A New Month to Learn and Grow

December has arrived. It's time for a new unit in our home preschool. Here's the details for those who are interested:

Dec. 1 to Dec. 11 - Snow and Winter
I realize that snow does not necessarily arrive at this time, but it certainly can. The reality is this unit is easy to have a lot of fun with and use it to decorate our home for the long winter. Some projects on the docket: Homemade Snow Dough (recipe coming soon), making Snow Flakes to cover the windows, Cupcakes with coconut on top for a baking project and of course more depending on the timing.

Dec. 14 to Dec. 30 - The Story of Christmas
We live in a home where we believe that Christ was born on Christmas and that HE is the Savior of the world. We make sure to teach the true meaning of Christmas in our home: It's not about what we get, it is about what we give to others. In fact, the goal of this unit is to come up with a gift we can each give personally to Jesus for His birthday.
If you have never read the account of the birth of Christ pick up a New Testament or Bible and check out Luke 2 for the truth!

Emotional: Patience and Waiting for Others

Social/Moral: Time with Family

Spiritual: Giving to Jesus and Others

Month's Verse: "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." James 1: 17

Some other seasonal items that happen in our home outside of day care include a Nativity Calendar. Each day we read a bit more of the story of Christ's birth and add a character to our scene. It is so fun to look forward to each night at supper time.

This year I also am trying a new tradition, or adding to an old one, depending on how you look at it. Each year before we open gifts on Christmas the first gift we open is the Bible. My husband wraps it in advance and it is the first gift to be passed out and then read. So this year, I had my mother help me and we have wrapped 24 Christmas books. That means each night before bed Seth will open a book (some new and some old) to read with mom or dad before being tucked in. I think it just adds to the merriment of Christmas! Then on Christmas day we will open the most important gift of all God's Word telling us of how He sent His one and only son so that we might have life!

Let me know if you have any fun family traditions that others can join in too...

All-Natural Play Clay

As we are once again stuck inside it's time to start pulling ideas out for...hmm... shall I say the "cold winter" months?! Yuck! Since we are in our Baking/Measuring Unit until the end of October it seemed appropriate to get into the kitchen. Today we tried a recipe I found in my Family Fun magazine called All-Natural Play Clay. It took a few tries to get it just right but the kids had fun being able to make it on their own and then play with it too. Check out the link and have some indoor fun!

Note: For the measuring cup challenged: 3/8 cup is the same as 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Hate to admit it, but I had to call my mom to figure that one out. Math genius I am NOT!

Be Creative!

The summer reading program at the Ramsey County Library is gearing up. Get in and get your info! Seth and I will conquer the four and under reading assignment in no time at all, but we LOVE to read. I would encourage you to check out your local summer reading program. It is a great way to get your kids involved in learning for a lifetime!

Tips for Tots or for Moms Rather

I had the wost day of motherhood on record yesterday! Seth and I both ended up in his bed last night with tears. Not good but one must pick themselves up and move on as parenting is a lifelong commitment with no turning back.

This morning I spent plenty of time with my Savior trying to gather strength for a new a better start. Praise the Lord for His mercies are new each morning! I received a book from a friend on Sunday that came at a perfect time as I needed it this morning for some encouragement and laughter. The book is called Motherhood is Not For Sissies by Evelyn Beilenson and is a collection of quotes on motherhood. I just have to share a few to help you moms on your way too...

Surrendering to motherhood means surrendering to interruption. Erica Long

Motherhood is a first aid kit for healing our hurts, worries and mishaps.

I figure if the kids are alive at the end of the day, I've done my job. Roseanne

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. Phyllis Diller

Insanity is hereditary; you get is from your children. Sam Levenson

When all else fails, pray.

Tips for Tots: Eating Outside

Seth at our "new" picnic table in the back yard. Yeah, it pretty much takes up the whole back yard at 8 ft in length but we all love it!

