Christmas Unit Week Day 1

I found this idea to make a fabric Christmas tree ornament with buttons and a ribbon for decoration.  We made ours out of felt and stuffed with fiber fill. 

Highlight and Shadow Snowman Card

   
Michael wanted a picture taken of his snowman, too!

   We did some things today on Hanukkah.  Like making tuna latkes and potato latkes and.... doughnuts.   I was looking for an easy recipe and found one using canned biscuits.  I was surprised at how easy they were and how really good they tasted.  We filled the doughnut holes with raspberry preserves and covered them all with powdered sugar.   I never knew you could do this.  Everyone thought they were awesome, but I'm feeling quite greasy at the end of this day.  Tomorrow we'll focus on crafts and games instead of fried food.   We listened to some stories about Hanukkah found at this great site.  It has all kinds of cool resources. We're reading The Willows at Christmas and doing our Jesse Tree reading everyday. 

Nothing left but the eating!

Lights

Our town decorations



Remembering the real reason that we celebrate Christmas.  My prayer is that HE will be ever present in everything we do this season. 

 Last week, we loaded up and went for a drive to see some neighborhood lights.   There were a few houses we saw that really go over the top.  We did our best to slow down and appreciate all their hard work. 

Christmas Cookies

I've been baking up a storm.  Last week, I did 5 different batches of cookies.  They were all good.  I sent some to neighbors, to my husband's work and then my happy family consumed the rest.

Gingersnap Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle (I found this recipe in our Tennessee Home and Farm magazine)

Peppermint Snowball Cookies

I took these to Tera's piano recital on Sunday.  They were all gone when we left.  These are a very soft cookie but taste absolutely awesome!

I also made these:

Holiday Snickerdoodles
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Lemon Crinkles These are very delicious cookies, especially if you love lemon flavored things.

Christmas Crafts

Last week we got together with our co-op to do Christmas crafts.  Each mom brought the supplies for a craft, ornament or gift for the kids to make.  We divided the kids into groups.  Then, they worked through each station before rotating to the next station.

Station 1:  M & M Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar

 Michael really enjoyed this craft.  I don't think it had anything to do with the M & M's at all.  ;) 

  Station 2:  Cinnamon Gingerbread Ornaments  

 Station 3:  Timecapsule Ornaments 

I didn't read the instructions closely and got clear glass balls instead of plastic ones.  So we just rolled the photos and used twizzers to move it around once inside the ornament.  I wouldn't suggest to deviate from the instructions.  It made it a whole lot harder for the kids. 

 

 Moms goofing off... 

  And the cutest little spectator!
 We do this every year the last co-op before December.  It really is one of the kids' favorite days of the year.  I wish I got more pictures of the completed crafts, but it's quite a hectic day. 

Countdown

Our first advent activity was to make a paper chain to hang in their individual rooms.  Each night they take off one chain- counting down to Christmas.  As the chains get shorter they get more excited and hopefully I won't get too stressed. 

  

The kids doing their impressions of Jacob Marley! 

Monet

Our artist this month is Monet.  I found this project that resembles Monet's Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies. 

First using masking tape, we laid out a bridge on our watercolor paper.

 Then using our fingers... 

 and paintbrushes to produce... 

our masterpieces!

Disclaimer:  Michael did not do this all by himself...he really needed help to finish the entire page and to stay focused.  :)