Christmas Traditions: Having Their Own Tree

One of our new Christmas traditions is allowing the kids to have a Christmas tree in their room. Two years ago, we got them on clearance after Christmas. They are 3 feet tall. We bought them their own ornaments and allow them to use some of the family ornaments. They love decorating and redecorating them. Our daughter takes the ornaments back and forth from the living room... it is so sweet. We do have ornaments that are durable and can be moved. We would not do this with anything breakable or sentimental. Mostly, they are Disney ornaments and non breakable balls. The best part is that they love having their own tree and they love getting to decorate! It gets us all in the spirit!

Santa's Nice List Video

Disney Family has this great FREE video that is personalized for your child to see if they are on the "NICE" list. You upload the picture and the name and it plays back with Santa checking his list twice! Make you own video here. My children were amazed and relieved they were on list! What a tool to keep them in line!

Start Christmas Cards Early

I just ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly. I am a little early, but so much better than being late. I will be able to mail them right after Thanksgiving. Plus Shutterfly has free shipping (code ship25) right now which saved me $6.99 on 50 photo cards. And they have the best selection of cards for around $.55 each, with up to 9 photos (I did three photos on mine). Check it out! (No affiliate here, just great info!). I will scan the card when I receive it.

Here is one of the Christmas photos I used. You can see some more on my Mom Blog. Aren't they just so cute???

Making Halloween Costumes

I actually made my kid's costumes this year! I am quiet proud!


My little girl has never worn the costumes we have purchased, so my plan this year was to make her costume more like clothes than a costume. She wanted to be a tiger, so I purchased the ears and tail and made the rest. Using a pair of her brothers old black jeans, I sewed some marabou to the bottoms to make them girly. Then I used an orange t-shirt, cut slates in it to resemble tiger stripes, sewed marabou onto the bottom, and put a black shirt on underneath. She looked pretty cute!

For my son, he wanted to be Curious George. I dyed some old pants and a new white shirt brown and found a great brown ski cap at Walmart that had a bill. With some felt and glue, he had a great Curious George face. We added in a balloon at the last minute and Dad went as The Man With the Yellow Hat. Too cute!

Making the Curious George costume and using a t-shirt to make the tiger costume made these pretty low fuss costumes. And it was nice to have something original. I will do it again next year.

Ultimate Money Saving Tip

Joining Vicki in her Frugal Friday tips, I decided to post a tip just for preschool parents as well as my tip for anyone wanting to save money on my other blog.

For parents of young children, the smallest things can add up... clothes for the cooler weather, birthday parties, doctor's visits, etc., all add up to unexpected purchases. For a family with preschoolers, you have got to plan ahead in order to not get bogged down with these cost.

One thing is to shop ahead. At the end of the season, buy clothes in the next size up. While some children may growth spurt or not grow much, you can almost bet than most children will be one size larger by the next year (not exactly a science, especially for babies). Try to buy the things that are not as necessary to be in exact sizes- sweat shirts, coats, long sleeve shirts for winter- bathing suits, shorts, and T-shirts for summer. Try to store them where you will not forget them for the next year. At least you will be a little ahead on those new purchases.

You should also shop ahead for gifts. When I find books, toys, crafts, and other great birthday gifts on sale or clearanced, I go ahead and buy them and make a space in the closet with the items. When a party comes around, I do not have to run out and buy a gift, but I choose from those things purchased earlier at great savings. This saves the hassle of shopping the day of the party too. Try to buy gifts that are suitable for boys and girls so you can be ready for any party. This is a great idea for Christmas gifts too.

For unexpected illness (and what illness is not unexpected), cut coupons for over the counter medicines you may need in the future. When the time comes, you can buy what you need, and have a little savings. Shopping at drugstores like CVS also give you reward bucks for all purchases and prescriptions. They can be used later for purchases and also special sales they have (toilet paper is a great item to use the reward bucks, coupons, and their sale price to get a really good deal!).

Planning ahead for those events you know are going to happen is a great way to save money. Impulse shopping tends to be more expensive than shopping when you can stop and think or shop around for the best deal.

Great Preschool Website

My kindergarten son came home asking for Starfall.com. We found it online and instantly notice it was a quality site with great activities for a pre-reader/ emergent reader. And while that was exciting, my 3 year old preschooler is learning buckets of information! She is learning her letter sounds and some beginning word sounds. It has some great books that read to the children, along with lots more. And my 3 year old can navigate it herself! WOW!