It's picnic season my friends and this year we are doing it in style, well sort of. Jason scored a well-loved picnic table on Craigslist for $20 over the weekend. We have eaten on it three times in the four days we have owned it and that's just for supper!

I encourage you to get your kids outside as much as possible with sunscreen and sun hats but go the extra mile and have a picnic too. Here are some ideas that will make it even easier:

1. Grab food from a fave restaurant and head to a favorite park. Most restaurants will provide all the plates and utensils you need. (Chili's is a special treat we used to so just as a couple. Ahh, the memories of a quiet night in the park...)

2. Keep a blanket in the back of your car for last minute picnic plans. We have found ours comes in handy a lot!

3. There are tons of easy things you can travel with: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Lunch Meat and Cheese Slices, Fruit, Veggies and Dip, even cold pasta salads and wraps. A little cooler can hold all you need. Just keep it simple. More than likely small children will be distracted by the great outdoors and not eat all that well anyway.

4. Get out the grill often and eat in the comfort of your own backyard. We have only had a picnic table for a few days. Before that the back steps and a blanket always worked fine.

5. Make sure to teach your kids to clean up after themselves. Our food is NOT meant for nature. All trash and waste should go into a garbage can!

Have fun eating out!

Tips for Tots: Garage Sales

Garage sale season is just getting under way here. You know, now that the snow has officially melted and there is no longer ice covering all the lakes and we can re-enter civilization safely...

Garage sales can be the best place to find great deals for your tots! There are those items out there that need knew homes and yours could be one of them.

I have a love/ hate relationship with garage sales as you are often mislead about what or how much merchandise is going to be available and my often least favorite, where it may have come from. If you garage sale at all you know that some people are just getting rid of junk. The kids shoes and clothes all have holes in them and smell as if they were not washed after the last time their child used them. But on the other hand there are people who need to get rid of really great, barely used stuff and they have cleaned it and cared for it, even worked to make it presentable and affordable for any parent off the street. I find that more often than not our local garage sales land in between those two descriptions so I have learned a few tips to protect me from the worst of the worst.

#1 - Watch for local garage sale postings in your classifieds or on craigslist. You can save a lot of time and money by finding family garage sales or a number of sales in one area during one time slot which is common in many neighborhoods.

#2 - Check in with your city to see if they host a city-wide sale. The city of Roseville hosts a city-wide sale on June 6 meaning that any residents who want to participate have a sale that weekend and for a small fee you can have your sale put on a listing with a handy map.

#3 - Always have a list in mind of what you are looking for. For example this year I am keeping my eyes open for another tricycle and small outdoor trucks to enjoy in the mud and sand. I am picky about clothing but need some pants and tees and if possible a few more "church" outifts. I always watch for snow gear and rain boats that Seth can grow into too.

#4 - Have the amount of cash you are willing to spend in your pocket - don't even bring a wallet with options to make payments. Always have an idea of what you are willing to pay for an item you are looking for and don't waiver! Don't get taken by people who are trying to make ten dollars of a toy that is really only worth five.

#5 - Be aware of the surroundings. There are some neighborhoods where you may get into more than you bargain for. Avoid areas that make you feel uncomfortable. When it looks like a pile of junk and some strange people in the front yard always feel free to drive right by. Nobody will have hurt feelings.

I wish you all happy shopping and recomend you find some friends to call when you see the good deals coming. I have gotten some great leads from other moms in the past. Where are you hitting the garage sales this season?

Tips for Tots: Reading At A New Level

At Seth's recent three year well check our Dr and I got into a discussion about how much Seth enjoys reading. She mentioned that her boys were similar and she started reading chapter books to them at bedtime shortly after three years of age. I thought I would bring it up to Seth and see what he thought.

I own a copy of Charlotte's Web by E.B.White and thought that might be a good place to start since he has seen bits and pieces of the movie and might have some ability to piece it together. I showed Seth the book and explained that chapter books are different: they have few pictures, if any, and we would only read a part of the story each night, a chapter. He was actually very excited about it, much to my surprise. We are now on chapter TEN of the book and he can barely wait to hear the next installment!

