Valentine's Day!

Life has been busy, both in the job and outside the job! I haven't had much time to update!

What we're doing today? The sun is out (finally) and the weather may be slightly decent. Besides going out and soaking in some much needed rays, we plan to cook today! Here is one of our cooking projects - http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/heart-tarts-975751/

And for Momma, the boys and I are going to make some chocolate covered strawberries to go with their handmade cards. So, busy day planned!!!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! I'd be interested in what fun you have planned for your charges!

SNOW!!

Having lots of fun with the kiddos during the snow storms that have been in our area the last couple of weeks.. With Christmas right around the corner, it makes for such a magical time for the kids, I think. I recall being young, and Christmas time alone was such a magical time of year, and when snow was added, I remember it being absolutely surreal. I love thinking of that innocent time, and knowing that my preschool charges are in the throes of such a time!


So, snowmen are hard to make. Believe me, we tried. I spent a good portion of 30 minutes bundling the kids up in snow bibs, coats, hats, water proof gloves only for the 3 yr old to holler he needed to potty as soon as we stepped out the door. (yeah - I should have known better and sent them potty BEFORE bundling them. I got what I deserved, but I was SO excited!!)

So, after we spend another 20 minutes on that task, and getting re-bundled, we trekked back outside. We attempted a regular sized snowman, but it wasn't happening. So, we settled on a much smaller one. The kids foraged for twigs, which the dog really helped find (she eats them) and we used a baby carrot cut in half as the nose. They were excited, so that was the key.

They slept good for nap that afternoon.

The next day we did snow angels! What fun!





Afterward, we enjoyed hot cocoa and watched Frosty the Snowman on DVD.

THEN, this week, we went sledding! OMG, I haven't had this much fun for a long while. My own kids were out of school, and with Momboss' permission, we met my kids and their stepmother (who was keeping them for the snow day) at a small hill next to a school.

Everyone was bundled up and everyone had an absolute blast! I don't think my charges had ever gone sledding before, and they were in heaven! The hill was rather small, but to a 3 and 4 yr old, I am sure it was huge! We got lots of pictures and video, and my parent-bosses were thrilled to see it! The kids got excited all over again re-living their sledding day, and explained to their parents each and every moment of footage watched. 

This week, we plan to finish the Christmas crafts that I have had planned that we haven't done yet! We must take advantage of the snow, tho, as it comes! A white Christmas is expected too, which will make things that much more exciting for the kids. We don't get a white Christmas very often in this area!


Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving Hats

With the holidays approaching, I have scoured the web for fun (and easy) activities to do with the 2 preschoolers that I nanny.

I found this fun craft. And they can wear their hats for Thanksgiving dinner!! When the boys did it, they were so excited! Granted, it was quite a bit of cutting for me. I did have to prepare some of the materials and they basically glued it together. However, they "feel" like they made the hats, so they did! Plus, it kept their little hands out of mischief for that time, too!

You can find the instructions (as well as many other fun ideas here.)

What an invaluable site! I love the internet!!! Whatever did we do without it??? (ah yes --- we had to scour books instead!!)

What kinds of crafts have you done for Thanksgiving? The hand turkeys are a given (we did those at the library).

I love ideas!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ah, the fun of cooking with preschoolers!

Do you ever start an activity with the kids you nanny, and start to think as you begin, "what in the world was I thinking???"



That describes me.


I get so excited looking through stuff and planning what we will do.

And then the reality hits!

4 small hands that need complete guidance, but do not always want the guidance. Especially with cooking. Cooking requires things to be done in a certain order. The kids get on their stools and want to just start tearing through stuff!! But they have soooooo much fun, and THAT is why it's worth it in the long run!

These pumpkin cupcakes were fun and the kids were so good when it came to following directions and taking turns!

Tell me about some of the things you have been cooking with the kiddos. I'd like ideas!!!