November 2012

This is just a round up of what November looked like for us.

LEGOS! I LOVED Legos as a child! Wish I could've been more creative with them though. ;]

November 10, 2012

 Our finished project!

We decided to have a family night in honor of all military (ESPECIALLY my hubs). Veteran's Day at AppleBee's. 

November 12, 2012

Playing with the straw...

Took T to the park while D was in school...

November 14, 2012

Visited Daddy at work for a moment after we dropped D off at school...

November 20, 2012

 November 27, 2012

Dear Dad,
Happy birthday today. I wish I could come see you. Visit with you, maybe play some music near you. I wish I could see your smile, hear your whistle, hold your hand. I miss those hands. I wish I could see you from afar, just watch and observe you. Try to burn into my brain that memory and hope it'd last forever. I wish I could see you with my boys. I wish we could go out for ice cream like we always did. I wish I could sleep in your house knowing that I was safe because you weren't too for away and you tucked me in. I wish I could smell that guitar case and feel the velvet. I wish you could have taught me how to play. Practiced with me. I would of been the best because you were. I miss you. I've missed you so for 12 years and I will continue to for the rest of my life. I can't begin to express how much I feel something is missing from my life. Not just mine but so many others. I can't explain how much you mean to me, how much I yearn for you. I think about you all the time. I relive memories we had together, I listen to music just to remember you, I look at pictures just to smile, and feel them, hoping I'll never lose that feeling I get when I think of you. I can no longer hear your voice. I can no longer call you. I can no longer hug you and tell you that I DO love you. I can love you with all my heart and soul, and I can wait patiently until I see you again.  I miss you terribly.

New November Recipes

Crumb Apple Crisp  

This recipe called for 14 apples! or 11 Cups!! I don't know about you but I wasn't about to peel 14 apples. I bought 7 Granny Smith, ended up peeling them and only used 5. 5 was plenty! My favorite part is of course the crumb part. :]

New October Recipes

This month we made:

Banana Bread

This bread was GOOD! I will definitely make this over and over in my lifetime! 

I even had a little helper this time...

Shoe Trail

Items Needed:
Empty laundry basket
shoes

Give your child a basket and fill it with shoes. Make a trail from heel to toe around the house. Count as you follow them, Count how many shoes a person has, or how many there are total. Help put them back when they're finished.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Bean Bag Toss

Items Needed:
4-by-6-inch scraps of material
needle and thread
dry beans
ziploc bag

Fill a small back with dried beans. Sew two squares of material together on three sides, leaving a space for the bag to fit into. Turn the bad inside out to hide the seams, insert the beans, then sew it up completely. If you want you can also use an old sock, tie it in a knot and fold the top over it. Play catch or have them throw it in a laundry basket from a distance.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Follow the Leader

Have your child follow you through the house. Imitating you, the sounds and movements you make. Take turns and let your child lead you. Pretend being a horse, a bunny, a car, dance around, etc.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Make a Tape

Items Needed:
Tape recorder
Blank cassette tape


I used to love this as a kid... I'd just mess around on the cassette player recording myself or my sisters. If you have access to a tape recorder have your child record a message to daddy to play on his way to work. Sing songs, read nursery rhymes, tell him a story, talk about what you do when he'a at work, Tell him why you love him and why you're thankful for him. This would be such a sweet Father's Day or Birthday gift. You could even do this for other relatives!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Balancing Board

Items Needed:
Board measuring about 8 in wide by 6 ft long
books

Place a board across two piles of books or just along the floor. Have your child practice walking across the board and keep their balance. You can build the balance beam higher as your child because more sure footed but obviously they'll need some supervision.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Tell Me a Story

Items Needed:
Various household objects
 Pillowcase or brown paper bag

Put 5 or 6 items into a bag: keys, purse, stuffed animal, book, etc and remove each item from the bag one at a time. Create a story by adding one sentence to whichever object you pull out: "Once upon a time there was a white kitten named Angel. Angel just loved to read books, especially books about cookies."

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Living Room Picnic

Items Needed:
tablecloth
picnic dishes
picnic food

Have an indoor picnic during bad weather. Spread a tablecloth on the living room floor and enjoy some picnic food!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Hotter/Colder

Items Needed:
Small toy or treats


Hide items around your house and encourage your child to find them. Tell them they are "hotter" if they're close to the item and "colder" if they're farther from it.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sort the Laundry

Items Needed:
Laundry

This will give your child some responsibility and teach them a practical skill at the same time. Show your child how to sort your laundry into white, lights, and darks. You could even have your child put the clothes into the dryer or help you carry the folded clothes to the appropriate room. My son really likes to do that with me. Also if you'd like you could show your child how to fold towels, blankets, dish towels, etc. The easier items.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Doll Closet

Items Needed:
Tension Rod
Baby clothes hanger
Bookcase

Make a doll closet by inserting a tension rod on the lower case of a bookshelf. Have your child hang the clothes on baby clothes hangers and then onto the rod. (You can even save new-born baby clothes, bibs, and blankets.)

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Pillow Throw

Items Needed:
Lots of throw pillows

Put breakables away first!

Have one person sit on the bed or couch with all the pillows, have the other person run from one place to another dodging the pillows thrown at them.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Fun with Weights

Items Needed:
Bathroom Scale
Various Household Objects

Weigh your child, help them weigh household objects: a stack of books, a bag of flour, dolls, etc. Try to find something that weighs the same as your child.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sewing Practice

Items Needed:
Heavy Cardboard
Scissors
Hole punch
Show lace or yarn
Tape

Cute a shape out of heavy cardboard and punch holes at regular intervals. Tie a knot on one end so it will stay in place and not unravel while your child is sewing. Wrap the other end with heavy tape so it doesn't fray or use an old shoe lace. Weave the shoelace through the punched holes. This activity is great for hand eye coordination.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Newspaper Golf

Items Needed:
Newspaper
Tape
Golf or Tennis Balls
Making tape or paper

Make golf clubs by rolling up several pieces of newspaper and securing them together. Mark several holes by using paper or masking tape. Use your club to try to hit the ball to the hole. Reward the winner with a treat!

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Who Loves You?

Items Needed:
Paper
Pen
Markers and/or stickers for decorating

Ask your child, "Who loves you?" and write it down. Ask, "Who else loves you?' and write down the names and then read off the list. Title the list, "Look Who Loves (child's name)" and hang it up. Of course let them decorate it some if they'd like.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

I Love You Because...

Items Needed:
Paper and Pen
Crayons and Markers

Ask your child, "Why do you love Daddy?" Write down all the responses and have your child decorate it how they'd like. Place it in Daddy's lunch for a sweet surprise! You can ask, "What's the funniest thing Daddy ever did?" Vary the "love note" by relative.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book

Sorting Socks

Items Needed:
Socks
Laundry Basket

Take all the socks out of your child's sock drawer and have her identify each color as she puts them back. For some fun, have her collect everyone's socks and sort them by size, owner, and/or color. Keep in mind, however, that you may be the one resorting afterwards.

Source: The Preschooler's Busy Book