wall in seconds, cleans kitchen chairs that have food stuck on them, the toilet, wipes finger prints off walls in seconds, mirrors, Toys, etc. I think this one is a must if you are doing preschool, daycare, nursery, etc. It sanitizes in seconds, and when those kids start sucking on a toy, you will know that no chemicals are on the toy, and it is clean.

The other favorite thing is the Shark Mop. No Chemicals used, only water, and washable pads. This is a very effective way to clean your floors. I think it is a must for any Mom with little babies. I think we have seen all babies lick the floor, and eat things off the floor, so to have it clean with no chemicals is a plus.

I have used steamers before, but hate the fact that they take 30 minutes to heat up. With these, you put the water in, plug it in, and 30 SECONDS later it is ready. I got mine for my birthday about two years and I love them. They are worth the 70-100 dollars they cost. Anyone that knows me can call me anytime and try it out before they buy one.

Another Friend, Another Blog!

Another one of my friends from childhood, has started a great blog. She has some really creative ideas, that make life better. She has a really good system for labeling socks. Now I do have my own tricks that I do with my kids clothes, but I have never known what to do with socks. So check it out.

http://www.why-because-i-can.blogspot.com/

Also my idea is that all my kids get a dot with a sharpie on the tag of their clothes. Oldest gets one dot, next oldest gets 2, next gets 3. Then I do the same thing for the boys. Oldest gets one dot, next gets 2. That way as they grow I can add a dot when they don't fit and pass down to the next child. It really is easy and makes it so even hubby can do the laundry. And when I pass them down to another family, they only have dots on tags and not everyone's names.

LeapFrog!

I love the LeapFrog learning dvd's and I also have people always recommending them to me. I went to their website today to buy one and saw a section for parents that are helps in teaching, divided up by ages. One activity was getting a U.S. Map and teaching states by collecting quarters. How fun is that? It also has lots of printables to go with the activities. Anyway that was an older activity, but there was lots of other activites for different ages.

www.leapfrog.com/en/leapfrog_parents/preschool.html

Spread The Love Around!

So this post is about a few experiences that has made today (Valentine's Day) something more than just a commercial holiday. I thought I would share and if you can pick up an idea for a future holiday, or just something fun to do on a random day, that would be GREAT! In fact if you can share one for the rest of us, that would be awesome too, of how you or someone else, Spread the Love around!

So this month has so far been really fun for me. I decided to not just focus on Valentine's day for just my little family, but also others. I delivered or sent in the mail over 45 Valentine's to people that I love and respect. I have tried to think about others all month long. It has been really fun, and lets those people know I care abut them.

This month also has been a month that others have shown me love. I got really sick in January with a heart that was beating 4 times faster than it should have been. I had to go to the E.R. and then went to a bigger hospital by ambulance, because the whole beating thing, caused a heart attack. This is a genetic thing that I have had for a long time and never knew it. Anyway so many have shown me love. I had people take care of my children for me. I had people bring yummy meals for my family. My Mother stayed home from a trip to care for my family and she came everyday to serve me and love me. I had people call everyday to check on me. I had cards that were sent by mail. All of it was so nice and really made me feel loved and helped me get better quicker.

This month I also had a stranger show me love. My husband and I were eating dinner with our two little African American boys and a man came up and told us that he respected what we were doing and he thought it was just wonderful and that our dinner was paid for. What a nice man. He didn't have to do that, but it made our day and we will never forget it.

A few years ago, a neighbor randomly brought us dinner, for no reason but that she wanted to. I still remember that kind action. It made us feel so loved and happy.

Lastly something was said in church yesterday that really made a difference in my life. It made me realize how powerful LOVE is. A story was told about a boy that was having problems, and a mother was trying to decide how to help him. Long story short, she decided to go into his bedroom, after he had been asleep and stroke his hair, hold him, and of course tell him that she loved him. Years later someone asked the Mom what turned him around. She started answering and he stopped her and said, "That wasn't it at all, Mom. It was when you came down and started telling me you loved me. I would pretend to sleep until you came down and said it, and then I would go to sleep after." What powerful words, I Love You, are.

I hope you all have a wonderful today and I hope you remember to spread the love around today and every day!

Some of my favorites!

Take some time and learn more about these or other famous African Americans!

Louis Armstrong- famous for his musical abilities!

Rosa Parks- famous for the stand she made on a bus!

Harriet Tubman-famous for helping with the Underground Railroad

Maya Angelou-famous for lots but most her poems

Sammy Davis Jr.- famous for his entertainment

Scott Joplin- famous for ragtimes

Jackie Robinson- famous for baseball!

Valentine's Party Games

So I spent the morning trying to find fun group games for my Cub Scouts group. After an hour, I had only came up with one game, and it was one I posted last year for Valentine's Day. I was talking to my Mom and she told me I should do a Minute To Win It Valentine's Party. So that is what I did and here are the games we played. I might do this with my family, and if I do I will include the pictures of each activity.

1. Heart Hunt (find in categories under the second Valentine's Day section)

2. Heart Race (cardboard piece of a box that you fan a heart tissue paper with. First one across the line wins)

3. Heart Stack (Tongue Depressers or Popcycle Sticks, Conversation Hearts. Put the stick in your mouth and stack as many hearts as you can on top of it in 60 seconds.

4. Heart Sort (Give every kid 20 M&M's, on go whoever gets all their m&m's in the shape of a heart and raises their hands yelling Happy Valentine's Day wins)

5. Angel Dance (One White Feather, Keep your feather off the ground the longest, without holding it and you win)

6. Angel Run (One White Feather, race against others to see who can blow their feather to the other side of the room first)

and of course we had to do one Super Bowl game, because the super bowl was on Sunday

7. Super Bowl (Bowl, Spoon, Cotton Balls, and blindfold, Blindfold one at a time and give them a spoon. On go find all the cotton balls and carry them to the bowl with your spoon only. No touching or feeling around. Whoever gets the most wins)

At the end, I gave every kid a 100 grand for doing their best and because they are 100 grand to me. They all had a great time and were so cute playing each game. One kid said it was the best day ever. So if you are a Mom planning some Valentine's Party for whatever reason, try this party out.