Check out that site for your preschooler.

The 201st Post, A Bit Delayed: Meals Matter

I was so excited about my 200th post, and then I slacked off for a few weeks. It has been an adjustment to teaching all day, coming home and doing home stuff, and making dinner (the most dreaded of evening activities). I did find a great meal planner website that is perfect for moms of all ages and stages, Meals Matter.org. It is free and has lots of recipes to include in your weekly meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with things you can request or exclude. It was a little tricky to figure out some of the functions, but worth the time and effort. They even print a shopping list.

The only negative is that you cannot print a list of recipes, but have to print each individually. So take you time with that one!

And you know eating with your children is so important at any age. Making meals at home is not the most fun job, but worth the time when you sit down for that homemade food.

Hope you enjoy!

Plus, I am saving money by planning ahead and NOT EATING OUT!

It Was My Favorite Playdough Recipe

This was my favorite playdough recipe- for a day! The second day it got gooey. I added some flour until it felt better and that seemed to work--- just FYI!

Homemade Playdough Recipes

As we are home for Tropical Storm Faye, I thought it would be best to find something for the kids to do inside--- it is a bit rainy outside (and we are missing our second day of school!). My husband looked up a playdough recipe for me, because I am never sure how much of what to add. He found a great list of homemade playdough recipes, some I have never seen!

I think this is my new favorite (and I have been stocking up on baking soda for some other homemade bath products- you can get a huge bag at Sam's):

Rubbery Playdough

2 cups baking soda
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup cornstarch

Mix with a fork until smooth. Boil over medium heat until thick. Spoon onto plate or wax paper.

Ours was not rubbery, but nice and smooth. It did stick a little but rubbed right off. It is a nice bright white- not like the flour recipe (I use unbleached flour, so mine tends to be a cream color)- so I did not even add color.

This site also suggested using veggie juice for color! I love that idea.

The First Day of Kindergarten

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my little boy! I cannot believe it!

Although, I am not too nervous, since Dad works at the school as the dean... it makes it much easier to send him on his way.

But KINDERGARTEN! I feel like he was just in my arms yesterday!

And of course, since I am also a teacher, I do not get to take him in the first day... my little sister has volunteered that, which is funny since she is 19. She wanted to take him to his class. How sweet. They are kindred spirits since they have the same birthday. :)

As we pass this milestone, it makes you thankful for the time we have had this summer, the time I was able to stay home with him, and the great teacher he has this year!

Any one else need a Kleenex???

I will post pictures later.

A Free Story Podcast for Young Children

If you are looking for a free story podcast for your preschool, be sure to check out the Snuggles Podcast. There are a variety of recorded stories for you to listen with your children. There are archived episodes too, so you can listen to back episodes too!

Listening to stories help children to learn what reading sounds like. If you grab the book that goes along with the story, you can follow along with the words, teaching left to right tracking.

If you don't listen to these podcasts, read aloud with your preschooler! Any book will work, even the newspaper!

Let me know what you think!

OnTray- Make Grocery Shopping Easier

As I was cruising a blog carnival with great giveaways today, I came across the OnTray giveaway offered by The Giveaway blog, a great little contraption to make your shopping easier with little ones. Any mom with a preschooler needs to check this out. A great invention!

What NOT to do with Homemade Slime

Don't allow your child to put slime in their hair! With instigation from her brother, my little princess stuck the slime in her hair. It came out with shampoo, but what a mess! Also, be careful with the slime on other body parts. It should just be used with the hands or it may irritate the skin! Use my experience to your benefit!

Easy Slime Recipe!

In my effort to save money around the home, I decide to do some fun projects with my little ones. My son has asked more than once for a slime making kit at a local craft store. It was over $5! When you see the recipe, you will see how the packing, labeling, advertising, and shipping inflate the price!

I made slime many years back for my preschool class sensory table. It was easy, icky, and fun! I did a quick search and found these slime recipes. I choose to do the one with the slime recipe with borax. Borax can be found in the laundry section for around $3 a box and can be used for a gazillion different things! So for the tablespoon this recipe calls for cost maybe 5 cents???!! I had some white glue left over from a project, but I know I bought small 2 oz bottles at the dollar store (4/$1) and I used 3 (explanation later on my change in the recipe). Plus the tap water, that means this cost less than $1 to make.

