Kid Friendly Snowmen

Around Halloween time A Little Fun With Me and Lu posted about some fun ghosts that they made with soda bottles. We copied the basic idea but with snowmen (painting the inside of a bottle and decorating it). Put a big glob of paint inside the bottle, cap it tightly, and let the kids shake it, roll it, hit each other with it, to coat the inside. It's great fun and apparently you win a title if you are the first one done. I used construction paper and a toilet paper roll to make the hats while the girls did the rest. You could do Santas, penguins, reindeer....just think of the possibilities! Save a couple of soda or juice bottles and you have some cheap, creative fun on your hands :) Head over to Confessions of a non-domestic Housewife for some more great Kid Friendly Friday ideas. She is going to host Kid Friendly Friday for awhile! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Angela :)

Also head over to Amy's blog, Keeping Up With the Schultz Family, for her Round Robin Carnival.

Kid Friendly Friday is Taking a Break

Hello Everyone! By the end of the week it seems I have no time to blog. My Kid Friendly Friday post always gets left until the last minute and I'm scrabbling to do it. I am going to take a little break from it.

It has been wonderful using all of your ideas with my kids. I will miss that but will just have to visit your blog to see what you have been up to. Hopefully you have been getting as many good ideas as I have.

If anyone else wants to host it, let me know! Thanks for understanding :) Have a wonderful weekend~

Kid Friendly Friday - Christmas Books

I wanted to share with you are great list of Christmas books. I have been gathering them for a few years (some listed I do not own) and only take them out for the month of December. There's such anticipation and we have fun enjoying them during the advent season. I have gotten many of them at used books stores or on-line at half.com No need to buy brand new! Click HERE for more information about how we celebrate Advent all season long.

Traditional Christmas story:

Little One We Knew You'd Come by Sally Lloyd-Jones - my favorite

There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pam Munoz Ryan

The First Christmas produced by The Complete Works

How God Decorated Heaven for Christmas by Ron Mehl and Melody Carlson

The Christmas Path by Sue Wright

The Christmas Story told through the eyes of an animal:

A Dozen Silk Diapers by Melissa Kajpust

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Christmas is the Stable by Astrid Lindgren

Little Lambs Christmas by Josephine Page

The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger

Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate and AShley Wolff

Christian Santa Stories:

Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki and Ivan Gratschev

A Special Place for Santa by Jeanne Pieper

Santa Are You for Real? by Harold Myra

Celebrations in Other Cultures:

The Legend of the Spider by Julie Puntch

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tommy dePaola

Light the Lights by Margaret Moorman

Misc Stories:

The littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

The Tiny Star by Arthur Ginolfi

O Holy Night; Christmas With the Boys Choir of Harlem Illustrated by Faith Ringgold

Silent Night illustrated by Susan Jeffers

The Indescribable Gift by Richard Exley

Do you have a favorite Christmas book? I would LOVE to hear about them!

This is Kid Friendly Friday so link your post to ANYTHING kid friendly below. Can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!

Kid Friendly Friday - Planning for Advent

Advent season is the time leading up to Christmas and is meant for preparing our hearts and minds for Christ's coming. It starts four Sundays before Christmas, which is November 29th this year. We celebrate the entire Advent season and the entire family looks forward to it all year long. Before we started doing this, Christmas time was a hectic time where I tried to fit a million things into a few weeks and was stressed to the gills trying to make everything perfect. I was exhausted by the time Christmas came. With this new approach I am completely refreshed and can embrace Christmas for what it really is.

Now you have a few options. You can plan a special family night each Sunday (or whichever night works for your family) or you can do what we do, and plan a special family night EACH night of advent. Crazy, you say? I have realized what is important during this time (family, friends, service, Jesus) and not so important (shopping, too many superficial outings, over committing, a dozen different kinds of intricate cookies). The first year we did this I went way over the top. I planned crafts that were too much for the kids, I had a specific Christmas carol for each day, way too long bible readings, and too high of expectations. It was stressful. That isn't what I was going for. My suggestion, make it simple and fun.
The trick to making this successful is in the planning. Get a blank monthly calendar and fill in your normal weekly obligations. Make the activities on these nights very simple, as you are already probably stressed, running around getting everyone to where they need to be. For example, "Breakfast for Dinner (everybody come in your pj's)" or "All Foods Red and Green Dinner" can be events. You are already making dinner, so make it special. Then put on it any of the special holiday events you have (school programs, neighborhood parties, holiday races, etc.). Make these activities the "special" nightly activity. No need to plan anything over and above. Most importantly, do the activities as a family.

