Welcome 2012!

Well, it's been a bit since I last posted, sorry about that!  Wishing all my families and kids a wonderful Christmas!!!  Also, very happy birthday wishes to both Aubrey and Sadie!  Both girls are 4 years old now - WOW!!!!!

I've got some new activities up on the shelves:

Penguin stacker (there's also a snowman, but he accidentally went on a trip to Kelowna)

Fairy Tale Finger Puppets

The Eggs

Penguin and Dolphin pompom tongs

Seek 'n' Find glass beads (aka "ice")

Mr Potato Head!  Behold Darth Tader!!

Candy Sensory Tub (no actual candy involved)

Simple sponge blocks

Alphabet stencils (still need to add paper....)

writing activities

Christmas Counting and number recognization

Recognizing the letters in your name!

Matching upper case to lower case names

Story Stones

There is a fabulous blog called FrugalFamilyFunBlog (you might have heard me mention it before, I do like this site!) run by a woman named Valerie, and I am constantly inspired by the wonderful and imaginative (and inexpensive) activities that she comes up with!  These are called "Story Stones" (or in my case large flat-bottomed glass beads as that's what I found at ye 'ol dollar store), essentially smooth stones with simple drawings on them.  The younger kids pick out a few stones and tell a story about them.  Brenna (afterschooler) added to this by writing down her story on paper, which she then read to the younger kids! 

You can't go wrong with bubbles!!!!

this moment

just some fun stuff....

Brenna dressed up Sadie as Mary and Baby Jesus

Ashlyn and Riley read a book together

Christy and Nate!

Brenna giving a concert

Sadie and Ashlyn watch intently

Ashlyn has her own performance!

"Can't see me!" says A.

Aubrey makes a wonderful creation!

Ashlyn: "Take a picture of me, Christy!"

Giving the babies a ride on the bike!

A. paints a picture at the easel

Dancing!!!! Reading!!!!

Christmasy and also wintery kinds of crafts!

Handprint Wreath

Popsicle Stick Reindeer

Egg Carton Snowman

Paint Chip Snowman

Spoon Snowman (can you see a pattern here?)

Painting With Snow (shaving cream and glue)

Warm Hearts Cold hands

Penguin

Christmas activities (NOT to go on the shelves until Dec 1st!) ~They're now on the shelves~

Decorating the tree

Holiday magnets

Snowmen and Gingerbread Men Tic-Tac-Toe (Riley says we should call it Tic-Tac-Snow)

Dress up Santa - I think this one'll be a HUGE hit!

Organizing presents by size or colour

Christmas ducks (yes, we always have duckies, why do you ask?)

Sorting Christmas shapes

this moment

Jumping fun!!