Young or Old and Woman or Girl

My friend has a new website and she has really nice flower necklaces and headbands that you can buy or you can host a party and have you and your friends make their own. They are really nice and so check them out.

www.verabelladesign.blogspot.com

Would be a fun Valentine's gift for girls as well.

Black History Month

My sweet Sister-In-Law knows I celebrate Black History Month (which is this month) with my kids, and gave me these three links to check out. So if you want to take some time and teach your children about black history give these links a try.

www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm

www.kidactivities.net/category/Black-History.aspx

http://printables.familyeducation.com/tv/tvsearch/in=fe_printables&type=printable%7CPrintable&theme=black-history-month%7CBlack%20History%20Month&mode=-summary&n=10&fmt=2

The middle one is my favorite one. It had all sorts of interesting an amazing activities that you could do as a teacher, or as a family to teach diversity better. So cool. Thanks Nicole!

Science Fair Projects

So I figured out that all my kids will do a science fair project in elementary, and two in jr. high, and one in High school. So that means by the time I am done with raising my kids I will have helped with 20 science fair projects. CRAZY! Now the naughty person in me, wants to recycle the older kids projects to the younger ones. But I know that is wrong. So far we have done two. Weather Prediction, and What happens to fresh water plants when oil gets in the water. But sometimes I look to the future and think, what will we come up with next? So if you are in the same boat, here are a couple of websites I have found about science fair projects. I will put them on the right side under science, because I think all of us Mothers are going to need them eventually.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/

www.terimore.com

www.sciencefairadventure.com

Valentine's Fingerpainting!

Need:
Strawberry Yogurt
Big Paper shaped into a heart

That's it! Let your child make a big heart for someone that they love, by finger painting. At the end they can lick their fingers and eat the leftover yogurt. Let dry and then give to that special someone.

Another fun idea is to let them finger paint on the table or high chair and then when they do a cool design, place the paper down carefully and pull it back up, to make a print. That way you can do more than one.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Your Pixie

We usually look at Valentine's two ways. The first is the romantic holiday. The second is the kids holiday. But really it is more than just a time for kids to give out Valentine's and a special night for the one you love. It is an opportunity to love others, especially the elderly and widowed.

When I was a child every Christmas, my parents did the 12 Days of Christmas, but we called it Pixing. We always chose an old person or a widower. We gave thoughtful gifts like bread, soup, an ornament, fruit, etc. We always left it on the porch and then would go home and call them and tell them, "Your Pixie has been there" It really made their day! I find it is hard to do this at Christmas time though, because life is so busy.

So because it has been busy, we have been inventive so we can still do it. One year we did this to a family in July, One year we wrapped Christmas books and put dates on them of when they should be opened and gave them to families.

Last year my Mom was recovering from sickness and was really down and that gave us an idea to do the Pixie thing before Valentines. We did this for both sets of parents. We got a big basket, tied a Valentine's balloon to it, and filled it with 12 gifts we thought they would enjoy and made a little note that went with each one. We told them to open one each night on the night it was given. I watched my Mom through the whole thing, having no idea who had done this. My kids loved watching her get excited and speculate about who it was. It was so fun! They were so excited to finally tell her that they had done it.

For Mother's Day (but it would be a great idea for Valentine's Day). We took breakfast to each of our Mothers. We told them the tray was their gift as well as the food and the cup. Walmart had really dang cute trays in their Valentine section that I bought then and saved for Mother's Day. They loved it. We have also taken Breakfast trays like this to people having a baby. Cartons of Orange Juice, Milk, Fruit, Pasteries, etc. is fun for the kids and makes them feel special too.

Another idea to do for older people is to give them a Heart Attack. On their front door, rest home door, bedroom door, car, etc. place hearts that have messages from everyone in your family. Things you love about them, or just an I love you. This is a great gift, for someone that has everything and just needs to be loved.

We connect with people all the time on the internet, phones, or facebook like stuff. But that kind of technology doesn't hit with most older people. So help your child send notes and stuff in the mail for your older loved ones. This will be a fun new experience for you child, but will mean something also to the ones you send stuff too. My sister in law lives out of state and she does this all the time with her kids. My Mom's fridge is covered in little notes from them.

One story that has been told to me over the years, is my Two sisters one Valentine's Day calling all the neighbors and singing them a Valentine's Song and saying it was from someone who loved them (pre-caller id). They had fun doing it, and the women all loved it and thought it was from their husbands.

This year I was thinking it might be fun to put a fruit or treat in a Valentine's bag and deliver these little gifts to a retirement community in our area, with a note telling them Happy Valentine's Day. I think my kids would love ringing all those door bells and spreading love around.

And lastly invite them over. For about 6 months now we have been taking my Mom at least once a week to our house for dinner. She gets a good healthy meal, she gets out of the house, she gets companionship, and we get HER. My kids love when she comes for dinner, and they beg for her to come all the time. Today I burned beans and my Mom was over. She of course could have cared less, because she was just glad to be out of her quiet house and have some fun.

And remember that no matter what you do, sign it with.... Love, Your Pixie

Karo Syrup Painting

I think painting with Karo Syrup is one of the coolest looking finished product you could ever do. If you are drawing a picture and then painting check out this link and you can see all the steps.

www.eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/05/summer-craft-ideas-part-five.html



When I did this to get my degree, we did it preschool style. We used thick white paper plates, and we would put drops of Karo syrup all over the plate. Then we added food coloring all over the plate. The kids then would move the plate and make swirls and watch the colors change colors. When dry, we cut off the rim of the plate and we had an awesome painting.



When painting with Karo Syrup I suggest going to the dollar store and buying brushes that you can throw away. Or you can go preschool style and just hold the plate and blend. Remember that Karo syrup if gets warm will stick to everything and will melt and make a mess. I made this mistake of putting the art in my binder and leaving it in the car. It stuck to everything. Hanging on a fridge, would be perfect though.

check out these fun websites!

www.wmcraftgoodies.blogspot.com and I will put it in the mom section.

also www.theidearoom.net and I will also put that in the mom section. This one had such a cute idea about on voting day, give your child a voting ballet for what they want for breakfast. How cute is that?

