I don't know what the weather's been like where you live, but it's been plain wack-a-doo around here. I'm knocking on wood right now because in the last three hours the temperature has dropped probably twenty degrees, and it actually feels wintry, just a little. But last week, it was hot, it was humid, and it was raining--a lot. One morning last week with both little ones home and no outside play, I needed a busy kid activity. I glanced over at the Christmas decorations and saw, conveniently next to my yarn basket, my stash of last year's cards. I save them for ornaments, gift tags, and who knows what else. On this day, they would become lacing cards, and who knew they would buy me a good half hour of mama time.
I chose cards that had large images, so that punching their outlines was feasible. I cut an appropriate length of yarn for lacing and used scotch tape to make the ends easy for little hands to thread.Big B and little b traded cards, made new designs, and practiced their fine motor skills for much longer than I had anticipated. The cards make a fine addition to their very own Christmas table, growing each day with sweet activities just for them, complete with a little tree, lights, and ornaments they can yank off as often as they'd like.
Today is Day Seven on our Advent Calendar, and it's fitting that the activity required no imagery; my trusty bloggy camera is on its deathbed, and we await its replacement later this week. Today's activity was to write a winter poem. Big B's words were simple, but his thought process provoked so much curiosity for me, and a great conversation:
It is winter. Snow is on the ground, Snowflakes are falling. Roots are connected.
I love that he has noticed this often overlooked detail of winter scenes; the roots peeking through the snow. He told me that even underneath all of that snow and trees the roots are all connected, keeping everything alive.
Happy December! Today marks the first day of Advent for many American families. Last year I enjoyed making this Advent Calendar for Big L and little l so much, I decided to make one for my little guys. Inspired by the popular matchbox variety, I began seeking out the right materials, completely free and recycled, that would come together to help us count down the days.
The design materialized on a routine trip to Target. I spotted one of their signature red jewelry gift boxes and asked the very nice saleslady if they had boxes to spare. It just so happened that they did--quite a few of them! I scored 24 bright red boxes, absolutely free.
Then, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I took all of the advertising circulars out of our newspaper and began clipping away, ransom-note style. My design prerequisites were that the numbers be sans serif, and comprised of only red, green and white. I found several different versions of each number, 1 through 24. I used good ol' Mod Podge to affix the numbers onto the jewelry boxes. I then filled each box with an Advent activity. The activities are easy breezy; the intention is not for this to feel like work, but rather to provide a sweet surprise and something to look forward to each day. I cut squares from last year's Christmas cards and wrote the day's activity on the backs of them.1 : Get out Christmas decorations & make Christmas Potpourri 2 : Make paper snowflakes 3 : Write a letter to Santa 4 : Popcorn & cranberries and watch Charlie Brown Christmas 5 : Go to the Christmas parade 6 : Buy egg nog and decorate our Christmas tree 7 : Write a winter poem 8 : Make a wreath for the front door 9 : Christmas past: Look at old photos of family Christmases 10 : Take pictures of each other wearing Santa hat 11 : Watch Christmas movies with hot cocoa 12 : Make Christmas cards 13 : Bring baked gifts to neighbors 14 : Hang a paper chain sash for Christmas cards 15 : Ornament making day one: Gifts for teachers 16 : Ornament making day two: Gifts for grandparents and aunts 17 : Have a Christmas cookie party (save some for Santa!) 18 : Make snowmen 19 : Go on a Santa Claus hunt 20 : Make wrapping paper 21 : Make Solstice crowns 22 : Give a gift to charity / donate canned goods to food bank 23 : Go Christmas caroling and light luminaries 24 : Look at Christmas lights in our pajamas
After all of the boxes were filled, I took an old cork board that was deteriorating and removed its cork. The pretty white frame was still in very good shape, as was the foam backing. I simply slipped in a square of scrap green courdoroy where the cork had been, and glued the backs of the24 boxes onto the courdoroy.Voila. As each day approaches I'll try to find a little trinket to go with the day's activity. Today's activity: Get out the Christmas decorations and make Mimi's Christmas Potpourri. I put a cinnamon stick in the box for Big B and little b to find. Happy Advent!
The Hebrew word shalom is understood around the world to mean peace, but when traced back to its root verb, it means something less definable: the feeling of being complete, perfect and full. A wise woman once told me that mothers must take the time to fill up our own cups, so that we have more to give to our children and to others. Knitting is one of those things that just fills my cup.
Since I learned to knit last year, there have been several patterns I've seen with others in mind, and each completed gift was a joy to create. But when I saw The Shalom Cardigan on the mother of all blogs, it was the first time I knew I wanted to make something for myself. So today I went to our local fancy yarn store and bought Cascade 220 worsted weight wool yarn in chocolate and maize, which I'll double up. I can't wait to get started tomorrow, when we embark on our annual Thanksgiving trip to South Georgia.
Thursday will mark the tenth time I've been a guest at my grandmother-in-law's Thanksgiving table. I could not be more blessed to be included in this holiest of southern traditions. I am thankful for the company I keep, thankful for the road that lies ahead of me, and thankful for four brand new gorgeous skeins of yarn with which to fill my cup. Shalom, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Big L and little l were in town for the weekend! We had a great time. As we embarked on a leaf collecting expedition this morning, it was unanimously decided that we'd also search for all things 'L.' I love this collection!
Oh, what a beautiful morning! The weather in our neck of the woods couldn't be finer, and this morning I was privileged to witness three very happy children enjoying the sunshine, the cool breeze, and a classic activity that immediately took me back thirty years: making mudpies.
Using a beginning reading book as their guide, Big B, little b, and little e from next door worked for a solid hour, showing exceptional teamwork and creativity.I was supremely impressed with little b's ability to contribute, and with the big kids' patience and carefulness to include him.Such culinary delights!
“Mud-pies gratify one of our first and best instincts. So long as we are dirty, we are pure.” --Charles Dudley Warner
I'm thrilled to announce that I'm now taking pre-orders for the 2010 Snip and Snail Color Walk Calendar!
Inspired by our year of color walking, these custom-printed beauties will have inspirational quotes and ideas for kid-made fun each month of the year. Pre-ordering for the holidays is available now! There is a PayPal button on the sidebar, or you may email me for more information. The total price is $25, including shipping and tax, and a portion of all proceeds will benefit The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project. I hope you will enjoy these walks with your family as I have with mine!
I don't know what the weather's been like where you live, but it's been plain wack-a-doo around here. I'm knocking on wood right now because in the last three hours the temperature has dropped probably twenty degrees, and it actually feels wintry, just a little. But last week, it was hot, it was humid, and it was raining--a lot. One morning last week with both little ones home and no outside play, I needed a busy kid activity. I glanced over at the Christmas decorations and saw, conveniently next to my yarn basket, my stash of last year's cards. I save them for ornaments, gift tags, and who knows what else. On this day, they would become lacing cards, and who knew they would buy me a good half hour of mama time.
I cut an appropriate length of yarn for lacing and used scotch tape to make the ends easy for little hands to thread.
Big B and little b traded cards, made new designs, and practiced their fine motor skills for much longer than I had anticipated. 
The cards make a fine addition to their very own Christmas table, growing each day with sweet activities just for them, complete with a little tree, lights, and ornaments they can yank off as often as they'd like. 
