Fall Scene Diorama

Using a recycled gift box, E created her first diorama this weekend!

First, she painted the grass and sky.  She could hardly wait for the paint to dry to continue working on the project.  She asked several times if it was ready yet so this activity was highly motivating for her!

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Top Ten Games for Ages Five and Under

Board games teach a variety of skills such as turn taking, academic concepts, and the dynamics of winning and losing.  Some of my very best memories from childhood were made around a board game.  I could hardly wait for E to be old enough to join in the fun so here are several that we have already started playing together.  These are our top ten board game suggestions for kids under the age of five.

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A Hello From Her Sister

I promised E a piece of her Halloween candy on the way to pick up our CSA share.  I randomly grabbed a safe-t-pop which have looped handles.

In the car, I unwrapped the purple candy to hand back to her and noticed that it had the letter V on it.  I didn't say anything.

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Indian Corn Patterns on the Light Table

We created festive fall patterns on the light table by making Indian corn with transparent counters! You could also do this off of the light table with regular colored chips.

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Foot Print Cornucopia Thanksgiving Craft

We made a Thanksgiving cornucopia with E's foot print!  We love hand and foot print crafts.  I am thankful to have them to compare how much the kids have grown.  They make cute and festive holiday decor!

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DIY Acorn Letter Manipulatives

Natural treasures are abundant this time of year! We love to craft, play, and explore with acorns. I turned our collection into DIY letter manipulatives.

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Thanksgiving Sensory Bin

Who's hungry? Our kids would love to serve you from their Thanksgiving Sensory Bin! This invitation to explore provided lots of tactile input as well as opportunities for pretend play!

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21 Days of Gratitude: Support While Grieving

Joining other bloggers for the first 21 days in November, this post is part of the 21 Days of Gratitude series. Each of us will be sharing a quote related to gratitude with the purpose of highlighting the positive in each day.

Yesterday our daughter should have turned two, but she isn't with us any longer.  My gratitude for not only her 2.5 days of life in 2011, but also for the outpouring of virtual love and support is overflowing today.  It was a joyful day of remembrance.  Thank you for keeping us afloat when the burden gets too heavy.  Your words, thoughts, and pictures of Violet's name heal our hearts just a bit as we miss her year after year.

Will you hold your babies a little bit tighter today, smell their hair, and soak in an extra bit of thankfulness that they are here with you in memory of Violet?

Please join us each day as a blogger will share a quote (and sometimes an activity) with you.  The schedule is here with all of the info for you to join in.

These are the wonderful bloggers joining in the 21 Days of Gratitude: Inspired by Familia, Upside Down Homeschooling, Still Playing School, Makeovers and Motherhood, P is for Preschooler, The Educators’ Spin On It, Toddler Approved!, The Connection We Share, Mama Pea Pod, Mum in the Madhouse, Mama Miss, Plain Vanilla Mom, Tips from a Typical Mom, Learning with Mouse, Preschool Powol Packets, Kids Yoga Stories, Dirt and Boogers, Local Fun for Kids, Positive Parenting Connection, Kitchen Counter Chronicles, The Good Long Road, Bits of Positivity, JDaniel 4's Mom, The Eyes of A Boy

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Violet is Two

Happy birthday, baby girl!  

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