I keep the events secret and have put together little boxes they have to find and open each morning which tells them what special activity we have for that night. You can see them HERE. There is also a list of the activities we did last year listed on that post.

I also try to make the atmosphere Christmassy. We have holiday music playing as much as possible. I burn pine smelling candles. I have a big selection of Christmas book that are only out during this time of year. The holiday Little People also come out and the everyday Little People hibernate. We wear our Christmas aprons when cooking. We open the cards we received that day at dinnertime and pray for those families. Each of the Sundays we light the appropriate candle on the advent wreath and read about whichever part of the Christmas story it represents.

Advent is special to us because we are together. We are preparing our hearts and minds together. We are enjoying each other. For me, that is what makes this time of year special.

I'll share a great list of Christmas books next week. Once it's done, I'll share my list of activities we have planned for this year. I'll also do a post on the traditional Advent wreath, readings, and meanings which we incorporate into our Sunday night activities.

Do you have any advent traditions? What did you do this week? Post your link below and let us know!


I'm linking this post up to Amy's Round Robin carnival. Go check it out and add your link there as well!

Kid Friendly Friday - Leading up to Advent

OK, so the PTA meeting ran WAY longer than expected and I was going to write about planning your advent season. What? You don't PLAN for advent? Well, a few years back I attending a workshop that gave tons of background and ideas for advent celebration and it completely changed the way our family does the holidays. IT IS AWESOME. The girls look forward to it all year....and now you'll have to look forward to my explanation next week. I know my limits...it's bedtime. What have you been up to this week?

Kid Friendly Friday - Bean Mosaic

Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday where were share anything that other parents might find interesting. Use a post that you did today or one from last year. Whatever. I look forward to seeing what you are up to!

We attended a local art festival last weekend where the kids made these bean mosaics. What a great idea. A handful of all different kinds of beans and you are set. Let older kids make their own patterns. Make a pattern that younger kids could fill in (of course, they could make their own as well). Be sure to use a paper plate or other sturdy backing. Let them sort the leftover beans - extra educational :)

So what did you do this week? Post your link in Mr. Linky below. Enjoy your weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - Pumpkin Projects

Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday where we share ideas that other parents would find helpful. Recipes, crafts, lesson plans, giveaways, or anything else you have posted about that is kid friendly! Link you post to Mr. Linky below and then come back later to see what others have been up to. I always get plenty of good ideas. (thanks!!)

Yesterday was the first time I gave Little Bit a paintbrush WITH real paint (painting with water, which is a fun, low-mess activity is nice). She painted her paper plate for the base of the pumpkin. Then she colored the pieces of the face and stem. SO cute. HERE is where I got he idea and the templates (couldn't be easier). I have been to this site before but then forgot about it.

See, I really did give her paint....

Then I printed out THIS TEMPLATE for a pumpkin lacing activity. I have seen these lacing activities a lot but never thought much of them. Mimi LOVED it. It took 2 minutes for me to get ready for her. Definitely a keeper. They have plenty more to choose from (like this cutest little candy corn) Yay!

So what did you and the kids do this week?

Kid Friendly Friday - Shell Necklaces

Hello! Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday where we share things other parents might like to do with their kids. Recipes....crafts....book reviews....giveaways....you name it! Join along by linking your post (old or new) below.

Last weekend I spent some time on Sanibel Island collecting shells. When I collect shells, I collect with a project in mind. HERE is what we did last time. This time I got the pretty thin, shiny ones so I could poke holes in them (with a large safety pin). Some of them broke in half while doing it. I tried to poke into a towel so the stress was equally distributed. The girls then picked out which ones they wanted to use, laid them out in the order they wanted, and I helped (lots of help) them string and tie them on embroidery floss. I also put clasps on them but the pictures don't show it. Easy, fun, almost free :)

What have you been up to this week? Enjoy your weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - Best Boxed Game

Cranium Hullabaloo has got to be the best game ever. We have had ours for almost 5 years and it has been played about 5,000 times. There are pads that you scatter on the ground that have animals, foods, and musical instruments in different colors and shapes. The "voice box" gives directions, which each person follows at the same time. For example, "Get on a purple Cranium pad to begin. Remember, players can share the same pad! Fly to a circle. Tip toe to a musical instrument. Put your elbow on and green AND touch your knee to a food. Slither to a square. Are you on the tiger? If you are, you are the winner. Do a funky dance!" We can play it as a family. The kids can play it by themselves. The baby even imitates everything we do so it's fun for everyone. I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a new game.

