Winter Mantle

This past week, I took down the Christmas decorations.  It's too early to put out the Valentine's day stuff, so I decided to put together something for winter.

























My inspiration came from two styrofoam glitter balls found on the floor at  Marshall's.  They were just laying there with no home.  The manager said I could have them, since they couldn't locate where they came from.  LOL!

Next, I hit up Target's 50% off Christmas items clearance.  Here's what I bought:

$1-  2 packs of shiny and matte silver ornaments in the dollar section.
$2.50- package of medium sized silver, white and clear ornaments
$3- smaller ornament package in silvers and turquoise.
$2- Red and white "Merry Christmas" snowflake garland
$1- 2 silver Christmas picks
$.50- Silver snowflake
$3.29- Epsom salt

I wish I had a before picture of everything I bought, but I just brought the stuff home and started in on my creation.

First was the wreath:


I cut a wreath form out of a piece of cardboard from one of the the toys from Christmas.  Squinkies to be exact, LOL!  I then took 3 of the matte silver balls and put a coat of Mod Podge on and rolled them in Epsom salt.  I forgot where I saw this, but it looks like snow!  From there, I just started hot gluing the ornament balls on.  I used the $.50 snowflake as a final touch.

For the apothecary jars, I poured in some Epsom salt, put in a pick and a few small ornament balls.



I used Picnik to make the 8X10 pic black and white.  I then "winterized" it to add a little blue hue.  The 5x7 pic was also done on Picnik and was one of their "fancy collage" options.  I had them printed quickly at Walgreens and threw them in the frames!





The garland took the most time.  Since some of the snowflakes were red, I had to do several coats of white paint.  Of course, I have no patience to wait for it to dry, so I just kept apply paint coats, silver glitter paint, a few Epsom salts here and there and finally decided to make every other one a little turquoise.

Sorry the pictures aren't very good.  It was kind of gloomy today and I didn't feel like retaking them after I noticed they weren't that great.  :)  Also, since the pictures were taken I have moved the frames a bit more close together.

What do you do between Christmas and Valentine's Day?  I will probably leave this up until about a month before Valentine's.

Oh and I also made a Shelfari sharing some Winter books we either have or are currently reading.

I am linking this up to:



I'm Lovin' It Fridays at Tidy Mom:

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Fun

For more Wordless Wednesday posts, head to:

Go Graham Go
Mom Spotted

Christmas Break

 

I had several posts I wanted to write, but I just don't have the time. Dave is off work this week and we are enjoying running errands, baking cookies, visiting with family and wrapping presents.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas!  I'll be back in a few weeks.

Advent Countdown: Days 11-15

Wow, the days are flying by!  I can't believe it's the 16th already!  Here's what we've been up to for days 11-15.

Day 11
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
Luke 2:21

Read Luke 2:21-38 and Luke 1:31-32
Decorate Jesus' Name

Day 12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2:1-2

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Day 13
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Matthew 2:11a

Read The Little Drummer Boy 


The 13th was my birthday and my Dad took us out to see the Winter Wonderland Christmas lights display at Tilles Park.  I have no pics, because it was so cold, I thought my camera might freeze!

Day 14
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Matthew 2:11b

Make snowman ornaments.  
However, Abby wasn't into making snowman ornaments.  She decided to make a Minnie Mouse ornament instead.

She also made a glitter ball ornament.  We squirted glitter paint into plastic ornaments and then rolled them to cover them completely.

Day 15
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.
Matthew 2:13

Read Matthew 2:13-23 and Luke 2:39-40

I had also planned for us to sit by the fireplace and listen to Christmas music, but Abby and I were out all day and it was too late when we got home to do anything.  We met Dave at his work to give some peppermint bark, smoked cheese, sausage and crackers to some of his work friends.  We then walked the St. Louis Mills and had fun shopping!


Tomorrow Dave is off work and will be for 10 days!  We have so fun things planned!

Head to Sugarplum Creations to check out Countdown to Christmas.


Also, if you are new here:  The verses and some of the activities were found on Hubbard's Cupboard.

Wordless Wednesday: Uma

This picture made me laugh.