I am impressed with both of these websites.

My Project for 2011

So I have a big project, that I need to do and I have only done about 5% so far. I decided to share what it is, because I do feel like it is an important project to do.

It all started one December morning when we woke up to this in our neighborhood. We actually took these pictures.

A house had burned to the ground, with the family losing everything they had. The good news, was that they were on vacation, so no one got hurt. Then I got thinking about a couple of months ago, when a forest fire made people have to evacuate fast from their homes. So I decided I didn't want to lose everything, and I didn't want struggle trying to find important things, when evacuating my home.

So I have started scanning copies of everything that is important to me and putting them on a portable hard drive. Stuff like: Adoption Decrees, Birth Certificates, Baptism Certificates, Blessing Certificates, Any document, that I want to keep.

Then I started started scanning all my scrapbook pages for our family. I started with my daughter Anika, but I need to go back and do my wedding book, and my childhood and my husband's childhood scrapbooks. I am a big scrapbooker, so this is a big project. The scrapbook page below is when I was pregnant with my daughter. Sorry I forgot to rotate the page.

I filed them on my computer like this:

Anika's Scrapbook
Scrapbook 1

Bk1Pages 1-30

anibk1pg1 (each file matched the page it was)

Then after I got her first book scanned I realized she was born Pre-Digital Camera, so then I took each scan and made pictures scans as well.
I figure this will be good for other reasons as well: Anytime I need young pictures of her, I will have them now and when she gets married, I won't have to do this for her video.

This is how I have filed them:

My Pictures
1997
Jul-Dec
July 1997
7-97-1 (7 for July, 97 for the year, 1 for the picture #)

I can't even imagine losing these cute little pictures.

Anyway that is what I am doing for the whole year of 2011. We first got a digital camera with our 3rd child and she is now 8. So I have to do the picture thing for two kids, plus the stuff I listed above. Then I need to scan in every one's scrapbooks.

I have only ran into one problem. I will need to buy a 12x12 scanner when I get to the time that I switched to bigger scrapbooks. But I figure that is a good thing to have anyway.

When I am done, I will put them in a Safety Deposit box at the bank, and of course keep copies here that I can use for my day to day use.

So that just gives you another idea of how to save your kids precious memories and pictures.

Little People With Adult Opinions

I am thinking about World Issues, National Issues, Local Issues, and Race Issues in association with our children. Little people with adult opinions. Certain football teams suck, Mexicans are horrible and shouldn't be allowed into our country, Special Needs Kids are weird and should be teased, wheel chairs are scary, the president is evil, Immigrants shouldn't be in our country, certain countries and their people are horrible, etc. Have you heard kids expressing things like this? Where are they getting this? I would hear kids talking in scouts and figured that their parents must have these pretty strong views. But when my own child made a comment about hating all immigrants, because she doesn't like one that goes to her school, I was floored. I realized that she didn't get this from me, but where is she getting it? My sister in law shared with me an experience of her being at school and her child told a little black child that his mom doesn't help black kids. She was floored because her little boy has 4 black cousins (my kids). I have had my daughter come home many times in tears because of something someone has said about her skin, hair, or size. Last year when Obama was going to talk to the schools, each of my children came home with stuff others had said. Now one of my daughters loves Obama cause he is black like her. Personally I don't share her opinion, but that doesn't mean I am going to make her hate him. My other daughter asked me one time if I hated the 9-11 hijackers. I could honestly say that what they did was wrong, that they had a ton to learn in heaven, but that I didn't hate them. I felt sorry for them that they had to grow up the way they did and learn to be bad as little children. I also am touched my the poverty in Mexico, and don't wonder why people are trying to come here to a great country. I understand, but I do think we need stronger borders. But instead of focusing on that part, I choose to teach my children about poverty, and why Mexicans want to come here, and why they want to leave where they live.

So here is my conclusion.

1. I think they are getting this from all around us. T.V., Channel 1, Reading, Listening to Parents, Other kids on the play ground, Teachers, etc.
2. We can't control others views, and what our kids hear, but we can control what we are saying and letting our kids hear us say.
3. Kids can misunderstand things that you say and repeat them in a misunderstood way, that might really embarrass you.
4. Above all else, we need to teach our children to love all. Stop the scare of differences and hate, teach them to love and accept differences.
5. Anyone that deals with lots of kids on a regular basis will tell you. Kids repeat, kids share, kids talk lots. If you don't want something shared, don't talk in front of them.

New Website!

I just found out one of my friends, has this fun website. She has lots of fun tips about cake decorating, organizing, gluten free, thrifting, food storage, etc. I will put it in the Mom area on the right side of the links. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.ldsmomtomany.blogspot.com/

Indoor Snowball Fight

Items Needed:

Two Stacks of Newspapers
Two Teams
Tape line divider

We did this game in scouts the other day and the kids had so much fun. You divide into teams and divide the room in half. Give each team a stack of newspapers. Then give each team 5 minutes to make as many snowballs as possible using the newspaper. Then as soon as you say go, each team throws as many snowballs as they can onto the other teams side. When 5 minutes are up, whoever has the most "snowballs on their side" loses. Our kids like to play this over and over again. It would be a great FHE activity, or just a fun activity to keep the winter blues away.

Toddler Fun!

My sister in law gave this idea to my sister and I loved it! Take a med. size rock, a paint brush, and a small glass of water. Then you let the toddler "Paint the Rock". When it gets all wet, change rocks and let them do it again. The great thing is that when done with the next rock, the prev. one is dry again. Simple, yes! Attention Getting, Yes! Perfect for your little toddlers.