That said, what other books have you enjoyed reading with your children on the "chapter book" level. I am dreaming of Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary and The Little House on The Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What else is good for a three year old impressionable mind?

Tips for Tots: Getting Artistic

I have been surprised by how little some people use art in their home with their small children. A child is capable of learning to color shortly after turning one and most certainly by 18 months of age. Getting out the washable crayons is the best way to start. Crayola even makes a set perfect for little fingers to hold if you want to invest some money in the process. Seth seemed to like the triangular shaped ones at first but now he just wants as many colors as possible to choose from.

After turning two we moved up to some washable markers and then got into washable paints. It sounds almost hazardous, but when they say washable they mean it. I have a horribly old kitchen floor that we do all of our arts and crafts on to be mindful of my cream colored carpet, but I have yet to find anything that doesn't come off. Well, there was that day with the glitter that I found in numerous places for weeks afterwards, but that is why we learned our lesson and haven't used it since.

Last week Seth and I went to some various craft stores to stock up on some fun supplies. Here was our list: glue sticks, pipe cleaners, stickers, and yarn. Simple and yet they allow for such fun for the kids! Most hobby stores we visit even have kits for craft projects you can do with kids of various ages. They can be great especially around the holidays. For example: Have you bought an egg decorating kit yet?

Check out your local hobby store and get some craft supplies for your kids to play with. Here are some to try: Jo-Ann's, Michael's, Lakeshore Learning, Hobby Lobby or even Target. The more creativity you allow the better!

And note to parents, I find sitting on the floor doing crafts with the kids about as therapeutic as a soak in the tub. It's good medicine for us all! What crafts are you working on with your little ones?!

Tips for Tots: Hold On Tight

I recently read the book Let Me Hold You Longer, by Karen Kingsbury and pretty much cried my eyes out. As a mother of a boy who turns three on March 20, I am learning just how fast time flies by. Our time with our little ones is so precious and we are reliably good at remembering the firsts but it is hard to know when you have reached the lasts.

I remember the first and the last time I nursed Seth. I loved our special "us" time that could not be interrupted by anyone or anything else. It was sacred for us both and yet somewhere since he was a year and a half and now, I am no longer even able to hold him in such a way as I would have to nurse him. He has grown too much!

However, I do not remember the last time he said certain words like "Aydner" instead of Ayden or "Ice Kispies" instead of Rice Krispies. Of course there was my favorite, "Penus Butter" which he now says very appropriately. It was all of sudden that I realized he was saying words just the way everyone else does and not in his cute little Seth talk.

I keep telling Seth to stop growing. He laughs and tells me, "I can't stop growing. I am going to be big like dad." I tell him that is precisly the problem. I want to be able to squeeze him and hug him and I don't want him to grow up and move away from me. He assured me that, "I'm gonna live with you and dad forever." I have a feeling he might change his mind.

So get a copy of the book and some tissues and then determine to hold your child just that much tighter in the future. No matter how much they agravate us - they are still God's blessing to us!

Tips for Tots: Living Smarter

Last year we took in the Roseville Home and Garden Show as a family and were surprised at just how much fun we had. This year I hope you will give it a try if you are in our area. It is a totally free event with over 1000 door prized to sign up for, free reusable grocery bags, and free seminars too! The basic idea is to visit over 60 vendors who can help you improve your home. We got some great advice and also a number of estimates on home projects that we found very useful. I think you ought to come and check it out!

Fairview Community Center
1910 West County Road B
Roseville, MN 55113

Open 9 am to 3 pm

9 am - 3 pm Kids Zone with FREE Bounce Castle
1 pm - 2 pm FREE Micro-Terrariums for first 100 children
12 pm - 3 pm Face Painting and Balloon Artist

For more information click on the website above. There is a list of seminars and times if you are interested. There is also food available if you want to have a snack or enjoy lunch while you are there!