For more Wordless Wednesday posts, head to:

Go Graham Go
Mom Spotted
Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House
The Shopping Mama

What My Child Is Reading

I have a list of Christmas and holiday books on the right side of my blog------->

However, we just went to the library yesterday and got a few more I wanted to share.



The Little Drummer Boy has pretty illustrations.  I enjoy books that I can sing.

Christmas Mouselings is super cute.  A little mouseling is born and Mama mouse can't find a home to keep her baby warm.  They end up following other animals to a warm and safe manger.
  
Mortimer's Christmas Manger is a beautiful story with beautiful illustrations.   A mouse tries to find a comfy place to sleep and finds a manger with figurines.  Every day, he pulls them out and he sleeps in the hay bed.  One night he hears the people of the house read a story about how Jesus was born and there was no room for him.  Mortimer figures out that the bed is Jesus' and he puts the figurines back.  He ends up finding a nice and cozy gingerbread house to stay in.

We will be reading the rest over the next several days!

I'm a little late, but am linking up to:



I love checking out this link up to find new books!

I Heart Faces: Pet Week

This week's challenge on I Heart Faces is PETS!



Kako was laying on top of Uma, who was on top of the heating vent.  No wonder we were cold!

For more PET pics, head to I Heart Faces.

Updated to add:  In case anyone is interested, Kako is a Tonkinese and Uma is an Abyssinian. 

Christmas Ornament Show & Tell

No Ordinary Moments is hosting a Christmas Ornament Show and Tell, so stop by to share the stories behind your Christmas  ornaments.



I have so many ornaments, that I don't put them all out anymore.  Giving ornaments as gifts was/ is big in my family and we all have our own favorite series ornaments.

I just love mice.  Not real ones, but cute dressed up ones.  I love my  collection of Enesco Cozy Cups:

Some of them were gifts from my Memaw or Mom and others I remember going to pick out at JcPenney's.

From my research, there are 10 in the series.  I can only find one I don't have.***update***I just forgot to take a picture of one.  It was hiding in the tree, LOL!  I am just missing the one dated 1994, called Cozy Candlelight Dinner.

Here's more of my favorites (in no order):



1- I used to collect Barbie dolls and my Aunt Elaine used to buy me the porcelain Barbie ornaments each Christmas.  They are so pretty!

2- "First Christmas Together" from my Mom.

3- I'll have to find out the origins of these, but they used to hang in the kitchen during Christmas when I was growing up.  I just like how they make me remember the old days.  LOL!

4- "Baby's 1st Christmas" from my Mom for Abby.

5- Another favorite mouse ornament.  It says, "Baby's Christmas Plums".  I got this when I was a kid and it's so cute!

6- Another mouse :)

7- My Memaw painted this.  I love everything she painted or made for us.  This Santa is beautiful!

8- More mice

9- Another Memaw creation.  This might be my favorite that she has ever painted.  I loved the scene so much that she also painted it on a wooden sled and on an 8x10 canvas. 

I think we were supposed to talk about the memories from our ornaments, but I can't seem to pin them down to words.  For me, it's about just seeing the ornaments and remembering different "scenes" in my childhood.

I'd love to see your ornaments too, go link up at No Ordinary Moments.

Holiday Bokeh Party & Advent Countdown, Days 6-10

I love Christmas lights, so I just had to have some fun and try the Holiday Lights Bokeh Tutorial from My 3 Boybarians.

This went perfectly with our Advent countdown activity for Day 6.  Abby did a foam gingerbread house craft.  Here's my attempt at Holiday Bokeh:



This was so fun!  My Christmas tree is on the left and that's lighted garland on the banisters to the right of the house.

The bible verse for Day 6 was:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21

We then read Matthew 1:18-24


Day 7
And everyone went to his own town to register.
Luke 2:3

Read Luke 2:1-5, John 1:1-34 and John 8:12.
Make a baby food jar tea light holder

Day 8
 She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7

Read Mortimer's Christmas Manger


Day 9
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
Read Luke 2:8-20
Cardboard Tube Lamb craft

Day 10
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
Luke 2:17

Read about the legend of the candy cane.  These books are not available at my library, but I will use All About the Candy Cane for Abby.