Stressful Times

So I wish I could go back a few years and plan life a little better. I wish I could move all my November, December, and January birthdays to the Summer. I always wish I could go back a few months and prepare for Christmas earlier. Throw in family parties, other events, New Year's, Kwanzaa, and some sickness and that is why I don't post so much in the winter. Now it is all over, but we have had three trips to the E.R., the last leaving me recovering for a full week. So I am sorry for those who follow this blog, that I haven't been doing much lately.

Anyway here are a few fun new websites I have found that are so good.

This one is a preschool one that I like. I hate art that all looks the same and I love that this lady lets her kids be very creative. Check out all the fun ideas. www.preschoolplaybook.com

Another site I found is www.ittybittybookworms.blogspot.com go to the right side under From One Mother To Another and find really good information on healthy meal planning for your family.

The last one I am featuring is www.everythingpreschool.com It really has tons if you are wanting lesson plans, coloring pages, themes, etc.

Not Edible Crystal Snowflakes and Ornaments

What you need:
String, wide mouth jar, white pipe cleaner, borax, boiling water, and pencils.

Take a white pipe cleaner and cut into thirds and twist them to make a snowflake or you can do whatever shape you want. Make sure it with fit into the jar.

Tie a string to one end of the snowflake and tie the other end to the pencil.

Fill Jar with Boiling Water. Add 1 Tablespoon of Borax (It is found on the Laundry soap lane of the store- don't use Boraxo Soap) to the water and stir until it dissolves. Add the rest of the Borax. You need 3 tablespoons to every 1 cup of water. You can also add food coloring to the water, if you want colored snowflakes. I personally like the plain old white.

Hang the pencil over the jar, with the pipe cleaner completeley covered in the water, but not touching sides or bottom of jar.

Let sit over night.

Borax is soap, so remember not to keep low for a child to drink. I still have mine that I did years ago on my Christmas tree. Over the years the crystals have changed a little, but it still looks pretty cool on my tree.

Crystal Fun!

Rock Candy To Eat!

Needs:
1 Cup of boiling water
3 Cups White Sugar
Jar
Pencil
wool or cotton Yarn
Food Coloring
Flavoring

Instructions:
Tie the yarn to the pencil. Set the pencil on top of the jar and see if it will hang without touching the sides or the bottom, but almost to the bottom. Boil water. Stir in sugar a spoonful at a time. Keep adding sugar until it starts to collect at the bottom of the jar and doesn't dissolve while stirring. This is called Saturated. You can't have too much or too little or it won't grow crystals on your yarn. Add food coloring of the color you want and flavoring. Pour into the glass jar and don't let any dissolved sugar into the jar. Hang the string again in the jar. Put it where no one can mess with it. Put a paper towel over the top so nothing gets into it. After one day you should see it start to grow. Let them grow until they stop or it is the size you want, about 4-7 days. When sugar crust comes at the top of the jar, then remove it and eat. If it forms on sides and bottom, but not on your string, remove string carefully, reboil and cool like you did before. Pour into a clean glass jar and replace the string. When done Allow to dry and then eat.

A New Tradition!

We got an early Christmas present from my Sister-in-law, Nicole and her family. It is an elf that comes with a story. After you read the story, he hides all month long in high places in your house. The kids are never to touch the elf. Anyway my younger kids Love it, and my older child loves to hide the elf. It has made for lots of seeking the elf, lots of laughing, and lots of fun. If you are interested, then click on the website about it, below.



http://www.popinkins.com/

Christmas Ideas!

My neighbor asked me to post this, but I realized I had already done this. So I thought I would recap a little and then tell you to go look under labels under Christmas for more ideas and you can see what I wrote about this.



Anyway I am a cub scout leader and for one of our Christmas activities, we made green and red paper chains. at the top was a big star with the words, "I am trying to be like Jesus". On the inside of each chain was something that they could do, to make them like Jesus and more focused on him during the Christmas season. Examples you can find in the past posting.



After we got them completed, I read the book I believe in Santa Claus, by Diane G. Adamson. It is first all about Santa. Ex. he comes at night, he wears red, he loves little children etc. Then it switches and talks about Jesus Ex. he comes at night, he wore red, he loves little children etc. After reading the book I talked to them about how it can be confusing when at school you only talk about Christmas and Santa coming, but at Church you only talk about the birth of Christ. But I said that this book helps us realize that Santa is trying to be just like Jesus and he is a symbol of Christmas. When we think of Santa, we can think of Jesus, just like when we see a Christmas light we can be reminded of the star that came the night Jesus was born.

Then I took the chain and said that the outside is a countdown until Santa comes, but the inside is a countdown until Jesus was born. By doing nice things for others and trying to be like Jesus, we can honor Jesus and give him a gift that he would love by serving others.

Anyway I had this little boy (I forgot to tell his Mom this part), that openly scoffed when I said we were going to read a book called, I believe in Santa Claus. He didn't say anything, but his face told me, that he was not a believer. He also thought making chains was something a preschooler would do. But after I read the book, his little chain seemed much more important, and his face said a different story, than before I read the book.

He went home and has been so excited about Trying to be like Jesus everyday. His Mom called me to tell me, what a great idea it was, and how much he looks forward to doing it everyday. I usually get no comments, and it was really nice to hear how much she like it. She asked me to post it, so now I have. Merry Christmas!

Compliment Stocking!

My sister, Jill shared this on facebook, and I thought it was cute and would post it here. Doing anything like this with children is a really good idea.

Christmas idea to share One thing we did with our kids was to let them write compliments to each other during the month of December(we did too). They could choose any day. No one was assigned. More than one person could do it in a day. You write a complement for each person in the family including yourself. They are put in the empty stockings. When someone noticed they were there we would read them as a family. Children that were too little to write could dictate to someone else. They could be things like "You are a good jumper." or "You have a great laugh." This was really fun to do.

10 Fun Christmas Games!

1. Don’t Eat Santa- Big version that fits on the floor or the whole table. For those of you who don’t know, you place a small treat (cereal I usually do) on each Santa square and one person goes out of the room. When he is gone another (I usually do the person who had the last turn going out) person picks a Santa. Then the person comes back in the room and starts to eat. When they hit the one that was picked, everyone yells, “Don’t Eat Santa!” It scares the child and they all laugh and then the next goes. It’s very simple, but even 6^th graders have loved it. I will bring the big board (A different Santa on a full piece of paper, and then they are taped together like a bingo board) and the cereal treats with it.