Tips for Tots: Getting Rid of the Germs

This is my 200th post - I love to blog!

Mr Germ is not welcome in My Tidy Little Mess.

The J mom house has got the "bug". It's that illness that everyone gets, eventually. We have been so healthy this season but our "eventually" has come. After three days of getting worse instead of better, we took Seth to the clinic yesterday to have him checked out. As expected it is viral and nothing much we can do. The Dr. sent us home with some Albuterol so Seth is using the nebulizer three times a day to help with the weezy cough. (Fortunately we already owned one and cut costs there.) The runny nose, fever and achiness is getting covered with Children's Tylenol and Ibuprofen. As a mother you just ache for your child and want to help them with so much more but other than sharing his bed to keep the snot at bay and rubbing aches and pains, you really just feel worthless.

On to the main point: Getting rid of the germs. My house has now had the "bug" so we must remove all traces of said "bug" from my home so it is never seen or heard from again. As the kids are the one who seem to have started this we started the cleaning process with the toys.

Have you ever disinfected your toys? You really ought to think about it. As a day care provider (and an obsessive compulsive mother) I clean our toys more than most. I actually have some what of a cycle I try to keep up with, though my husband can attest it doesn't always happened as planned.

Here are some tips that I hope you can find helpful:
1. If you have a dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle you can throw plastic toys in it and run it knowing that they will all be happpy clean when the cycle is complete. This is great for infant toys especially! (For example: teething rings, shape sorter, stacking cups, magnetic alphabets, etc.)

2. Soft play toys can often be run through the washing machine on a short low agitation cycle with a small amount of cleaner. We have some soft blocks, books and stuffed animals that get this treatment.

3. Toys that cannot go in the dishwasher can be wiped with a Clorox solution or pre-purchased Clorox wipes. You can also use Clorox anywhere spray and then let air dry. This works great for all of our small cars and trucks. Not recommended while the kiddos are around though!

4. Any toy that you see enter the mouth should get washed immediately or put in the sink so you can cleanse it properly before any other kids touch it. Sounds crazy but it is possible. With infants in mouthing stage just make sure the toys that are used by mouth stay in one place to be repeatedly used until you wash them at the end of the day.

5. When kids are sick limit the amount of toys they play with so you can keep germ sharing to a minimum. It saves you the extra cleaning.

I try to cycle through the cleaning of the toys each month unless it goes in the mouth. Funny but Seth sees something go in another kids mouth and his automatic reaction is to throw it in the sink for cleaning. You can teach your kids to help you clean too! Make it fun and have a "car wash" for your toys with some soapy water in the bathtub. Kids love it and you get something done too.

All in all keeping germs out of your house is impossible and they say kids need some germs too. I just figure they can get them at someone else's house, not mine!

What ways have you found to keep germs away from your precious little ones?!

Tips for Tots: Selecting Books for Children

Once again I want to share with you from Becoming the Parent You Want to Be. The book has great insights into reading and since that is a passion of mine and shared regularly on this blog I wanted to invest some time on it.

"When you walk into the library or your local bookstore, you may have a tremendous number of children's books to choose from. If you're not familiar with children's literature or if you don't have much time to sit and read a bunch of books (like when you ave your kids in tow), how can you decided what's best for you child?"

Now you can take my word for it and check out the books that Seth and I recommend on the blog or you can try their advice which I agree with 100%:

1. Does the subject matter interest me and my child? Choose books that reflect both your interests as it is a way to share what we love.
   
2. Is the book aesthetically pleasing? I realize that you cannot judge a book by its color but you do want to introduce your child to a wide variety of artwork and design here.
3. Does this book promote creativity and open-ended play? There are tons of books out there with TV characters your kids know, their roles are set and do not encourage open-ended play. Keep them to a minimum and help your children meet new characters in the pages of books!
4. Is the language rich and beautiful? Even very young children can enjoy poetry, rhymes and much more.
   