We will also crush candy canes for peppermint bark.

The verses and readings we used, where found at Hubbard's Cupboard.  I use little strips of paper and write the bible verses on the front and the bible readings and activity on the back.  They are then put into these tiny doors:

Visit Countdown to Christmas at Sugarplum Creations for more Advent ideas and the Holiday Bokeh Party at My 3 Boybarians.

Wordful Wednesday: Where's the Line to See Jesus?

I heard this song and an interview with the singer, Becky Kelley on The Dana Show here in St. Louis.  

I think it's such a beautiful song.  It had me in tears and I don't cry easily.

The video was done at the Way of Lights display, which made me feel more teary eyed.  I remember visiting the Way of Lights as a family, with my Memaw.  It must have been decades ago, but I remember it as a wonderful display!

The song is titled Where's the Line to See Jesus.  Click that link to find out more information about it.

Are there any songs that make you cry?  Or any Christmas songs you are loving right now?

For more Wordless/Wordful Wednesday posts, head to:

Go Graham Go
Mom Spotted
Two of a Kind Working on a Full House
The Shopping Mama

Homeschool Review: Week 18

Since Thanksgiving, we've been taking things pretty easy.  We are all excited about the holidays and are taking this time to enjoy it all.

Math
Abby has been doing some math worksheets that focus on addition and subtraction.  I also made an Addition Facts Lapbook awhile back.

She loves when we take turns asking each other math problems and she uses the lapbook to find the answers.

Social Studies
Abby did Lessons 16 and 17 in Heritage Studies.  Lesson 16 was about Sir Walter Raleigh and the lost settlement of Roanoke.  Lesson 17 was about Jamestown.

Reading
Abby continues to make reading progress everyday, even if we don't do formal reading lessons.  She did work on a few pages from the Spectrum Reading and Comprehension workbook.

Misc.
On Wednesday, we started our Advent Countdown.  Thursday, Abby made hand print and footprint angels.

She added yarn for hair and some sequins for the angel's dress.

Saturday we went to the mall and I surprised Abby with a coupon for a free animal at Build A Bear.  It said up to $12, but they let her use it towards a higher priced animal.  She picked the Snow Hugs Bear.

She named him Snowflake.  Saturday night, we went with my family on our annual wagon ride through Santa's Magical Kingdom.  It was so cold though, the windchill was 23.  BRRR!   Luckily, we were bundled up pretty well.

Sunday, we headed to Bass Pro after Church for Santa's Wonderland.  It was pretty crowded there, but not more than I had figured.  Abby enjoyed painting a snowman sun catcher.

I always think it's interesting to see  how parents respond to these types of events.  It's a free craft project for CHILDREN, yet some Moms just take over.  Now, I will say that I really do think that the snowman's hat should be black and it's carrot nose orange, but that doesn't mean the kid wants it to be that way.  I don't know how many times I saw a lady grabbing the paintbrush and "fixing" her son's snowman.  I felt sorry for the kid, all she did was nag at him telling him what color to use next.  He was at least 8 and perfectly capable of painting without her help.

Abby's snowman turned out quite colorful.  Some of him is even pink, but that's how she wanted it.

Oh and I just have to share this next picture (taken before combing her hair):

I wish I remembered what she called it, but she created a multi-purpose cat toy.  She explained each detail to me and as you can see, it works.  LOL!

I loved  her instruction sheet on how to make it:



This is what she was doing while she was supposed to be getting ready to leave the house for Church.

Me
Well, I haven't done much exercise.  However, I did start back at Weight Watchers this past week.  Apparently it was a good time, because they just started a new PointsPlus plan.  You get more points, but food costs more points.  It makes more sense, because the points are more scientifically calculated than earlier versions.

The annoying thing is that NONE of the stuff from before is relevant now.  So, you have to have a new points calculator, Dining Out book, etc.  Also, there is no way for you to calculate the points yourself, so it's essential that you buy their calculator.

I'm going to give it a try, but so far I just don't feel like eating better.  I want to lose about 15 pounds, but I really don't feel motivated yet.  What gives?

