Cool Colander Alien

I borrowed this idea from the Blog Home Learning From Birth. We started the project this morning using pipe cleaners and a colander. The object is to lace the pipe cleaners through the holes of the colander. When she was done, she told me it needed ears, eyes, and a mouth! I got out the craft stuff, and she just went with it. So this is now her new alien hat. She is excited to show daddy.

Singing on the Brain

I think it is instinctive that when a baby is tired, or sad, we sing to them. As they grow we use this wonderful technique less and less. I starting singing to the girls in the morning and at night from the time they were babies. Now it is a part of our routine. In the morning, we sing:

Good morning, good morning, good morning,

 It's time to rise and shine.
Good morning, good morning, good morning,
I hope you are feeling fine.
Come on, get up, get out of bed,
It's time to raise your sleepy head.
The day is calling out to you,
Hello, hello, hello!

Then at night my husband and I usually sing:

Lullaby, and good night.
Little "name of child" sleep tight.
Rest from your big busy day
And tomorrow we will play.
Close your eyes, rest you head.
Get tucked into bed.
Say your prayers, count some sheep,
And go softly to sleep.

For the baby, when she is sad I always sing Edelweiss.

Then I found once my daughter was a year and a half, she wanted to sing more and more. I also found singing a very useful tool to divert her attention, especially when she had to do something she did not want. For instance, when the weather was getting nasty, she started fighting me on our daily walks (we have a large dog who requires walks - so this was a non-negotiable). I started singing with her for the whole walk. Now it has become our routine, and she is learning a lot of songs!

At first I was embarrassed when my neighbours would stare, but I have found that singing makes everyone feel good. Only problem was, that I never remember the words. So I made up a song book for my daughter for Christmas. I found most of the words at either  Teacher's Guide  or Bus Songs . I included little pictures with the words so that when she flips through she can identify the songs.When we find a new song, we just add it to the binder. I have also given this as gifts, and it is always well received.

I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing. ~William James

Letter Decorations for Kid's Rooms

I made these for the girl's rooms, and then made an additional one for my cousin. They are very easy, and cute.

• I used Microsoft Word to print out the template for the letter.
• Then I cut it out and my husband traced it to pine, and cut it out.
• He sanded it and then it was primed and painted.

• You can also buy the letters from Walmart or Michaels. Michaels has a 50% off coupon right now.
• Then I used scrapbook paper and pasted it on one side, and decorated with embellished raised stickers and ribbon. This way, you can change out the stickers as the kids grow.
• You can sit them on a shelf, or attach them to the door with the 3M adhesive COMMAND strips.

Threading Beads

Bead threading is very good for dexterity and fine motor development. This project can be very  inexpensive if you save beads from broken necklaces,  or pilfer some beads from old costume jewellery that you do not use anymore.

I needed some larger beads for my daughter, so I bought just a package of wooden beads with the pre-drilled holes from Wal-mart. Then I used pipe cleaners, because they are easier to thread when the kids are younger.
The bracelet in the picture is one that my daughter made.

DIY Easter Wreath

Spring is in the air!!!!

Last week, I started looking around for Easter wreaths for my front door. Pottery Barn has a nice one,  but I don't want to spend $250.  Etsy also has some for about  $45 US plus shipping.  The only problem is that I have double doors at the front, which means double the cost! Needless to say,  I decided to make my own.

• The grapevine wreath base was $3.99 with 40% off at Michael's  Total cost approx = $5
• Egg stems from the dollar store were $1.25 each and I used 6 per wreath = $17
• Beaded stems were $1 each, and I used 3 per wreath = $7
• I also added some metal butterflies and flowers from the dollar store for about $2

Voila. A beautiful wreath for Easter and for only $15!

Cooking Apron

I made this little apron for one of my daughter's friends.
My daughter received something similar awhile back from
her great aunt, and she loves it. Now when I make dinner,
she stands on a chair and helps with her apron on.
It makes dinner prep so much easier!
She can stir, mix, add ingredients, and measure.
We have a lot of fun.

Good Girl Chart

I saw an idea online, where a lady created a potty chart using a cookie sheet. I found the cookie sheets too small, so I used a cork board and layered it with plumbing sheet metal using two sided tape (with help from my husband, of course!). Then I covered it with paper, and created the numbers one to twenty. My daughter loves princesses, so I purchased a princess castle and ballerina from Michael's. I made the ballerina magnetic so that she can move her to each step. My daughter helped me create the numbers, so she was involved in the process. For every successful potty trip, she moves one space closer to the castle. Every time she has an accident, she moves back a space. I decided to extend the use of this to apply to all good behaviours, so that she is rewarded for being a good girl. So far, she loves the chart, and if she makes it to the castle we are going to get her a special treat!