12 Days of Christmas

 

I have wanted to do this with the kids since I had them, but of course I had to wait until they understood Christmas just a little bit more!  I have thought about doing an Advent countdown with them, but I decided to start small.  I loved the idea from this website, http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-to-christmas-homemade-family.html  This is my goal for next year!  I can start thinking about it earlier and get some fun ideas on paper! 

So, this year I settled for doing the 12 Days of Christmas.  I can’t wait until we get to start it! 

I went to Michael’s and walked around to get my creative juices going!  I grabbed some Christmas scrapbook paper, some fun colorful gems and some cardstock stockings.  I bought enough so that next year if I decide to do the Advent Count then I have all the items I need!

I cut the scrapbook paper to cover the stockings.  Then glued them on.  I used the gems to write the numbers on each stocking.

I decided to decorate the trim of the stockings with glitter.  Josie started to help me with this, but she was making more of a mess than I wanted!  So, she gave up and I got to finish with less mess! 

I also found some clothespins at Michael’s that had Santa or Snowmen on them.  You could paint/color them if you wanted, but I decided to leave them plain.  They were just cute!  I got some red ribbon and clothes pinned the stockings to the ribbon and hung them on this railing.  I love how it turned out!  What I also like about this is that next year when I decide to do the Advent I can write on the backs of the stockings the idea/activity for each day.

I found some trinkets, crafts, candy to wrap up and let the kids have each day of the countdown.  I’m excited and I know they are excited, too!  I also can’t wait to do a more fun but meaningful one next year!  Enjoy!

Giving Thanks

Wow, 2010 has flown by!  It’s been a crazy, but fun year.  I love that the kids are old enough to do a lot more things.  We don’t have to be home for naps.  We are free to roam and go as much as possible.  What freedom we have as a family!  I thought I would reflect on the things I am thankful for this year.

I am thankful for Kevin’s job, even though he is rather stressed most days.

I am thankful for Kevin and all he does for me and the kids.  I may not show how much I love him all the time, but he is the best husband and dad we could ask for.

I am thankful for my Jayden.  He is becoming more independent and finding his place in school.  I am thankful for his kind heart and loving soul.

I am thankful for my little Peanut.  She amazes me everyday.  I am thankful for her hugs and kisses and her zest for life.

I am thankful for Jayden’s new teacher.  We hope she will be there till the end of the year.

I am thankful for my family.  We may have it rocky at times, but we are stuck like glue!

I am thankful for my friends and my mommy friends!  Without you guys, life would be dull!

I am thankful for our health!

I am thankful for technology and keeping up with friends and family.

I…am…thankful!

For my little artists

With the kids back to school and bringing home project after project, I needed a place to show our favorites off!  I don’t have a lot of wall space in my house and wanted to be able to display their work somewhere we could enjoy it.  I found the perfect spot!  Then, I had to decide how I want to do it.  I had seen people use cork board and picture frames and decided that is what I wanted to do!

I wanted all my frames to match to since this is in our living room area.  I found a 10 pack of frames at Kohl’s for $17. I thought that was a good deal as they were all the same color but different sizes.  I then found a 4 pack of cork board at Wal-Mart for $6.  I also picked up a pack of push pins that are black and white striped.

I used the glass of each frame to measure how much cork board I would need.  Then I glued the cork board into the frame with heavy duty glue.  I let them dry and then start to collage them together on the wall. Instead of using pins to hang them, I used the command strips so that I could put the frames close together. I ended up using 7 of the frames.  And what I like about this is I can add more frames to it as I see fit.  For now, I think this will be plenty of room!

After I got it on the wall, I decided it needed something to go with it.  I was trying to find a saying that had something to do with art/imagination/creativity.  I found this one at Kohl’s and that it would work pretty good!

“Home – Where laughter is shared and where memories begin”

Here is the finished project!

Then this is what it will look like when the kids’ fun art comes home!

Bare Classroom

As a new mom to the whole school experience, I wanted everything to be perfect for the little man so it was an easy transition.  The school year has gotten off to a rocky start.  The teacher was great, but life circumstances seemed to not allow her to be there on a consistent basis.  The first thing that he would say when I would pick him up is whether the teacher was there or if they had a sub.  That should not be the focus for a 6 year old.  He should be excited about school and telling me about his day.  I kept giving it the benefit of the doubt and kept saying the next week would be better.  I didn’t want to be that “new parent” that like to complain.

Yesterday, changed the whole classroom!  We found out, the long way, that his teacher had resigned.  Of course lots of questions and madness entered my head.  Nothing can be said because of school rules and the proper way to handle it.  I get that, but you could at least inform the parents BEFORE the new teacher starts, today, as to what is going on!  The lack of communication is getting to me more than anything.  Kids are resilient.  They will move on.  They will probably not even notice a difference.

Yesterday, myself and some other moms went in after school to voice our concerns.  We didn’t get very far, but it was nice to be heard.  The new hire, that starts today is a long term sub.  For the kids sake, I really, really hope this turns out to be a good fit and we can move on to a consistent year.  There has been no consistency yet and we know that this class is further behind than the other two classes.  They are going to have extra help in the room to get the kids caught up.  Ugh…that just kills me.  Was this last 9 weeks or so a waste of time? 

After talking to the few people we did, we went to the classroom.  Talk about a heartbreaker.  The walls were bare.  No fun kid art, not fun posters, just boring walls.  My heart sunk for the kids.  I wanted to cry. It made kindergarten look like prison.  Sure hope they can get the room more fun again!

The other kicker is that the principal will be doing our conferences next week.  I just hope the old teacher has some sort of progress/report card for the kids so we know a little of what went on the last 9 weeks.  I also assume he is filling in so he can listen to the parents!  I sure hope it won’t be a waste of time.

I know this can happen in any school system and probably does more often than I realize.  I just hope the kids can bounce back and that they get some structure in the classroom and start having FUN in kindergarten!

This mama bear is protective of her kids and only wants the best for them.  It can only get better from here on out right?  As a new school mom they have a lot to prove to me and those walls better get some color!