Sign Up for Fall Photos at our Next MOPS Meeting!

Our Oct. 8, 2013 meeting is going to be CHOCK-A-BLOCK full of cool stuff you don't want to miss! Here's the rundown:

What to Expect:

It's our Fall Craft Day, and we'll be making something fabulously crafty from our Craft Maven, Erin! She'll also have the supplies to make diaper bag tags again if you didn't get to make one last time, or if you'd like to make one for a second kiddo.

We'll also be talking about that terrible "compare and despair" game we all play as moms—and how to overcome it!

Don't Forget:

• It's Fall Photo Signup day! Check out the gorgeous images from our photographer in the slideshow above. This year we will have two locations, so even if you've done fall photos before and were hoping for a different look, we've got you covered. Be sure to bring your calendar and your checkbook if you want to sign up—the slots go super fast! Fall photos cost $50, and fully half of that goes to support MOPS. It's an amazing deal all around.
• If you haven't paid your dues or turned in your paperwork, be sure to see Brooke at this meeting. She'll be at the welcome table before we start.
• Have you sold any Butter Braids yet? Orders will be due at our next meeting, Oct. 22.
• Our food tables for this week are Yellow, Purple, and Pink and our cleanup table is Blue!

See you there!

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Here is the list of ideas for our Summer Bucket List craft from the last meeting.

• Paint with colored ice cubes
• Go to the zoo
• Take a hike with the kids
• Get out all things bubbles
• Paint a picture
• Watch a favorite movie from when you were a kid
• Sprinkler fun
• Shaving cream painting
• Find a Pinterest project
• Have a dance party
• Grab some books and read outside on a blanket
• Picnic lunch in the backyard
• Plant a flower
• Make ice cream
• Get ice cream
• Freeze toys in ice
• Explore ice and water
• Put washable paint in squirt bottles and spray a picture outside
• Play "Red Light, Green Light"
• Make your own "Get Up and Move" Dice game (make a cube with activities on each side and have kids throw)
• Setup an obstacle course outside
• Make a sand castle
• Go on a scavenger hunt for nature items
• Catch a bug
• Feed the ducks
• Have your child make a story with pictures and then tell you what to write
• Read a book and find a matching craft
• Water balloon fight
• Play Bingo
• Star gaze
• Start a collection
• Setup HotWheels races in the driveway
• Have a game day/night
• Put-Put Golf
• Make your own pizzas
• "Minute to Win it" Games
• Pick berries
• Have kids create a "My Favorites" scrapbook page and frame it with pics from that day
• Make Playdough
• Plant a garden
• Camp in the backyard
• Make s'mores
• Jump on a trampoline
• Go to a farmers market
• Go fishing

For more ideas, Pinterest has a lot of inspiration! 

Activities for Lent / Easter

Today, Janna Widdifield will be speaking to our MOPS group about ideas that we can use with our kids to make Lent / Easter a big deal in a fun and relatable way.

Here are some of the resources shared:

• Palm Sunday Coloring Sheet
• He Is Risen Rolls Tutorial
• Robin's Egg Nest Tutorial 
• Hosanna Palm Tutorial  
• Hill of Calvary Tutorial
• Link to Janna's Easter Page (which contains more Easter and Lent ideas)

Christmas Craft Ideas

Looking for something to keep the kids occupied in this last week before Christmas? Here are some fun Christmas craft ideas for preschool or early elementary children.

Each picture is clickable and will take you to the original website or blog for more information or instructions on how to complete the craft.

Thumb Print Christmas Lights 

Source: meetthedubiens.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Christmas Tree

Source: meetthedubiens.com via Amber on Pinterest

Handprint Rudolph

Source: meetthedubiens.com via Amber on Pinterest

Christmas Tree Ornament

Source: ahomeschooljourney.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Snowglobe

Source: whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Candy Cane Reindeer

Source: chadamberhiggins.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Homemade Handprint Ornaments

Source: onceamonthmom.com via Amber on Pinterest

Snowflake Ornament

Source: playathomemom3.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Handprint Tree

Source: ucreatewithkids.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I look forward to seeing you at our next MOPS meeting in January!

Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

Here are a few fun craft ideas to do with your preschoolers this week. :)

Thankful Turkey

Source: crafts-for-all-seasons.com via Amber on Pinterest

Color by letter

Source: reading-with-kids.com via Amber on Pinterest

Turkey Handprint Craft

Source: growingkinders.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

TP Roll Turkey

Source: busybeekidscrafts.com via Amber on Pinterest

Mayflower Handprint Craft

Source: frymanfour.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

My daughter loves to do crafts. Since I have a hard time coming up with creative ideas on my own, I am so thankful for the internet (and especially Pinterest) to help me find some inspiration.

Here are a few fun-looking crafts I've found that could be done with preschool / early elementary children. Each image is linked to the website so that you can click on them to find the instructions or additional information for each craft.

This first one looks pretty easy - I plan on incorporating it as a writing/art project for my 1st grader in the next week or two.

Source: teacherbitsandbobs.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

I love crafts that involve capturing a child's hand print.

Source: thecraftycrow.net via Amber on Pinterest

Perfect for a child learning their letters.

Source: totallytots.blogspot.com via Betsy on Pinterest

Easy "knuckle-printing" pumpkins.

Source: 1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com via Jamie on Pinterest

I have seen a few adorable Thanksgiving crafts around. I will try to remember to post those next month!

Happy crafting!

Birthday Calendar pdf's

Ladies,

Here are the pdf's of the calendar pages for today's clipboard craft. If you would like other ideas for your clipboard below are also some links.

Calendar Pages:

January/February

March/April

May/June

July/August

September/October

November/December

Links:

http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/08/travel-clipboard-chalkboard-tutorial.html

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/altered_clipboard/

http://scrappinbeckyb.blogspot.com/2010/10/altered-clipboard-message-center.html

http://www.thehybridchick.com/2009/07/its-school-time-altered-clipboards/

http://simplifychristmas.blogspot.com/2008/07/altered-clipboards.html

Please let us know how you use your clipboard or if you have a link to share.

Glowing Jack O'Lanterns

I have started collecting my glass jars after they are emptied and had piled up quite the collection, but I didn't really know what I wanted to use them or some of them for until I saw this tutorial.  It is a quick, easy, and inexpensive craft to add a little festive spirit to your home this halloween.I made these jack o'lantern jars with my 22 month old and my husband so this was a great family craft.. The only thing that I did differently is that I used green, black, and orange tissue paper. You can find the tutorial here and some other creative modifications of the same idea here.

Easy Applique Project

I decided to make my dad a golf towel with an appliqued initial and then on top of that embroider his last name. I thought that I would take some pictures to show how easy it is to do. I have only started sewing over the past 6 months so I had no idea how easy it is to make your own appliques.

Reminders

Our next meeting is this Tuesday. Here are a few reminders:

1- At the meeting we will be having a mixer and tie dying one shirt for our oldest child or only child. If you have an infant and would like to tie dye an onesie , please bring one to the meeting.

2- Dues are will be due at this meeting.

3- Sign up for our spring pictures fundraiser and pay to reserve your spot.

4- Bring your magazine orders. They will be collected. If you sell five or more magazines, you will receive a Starbucks giftcard.

5- Sleepy, Noisy, and Forgetful Planets are up for food.

Sugar Scrub

Many of you have requested the recipe for the sugar scrub that we made at our Christmas meeting. After talking to Angie (our creative steering member), here it is...

~2 parts sugar to 1 part sunflower oil

~Color drops (your preference)

~Scented oil drops (your preference)

All materials except the Sunflower oil can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Sunflower oil can be purchased at your local grocery store.

Janna Widdifield 1.26.10

If you missed the last MOPS meeting or you would like to listen to Janna again, just click here. There is a slight delay at the beginning of the podcast but just give it about 40 seconds or so and the talk will begin. Also, here are the tutorials from the meeting. You can also read more about Janna at her blog http://mustardseeds.typepad.com/my_weblog/. Please feel free to share your ideas and the creative ways that you teach your children about Jesus and also celebrate the Easter season.

Hosanna Palm Tutorial-1

He Has Risen Rolls-1

Palm Sunday Coloring Sheet

Christmas Website

I stumbled upon Merry-Christmas.com today and thought that the rest of you might find it useful.

Have you run out of gift tags? Print your own.

Are you looking for Christmas tradition ideas? There are 31 to read about.

Do you want to listen to Christmas music or read the lyrics? Listen to mp3's.

Are the kids getting bored and need something to do? They can email Santa or print a coloring page.

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, take a look at Merry-Christmas.com.

Fast, Easy Ornaments

Jill Morian just forwarded me this link to make fast, easy photo ornaments. All you need is a picture (any size), a pair of scissors, a hole punch, string, and two paper fasteners. This is a great craft to make with your kids. Plus, these are unbreakable.

