Messy Book Club

Today we got creative and used this idea for book club.  We let the kids get messy and boy did they!  We had a flour station, finger paints, water table, spaghetti bin, shaving cream bucket, goop bucket, and bubbles.  It was a fun morning!  We are so glad to get to spend some time with buddies getting our energy out!

Even Jackson loved it!

ps - my wish for summer has come true.  Jackson is really getting good at walking so that he can enjoy himself at events like this too.  He is more stable and doesn't want to be held - he wants to explore.  Watch out summer fun..here we come!!!

The Advent Calendar

This is the box/house I got from Target to use as our advent calendar.  This girl also has a link to some great advent cut outs to put in the doors!


Here are some ideas they include (I'm posting them here in case I need a few extra ideas...I put them in the house day by day depending on what I will have time for each day!)  Some of these are too old for Elli, but they may make good ideas for next year.

1. Assemble paper Christmas train.
2. Assemble paper Christmas village.
3. Bake Christmas cookies and decorate them.
4. Build Christmas sculptures with Legos.
5. Create a snowscape with shaving cream and action figures.
6. Cut snowflakes out of paper.
7. Decorate the Christmas tree.
8. Decorate the gingerbread house
9. Do some Christmas Mad Libs.
10. Donate to the school food drive.
11. Draw pictures of fun Christmas activities we’ve done.
12. Eat dinner by candlelight.
13. Go out to look at Christmas lights after dark.
14. Go outside with blankets to look at the stars.
15. Have a bubble bath
16. Have a family dance party
17. Have breakfast for dinner (I’ll make Snowman Pancakes. So freaking cute!)
18. Have hot chocolate with all the fixings
19. Make a card for a loved one and send it in the mail.
20. Make gifts for teachers.
21. Make ornaments for the tree (I’m thinking salt dough ornaments.)
22. Purchase a present for Toys for Tots.
23. Read a Christmas book together.
24. Recycle some toys to share with others.
25. Set up the Christmas tree.
26. Sing Christmas songs while dad plays the guitar.
27. Tell everyone in our family why you think they’re cool at dinner.
28. Watch a Christmas movie before bed.
29. Write a letter to Santa.
30. Write a list of 5 things you are thankful for this year.