Gracie’s Fairy House

Grace has been asking to make a fairy house lately.  I was at Michael’s one day and saw a wooden bird house that I thought would make a perfect fairy house for her.  I took it home and she was thrilled.  Isaac was a little jealous and said he wanted one to make into a superhero house.  I had to go back to Michael’s a few days later so I got one for him and one for their friend Ella so they could make houses together.  They were so excited!  Ella came over and they got to work. 

They painted, glued and decorated until their houses were just right.  They turned out so cute!  The fronts,

and the backs.

The houses weren’t nearly as cute as these kids though…

They took them to Emma’s soccer game and played happily through the whole game.  I love it when I can sit and enjoy the game without a million interruptions!

Gracie was so glad to finally make a fairy house.  Isaac was happy that he was included.  It was even better to do it with a friend.  Although, is that a little flirting I see??

Making Valentine’s

There were lots of people that we wanted to give Valentine’s to this year.  The kids made some toilet paper roll art that we turned into Valentine’s for our Meals on Wheels people.  They were fun to make and even more fun to pass out.

We also wanted to make Valentine’s for our playgroup and preschool friends.  Grace saw Lee making some heart crayons for a YW event he spoke at and really wanted to make some.  When I told Grace that Emma made them for her Valentine’s when she was younger, she knew that was what she wanted to make for her friends.  She helped me make the crayons and then she diligently wrote her name on each Valentine.

Another day we put the crayons on the paper and they were all done!  She was thrilled with them and even happier to have a few crayons left over to color with herself.

I showed Isaac a Star Wars Valentine on Pinterest and he went nuts over it.  He also wrote his name on all the Valentine’s and helped put the glow stick light sabers in.

He was very happy with how they turned out.  Star Wars AND Lego!

The Best Time of the Year

Christmas really is the best time of the year!  I love the excitement and all the traditions.

Eddie the Elf came to remind us to remember the true meaning of Christmas.  We had a lot of fun with him from December 1st until Christmas day.  We found him in some pretty crazy spots.

On December 1st we also started opening a Christmas book each night.  One of my favorite traditions!  I love reading stories next to the Christmas tree.

We changed our morning scripture study to focus around stories of Jesus Christ, which was another way to help us focus on the important part of the season.  We read a different scripture story each day from December 1st until Christmas.

Our playgroup decorated Christmas cookies—always a favorite activity!  The kids got to take some home for themselves, and some to take to somebody special.

We had a preschool Christmas party at our house.  So fun!  The kids made Christmas trees by measuring strips of paper from largest to smallest, then they decorated them with q-tips dipped in paint.  Then we played a create a Christmas tree game that involved sorting M&M’s by color.  They loved that one!  We also decorated apple Christmas trees with M&M’s and Craisins.  Then we talked about the importance of each member of the nativity and had a scavenger hunt to find each piece to complete our scene.

Then we talked about how we can give gifts to our Savior as we are of service to others.  We made cute little manger and baby Jesus ornaments and they took home hay to fill the mangers each time they did something nice. 

To wrap up our party we all went to the store to pick out toys to donate to the local toy drive.  They each brought their own money to contribute.  It was so cute to see them in the store, they were so good and worked together to choose the toys.  They got to hand deliver the toys right to the organization running the toy drive.  It was a good experience.

By the time Christmas came around both Isaac and Grace’s mangers were full of hay.  Although they both became good at saying “I love you mom!” and then running to put hay in their mangers…

 

One night we had Christmas pancakes for dinner.

Another day we had Christmas trees for lunch.

The Polar Express book is a favorite at our house, but Isaac and Grace had never seen the movie.  The kids found Polar Express tickets on their plates at dinner one night.  We drank hot chocolate ate popcorn and wore bells while we watched the movie. 

I try to make a new ornament every year.  I make one for our family tree, one for each of the kids, and a few more for family and friends.  These nativity ornaments turned out cute and were fun to make. 

I also helped make some pretty ornaments for the Young Women in our ward.

I also made A LOT of Peppermint Bark Popcorn.  We have been making it for several years now to give to friends and neighbors, but we just can’t get enough of it!  I think I could make it in my sleep.

Isaac was begging to go to the temple before Christmas.  We couldn’t think of a better place to go!  So we went to one of the nightly programs at the visitor’s center and then went to look at the new nativity display.  Tenley had just returned home from Arizona the day before so we had to stop at Granny and Grandpa’s house to see her and they all went with us.

So many reasons to love the Christmas season!

Christmas Crafting

I didn’t make many handmade gifts this year.  Sometimes it stresses me out too much so I decided to take that off my list.  I did get a few crafting projects in, ones that I enjoyed doing and didn’t feel too stressed about.  First I made Isaac and Grace their Christmas pillowcases.  They are slowly getting a collection of holiday pillowcases like Emma has.  Isaac saw the Christmas Cars fabric at JoAnn’s and just about died.  I had to get it for him.  I am really not a fan of licensed clothing and fabric, but having a boy in love with Cars and Toy Story has changed that just a little!

I made a couple ornaments this year.  I love these felt trees I made for my tree, and then one for each of the kids to take when they move out.

I saw a cute I Spy nativity ornament on Pinterest and I happened to have everything to make it, so I did!  Grace loved playing with it and finding all the miniature nativity pieces.

Another Pinterest find were these fun rolled paper ornaments.  I made several for family members and visiting teaching sisters. 

The vinyl and greenery to make this sign had been sitting in my craft room since December of last year.  I finally got it done and I love it.  We have the perfect spot for it, right where everybody has to walk under.

I made Isaac a Christmas tie.  He was so excited about it!  He sure loves his ties.  It needs to be cinched up in this picture, but you get the idea.

I did make a few gifts, like these ear bud pouches. 

I have loved the ruffle fabric projects I have seen all over the internet.  I finally got up the nerve to make a couple ruffle scarves.  I love them and even made one for myself.

Another Pinterest find…these cute felt diapers I made for Grace.  She put each one to use very quickly and her dolls are sporting fashionable diapers now.

Just enough crafting to keep me busy doing things I enjoy, but not too much to stress me out. 

Bookmarks For the Library

When I saw these bookmarks I knew that Emma would love them.  She did so we decided it would be fun to make a bunch and donate them to the library to use as they wished.

We had such a good time crafting our bookmarks together.   We came up with some cute versions.

The monsters were our favorites.

Emma loves the children’s librarian at our library so she was excited to give our finished bookmarks to her.  The librarian loved them and said she could definitely use them.  A few weeks later we got a phone call from the librarian.  She asked if we would be willing to teach how to make the bookmarks at a family craft night at the library in December.  Sure, we can do that!  Of course Emma kept a few of her favorites for herself.  She’s already put them to good use!