Spring Decor

I saw this GREAT Easy Spring Mural with post its over at Frugal Family Fun Blog and I went right out and bought this cute and bring flower post its!

Since we didn't really have a free wall to use we decorated the windows.

This was super fun for the kiddos and they ended up doing every window in the house!

The nice thing is that it's really CUTE too! Thanks for the GREAT idea Frugal Family Fun!

Painting Fun turns into Easter decor

A couple of weeks ago the kiddos and I visited some local sponge docks and purchased some painting sponges.

Today we had a GREAT time painting with them to cover some mural paper.

It turned out so bright and colorful!

Because the painting was so pretty we decided that we needed to decorate for Easter with it. Aidman and I got to work cutting out egg shapes.

Spring Has Sprung!

Thank You Teach Mama!

I just LOVE Teach Mama's Blog! She has some of the best ideas and the documents she shares are always awesome!

Sadly, I didn't really have anything planned for St. Patrick's Day today. No reason really, and we did do something on Monday for Green. Then Amy (teach mama) posted a fun Scavenger Hunt and I decided to use it.

It was so much fun and it got the kids running around and learning all at the same time!


They sorted cars by color.

They each wrote their names.

And did a puzzle together, notice the rainbow in the puzzle.

Put the alphabet in order from A-Z.

Went sliding in the backyard.

And then enjoyed a pot of gold chips (a special treat around here).

Oh and if you haven't heard about it yet, Teach Mama recently created a group called We Teach. It's a GREAT place for parents to learn, share, and grow.

Green MTM

Once again I told the kids that they had to find green things that they wanted to eat to put in their Muffin Tin Monday. They got cucumbers, pickles, olives, celery, and broccoli. I told them that I could make green dip (cream cheese, mayo, dill, s &p, garlic, and onion powder) for one of their tins. Then Aidman said "hey, we need more than just veggies". I wish I would have thought ahead and bought some green spinach wraps, but I didn't so instead I made turkey and cheese rolls that were held together with green picks. They LOVED their green lunch!

Yesterday I saw a GREAT color mixing art project on laughpaintcreate that I knew would be great to do today!

First we mixed blue and yellow with a paintbrush.

Then we used sponge brushes to add green paint.

And feathers to add white paint.

And finally we stuck on gold stars!

They LOVED all the different steps and items used to paint with!

Valentines Gifts

All of these ideas were found via The Crafty Crow. They were so cute that I just had to share! Aidman, Lyssy, AB, and I all worked very hard to make all of these Valentines for our friends.

Aidman gave the wood to friends.

Lyssy gave the heart crayons to friends.

AB gave the cherry Koolaid playdough to friends.

We also used liquid watercolor (I LOVE this stuff!) to paint hearts.

We wish you a LOVEly Valentines!

Valentines Decor

Yesterday we set up our February calendar and talked all about the month and the holidays in it. Aidman noticed that we had not decorated yet for Valentines Day and decided that we needed to make wreaths (they LOVE making wreaths for their bedroom doors), so we got to work and making our home look lovely!

Last year after Valentines Day I bought a bunch of heart foamies on clearance and they came in very handy!

I made this wreath, which I happen to like the least of them all. I should have just had the kids made it for me.

AB was very proud of her work!

I love how Aidman always wants to get close to his art when I take a picture.

Here is Lyssy's on her door, how pretty!

Then we decided to make a banner. I put a bunch of foam hearts on the craft table for them to color with markers. I figured it would take a couple days for them to do all 18 hearts. Boy, was I wrong! Come to find out, coloring on foam is SUPER FUN! They all sat there and colored all 18 hearts in one sitting!

I then wrote the letters on, hole punched, and tied them together.

Anyone coming to our house knows that kiddos live here!

We are still planning on making pretty suncatchers for our kitchen windows, but that will be another day.

Window Display

When I first started working as an art teacher, I was asked if I could/be willing to paint the window display for Christmas. I assured them that while I am very good at leading children in art and crafts, I am NOT an artist! But as long as it was ok to be animated and very childlike that I would give it a try.

We decided to go with The Nutcracker theme.

My favorite is the Mouse King.

Clara

The SugarPlum Fairy

The Land of Snow

Can you see the handprints and marks from the kiddos? They just can't resist touching, which it perfectly fine with me as it is done for the kids.

The Land of Sweets

Christmas Card Holder

I have been wanting a Christmas Card Holder for a LONG time. When I saw this on My Little Gems the other day I just HAD to make it! It was a super simple project and turned out so very very cute!


It is just felt, yarn, paper clips, and hot glue.

Bookmark Stocking Stuffers

I needed stocking stuffers for 26 kids that are in the kiddos classes at school. I didn't want to spend alot of money, so for $5 I bought a foam kit. I got foam letters, foam shapes, and foam sheets that I cut in half and added ribbon to make book marks. They turned out pretty cute and for $5 I have stocking stuffers for 26 kids plus lots of foam left over for the kiddos to craft with. I LOVE cheap, personalized, and homemade gifts!

Go check out more great handmade gifts at ABC and 123!

Happy Birthday Jesus Playdate

Today we had a playdate with our PALS. It was a Birthday Party for Jesus and it was SO much FUN!! We read My Merry Christmas And the real reason for Christmas joy, ate cupcakes, played with Nativity sets, and made a cute craft.

As you've seen through my blog many times, we like to host playdates ALOT! Normally, at least once a month and sometimes more. Since the playdate is not just for me, I get the kiddos to help me to get ready for them.

Last night, they helped me clean. I gave them each a squirt bottle filled with a vinegar water mixture and a wash cloth.

They each went throughout the house and cleaned. Now... they do not do an excellent job, but I am right behind them helping and the main point is that they are contributing and at least getting the dust.

Then they helped to make the cupcakes from scratch.

They turned out EXCELLENT!! We used this cake recipe and this frosting recipe.

We also decorated for our playdate since it was a Birthday Party!


I used this idea for making our craft, but did it alittle differently as I was working with young children. We painted on paper with blue, white, and black OR yellow paints to make a sky and a ground.

Then we pressed on a stable, baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

I think they all turned out so pretty.

Ok, have ya'll noticed that I am a sucker for children's art work?!? I always think it is so pretty!!


We made these yesterday to see about doing them at the playdate today, but they were alittle too difficult for some of the younger kids to make and would have been alittle too Mommy made for my liking so we decided not the make them at the playdate. But my kiddos did enjoy making them... we tore green paper and glued it on, glued on a stable, manger, baby Jesus, and raffia (hay).