5. What are the values portrayed? It is important to ask yourself questions such as, "What does this book say about life? About family? About nature?" Books will teach you children much more than you can ever imagine so be aware of what you let into a small impressionable brain.
6. Do the book promote peace and cooperation? As in my recent post, books can teach more than just information, they can teach us how to act. Look for books that teach sense of self, awareness of others, joy in diversity, love of nature, imagination, creative conflict resolution, and global awareness.

You will continue to find great titles right here on the blog but I challenge you to take these thoughts with you to the library next time you visit. See what books come as a surprise to you and then come share them here with us!

Choosing Preschools Already?!

I am a mother and since the birth of our son I have known that this day would come. But how can it be here already?!? Is it really possible that I have to decided what preschool to send my son to NOW? He won't even start preschool until next September and yet my money is due before the end of January! It boggles the mind! If you have made this choice for your little tikes already you know it is not an easy one.

We narrowed it down to two choices and have finally made our decision. We are registering Seth for Three's and Four's in his current ECFE program. He will attend two days a week, one hour during each week with mom. We formed our conclusion based on Seth's need for some diversity in his learning and life in general, but also our goal to send him to a public kindergarten in the years to come. Our ECFE program is a great program and has been highly acclaimed by other parents and teachers alike. I know we will be leaving him in good hands. How it will fit into the rest of our life? I guess we will find out in September.

Are you facing a similar challenge? Maybe you have not been satisfied with the preschool you choose and are looking for better options. For those of us in the metro area we have a wide variety of choices, but I strongly encourage everyone with toddlers and preschoolers to take a look at this article: Shopping for A Preschool? from Wondertime magazine. It gives a great outline of the most common preschool styles and can be a huge help in your search or just for pure parent education.

Our ECFE falls under the play-based category and I am fine with that. They are very intentional about learning and I feel that they will have him on track for his kindergarten years, which is the ultimate goal in our minds. Good luck on your decision! I'd love to hear how you made your choice or what you have in mind for your little one's future. Please leave a comment or suggestion!

Tips for Tots: Parent Role In Children's Play and Learning

Now this book is a bit on the dated side but I have found a treasure trove of great information to use and to share. You will certainly see this book again in a future post!

"Parents are children's first and primary teachers. Our role is not to define the learning or play but to observe our child to see what her goal is and to provide safety, information, and necessary materials as well as time and space." from Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Laura Davis and Janis Keyser.


Here are some great ideas the book has to share about our role in play and learning:

1. Respect the importance of choice. Children need amply time for free play.
2. Create environments that are conducive to children's play and learning. A clean place where children can easily access and find toys!
3. Provide a variety of open-ended, multiuse materials and toys. Those toilet paper tubes and empty boxes apply here. Even an hour in a kitchen cabinet or drawer, a safe one of course.
4. Prvide a variety of toys and play opportunties for both boys and girls. That means that boys do need dolls and dress up clothes from time to time too.
5. Provided a manageable number of toys that rotate regularly. We mentioned this in an earlier post - too many toys is too overwhelming and actually inhibits play!
6. Don't interrupt children unnecessarily. This one should be a no-brainer for a busy mother!
   
7. Let their children from their own imagination. As in the case of blocks, don't have your kids ask YOU to build something, show them how to build whatever they have dreamed up!

Keep these things in mind next time you are playing with your child, or especially when you are looking at organizing or purchasing new toys for them too! I highly recommend you check out the book for yourself if you have a chance.

Books that Teach: Sharing and Fear

As you know already - we LOVE to read in our home. We spend at least 30 minutes reading every day, but more likely an hour. I hope you are taking time to read at least 10 to 20 minutes a day to your toddlers. It is a great way to teach language and multiple learning skills and my personal favorite - slow down and cuddle too!