Using the recipe linked above, I mixed my water and glue, but probably not thoroughly enough. When I added the borax water, it did not combine well, but I was able to pull out the slime from the watery mix. Then I just emptied another 2 oz. bottle into the water and stirred quickly. That gave me some more slime.

If you are going to color the slime, I would recommend adding it to the borax water or the water before mixing it with the glue solution. Then combine the two together.

Have fun! And save money (plus packaging, gasoline, etc!).

Turning Off The TV

During summer vacation, we have to make a concerted effort to turn off the television. With what I know about preschoolers and TV, (I did a research paper on it a few years ago for a graduate course), I should know to limit it. But it is a challenge sometimes just to remember.

When my kids wake up, they watch TV as they wake up and as the eat breakfast. Then, if we get caught up doing this around the house, it may stay on. Once we turn it off, the kids actually play, and get into fights! That in itself makes it tempting to TURN IT BACK ON, but we have been careful.

When school starts back, they hardly have any time to watch, although it still is more than recommended. Until then, it is a daily challenge!

Things Kids Say

My 5 year old is really grasping language and wants to use "bigger" words. Here are two things he said this past week.

Can we go see the cannonball movie (at Epcot)? (translation- the Canada movie)

Does my hermit crab live in a conscious? (translation- conch shell)

Lil' Sugarplum Hairclips- A Must Have!

Months ago I won a blogging contest and won some cute clips from 'Lil Sugarplum. I meant to post a picture of her cute hair clips back then and forgot. Recently I reordered some clips since the original disappeared. I am so happy with how cute the flower clips are as well as the price. I could not be without it since they dress up any outfit! My sister ended up getting one too for her 4 year old. This picture is of my daughter wearing the clip for her birthday party. Too cute! Make sure you check out her online store and get some adorable hair clips for young children and babies, as well as supporting a work at home mom!

Let Them Get Dirty!

We recently went to the beach one afternoon. I had great intentions for the kids to play in the sand and not get too dirty so we could get back in the car fairly clean. Of course, what was I thinking!? The beach and clean! So we just let them have at it and got as dirty as they wanted. They had lots of fun. And who cares about the clean up!

Summer Plans

For most families with preschoolers attending preschool, summer gives you a time to have your children back at home. Since I am a teacher, I have found that the time at home has been an adjustment for all of us. They have a break in the routine, having to entertain themselves, and I am having to break away from the business of the home and try to make some time to entertain. The most important thing is limiting TV time and giving them some great family time. Our little boy will be in kindergarten in the fall, and our little girl will be in preschool again. Our first year with the kids in school was successful for all involved, but now we have to adjust to all being home together and getting along! Share with me your summer plans and tell me what you are going to do with your preschooler. There are so many adventures to be had!

Taking Time Out...

Moms need a time out too- and I needed one from online work. I love posting on my blog, but there were other things going on. So now I am going to back in the swing of things with some great summer ideas. Keep checking in!

To Nap or Not To Nap

There comes a time in every parents life when they are debating naps. One of mine takes a nap everyday at school and then is up until 10 pm. The other does not nap and is cranky each and every afternoon.

So what to do???

The best thing is that summer is coming and the time up will not matter, except for piece of mind. But it is such a struggle.

My 4 year old really needs some rest, but when he falls asleep, he is out for 3 hours!
My daughter (3) is the same- but she cannot make it through the day without sleep.

Such a dilemma. What do you do?

Building With Blocks

Blocks are a great activity for preschoolers. It allows for creativity and spacial maneuvers. Tonight, my kids played with Kapla blocks. They are simple flat rectangles, all the same size. My son found a picture in the book and began creating the Efile Tower- he did not quite make it but he gave a good effort. My daughter built a simple structure, but symmetrical. They were each able to do what they could developmentally without criticism or a "right" answer. Don't underestimate blocks and simple toys like we had when we were kids. Everything does not have to have a battery to be fun. Children can be most creative when given open ended items to create something of their own.

The Site is Almost Up

Preschool Activities the site (it sounds like a movie!) is almost ready to go again. Hopefully soon, so if you are looking for it, please be patient! There is so much to learn about websites! It was not as easy as I thought! :)

The Preschool Switch

Over the next month, I will do the preschool switch! My toddler becomes a preschooler and my preschooler will turn 5 and be going to school in the fall.

One down and one to go!

I am a little sad that my little girl is officially not a baby, although as a mom, we know they are always our babies! She looks and acts older than even back at Christmas.

And to think my oldest will be in kindergarten! I will not know what to do!