Vote- Fall Crafts?

Happy Fall!  Time for you to enlighten me with your worth-more-than-2-cents-opinion.   I need a fall craft for a group of 5 year olds, nothing religious, and it can't take more than 15 minutes or so..... so, please vote on one of these (see poll to the right!!)  OR send me another suggestion (comments or email).


Option 1:   Handprint Owls 
This is really cute.  http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/17575/handprint-owls
Materials:  Cut and paste, with construction paper.  Prep time:  a bit, since I'd need to pre-cut the smaller parts (beak, feet, eyes).

Option 2:  Hand/Arm/Fingerprint Trees.
I really like the idea of this on canvas, but probably would keep it simpler / cheaper.  Materials:  Paint and construction paper. Prep: minimal, since the kids do most of the work!  Cleanup would be a bit more!

Option 3: Apple Stamping 
Is there a version of this with mini pumpkins or gourds?? With this one, I like the idea of using paper bags, as it can be useful later too, and not just decoration. Materials:  fall veggies (apples, pumpkins, squash, corn?!), construction or other heavy paper, paint OR large stamp pads.   http://happyhooligans.ca/fall-colour-apple-stamping/

Now that I'm thinking about it, I could do any of these on a kids apron, or beige kitchen towel, or paper bag... or even laminate them into place mats to make them more versatile than just a paper craft.  Hmm- what would you LIKE your kid to bring home as a school craft??   Any ideas for take home crafts that that don't involve just paper or decoration?  Create your own toys? Storytelling rocks?  Magnets?  Anyone?

Holiday "Making Stuff"

Part 2 of the Holiday Prep series...

Painting wrapping paper for Christmas.

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I really enjoy making stuff, all sorts of stuff. I prefer if it has a practical use and not just a decorative one, but for the holidays the decorative stuff is good too. I really enjoy making gifts, but rarely set aside time to do it anymore. Used to be, I/we would pick a "new" project and learn how to do that during the summer/fall so we could create gifts for Christmas. But now with Kaden, there's more of a "making-holiday-card" vibe going!

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This is supposed to be his foot as the turkey body with the hands arranged behind it as the feathers. But he wanted to stick them down himself, so...

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So over the last few days, we've been "creating" all sorts of handprint turkeys. Paint, crayon, marker, scissors, foam, sticker-- basically, whatever we could get our "hands" on! It's fun for me and- in small doses- fun for him. We even had fun doing some with our neighbor twins, who were delighted with their "Craft Day"- and even more so when we hung a few on the fridge. The rest of the morning, one of the kids would randomly point at the kitchen and say "hey! those are my hands!"

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Now comes the hard part- getting them into envelopes and mailed out in time for Thanksgiving!!

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Fast Facts Friday

1) We've got some g-diapers: a washable cover with disposable insert pads. First use- peed out,because the size was too big. Second use, smaller size- all good. Third use, at night- peed out. Fourth use- all good. We're getting the hang of it.


2) I just heard about "soapnuts" - natural, dried shells of nuts that you can use (and reuse) to do laundry, because they have a natural soaping substance /coating on them. So I placed an order. We'll see how that goes next week.

3) I made this sign for Kaden's door, and I love how he squeals with joy when we point it out "What's that say? It's Kaaaaayyyden" Squee!


4) I'm not sure if this is a mug shot or a photo ID. It's still quite possibly the cutest passport photo I've ever seen.

5) When Kade babbles, sometimes it sounds like he's saying "Bradpittbradpittbradpitt." It's hysterical.

6) We went to the mall yesterday, all 3 of us, after work. One, two, THREE couples and one salesclerk stopped us to talk to Kaden. Stopped us, people. To smile at him. And he smiled back. Nana thinks maybe he'll be president someday...