Anyway, the next few weeks will also be light on the homeschooling front, as we focus on Christmas related activities, books and learning.

How is your homeschooling going?

Links I Like: Christmas Crafts

Yesterday, I let Abby wear a Christmas shirt out.  It still feels too early, but seriously Christmas is only a few weeks away!

That means it is time to craft!  I've found several fun and creative ideas for you to do with your kids.

First head to Superheroes and Princesses.  Christy has been doing tons of crafts and holiday related projects with her kids.  I love her Paper Bag Gingerbread House idea.

Another favorite is the life size Gingerbread Boy and Girl her kids made.

Little Wonders' Days also has lots of Christmas ideas for her Advent Countdown.  I just love the presentation of her Day 2 project:

They  made Cinnamon Salt Dough Ornaments!

These next ornaments are also on my to-do list.

You won't believe what they are made with?  Check out Under My Umbrella to find out.  I'll wait...isn't that genius! 

These next few links Susana from Our Homeschool Fun shared with me.

This one is similar to the one above, but you can never have too many ornaments!  The tutorial is from Kaboose.

I also love these cute and simple Snowman Ornaments.

Be sure to keep your eye out on Our Homeschool Fun, because Susana has a lot more fun craft projects she's been working on with the kids!  Hint hint, she told me she's going to post them sometime this weekend ;)

Oh and check out the Christmas Fun 2010 link up at Our Worldwide Classroom for more ideas.

Now I like kiddie crafts, but I also like Mommy crafts.  I have not made any this year and I miss it.  Here's a few that I love and if I had more decorating space, I would totally be trying.

Have you seen the rather expensive PB Noel sign?  Well, Beth from The Stories of A to Z had her sister do a copycat tutorial:

I love it!  Plus, just think of how much joy you will have every time you pass it, knowing how much money you saved!

My Christmas decorating theme is candy related, so when I saw these gorgeous Candy Cane Topiary Trees posted by Courtney at Pizzazzarie I was so excited!

I HAVE to find a place to put these, so I can justify making them!

Last, but not least I really love the simplicity of these J.O.Y. Trees from The Idea Room.

They make me wish I had more than one step on my porch.

Have you found or done any great crafts or projects this week?  I'd love to see them, just leave a link in your comment for me to come check them out!

Advent Countdown, Days 1-5

The Advent season has arrived!

I mentioned some of the ideas I had for our countdown on last week's Links I Like post.  I ended up going ahead and using our wooden Santa countdown with the little doors, instead of the buckets.  I had started with the buckets, but would have had to go out and buy some ribbon and stuff to make it cute.  I figured I might as well use what I already have.

Each day, we will do the Verses For Advent (.pdf link) from Hubbard's Cupboard. We will also do the bible readings and some of the books listed on that page as well.  However, not all of the books are available at my library, so I added others in their place.

What I did was print the Verses For Advent page and then cut out just the verses.  I copied and pasted the readings for each day on a word document and then added the activities we'll be doing with it.  So each day, there is a strip of paper with the verse on one side and the bible reading and activity on the other.

Here's the plan for days 1-5:

December 1

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6-7

 Set up the Nativity

Abby still loves her Little People Nativity.  We actually have several kinds of nativities, but she chose this one yesterday.

December 2

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your

prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,

and you are to give him the name John.

Luke 1:13

Luke 1:5-25

 Make Handprint and Footprint Angel

December 3

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have
found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a
son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
Luke 1:30-32a

  

Luke 1:26-38

Hot cocoa and marshmallows

December 4

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
Luke 1:46-47

Luke 1:39-56

Christmas Lights Display

  

December 5

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Luke 1:76-77

Luke 1:57-80

Bass Pro Christmas Event

Now I realize that some of these don't go together.  However, we do the verses and readings first thing in the morning and the activities later, so they really don't have to "match".

I am linking this up to Sugarplum Creations and will be back next Thursday with our plans for days 6-10.

Wordless Wednesday

Just for fun:



No, I'm not sending them out :)

For more Wordless Wednesdays, head to:

Go Graham Go
Mom Spotted
Two of a Kind Working on a Full House