2. Christmas Twenty Questions- Adult starts by choosing a Christmas related person, place, or thing and says, "I'm thinking of something". The children try to guess what it is by asking no more than twenty questions that can be answered "YES", "NO", or I DON'T KNOW". The student who guesses correctly is next up.

For kids that are littler, Example: Frosty
Clue: I'm thinking of someone who wears a hat
Clue: He loves snow
Clue: He'll melt if it gets too warm outside

For kids that are older Example: Frosty
Adult: I'm thinking of something at Christmastime!
Kid #1: Is it cold? Yes
Kid #2: Is it Red? No

To get you started: Santa, Rudolph, elf, Mrs. Claus, Candy Cane, Snowman, Tree, Lights, Stocking, North Pole, Sleigh, Cookies, Milk, Etc.

3. Pin The Nose On Rudolph- Rudolph picture, red nose circles for each child, tape, pen for their name, and a blindfold.

4. Santa Bingo- cereal or beans for counters, and everything for the game. Google Free Christmas Bingo, and you can print color or black and white ones.

6. Musical Chairs- a treat for everyone that gets kicked out of musical chairs and Christmas music.

7. What is it? Christmas pillow case that has all sorts of Christmas objects in it. It is a guess and feel game. Each person takes a turn feeling one object and guessing what it is. When guessed you pull it out and see if they are right. You can keep all the objects together and have them hold the one while you grab it, or you can do one at a time and use another pillowcase to hold the other stuff.

8. Blind Snowman Game

Supplies:
8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper
Pencil.

How To Play: Give everyone a piece of paper and a pencil. Explain to them that they will close their eyes and you will tell them what to draw. DON'T tell them they're drawing a snowman! Draw 3 circles on top of each other. Each circle gets smaller from bottom to top. In the middle circle draw three buttons going vertically down the center. In the top circle draw two eyes, a carrot nose, and a mouth. Draw a hat on top of the smallest circle. Draw stick arms on both sides of the middle circle. Draw a broom in one stick hand. Open your eyes! If playing with older children you might want to devise a point system, such as: 5 points for each circle that touches the other. Points for the hat touching the head, the eyes being in the top circle, etc.

9. Tongue Twisters

How To Play: Say each phrase three times as fast as you can. Let kids practice on their own or take volunteers to come up and try their best for all to hear. A candy can prize for anyone who tries.

Chocolate cocoa cravings cure colds
Santa sings shining star songs
Sally skis super slow
Big bright bells banish boredom
Grumpy Grinch goes grizzly gus
Pretty packages perfectly packed
Tip-top tiny tot toys
Sally's striped stocking's stuffed slightly
Santa's super souped sleigh swiftly slides sideways
Cheery cute caroling Christmas critters
Candy cane cookies keep kids coming

10. Santa Says

How To Play: Played similar to Simon Says. The player up is "Santa". Player will say "Santa says hop on one foot". The children will hop on one foot. Player will say "Stop". The children are to keep hopping on one foot until player says "Santa says stop". Repeat for additional activities such as take one baby step forward, step backwards, turn around, sit down. Sometimes Santa will say "Santa says" and sometimes he won't. It'­s a fun game to play with young children.

Teaching Children About Giving Money To Charity!

I have been thinking lately a lot about Charity. It seems like people are more and more selfish with their time, money, skills, and love. Everything seems to be more and more about ME and what I can get for Me. It makes you so down, until you notice the kind people, who are quietly going about doing good for others. Take time to notice these people, watch them, learn from them, and then become them. That is what I want for my family. My parents are these kind people. They always were helping others in one way or the other. But if we weren't paying attention, we would have never known. They quietly did things, and made a difference in many people's lives. My Mom has been sick this year, but she still finds time to make a difference- especially to my little family. My Dad had Charity in him, until the day he died of Cancer 7 years ago. He was an amazing man. I never saw him be lazy, and I totally took for granted all the things he did for me, my family, my neighbors, my church, my community, etc. The last thing I remember that was on his mind before he died, was my mother, who just found out she had Cancer for the third time. So anyway, I figure if I can always be like them, I will turn out to be a pretty good person, and if my kids learn it from me, they will be pretty good people, and it will just keep going. So now I am going to talk about how we teach our children to give...... Money.

Yesterday I spent some time walking around my neighborhood with the Wolf Scouts. They are so cute and are little 8 year olds. We were doing Pennies By The Inch. I tried the whole time to get it through their heads that because we were collecting money, it would go to kids that needed help at our local hospital. Midway I asked one of the boys, do you feel good about all the money you are collecting? He replied, "Not Really". Which I think they all felt good, but for show he needed to be cooler than that.

I wished that I had known in advance (which I should because they do this every year) that it was going on this week. I would have had my kids at home earn some money, so they could donate and feel good about it.

In our local church (stake) meeting a couple of years ago, a man talked about the need for kids to earn money. So they could learn to budget, save, etc. He also mentioned the need to let them give their money to charity. It really made me think. I had always been taught that time and service were just as important as money. But after listening to this man, I realized that if they don't learn how to give with money as well, when they are adults they won't do it.

My cute daughter last year wanted to help with a sub for Santa. She got out 50 dollars to give. This also was an important lesson I needed to teach my daughter. Give what you can afford to lose. As much as I thought it was an amazing gift, I knew that 10 dollars was more appropriate for her age, and that she needs her money for her future, when she goes to college. We talked about it, and I helped her realize that someday, she could give more, but at age 11, this was very very generous.

This year one of our extended families is doing a Sub for Santa. We are pooling the money we would have spent, and then one family is going to buy everything the family in need needs, and take it to them. So I got the idea of paying my kids in coins to do random jobs around the house, and they could earn money to help this family. So far so good. Everyone is really excited to get our jar full. Everyone has a great attitude, when they know the job is going to have money for the jar. I think it will help us to stay grounded and happy this season.

