Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
 

I have bunches of photos on my camera, hoping to get a few minutes to sort through them. I want to tell you about this dress, some homemade gifts and treats, the preschool party at school, and our own Christmas.  The first set of family is come and gone and the second set arrives tonight, we're having Christmas lunch today with our neighbors.  Trying to just relax and enjoy the season.  We're promised a blizzard tonight, so that should provide some extra time around the house!

lego trays

Here's one of the little projects I have been working on.  I saw these lego trays at Somewhat Simple.  I veered from her plans a little, but ended up with something I really liked and the kids are really liking too.  I can't wait on Christmas presents.  When you don't do santa, it doesn't matter as much. 

They are 16 1/2 inch roughly.  I measured the flats, cut the wood and built them only to find that it didn't all fit right. I had to pull it apart and rebuild around the flat itself.  Worked much better.

The kids got several lego related things for Christmas, a few early.  I like to spread out the fun of gifts.  I like that the gift gets full attention for that day.  The next day or a day later, we can open another.  Spreading out Christmas is fun.

in progress

I've got a couple last minute projects happening.  There's much ado in the sewing room.  My Christmas dress is almost done... I'm not in love with it, but I'm already too far in. 

The teacher gifts are done as of yesterday, late.  Minutes before the party.  Seconds really.  They still smelled like glossy finish.  I'll share those over break. 

I've been friendly with the saw. Love this saw.

Painting supplies have taken over the kitchen table.

Goodie supplies have taken over the kitchen, really this is about all of my available counter space.  Poor small kitchen.

I'm trying to get a new set of gloves made up.  I am almost done with the first glove/mitten.  It's a convertible guy.  Now I just have to make the next one match the first. Pressure is one.

Bee's been doing the wrapping so I can keep up.  She's a lovely wrapper. 

As of Saturday morning, the house is clean (or was), the school stuff I brought home in multiple trips is mostly put away, the shopping is done, the in-laws have arrived, and I'm free of the looming preschool parties (with 50 parents and grandparents!), kid Christmas parties, Christmas programs, Piano recitals, and other things that make this season. 

The Christmas Book- finished

Our little precious (oh so sweet) Christmas Story books are done. 

Here are the pages, a few I've already shared, so there are links to more examples of the kiddos artwork of that page.   Like I've mentioned before, this is a shortened version of the full length book I made with my own kids two years ago now. 

We chose to give the kids some direction with their artwork by providing papers and pieces to make particular illustrations.  This could be done totally with the kids own artwork.  Some classrooms at our school did choose to do that.  When we started working, I was glad we chose this plan.  A few kids asked when they could draw Santa and their elf on the shelf. This isn't that kind of Christmas Story.

Cover:

Page 1:  the angel

The angel came to Mary and told her she was going to have a baby.  He would be God's son and they were to name him Jesus. 

Page 2:  Mary on the donkey

Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem.  They traveled on a donkey. 

Page 3: Baby Jesus

It was time for the baby to be born but there was no room in the inn.  Jesus was born in the stable with the animals. Mary wrapped him in clothes and laid him in the manger.  

Page 4:  the star

The angels came to a group of shepherds and told them to go visit the baby.  They followed the star and found baby Jesus.  They worshiped him. 

Page 5:   Wisemen gifts

The three kings went and worshiped Jesus.  They followed the star to Bethlehem.  They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Page 6:  Tree or something 'modern' and Christmasy 

Jesus is God's son and we celebrate his birthday on Christmas.  

We bound them with binder rings and then I had the children help me read through the book at out class Christmas party.  The parents were there watching.  That gave us another chance to share the story with the kids, let us share the story in front of the parents, and we sent home a special item that would be treasured and read again and again.  It is our true hope and prayer that this little book would allow someone little bitty in our class to share the Good news of the Savior's birth.

Christmas table activites- preschool style

Here are some random table activities that have made their way out the past two weeks.  Also, I've got a bunch of Christmas ideas from the past four years or so and they are easier to find now.  I have a Christmas tag as well as a J tag (for Jesus).  Those are over on the right side (web version only), down the page a little way.

The DIY light box got some new items on it.  I drew some Christmas trees on some overhead film my sister passed on to me.  We used the plastic dot pieces (formerly used as bingo pieces) to give the trees ornaments.