So what do you have to share this week? Link you kid friendly posts below! Anything that other parents would be interested in goes. Enjoy your weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - Rock Table

Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday, where we share all things that other parents would be interested in...recipes, reviews, games, crafts...you name it. Feel free to link up an old post!


When the weather gets cooler (that is not happening here yet) and you don't want your children playing with the water table, why not change it to a rock table? I understand that sand tables are popular, but one, I don't have sand and two, we had a sandbox before and they get nasty quickly. I picked up a bag of rocks for a dollar at Michael's and put them in the water table. Little Bit played with them for a long time. I know I could find my own rocks but there's not a lot in our yard. I will start collecting stray rocks to add to it. She enjoyed filling up measuring cups and pouring them back in. Good fun!

We also finally changed our clothesline of birds that we did for the spring to something a little more fall-ish :) I guess we missed summer altogether. The girls had fun with the different faces and are already planning what they are going to make for winter and the next spring, next summer, next fall, and next winter....

What have you been up to this week? Join me and link with Mr. Linky below! Have a great weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - Free-Range Kids - Something To Think About

So the post I was going to write about the best toddler game ever is postponed because I read an article yesterday (HERE) that has made me think about how much of a "hovering" parent I am. The author, Lenore Skenazy, wrote the book"Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry" and the founder of the blog freerangekids.com . Her premise is that we need to give our kids the freedom and responsibility that we had growing up. I wholeheartedly agree.

I find myself thinking of all sorts of bad things that could happen to my kids if I'm not there to supervise their every move. The article points out that crime is at a low, and they are safer than we were in the 70's and 80's. So what has changed? Media. Our parents watched Dallas and Dynasty (not MY parents mind you, but you get the picture) (which the author notes that the biggest crime was big hair) and today's parents watch Law & Order and CSI. Between that and the news are inundated with bad things that happen to kids. But are we protecting our kids too much? What will be the outcome of so much protection? (please read the article, it has much more than what I covered and it really is a good read)

For example....

Bigs started first grade this year. I walk her to school and pick her up each day. Last year I walked to the front of the school to pick her up directly from her class. This year I wanted to meet her at the crossing guard. This means she would have walked approximately 50 yards directly in front of the school building, on a sidewalk lined with school personnel, cross the road with an adult crossing guard and there I would be standing. No big deal but no deal. We tried it the first day and her teacher walked her all the way to me (even crossing with the guard). Tried it the second day; same thing and the teacher concluded that I would have to go get her at the front of the school from now on. Let me make clear that Bigs has no problem meeting me at said place, she was excited about it, but the school is completely concerned about the unescorted walk. I'm not saying that the teacher is at fault at all, just an example of how our schools are hovering. Is this good for our kids?

I remember walking home from school in the winter with my best friend Andrea. We spent what seemed like hours (probably much less) making snow chairs and forts along the way. What a time we had playing and pretending. We would often get scolded about taking so much time to get home. BUT we were kids and we were learning. How often do our kids get that freedom? When in first or second grade I would ride my bike over to Andrea's house which was about a mile away ALL BY MYSELF. Gasp. I'm lucky I am alive to tell about it. That doesn't happen much anymore. If it does, we tend to think that the parent doesn't care or lets the child do whatever they wish. Are we not teaching our children well enough for them to do these things on their own?

The website has story after story about how overprotective we are getting. I couldn't stop reading.....and when I'm done with this post I am going to read some more :)

Kids Freaked Out By Grass Squirrels and Playing Outside

A Prosecutor Debates the “Kids Waiting in the Car” Arrest

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Play On The Lawn

And because I thought this was hilarious....

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Link up your kid friendly post with Mr. Linky below. It can be anything other parents would be interested in; recipes, crafts, reviews, etc. Enjoy your weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - Making Yogurt

You have been seeing it all over other blogs (or maybe that was just me) but have you tried it yet?? I made yogurt in my crock pot this week and it was the easiest thing ever! Granted, it took many hours but it only took about 5 minutes of work. Talk about amazing your kids....it's like magic.