Also, if you weren't at the MOPS meeting on November 24, we made great smelling ornaments using a clear glass ornament like the ones you can purchase at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, some potpourri, and a ribbon. Quick, easy and really nice.

As always, we would love for you to comment or share any ideas that you have with the rest of us.

The Season of Advent

Just recently I have begun to learn about "Advent". I knew that it always occurred around Christmas but that was about the extent of my knowledge. To start my quest at learning what Advent was and is, I looked up the meaning of Advent. According to the dictionary, Advent is "the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event." So being the Christmas season it seems appropriate that we, as Christians, would celebrate the coming of Christ as the baby Jesus.

I have also learned that the most common way to celebrate advent is through a wreath with four candles. Each candle represents a Sunday prior to Christmas or the birth of Christ. Depending on the day of the week when Christmas falls, the advent season can be 22-28 days long. At amazingmoms.com, you can learn how to make your own advent wreath and read more about the symbolism of the wreath and the four (sometimes five) candles.

Another common way to celebrate advent is through an advent calendar that begins on December 1st. Joanne Heim, The Simple Wife, has a extensive collection of posts on advent and how she and her family have incorporated this celebration into their family. Joanne also spoke at our MOPS group last year and shared some examples of books and other materials that she uses to  during the season of advent.

I am a little behind starting our advent celebration this year, as it will be our first with MaKenna. I have a couple of ideas of what I would like to do, but I am curious how you celebrate advent with your family. I have heard a lot of you mentioning that you have begun, so please share your family traditions or ideas with me and the rest of our MOPS group.

A month of Thankfulness

It seems like Thanksgiving is sometimes shadowed by Halloween and Christmas if not overlooked all together. However, here is a way to emphasize Thankfulness the entire month of November. In this month's Colorado Parent magazine, they suggested creating a wall of gratitude or if you are crafty, a turkey with "thankful" feathers.  Each day, each member of your household writes what they are thankful for on a sticky note or feather and then places it on the wall. On Thanksgiving day, all of the notes are read.

Here is a basic turkey coloring sheet that you can use for your Thankful Turkey.

Another option for those of us who facebook is to include something you are thankful for in your status each day.

Do you have something special that you do with your children that focuses on Thankfulness? If so, please share it with us.

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

It is that time of year again and the snow has fallen a couple of times already with today being the first snow day. It's not even November or Halloween yet, crazy. I, personally, would love to stay in my pj's and sit by a warm fire sipping hot chocolate. However, with kids this is not always possible so here are some ideas from Family Fun that will keep your kids busy and entertained (besides watching tv or movies all day long). I started my search for "snow" here. The results...more than 150 games, crafts, recipes, and articles related to snow. Here are a few. There are many more that I could have included.

Birdseed Snow Angles- This activity may be best after the snow stops and of course, you do need to have birdseed. Probably best for older children.

Snow Pudding- Warning, this recipe does require you to refrigerate it for a couple of hours.

Homemade Snow Dough- Most likely, you have all of the ingredients for this fun activity in your pantry. So, if it is too cold to head outside and make snowmen or the snow is too dry, why not make miniature snowmen inside.

Build Your Own Snowman Printable- All you have to do is print from your computer, then cut and paste the facial expressions, hats and hands, and clothes. If that is to much, then print the scene and have your child(ren) add features to the snowman using crayons or markers.

Paper Snowflakes- I remember making these all the time as a child, and I grew up in the south where it hardly ever snowed. So simple. All you need is a piece of paper and a pair of scissors.

Favorite Shirts

Now that it is time for all of us to start wearing long sleeves, what do you do with your child(ren)'s favorite t-shirt? Here are two quick and easy items you can make.

Pillow

1- Cut two squares or rectangles the exact same size. One from the front of the shirt and one from the back. 2- Next, lay the pieces on top of one another (right sides facing). 3- Sew all sides except for one. 4- Turn the pillow right side out and fill with t-shirt scraps, filler, or anything that would make the pillow full and soft. Lastly, whip stitch the open side to close.

Tote Bag/Purse (idea source: Martha Stewart & Parents magazine)

1- Lay the shirt out flat. 2- Cut off the sleeves, neck, and the bottom. 3- Turn inside out and sew bottom together. 4- Stitch around the edges of the sleeves and neck for reinforcement. 4- Turn right side out and you're done.