I encourage you to find ways to teach your children as well the value of money and giving it to others when you can. And if you can't, there is always next year. And who knows, you might be the receiver this year and that is sometimes hard as well to accept. But you can teach your children about generous people and how they gave to you.

Don't get me wrong, I still realize that Charity of Time, Love, and Service is important as well, but this post is not about that.

15 Great Halloween Games!

1. Make a Spider Web: All you need for this fun game is a ball of black, white, or silver yarn or string. Have everyone stand around in a circle. Ask one child to hold one end of the string and then toss the ball to another kid. Each child holds on the string and then tosses it to someone else. Before you know it you'll have a great spider web

2. Mummy Contest: Grab a few rolls of toilet paper and divide into teams (we do this as a family and have every mother being wrapped, it is really funny). Then - you guessed it - wrap the toilet paper around the other, creating a mummy. You can either make it a contest of speed or one of creativity. For the first, the team that has a completely wrapped mummy first wins. For the second contest, whoever gets all their toilet paper off their team member and places it the trash bag wins!

3. Don't Eat The Monsters! This is such a easy, but fun game. For a big board use full sheets of paper- one monster on each page. For a small board use one sheet of paper divided up like a bingo board. Place candies, cereal, pretzels, fruit snacks, marshmallows, etc. on each individual picture. Have one person go out of the room. Have another child pick which monster they are going to use. When the person comes back in the room let them start eating. When they pick the monster that you chose, yell Don't eat the monsters!

4. Eyeball Race: Start with a plain ping-pong ball for each child. Use a Sharpie marker and draw on it to turn it into an eyeball. You can simple draw the pupil, or for a scarier version, add some red wiggly lines to make the eyeball look bloodshot. I personally like to let each child make their own eyeball. Then they can take it home with them. Give each child a spoon and drop one of the eyeballs in each spoon. Now it's time to race. The child that reaches the finish line with the eyeball in the spoon first wins.

5. Ghost Hunt: (this one I already have posted about, a few years ago. To see about it, go to the labels on the right side and hit the Halloween section and it will pull up.

6. Musical Chairs: (this one I already have posted about, a few years ago. To see about it, go to the labels on the right side and hit the Halloween section and it will pull up.

7. Witch Race: You will need at least two buckets and two brooms. Each player in the race must put one foot in the bucket and hold onto it with one hand, and carry a broom in the other hand. Play the music Witch Doctor while doing this activity. It is really funny.

8. Apple Race: Kids must race on all fours while pushing apples with their noses.

9. Donut Bob: hang donuts from a broom or a pole above. Each child then lays down, or kneels with their hands behind their back. As soon as you say go, they start eating. Whoever finishes their donut first wins! Warning-glazed donuts= sticky kids!

10. Little Ghosty Won't Bite You: Sit in a circle and make a tissue ghost. Take the ghost and have one person be it. They say the following: I had a little ghosty and he won't bite you, and he won't bite you, and he won't bite you, BUT he will bite you. When he says will bite you, he drops it in their lap and runs around the circle and gets back into that person's place before the person touches him. Always have the won't bite you part be different so no one knows when it will happen.

11. Haunted House: Divide up the group into 5 different Halloween characters (Witch, bat, ghost, pumpkin, vampire) Add more or take away depending on how many you have. You can also print up these images on paper and tape them to their shirts so they don't forget. Then have one person stand in the middle and call out one of the names. The people that's name has been called need to switch places. The person in the middle needs to try and steal one of the places. Then someone else is IT (if the middle person was successful). When the middle person yells HAUNTED HOUSE! everyone runs and finds a new spot. No one can be in the same spot twice in a row.

12. Wet & Wild Halloween: For this game you get a very small thimble and fill it with water. The category is Halloween Costumes (or candy, Halloween, etc.) Go around in a circle and wait for each child to give a comment. If they choose yours, you spray them in the face with the water and then it is their turn to do it.

13. Monster Dance: Turn on Michael Jackson's Thriller and have everyone dance however they want to this music. It is so funny to watch and is really easy to play.

14. Hiding Ghost: One person goes out of the room. Someone else hides the Ghost. When the person comes back in the room you sing a simple Halloween song or chant Ghost Ghost Ghost woooooooooo over and over again. Louder if they are close to the hiding place, quieter if they are not.

15. Halloween Memory: Take all sorts of Halloween objects on a tray. Let everyone look at them for a few minutes. Then send someone out and take away something. When they come back see if they can figure out what is missing. Then repeat with other people.

Ripped Art!

My son brought this picture that he had done from school. When I got my degree, I had to do a whole picture using ripped paper. It turned out really cool. I thought this little picture turned out so well, and it would be really easy to do. I am not big on everyone making the same picture, so I would probably have different shaped trunks, and green leaves as well. I like that not one could be the same, because it depends on where you glue. So try this at home, preschool, nursery, or where ever.

Fall Posts!

Don't forget to check past fall posts for more fun things to do in the fall and lots of fun ideas to do with apples and your kids! It is in the label section on the right side toward the bottom.

Apple Tips for Drying, Canning, and Getting!

Dried apples are a healthy snack for kids. Because my mother has lots and lots of Apple trees, I always am trying to find ways to preserve my apples.

Last year I bought this dryer. It works so great and I love it. I also bought this Apple Slicer, peeler, and corer in one. I love this and my kids LOVE how the apple comes out all hooked together and sliced and peeled. This is a dryer item that I bought for 17.95, but I have found that my kids like to have their apples cut this way. So I keep it in the pantry all year round, for quick access. I can get them to eat tons of apples if I slice them this way. I am really careful that if they want to help me I only let them turn and not put the apple on and off. They could get hurt doing this. My kids love to take the dried fruit off the trays and they love to put the fresh fruit on the trays and take them to the machine. I think it is great that they help me with this.

I only bought this stuff last year. What if I couldn't afford it then? Here are three ways to do the same thing I did, with resources you have.