1. Pour 1/2 gallon of milk in crock pot (I used whole milk) and turn to LOW.

2. Wait 2 hours and 45 minutes.

3. Turn off.

4. Wait 3 hours.

5. Take a little bit of milk out of crock pot, mix with 6 ounces of store bought yogurt (with live cultures, which is pretty much all yogurt), put it back in the crock pot. Whisk it all together.

6. Wrap crock pot in a towel and put it in the oven (the oven is OFF!!!)

7. Wait 9 to 12 hours.

8. Hold breath.

9. You have yogurt!! Add fruit, vanilla, whatever.

10. You are supposed to let it refrigerate for 8 hours but I had to try it right away. Wow! I made yogurt :)

If your family goes through a lot of yogurt this is certainly kid friendly! When you are putting it away hold about a cup of it for your next batch so you don't have to buy any more. I guess it keeps getting better with every batch you make. Can't wait to see for myself. Can't wait to make frozen yogurt with it :)

What kid friendly idea have you come up with this week?? Link to Mr. Linky below!

Enjoy your weekend!

Enter my giveaway for $50 from Cookware.com!

Kid Friendly Friday - Lunch Box Choices

Hello Everyone! Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday, where we share what we have been doing with our kids this week or information that would be helpful to other parents. Post about books, recipes, movies, toys, or anything kid friendly. I would love for you to participate with whatever you can share. Link to Mr. Linky below.

School has started so this means lunches have to be made. This may be one of my least favorite things to do because I run out of ideas quickly. Here are some things I have found that work. I have made a list that hangs in a cupboard so if I run short of inspirations I can look to it.

• anything you can put on a stick (veggie kabob, cheese, fruit)


• anything that can be dipped (use ranch, fruit dip, peanut butter, refried beans, hummus)


• anything else that can be cut into shapes (heart shaped cheese and meat on crackers beats a Lunchable any day, cut your sandwiches with a cookie cutter, even better, use a small cutter and give them lots of little sandwiches - eat the remnants yourself, of course) Here is a cute cutout sandwich.


• anything that can be put in the cute little thermos (pasta, soup, leftovers)


• anything that they can assemble themselves (crackers and cheese, ants on a log - messy but fun, mini pizzas, nachos)


• use a food marker and write on a food item (saw this in the last Family Fun mag) haven't tried it yet but it is cute!


• unconventional lunches (cereal and milk, waffle sandwiches, hot dog bun with PB and banana)


• foods that look like dessert (parfait with yogurt and fruit, banana or zucchini bread)

Always include a note of encouragement! There is nothing better than knowing Mom is thinking about you during the day. I am planning on packing a joke of the day but haven't yet gotten around to that yet. Hopefully there is a site out there with lots of kid friendly jokes.


Share with me some of your lunch ideas. I need the help :) Enjoy your weekend!


Are you going to participate in my Food Network Chefs Cooking Challenge?

Kid Friendly Friday - Beachy Butterflies

Welcome to Kid Friendly Friday where bloggers share their kid friendly ideas. Put your link in below and check back for other great ideas. Recipes, crafts, favorite books, movie review, etc....anything that other parents might find useful!

Last week we went to the beach and found the cutest little periwinkle shells. There are innumerable half shells but you have to keep an eye out for the shells that are still attached by their little hinge. I love the hunt. Little Bit likes to see how many she can shove in her mouth before Mommy catches her. We found tons and decided that they looked like little butterflies.....

The girls had drama camp all week, which concludes with a performance today. So cute! We also made some great granola bars. That's what we did this week. What did you do?

Enjoy your weekend!

Kid Friendly Friday - My New Toy

I am a little behind this week. We spent most of it at the beach and what's left is playing catch up. My husband is a teacher and starts work again on Monday. I'm so sad to see the summer end. What I am excited about going into the new school year are the bike toys that I received. I got the baby seat free, off FreeCycle and the trailer for cheap, off Craigs List. Both wonderful tools for finding just about anything.

My plan this year is to bike Mimi to school a few times a week. She is in PreK and will attend 4 morning per week. If I can bike at least 2 times I think that is successful. Saves gas. Good exercise.

It's about 6 miles round trip so we should be good. I'm a little nervous about the traffic. Nothing major but any traffic is bad traffic when you are a bike. We'll see how the girls do with it. I just hope Little Bit is OK during the leg of the trip that she is without big sister. Should be fun! Any biking mamas out their with any advice?

Link up with your Kid Friendly ideas below! Enjoy your weekend :)