exploring foot prints activity!

we frequently have deer in our yard and recently had a bear go through our trash, and on occasion we also have raccoons, possums and foxes.   so i pulled our our safari toob "north american wildlife" toob and some play dough and we made foot prints!

holiday gift to myself!

a proper way to store my kids artwork!  "alex toys" brand kids portfolio!

christmas activities...

trying to get in the spirit over here with some christmas themed activities!

lacing with jingle bells and pipe cleaner

play dough invitation

christmas sort and scoop with pattern blocks

holiday themed loose parts play with trees, rings, pom poms, peg dolls and cookie cutters

play dough with holiday stamps and rainbow pebbles!

christmas inspired loose parts play! using peg dolls, jingle bells, pom poms, trees, rings, food pouch lids, pattern blocks and rainbow pebbles!

make a snowflake on top of play dough with loose parts

winter wonderland oobleck

candy cane oobleck.  swirl food coloring with candy cane for fun effect!

fill the snow man with snow balls! made a snow man out of a creamer bottle and decorated him.  fill the bottle with pom poms for fine motor skill practice!

salt dough ornaments!

getting in the christmas spirit with these salt dough ornaments.  it took us a few days, but these were a blast.  bowie loved every aspect of making these from helping measure and mix the dough, rolling it out and using the cookie cutters and her most favorite part of all painting them!

the key to salt dough ornaments is to cook them low and slow so that they don't puff up.  i used a recipe that called for 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt and 1 3/4 cup of hot water.  mix until combine and knead until it comes together.  roll out until 1/8 inches thick and use cookie cutters to make your shapes.  then i used a straw to poke holes so we can thread them to hang on the tree!

i baked them in a 250 degree oven for about 2 hours.

herding cats...

how many pics does it take to get all 4 peeps looking at the camera and smiling.  i can tell you bowie is the hardest and squirmiest.  great visit with grandma and grandpa, until christmas! xoxo

1 out of 3 - ryder

1 out 3 - dad

4 out of 4!!!

3 out of 4 - mom, dad & ryder

1 out of 4 - dad (kids are kinda cooperating)

0 out of 4

2 out of 4 - mom & dad

2 out of 4 - mom and dad

3 out of 4 - mom, dad & bowie

4 out of 4!!!

3 out of 4 - mom, dad and bowie

2 out of 4 - dad & ryder

0 out of 4

0 out of 4

2 out of 4 - mom & dad

3 out of 4 - mom, dad & bowie (kinda)

2 out of 4 - bowie & dad

0 out of 4

1 out of 4 - dad (but bad lighting)

1 out of 4 - mom

2 out of 4 - mom and dad kinda get this one

grandma and her babes...