Building Self Esteem

Moving beyond the refrigerator and building self esteem, my dear friend Lisa suggested this idea for blog post, thanks Lis! A simple but often over looked way to build a child's self esteem is to show off their good works. Here are some ways I've enjoyed all the hard work my children have done.

This is the door leading to the garage. I have put some of the children's work to admire as we leave each day.  I found it easy to use file folders with the prongs to make an easy display to build on.

                                                 Framing and displaying their best work.

  Adding a magnet or clothes pin can make for some creative ways to show off your budding artist work.

Last year the girls made these cute little hearts. I originally displayed them with suction hooks on the sliding glass door. This year, we made this cute little decoration to welcome guests by our front door.

One day I'd like to use these ideas:
Magnetic paint
Nice frame with a magnetic backing to easily display and change art. (creative memories has a sample)
The fancy sticker word of Masterpieces above a designated wall for the children's art.
If I had the right spot, a clothes line to hold and show off their art.

Filling our home with children's art, builds self esteem and makes me smile! 
DeAnn

Christmas Frenzy

Christmas always leaves me exhausted! It was a lazy enjoyable day at our home. I found that I totally over bought, so we are good for the next few birthdays, valentines and maybe even easter.

My favorite Christmas gifts: Teagan giving each of the girls one of her cheerished dolls. Trinity giving Brendan a drawing she made for him. Sadie wrapping and giving me one of her stuffed animals.

This Christmas we had a lot of "things" yet the greater gifts were the thought, love for one another, that I will cheerish and remember.

~ DeAnn

Rudolph Kisses

This may have to be a new tradition! Rudolph came and gave the little ones kisses last night! They laughed and giggled when they saw their noses in the mirror. 

                         If this might be fun at your casa, use paint not lipstick. The lipstick was gone by morning.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  May the joy of the season fill our hearts and homes as we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all.  Love, DeAnn

Tutu's and Jewelery

I wanted to share these cute crafts. Tutu's are the rage and I never knew how simple they are to make.
I made these two no sew tutu's in no time. A great way to spend a cold afternoon.

They are full, fun and easy! My girls are loving them.  Step by step instructions:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXo6uv9HxA

 I also made this fun braclett.   Gotta love super simple crafts!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yahhHoXE9c

Have fun! ~ DeAnn

Simple Gingerbread Houses

I love making gingerbread houses and typically we'll buy the kit and make one family house. This year, each of the kids made their own. To make it easy, the night before I made each one a house out of graham crackers. We never eat the house, so I cheated and used my hot glue gun.

Turn on some holiday music and set the table with candy fixings and let the fun begin!

Happy Holidays!  ~ DeAnn

Blind Sided

Last weekend, Teagan and I, went on our date night.  I needed to run into Petco for a leash. While we were their we looked at the critters. Teagan remembered how she had wanted a guinne pig. Thinking this will be a great opportunity to avoid the critter and teach Teagan a financial lesson.  Instead of saying "No" I suggested she price all the the things she would need to really bring her new friend home. My thought was she'll want something else before she gets to her goal, but if she did, I could live with a guinne pig.  

While she is pricing an employee asks if we need help. Nope just pricing to see what she needs to save. The employee then comes back with a cart and on the cart are two guinne pigs who were relinquished for adoption, cage and all the basic items $50.00! Teagan had that in her wallet! She was thrilled, and I was in shock..as we walked out with our leash and new friends.

It has only been a week, but I love these little critters. They are so loving.  Its been fun but the lesson in responsibility, the added bonus of sharing, helping one another as been priceless. ~ DeAnn

FLAT Travels

One of our traditions when the kids hit 5 (or 6 in this case) is to do a Flat Stanley project. We read Flat Stanley and then make our own to send out. Last time we did this, Flat Stanley traveled to multiple locations in Europe traveling the theme park circuit (thanks Juls)   we had fun and were all VERY jealous of Flat Stanley as he sent us pictures of him and his travels.  This time Flat Trinity and Flat Sadie are on their way to the Holyland, what a wonderful adventure...can I be flat too?  Can't wait to see the pictures from Israel!

 http://www.flatstanley.com/ if you are interested in more information and if you need a destination, we'd be happy to host your flat family member with some AZ adventures!  
 DeAnn

Box of Fun!

We all know boxes are the best part of Christmas if you are a toddler. Boxes are great fun for the primary ages too.  Yesterday hours were spent playing with this box:

Today we turned the box into a house or the walls of the house. They had a great time decorating, painting and then playing with their new holiday home.

Next year, maybe Santa will just bring boxes and paint.  I'm not sure who will have more fun. Me on my new bike or the kids and their new box.  Have a great week! ~ DeAnn

Our Elf on a Shelf

The latest rage is Elf on a Shelf, and when I went to Barnes & Noble to pick up one. I think I was lucky they had sold out. On the way to see if Hallmark, had any left, it dawns on me that I can create my own Elf on a Shelf tradition for a fraction of the cost. 

I purchased a cute little penquin, sprinkled her with magic dust, aka: glitter.  Wrote the jellybeans a cute little letter from Santa to introduce Glitter and her special job of listening and watching the jellybeans in order to report back to Santa each night while we slept.  Each morning Glitter is in found in a new spot, so the girls love to look for her.  The one rule is they can't touch her or she may lose her magic and turn into a misfit toy.
Its been a fun week with Glitter. 

Our Penguin on a Shelf!

~ DeAnn