Crafty Kids ~ Make it Monday

Baby M's Blankie!

Jo! Oh she is a funny gal!  She often thinks her mother is not crafty at all!! And finds the need to express herself in craftiness (which I don't usually crave that desire).  I can do crafts, like them, don't have room for them, don't feel the need to do them often.  But this child of mine finds great joy in it! I'm grateful she's a self learner cause she can do just about anything.  This is a little blankie she mad her baby cousin.  Jo picked out the fabric, embroidered the name, cut the ribbons, I helped her pin them and then she helped sew it together.  It was just perfect!  Baby M loves it and Jo couldn't be more pleased! It's just a little blanket so Baby M can take it in the car or it can easily fit in a diaper bag, etc.  The ribbons give it texture and the fun colors are great for learning babes.  Crafts may be something we venture into more often :)!

Elf on the WHAT?

Jingle the silly little Elf!

That famous new tradition of this little Jolly Elf that appears in homes (when Grandma's feel the urge to grace you with one's presence).  It's another of those things that I think is OVER the TOP but one magically came to our home in 2012.  It was a sad sight!  The poor little Jingle elf we have barely made any movement, staying in the same place for sometimes two weeks!!! The blame was placed on the weather and other various acts that were not related to WHY the elf wasn't moving.  THIS year however was much different!  Our Elf gained a great sense of belonging, we found him hanging from a ceiling fan in Buckwheat's underoo's, he was found trapped by army men and Ken doll's by the back door.  Now, remember this is a kind elf, ours doesn't get into mischief.....I don't see the point in making messes for the sake of telling the kids the elf can but they can't.  So,our Silly but well behaved Jingle had a personality that he seemed to be lacking the year before.  All this was due to a certain creative little genius I like to call "Santa's little helper" a.k.a Jo!  Now looks are deceiving, this little helper of mine is WISE beyond her years and is constantly reminding me of things, helping with homeschooling, cooking, chores and anything else, I'm certain her spirit is older than mine, (she just happens to be younger than me in age).  When Jo was waffling in her belief of the man in the big red coat I decided I'd rather make things positive instead of negative.  See, I believed!!!! I'm talking, I BELIEVED til I was 13 years old!!!  My grandpa lived in California and would drive 10 hours, dress up in his Big Red Coat, deliver a sack of GOODNESS (I actually have no idea what he brought but he had a sack and that's all that mattered) to our home while I watched with AMAZEMENT from the doorway of my parent's room WITH my parent's (might I add).  Then he would drive all the way back home, never visiting as "Grandpa" on that special day. SERIOUSLY FOLKS........ I BELIEVED!!! Santa was MAGICAL, Santa was TRUE and I had seen him for SEVERAL YEARS with my own two eyes and my parents standing by my side.  So when my little (much wiser than his years) baby brother broke the news to his 13 year old sister (mind you, he was 3!!!) I was devastated!  But believing is so much more than that ........Believing in the Good the, hope the light!  I STILL BELIEVE but it's just a little different now.  Well, I didn't want Jo to find out the hard way and be crushed or feel deceived because that's not what Christmas and the Spirit of Christmas is about!  I wanted her to be BELIEVING and to help and hope and have the Spirit of Christmas with her Always! So I let her read a letter on Pinterest that explains this whole thing as I see it!  The parents who wrote this letter were so Right!  Santa is more than just a person who brings toys.  This is what I wanted Jo to know and to get a taste of so she would still be excited for Christmas and the Magic and Hope and Love it brings.  After she read it she asked a lot of questions and I happily answered.  We talked about Jesus being the reason we have Hope and the Spirit of Christmas is about GIVING and the gift the Savior gave to us is the most important of them all! Santa gives and we give to keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  Then the topic of Jingle our little Elf came up.  We had found the PERFECT roll for her to play in making Christmas Magical!  JO IS THE BEST ELF ON THE SHELF mover of ALL TIME!  She brought happiness to her little brother and sister, the joy she found in moving him and having them find where Jingle was each morning was something I will always treasure!  I love the creative things she did with Jingle, the dedication she had to do it daily (it gets to be a little much after a while!) and the joy she found in the journey.  (I'm so glad she took over this roll!  If it would've been mine again I think Jingle would've magically disappeared LOL!) My wise girl all wrapped up in a beautiful little girl package, her vibrant spirit and love amaze me!  I'm so grateful for her! I'm so grateful for the help she is for the Spirit she brought this Christmas to our home and for the light she brings everyday, I'm truly blessed to be her mom!

Buckwheat's Birthday!

Dice game

Buckwheat turned the magical number 8!!! And we celebrated with style this year.  I am SO not a birthday party thrower, just not my thing.  I like small parties with family and cake and ice cream, the child's favorite dinner and call it a day. But every once in a while Celebration is called for!  So we had a Minute To Win It themed party.  The boys that came were super fun!  We played: Keep three balloons up in the air (that was TRICKY!), stack the dice on your partners tongue depressor (SO FUNNY!), Marble and Pool Noodle bowling, eat the Oreo (HILARIOUS!) and elephant trunk game (Another HILARIOUS one!).  We also had Sloppy Joe's and I was told that I make the BEST Sloppy Joe's EVER!  Well, I'm glad that packet of Western Family sloppy joe mix and the tomato sauce made someone's day :)

Balloon Game

Elephant trunk game

Happy BIRTHDAY BUCKWHEAT!!!!!