Dehydrator or Oven Drying
1. Cut apples into wedges and slice into 1/4-inch-thick slices, or slice the apples into rings.
2. Dip apple slices in an ascorbic acid mixture (1/4 c. lemon juice to 1 qt. water) - to keep them from turning brown as they dry.
3. Place the slices one layer deep on kitchen trays. Do not overlap the slices.
4. Dry at 115 degrees F for 6 to 8 hours. Turn the slices after 4 hours and rotate the trays if needed.
5. Test for dryness after 6 hours and then every 2 hours until no moisture remains in the center of the slices.

Sun Drying
1. Prepare the same way as above.
2. Cover with cheesecloth and place in a well-ventilated area in full sunlight.
3. Turn slices every few hours.
4. Take trays inside at night. Drying takes two to three days.

Spices: I like to change up my dried apples. I have put before: Cinnamon, sugar, brown sugar, Carmel, and cayenne pepper on my apples as they were drying.

My last thought was what do you do if you DON'T have apples to dry. Last year my two sisters in law answered this question. They drove around town and looked for apple trees that were not being picked from. They got over pride and went and asked if they could have some. Everyone said take as much as you want, and were grateful someone could use them. Both of my sister in laws have over 19 kids between them and needed that extra blessing.

If you DO have money to spend, go to a local orchard and pay for the apples.

Not related at all to drying apples, but my last tip of the day is that if you are making applesauce (bottling or fresh on the stove) throw in a few red hots. It will make the color pretty and give a hint of cinnamon.

My favorite new thing, and my favorite old thing!

My baby had the worst diaper rash ever! Nothing worked and we went through so many brands trying to get it to work. Finally my sister told me about this stuff. I found some at a local boutique store. It was 14.95. Yes. ouch. But I was well on my way to take this baby to the doctor and that would have been a 20 co-pay. Anyway it worked within a day. I don't like the smell that much, but I really like how fast it cleared everything up for him. It has other uses for Athletes, and older people. This would be a great addition to your 72 hour kit. I will be ordering in bulk for this. I have to know how much I am buying before I know how much they will charge me. If you know me contact me and you can get in on this order. If you don't, just go to their website. http://www.bootybalminc.com/ and you can read why it is called a Miracle Cream, and order on that site.

This is one of my all time favorite things. I call it Bunny Bunny. This is 9.75 per can and the can really lasts a long time (even though I use it every night). It opens my airways, and relaxes me so I can go to sleep every night. Uses other than colds are: Chapped stuff, Hemorrhoids, muscular soreness, scratches, cuts, cracked heals, children that pick their scabs (just put a dab on each night, and minor burns. You can google Rawleigh products to get this, of if you know me, I am doing an order soon and can order you some. The price does go down the more you buy. It is also great for your 72 hour kit. On a side note this is my Great Grandfather. He sold Rawleigh products as a door to door salesman his whole life. It is really fun that it is still such a great product that I still want to buy it. I guess it is in the genes.... I am a Rawleigh girl at heart! Also Rawleigh sells a lot more things. If their is anything else you want, let me know!

Few Reminders & One New Website!

1. PTA Reflections Contest: The theme this year is... Together We Can. Don't forget to check when you need to turn it in. Your child can do literature, visual arts, photography, dance, musical composition, film/video, theatre, and 3D art. You can get the specific guidelines at your local school. Each child gets a little prize or treat for doing it and it gets presented at an awards night. Everyone is honored. It is really good for their little self esteems.

2. It is almost October! Time to figure out Halloween costumes if you haven't already. Ebay, Savers, DI, etc. get pretty picked over the closer it gets to Halloween.

3. Fun Conference Packets for LDS Conference. Go to this website. They are really fun and current! www.scriptures4kids.com/activites-downloads/general-conference.html If you are going to do it though, don't wait until Saturday. Get it printed now, while it is not stressful!

4. Life is so hard for kids these days. I have been trying some simple things, that hopefully help them have better days. You might be already doing these things. When my kids come home from school I am always so stressed out that I was not doing these.

A. Smile while greeting them when they come in the house, or the car.
B. Give them a love and tell them how glad you are they are back.
C. Stop everything and pay attention to how their day was. (This is a real hard one for me. How do you stop when everyday seems like a whirl wind? But they really don't feel important unless you stop)
D. Make sure that you say at least 20 positive things to them after school and through out the night. For every negative comment you need to provide 10 positive comments. That goes for all the negative comments they are hearing at school as well. Maybe I should up it to 50!

Anyway have a great day and hopefully something in this post helps you somehow!

Check Out My "New" Dressers!

Here are my before and after pictures of all of the things I have refinished. I found out how to do these from the website http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/ I have really enjoyed seeing the finished product. I have been so frustrated buying new dressers made of low quality. I wanted 100% real wood, but that is so costly. So I found all these dressers for 125 dollars, bought paint for about 100 dollars, and Hardware for about 100 dollars. I figured out I probably spent the same as buying one dresser. I also redid my daughters bed and shelf in her room. And with all that money spent I got all this:

Before (Cracked top that husband fixed, Bright Yellow and White Dresser):

After (I painted red first, attached a vinyl ball on top and spray painted with white. Then I glazed with brown, new handles):Before (Ugly White, Warped top that my husband fixed, gold dated handles): After (Spray Painted Cream, glazed with brown, new handles):

Before (Parent looking nice dresser, with missing handles and pretty beat up):After (mirror spray painted purple, then glazed with black, Dresser spray painted white and then glazed with Black, new hardware):Bed After: Spray painted white, inside shelves purple, glazed with black):Shelf was red from a former lady bug room and I had never changed. Spray painted purple and glazed with black:Before (pepto pink with flower handles):After (Spray Painted blue, new hardware, no glaze):

I also did my kitchen table and chairs. I think it turned out great!

Table: Spray Painted White, Glazed with Black

Chairs: Spray Painted Cranberry, Glazed Black.

Children: I did nothing to, just their personalities!

