The First Thanksgiving

We are starting to make some puppets to reenact the first Thanksgiving! So far, we have:

One little,
Two little,

Three little Native American boys.

We began by painting R's palm with a combination of red and brown paint to make the face. Each of her four fingers was painted a different color to make the feathers of the headdress.

Once dry, R drew faces on them, we cut them out, and glued them to craft sticks. The pilgrims have not arrived yet, but they will be here soon.

Thanksgiving Favorites from 2008

As you know, we have been a bit under the weather here. We have not even started our Thanksgiving crafts yet, but I found some photos of our favorites from last year. As soon as we return to normal, we will revisit some of these and add some new crafts too! Stay tuned!

Turkey Headbands (Family Fun)

Pilgrim Hat Treats (Family Fun)

Turkey Spoons
(I think the one in the front with black hair looks a little like Jay Leno; no one else thought so though)

Turkey Cupcakes (Family Fun)

Ten Little Indians

Paper Bag Turkey

Hand print Turkey Puppet

Bubble Wrap Indian Corn

We are on the mend, so you can expect some fun Thanksgiving projects soon!
*I don't remember where all of these ideas came from. I didn't have a blog at the time so I didn't keep track. There are a few that I know came from Family Fun magazine and I noted that in parentheses.

Sorting Candy

I walked into C's room recently and found this. I never mentioned sorting or classifying the candy to him. I was thrilled.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my sister's birthday. R ranks visiting Auntie Karen higher than going to Disney World so that says a lot. She is a great sister and an awesome aunt.

This is a photo of my sister (in pink) and me (in blue) when we were kids. I'm not sure when the photo was taken but I think she was three or four and I was seven or eight.

Auntie Karen, we love you and miss you! Have a wonderful birthday!

Top Five Friday #6 - Sickness stinks but...

Initially I wanted to write the top five reasons that I hate the dumb swine flu (see the gross picture of swine flu above), but that is just too negative for my blog. So, instead, I am writing the top five things that make me feel better when I am sick.

1. My husband got up with the kids (who are also sick)and started the day.

2. He also brought me hot tea in bed.
3. Family members brought us food - it is so nice to not worry about what we are going to eat.


4. Watching our dog snuggle up with one of the sick kids. She is such a good dog, and it is so obvious that she understands that they are not feeling well.
5. Vita Coco pineapple coconut water. I don't know why, but drinking this makes me feel better. It also has 180% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C.

So, that is my top five for this week. Do you have a top five you would like to share? If you do, please link up here!

Scarecrow Craft

C has been sick and did not feel up to making this scarecrow, but R and I had fun with this craft. I cut a paper doll type shape out of a brown paper bag and then traced around it on white paper to make clothes. R glued the outfit on the body and colored it purple. Don't all scarecrows wear purple?


She drew facial features and added a pink flower button to the fashionable outfit! Then she cut brown craft ribbon into small pieces and glued them under the pant legs, sleeves, and on the head.

We added a very trendy hat, and here is R's fashionable scarecrow:

We plan on making scarecrow cookies and we have a pile of scarecrow books to tell you about, so stay tuned!

Acorn craft

Acorns are all over the ground here so we just had to do an acorn craft. I began by drawing a large acorn on the back of a cereal box. Luckily, I was not concerned with perfection because I am lacking drawing ability.

Next, C and R searched the button box for brown buttons. We glued the buttons on to make the cap of the acorn.

Then, C and R tore brown construction paper into small pieces.

They glued the torn paper onto the bottom part (nut) of the acorn.

C colored green grass and a blue sky with dark clouds in the background.

R used scissors to cut fringe along the bottom of her page. This was her grass, and it was all her idea. I was impressed.

We also read one of our favorite Autumn books: Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk. I have seen this book mentioned on a lot of blogs, but if you are not familiar with it, you should definitely request it from the library. There are so many great learning opportunities in this one book and it is a fun read too!