These baking tins are from My grandma.  She knew I'd use them.  I have green and red glass beads in the basket.  The tweezers are from the 'ants in my pants' game. 

These stars are those plasticy ice cubes.  They are from a red, white, and blue set, but I just pulled the red and white. The tongs are kitchen tongs purchased at goodwill for a quarter or less. I think the icecube trays were from there or a garage sale.

Our little people nativity set found a spot on the table.  I feel like there is a missing piece, but am not sure.  I think the shepherd is playing the part of Joseph. He must have skipped town.  The kids haven't said anything.

The Christmas sensory box has been a favorite.  

This one has an eye spy sheet with it and the kids seem to enjoy that.

This wasn't technically a table activity, but we tried the toothpick 'poking' with the younger kids and most thought it was fun.  It's one of those activities where some classes love it and others are like, 'I don't get it, why are we doing this?'  There are always a few kids that love it and can't get enough of it though.

With the pre-k kids, we usually do letters, but I went with a picture for the younger ones.  It helps get them in the correct pencil hold position as well as works on fine motor practice.  It quiets them nicely and keeps them in one spot, which is usually a plus. 

For this page, they liked looking at the back to see the poking design.  That doesn't work as well for letters because they're backwards.  We even had some team work action going on. 

This is a circle time activity turned table toy.  One day during circle time, I placed a cookie cutter in a stocking and had a kiddo feel it.  They made a guess which shape might be inside, then pulled it out.  They found the right spot for the cutter on our poster and the next friend got to have a turn with a new cutter placed inside the stocking.  Now it's out just as a matching activity.

I just made these letter cards up this weekend.  They'll only get one week to be out this year. The letters are from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  Hers are big enough to glue on a bottlecap.  These were printed out with two pages on a printed sheet, so they came out smaller, just the right size for my clear glass beads.  I modge-podged them on the flat side.  The pictures are from Prepared, Not Scared and the cards are from Moms Have Questions Too.

This felt tree came out on candy cane day and has been out all week.  The kids can just decorate as they choose. 

Last year after Christmas, I got boxes of cards for 10 cents.  I bought all they had!  They've been out for the kids to make Christmas cards for family and friends. They are really enjoying it.   I have to keep an eye on one friend; she grabs a marker and draws waves on as many cards as she can find.  One day she went through at least half a box of 36 cards.  Good thing the cards were cheap!

I have many other Christmas things to get up here, but I've have about 27 projects going on, with little sign of slowing down.  I can't even share most of the projects yet, as many are gifts.  Hopefully I'll get time over break to get caught up.  We'll see. 

Again, here are some other preschool Christmas ideas from my blog last year..     And some others Here   

Preschool Christmas Story Books- part 2

 Last week, I shared the first page of our preschool Christmas Story book.  I couldn't help it but to share it early without a fuller write up.  I'm doing it again.  I don't have a full post (mostly because I can't get more than 10 minutes to sit down for blog related items), just these precious pages from the kiddo's books. 

Look at these Marys on the donkey.  One drew Mary who couldn't get on the donkey.  Mary has a sad face.  Most drew a happy Mary.  

The third page had baby Jesus. 

 I again was worried that by me cutting the pieces, all the artworks would look the same, like my example.  They don't. 

Those baby Jesus faces are too sweet. 

 
They were mostly like this.

And a few with an upside down Jesus or a fully covered baby.  

 
Here's that first page again.  

I'll get the others up at some point, this is what we have for right now. 

handprint angels

How sweet are these little angels!  

The kids handprints make the body and wings.  A round sponge made the stamped face.  The teachers drew on the halo with crayon.   I think we sent the kids home with another special piece that their parents will keep for a long time.

naked no longer

 Our preschool worked with one of those groups that sells jewelry and bags and such made by ladies who have been taken out of bondage situations.   I saw this mermaid bag made from a recycled rice bag and loved it.  I ordered one for myself and another to give as a Christmas gift.  When It came in, I got looking at it and realized that she's pretty much naked. 

I felt pretty weird about carrying it.

She's naked no longer. My orange sharpie and I added a top.  Much better!