The nice part about all of this is we don't have dressers falling apart all the time, because they are cheap. I also really like how each one, just fit each person so nicely. It has been really fun and lots of work, but mostly fun. My only suggestion is to go to a PAINT STORE and buy a 6 dollar mask to block out the spray paint. I didn't do this at first and had paint in my nose, lungs, mouth, etc. The right mask is a must!

Two new websites!

My cousin sent me this website to check out. Her little girl's school is learning the 7 habits of a happy kids. She checked out the website and it had lots of fun stuff for kids, but teenagers and adult as well. So check it out and see what you think! http://www.seancovey.com/kids.html

What I like about this site, is it is very fast at loading. I hate slow sites. Franklin Covey has done a really good job making this very kid friendly.

Also my sister in law recommended this website to get kids to do chores. She is loving it and so I thought I would add this website as well. It is www.myjobchart.com

Beginning of School!

So most of us have finished with the first day of school. Did you survive it? I noticed a few things that I thought I would share. I am sure you have had the same observations, and if you have different ones, please feel free to add them in the comment section.

1. Mom having to wake up early and make sure they look o.k., are fed, hair is done, is hard. I didn't realize how lazy I have been in the Summer.

2. I really should have done better getting my kids to bed earlier, in prep for school.

3. The kids at home without their siblings are adjusting to not having them around.

4. The kids are extra tired, hungry, anxious- when coming home from school.

5. This one was the most important observation: My daughter who has ADHD and OCD couldn't focus, was extremely naughty and Hyper- about 1 hour after school. I think it took all she had to get through the whole day of school being good. Because of this I had to give her an emergency pill of riddlin to get her through the night. Even with it, it was a very hard night. So today I am doing it different. First a snack will be on the table. Then a manditory play outside for a little while. Then a manditory quiet time in her room. After that we will try and get her to clean her room, play with the family, and do homework.

6. I honored my seventh grader by giving her a piece of cheesecake and a special note when she first got home from school. Then the next day she didn't have to go to school, so I took her out to lunch. I think I will be doing this with all my seventh graders. It was very fun!

7. I was so surprised how different each school year/ teacher really is. We started bad and ended bad last year, and this year we have started with amazing teachers and having a great year. I guess this means I realized you don't have to switch schools or homeschool just because you had a bad year last year. Communicate with the principal and he will help you have a good year!

8. It costs way too much money to send kids to school. I am broke. How about you?

Anyway thats all. I hope you all got through the first couple of days of school.

My Favorite Quote!

Whatever you are... Be a good one! A. Lincoln

I think this is a great quote to start out the school year right.

As a child I hated being compared to my other siblings. Maybe one was more talented, or one had better grades, maybe one was more outgoing, or maybe one teacher liked my older sibling best. I was not a straight A student, but I didn't get bad grades. I hated having my report card on the fridge with my straight A honor roll brother.

When I got kids I started out with an honor roll daughter. The next one came and she is delayed. Now I have 5 and I have no idea what life is going to throw us. I have learned that it doesn't matter about honor rolls, or being delayed, it matters what is in each of your children that makes them special. It doesn't matter if we are still on a first grade reading level, it doesn't matter if we all go to college and get honor cords. What matters is that we be whatever we are and that we be a good one. I am sure that all my kids will be educated, but I have no idea what they will choose and how long that might take them.

I didn't realize this personally until I was a junior in college. I didn't even realize that I had very specific talents that no one else in my family has. They did, but I never knew. For my kids I want better. I am recognizing these talents and helping them by pointing them out and making them feel proud. My 12 year old is very musical and very responsible, my 10 year old is very courageous, she is very organized, and she loved dance, My 7 year old has a love of life, she loves sports, and she is a really good reader. She also is my nurse of the family. My 4 year old is a great runner. He runs faster than anyone else in the family. He loves anything that involves pipes! and My 1 year old baby: He is very interested in lights. He is always trying to figure out how they work.

As my daughter is starting Jr. High, I think of all the kids that will potentially pick on her or make her feel less than who she is. My goal is to make sure she has a good self esteem before all that happens, so she can just shrug it off and move on.

So I guess this post is just about helping your child realize what talents they have, voicing them to them, and that we didn't all come out of the same mold. We are all unique and it doesn't matter what we are....... just be a good one.

My School Check!

1. Go through kids clothes and take out old, stained, holes, or too little clothes.
2. Move too little clothes to next kid.
3. Label with Sharpie on tag of clothes so I know whose it is (One dot is oldest, two dots second oldest, three dots third oldest, etc.) That way no one wears the wrong thing and it looks like floods.
4. Buy any new clothes and shoes needed to start school (label clothes)
5. Get children going to bed early and getting up early.
6. Buy any school supplies that you can ahead. Backpacks if you wait have a really bad selection.
7. If you have a child that has had problems in school, schedule a meeting with the new teacher BEFORE the school open house.
8. Write letter about child and give to teacher if your child had a hard year last year. Take with you to the meeting.
9. Organize cubby, drawers, room, etc. so they can start their school year out right.
10. Have a family meeting and talk about school and how the family is going to run.
11. If LDS have each child get a priesthood blessing for school.
12. Go to school Open House.
13. The day of school, take some post its and write little notes where your child will find them (lunch, backpack, mirror, carseat, etc.) This will help them feel loved during a stressful situation.
14. Always, Always, Always have a special gift or treat on child's bed when they get home from school. It really makes that child feel special.
15. And the biggest thing I learned last year was to not stay with a teacher if it is not a good fit. Change now, because you gut is probably telling you something. We stayed and suffered all year.

Hope school goes well for your child. If you have any additional ideas, please share in the comment section.

Shooting Stars!

Every year on the 12th it is shooting star night. We went out last night about 11 and saw lots. They go on the day before and the day after, so tonight you can still see them. Its best if you find a really dark spot to view them. Make sure you print off some star constellations, to look at while you wait.

Two New Fun Websites!

I love finding new websites and blogs. I need to be better at adding them to this website. The first one I will be putting in the mom section. The second will be found in the FHE section. Both I got from my friend Nancy and thought I would share them.

www.allthingsthrifty.com

and

http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com