The majority of my book lists (located to the side of the blog) are topics that we spend about a two week time period reading and learning from. During these major topics we also try to incorporate emotional coaching through books as well. Children need to learn to identify emotions such as fear, sadness or frustration and then we also need to help them find logical ways to deal with them. We also must take time to teach our children appropriate behaviors. (If you haven't noticed the bad ones come naturally - the good ones must be taught!) The beauty of the toddler stage is that children believe all books are pure entertainment - the learning comes along with the fun, free of charge!

Here are some books you can check out for your own family:

Sharing:
Ebb and Flo and the New Friend, Jane Simmons
Jungle Bullies, Steven Kroll
The Very Greedy Bee, Steve Smallman
Emily's Sharing and Caring Book, Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post

Fear:
Where's My Mommy?, Jo Brown
Wombat Goes Walkabout, Michael Morpurgo
Bear Feels Scared, Karma Wilson
Oliver Finds His Way, Phyllis Root
Quack, Daisy, Quack!, Jane Simmons
Don't Get Lost!, Pat Hutchins

I hope to keep sharing book titles with you all throughout the coming year. Please always feel free to add your own suggestions. I would love to add more books to our library list!

Tips for Tots Tuesday: Reclaiming Space

Christmas comes like a furry and then we are left in a pile of wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes. Then there are the toys, the new gadgets and gizmos all full of fun, but all now in need of a place to call home within MY home. It's the annual crises for parents with small houses and most certainly those of us with Type A personalities and OCD!

Even if you aren't Obsessive Compulsive there are lessons to be learned here. Kids really do NOT need an abundance of toys all over their rooms or playing spaces. Each and every toy should have a place it belongs so when clean up time comes your child, and you, knows where to put it away. When our houses are cluttered with toys accidents happen and children become overwhelmed. A child who can sit with one or two things at a time and stay focused on their play is a child who will do well in the world. When they are surrounded by too many objects vying for their attention they cannot stay focused. It's like setting your child up for attention deficit right in your own home.

Help your whole family out this new year by going through your toys shelves and boxes and start weeding out what needs a new home. I am not saying all things must go to charity or be put in the garage sale come next spring, but the clutter must stay under control for everyone's sake.

Here are some helpful hints that I used just recently to re-organize our toys:

1. Anything broken just needs to go!
2. Toys that are no longer age appropriate should be moved into storage for a future child or passed on to someone who can enjoy them. Perfect example: a two year old does not need teething rings and rattles in the bottom of his/her toy box.
   
3. Books are also something to store or share as your child grows. I stored a box of board books that are no longer necessary to keep out, but I hope a future child of ours will someday enjoy. I also donated some to our church for the children's rooms which are always in need of new stories.
   
4. Those Happy Meal Toys are only meant to last so long - try to part with them whenever possible.
5. Your child can only drive so many trucks/cars at a time - weed through them and store some in containers that can alternate from month to month to keep things new and exciting. The same can work for your daughters dress up clothes or dolls.
6. Keep like items together. All Seth's puzzles are in his room. All trucks are parked on one shelf, etc.
7. Make sure your child's room is not a dumping ground for toys. Bedrooms should be primarily for sleeping. Toys should be stored in a way that does not distract from rest! (Could you sleep with a pile of bills to be paid next to you on the night stand?!) Seth's room specifically houses quite toys and books. For those times when he wakes early he can then play quietly in his room with the small lamp that he can reach by himself.
   
8. Last but not least, make sure that you are setting a good example with your own belongings. Keep your magazines and books tidied, your gadgets in a certain spot, etc. Face it, the whole do what I say and not what I do just doesn't make any sense.

Now you are wondering how your child will allow you to run off with their precious toys, even the ones they haven't touch in months. Well it really just takes some patience. I usually put toys I plan to put away or get rid of in Seth's room for a few weeks. If he notices they are gone I show him they are in the closet and share my intent for them honestly. More often then not he will need to play with some of them a few more times but now they go back in the closet. That is there new home until the need wears off and I do with them as I may. So far it has worked every time without fail and if he asks for something I remind him that it will come out again one day. Who doesn't like to look forward to a surprise?!

