HO, HO, HO

This is one of my favorite Christmas activities.  Of all the projects that go into the hallway, this one probably gets the most comments and smiles.  Each Santa has his own personality. 

Materials: large white constuction paper, 4x6 of red and black, cottonballs

1.  Kids draw/cut out hat and boots.  (I show them how to draw a rectangle and an oval together to make the boots.)
2.  Kids glue hat to the top and boots to the bottom.
3.  We go through the drawing steps together, starting with the face.
4.  Cottonballs are used for fur and hair.

(Letter to Santa partially pictured in lower corner.)

I Spy Ornaments

I Spy Ornament

I made two of these fun I Spy ornaments for Work Jobs this week.  The kids love it!  Many have made a list of what they found.  Some decided to write the words in a sentence.  Others played I Spy.  (I Spy something that begins with a “b”…I Spy something that ends with “l”…I Spy something that rhymes with car…)  Once you start looking around, it’s amazing what you can find to fit inside.  I put in a bow, bell, star, gingerbread man, curly ribbon, garland, wrapping paper, red pompom (Rudolph’s nose), gift, and snow.  The plastic ornament was a bit tricky to find.  These are from Target for $3.  A great big Thank You goes out to Keri, one of my Room Moms, for sharing this idea with me.  She plans to use it at a party as a craft/party favor.  She saw it somewhere out there on a blog…thank you to that blogger as well!

Taking the Plunge

I've never been one to walk up to a pool and jump right in.  I have to stand there a minute, stick a toenail in, then take another 5 minutes to decide if I truly want to get in the pool.  In those moments I can think of a million reasons why I shouldn't take the plunge -- the number one reason being that I can't swim!    

Here I am standing at the deep end ready to jump in without my noodle.  I do have two floaties to help me -- twenty plus years of teaching young children and a passion for new ideas.  But, we all know that floaties aren't intended as life preservers.  I wouldn't dare step up to the edge without the encouragement of family and friends .  Sink or swim, I know that they are there to catch me.  I also know that my life depends on the lifeguard.  I felt led to begin this process of writing a blog after reflecting on a sermon last Sunday.  I am fully aware that I can't swim.  I've read the Caution: Swim at Your Own Risk sign and am taking the plunge anyway.  I'll let you know how the water feels.