For some this is basic logic, for others that struggle to keep on top of the daily disaster I hope you will try some of these tips. I would love to hear from other parents who are facing the same dilemma and what you are doing to stay on top on the chaos. Please leave a comment.

Tips for Tots: Let It Snow

Kids are meant to play in the snow. For those of us in MN it should be a given that warm weather gear is purchased and kept ready for the season. Seth is in his element in the snow though that was not always the case.

His first experience with snow was at around six months or so. He hated it. I mean hated it. He would not sit in it or touch it without major tears and screaming. Knowing that snow was going to be a major part of his life in MN we pushed on.

Seth's first snow day - Not snow happy 2006.

Seth's second winter, also our first in our home, was much better. He loved to play in it and shovel it, but he was still a bit leary about it touching his skin. One day we went out to play while the snow was still falling - he did not like it one bit. We tried again after the snow was done for the say and he was happy as ever.

For crying out loud, buy them a kid friendly shovel and put them to work. (2007)

This is Seth's third winter and he has been practically begging for snow. Now that we have a few inches on the ground he is begging to get outside. We spent an hour yesterday at the park. He asked me why nobody shoveled it. Logical thought as everything else we walked on was shoveled to get there. I explained that most people do not go to the park in the snow. If you are one of "those" people he thinks you are missing out on all the fun!
It was truly fun. The slides were thick with ice and we went flying across them and through the snow even tearing up the grass in places. I felt like a kid again!

Here is Seth all bundled up to get outside 2008.

Your best bet is to get a decent pair of snow pants and coat or snow suit. Boots and at least two pair of mittens are absolutely necessary. We keep Seth's cheeks covered with a scarf or neck warmer which we got yesterday at Land's End Inlet. Second hand stuff is great for the outdoors because it can take a lot of wear and tear and doesn't usually get as much as it should. My best advice is to make sure it fits too. If you bundle up your child and they can't walk - you will have a temper tantrum waiting to happen. If you get mittens too big and they keep falling off or they are unable to hold a shovel or toy, again, temper tantrum just around the corner.

Needless to say, be prepared for cold and runny noses. We like to come in and warm up with hot chocolate and sit under tons of blankets with a book or a short video.

No matter what age your child is - get them out in the snow! You have no excuse either...

My sledding adventure last February at the Wilderness Fellowship.

Here are some great preschool Snow and Winter related activities you can try with your kids at home from Preschool Rainbow. Some will take a few modifications but that is just an excuse to get creative!

Tips for Tots Tuesday: Seasonal Crafts

I love to do crafts myself. Most of the time I have to up my patience in order to share them with Seth but this one is all about getting messy and having a good time. It is also a great way to bring nature a little closer to your window.

Image thanks to Koboose.com

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Bird Seed, any blend cheap or expensive will work
Crisco or Peanut Butter
Pine Cones of many shapes and sizes
Ribbon or string to tie up bird feeders
Knife or dull spreader of some sort
Plate on cookie sheet to help keep the mess contained

The basic idea here is to cover your pine cone with sticky fat (Crisco or peanut butter) then roll it in the bird seed. Once it is covered thoroughly tie a string on the top. The hardest part may be finding a place to hang it where you can see the birds come and keep the squirrels from running away with them. Yes, squirrels have the ability to bite through the string and haul the whole blasted thing right away. I watched it few times and it is actually rather entertaining.

Since one idea seems terribly insufficient here is one more activity I came across:

Felt Turkey - I came across this cute blog called Chasing Cheerios and if you have some random felt around like I do this could be another great activity. I plan to cut out some pieces today for the boys to play with. (Edited: It took me a few hours with many interruptions but not too bad. See the picture below!) If you check out her source for the idea you can get some further details at My Montessori Journey.

Image thanks to My Montessori Journey.

Here is my silly take on the whole thing. I liked the idea of teaching buttons and counting with my turkey. It was primitively hand sewn but all of the pieces were around the house waiting to be put to good use.

For better instructions on bird feeders and more future craft ideas check out this fun website Kaboose.

Have a seasonal craft or activity that you want to share? Please leave a comment, I would love to hear it!

Tips for Tots Tuesday: Mix It Up in the Kitchen

Seth helping make Christmas Cookies in December 2007. We are looking forward to making more soon as the holidays draw closer!

I love to bake, when time allows of course. To be honest we do make cookies or a dessert for lunches at least once a week and now fresh bread once or twice with the help of a bread maker. Through it all Seth has grown a fondness for helping in the kitchen. We have a decent size peninsula area in our kitchen where he can sit and help me. We get out my mixer, known to Seth as "round round" and we make cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, pies or whatever sounds good.

Seth and I rolling out a pie crust this past month. He loves pie but the "a la mode" always goes first!

Our last two weeks of "home school" we have been learning about measurements and baking. Seth has taken a strange liking to using my oven, which is certainly not turned on while he uses it, but I have found that it allows him to truly copy what he sees in the kitchen. Why not? When it is cool, it can't hurt him. He "baked" me cookies just the other day and my imagination told me they were delicious! He also has learned that the oven is hot therefore when Tate came in the kitchen while he was "cooking" he told Tate, "Stay away from the oven. It is hot. I am baking you cookies to take home with you and Baby Claire." Apparently Tate's imagination is not so well advanced at the age of almost two and he wanted some "real" cookies. I had to laugh at the exchange that took place.

We have a small fridge that holds play food and dishes that Seth loves to pretend with. I think it is a great way for him to use his imagination and the stuff he comes up with to feed me is pretty amazing. I have to say I am impressed. All purchased at a garage sale or hand me down from family it cost me less than ten dollars to pull together too.

Seth in our apartment in April 2007 learning his way around the kitchen. Though loud, it was a great learning time!

Simple things like helping to dump ingredients in a bowl, pounding wooden spoons on pans, or giving them a cup of flour and a teaspoon to play with can be simple ways of learning. Learning should be fun as often as possible and the toddler stage makes it rather easy to do. Are you getting your kids active in the kitchen? I would love to hear ways you are getting them involved. Please leave a comment and share with us all!

Note: Our next unit is construction and thankfulness. I know Seth and Tate will love this one! I will try to have a new book list up by the end of the week!

Tips for Tots Tuesday: Gift Ideas

The economy has continued to get worse and those of us who are considered "low class" (in terms of politicians who call themselves middle-class and make more than $100,000 a year) have to find ways to make it in the world. Unfortunately, the season of Christmas is just around the corner. The biggest gift giving time of the year and of course the most expensive time to "keep appearances." We are glad to rely on Jesus for our needs and appearances also mean little, but we do enjoy giving some holiday cheer.

For the Johnson's it will be the year of the inexpensive (as in free whenever possible) gifts. I plan to use crafts and things around the house to make or re-make gifts for family and friends. The kitchen is a reliable source too as caramel popcorn and cookies tie with a colorful bow make great gifts for teachers and friends too.

Here are some ideas I want to try or am already working on:

I have already purchased six dish towels for stitching
Thank You cards and envelopes tied with a ribbon
Pillow in a Blanket (for my little guy but don't tell him!)
A Baby play mat for a friend

Maybe some of these tote bags or some momogramed wall art.
Tea Towel Aprons could be simple too.
(Thanks to my cousin Emily for all the ideas!)

Okay so the list is pretty short. Ahh, the reason for such a post. Time for everyone to add in their two cents, literally! How are you spreading holiday cheer this year on a limited budget, for toddlers or anyone else for that matter? I would love to see links to sites for projects you have in mind or have made in the past. The sky is the limit here folks so add to the comments!