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Best Halloween Costume Contest
Ok, so I was thinking, wouldn't it be fun to share our kids' (or our own) Halloween costumes and pick our favorites. So here it is!
All you have to do is link up the costume you want to enter. If you do not have a blog or a post with the picture you can use either your blog address or Crafty Moms Share for the address and then upload a picture from your computer! You can enter more than one (and they can be from the same post). Enter each costume separately. Then display the button on your blog either in the post or somewhere else and ask people to come vote for their favorite costume. The winner will get a homemade felt bat. We will follow my Giveaway Rules, however this is open internationally. A winner will be announced on November 15th!
Happy Halloween!
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We also went to a small Halloween party at church the other day and she decorated some pumpkins with stickers.
For breakfast this morning we had pumpkin pancakes. We made them yesterday, but had plenty left over, so I arranged them on Hazel's plate and she recognized it right away as a jack 'o lantern.
Then she wanted to get started with her pumpkins. We had two relatively small ones to paint and a medium one to carve. I let her start painting while I finished up doing somethings around the house.
Then we had a quick lunch and got her costume on. We had a few errands to run and three of them were places where we know people so she wanted to show off her costume.
My mother-in-law bought her the ballerina basket that came with the pink crown. Then after our errands we did some trick-or-treating and friends houses that were too far to walk. Then we went to a few neighbors houses. We always go very early. The last two years Steve has been working crazy hours due to storms, so we have to get home to hand out the candy. Hazel loves handing out the candy. She was so over excited today. And for some reason this year we had probably a quarter of what we usually get. I guess it is because I went with cheap candy so less kids were out or perhaps it was because of the storm though last year we had an ice storm right before Halloween and the numbers were still high.
One small craft for you that I started in the dark the other night. I got the pattern for this felt bat from Super-Cute Felt by Laura Howard. I still have a bit of sewing to do on it, but it is almost done.
Before Hazel (and Steve) went to bed, Hazel sorted through her candy to leave some for the Pumpkin Fairy. This year the Pumpkin Fairy is bringing her a Rapunzel Barbie doll--not Waldorf, but she will love it and I bought it on clearance since I haven't had time to make much for her.
What are you doing to celebrate Halloween?
Happy Family Times--A Bible Presentation at Church
This week was a very special day at church. Hazel received her first children's Bible. This year they started a new Sunday School class for three to five-year-olds since we had a good number of kids in that group (based on baptisms) and we are trying to get more of these families to attend more regularly. As a result it was decided the families should receive a copy of the Bible story book being used in the class, so we can reenforce the lessons at home or help fill in gaps if they miss a week. Today was the day of the Bible Presentations. So the three-to five-year-olds received them with a parent, then the third graders got theirs and the ninth graders got their adult Bibles.
As with anything that happens at our church that involves Hazel, Steve's mother and Steve come to church with us. (They are Catholic and attend mass at their own church usually.) This of course excites Hazel. She loves having her Nonni at our church. Since it was a special day, Hazel got a new sweater dress and also wore her necklace I bought her for her Halloween costume. After the Bible Presentations, the children went to their Sunday School classes.
Now it is your turn to share how your family has spent some quality time lately.
~ please link up (family time oriented giveaways are ok, but please no Etsy shops)
~just crafts will be deleted since this is to share family times ~ use our button so others can join the fun
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~ check out our Happy Family Times Pinterest board where we will be pinning some of our favorite ideas
Ok, now for our PARTY!! Please share your FUN Family Times!!
Holidays this Week Around the World
Just a quick note: In New England, we are preparing for Hurricane Sandy. They are predicting widespread power outages (and at our house probably cable/internet outages), so I do not know how often I will post this week, but am planning a few now, but if you do not hear from me that is why.
Also Sharing Saturday is still open for all your child-oriented crafts and activities!! Please come share!
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Some countries still keep some of the religious beliefs in their celebrations and some use it to remember their dead love ones.
In Austria people leave bread, water and a light on at bedtime during the week of Seleenwoche (Oct. 30 to Nov. 8) to welcome the dead souls back. (Source)
In Germany some people still hide their knives on Halloween to keep them away from the evil spirits. (Source)
In Belgium people light candles to remember dead loved ones. (Source)
In Czechoslovakia chairs are place around a fire: one for each living family member and one for each family member's spirit. (Source)
In China the end of the Chinese New Year celebration with the Teng Chieh festival. Animal shaped lanterns are hung in the streets and on houses to scare away evil spirits and light the way for traveling spirits. Family members also honor their dead family members by leaving food and water by their pictures. (Source) (This is obviously not celebrated on October 31st.)
In China there is also a national holiday, Qinming (Tomb Sweeping Day), on April 5 (in non-leap years) where people clean the graves of their family members, ancestors and loved ones and leave food, drinks, and gifts for them. (Source)
In Japan in the summer the Obon festival honors spirits of ancestors. Red lanterns are hung everywhere and each night a fire is lite to guide the spirits back to their place of birth. (Source)
In Mexico El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations start the evening of October 31st and last through November 2nd. It is a day to honor the dead and it is believed the dead return to the earth on those days. (Source)
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Now let's talk about the holidays that follow Halloween. The Catholic Church named November 1st All Saints Day as a way to counter the whole evil spirit side of Halloween. It is a day to honor all the saints past, present, and future of the world. Through out the year there are days to celebrate individual saints, but this day is to celebrate all of them.
The Catholic Church also named November 2nd, All Souls Day. It is a day to honor all your dead loved ones. This can be done by visiting their graves and decorating them with flowers and wreaths; lighting candles at a church or home in their memory or attending a special mass.
In Portugal people have feasts of wine and chestnuts at the cemetery, and in Mexico people have picnic lunches on the graves of their relatives. (Source: We Celebrate Hallowe'en by Bobbie Kalman, Crabtree Publishing Company, 1985)
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Finally the last holiday to discuss is Guy Fawkes Day. This is a holiday in England which commemorates the day Guy Fawkes was killed. He tried to blow up the parliament and was found guilty for doing it, and sentenced to death. The first Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated shortly after his death. This is celebrated by the lighting of bonfires and fireworks and burning effigies. It is really a celebration of beating the Catholic Church in England. And it was celebrated by the Pilgrims when they arrived to the New World, but as the new country developed the celebrations ended. (Source)
So how do you celebrate Halloween? Do you celebrate any of these other holidays? I'd love to hear about it!
Getting Ready for the Holiday Fair at Hazel's School
Sharing Saturday is still open for you to share your child-oriented crafts and activities or to be inspired by the amazing ones already shared!
As we approach the holiday season, I found out that we need to supply some things for the amazing holiday fair at Hazel's school, Cape Ann Waldorf School. At the fair they have a Wee Folk Shop where the young children (through second grade) can "shop" for a certain number of tickets they get to go into a room that is set up with silks hanging from the ceiling making it more their size and wonderful gifts to "buy" and then have an elf wrap for them. The idea is for them to get a gift for a family member, but in reality they get themselves a gift. Last year Hazel got a barrette (don't know why since she won't wear one) and a needle felted sheep. She went into it twice. Every family in the Early Childhood Program at the school is asked to donate at least 20 items to the Wee Folk Shop.
There is also a Pocket Lady. Basically it is a person who wears a dress with pockets everywhere and a child can use one ticket to pick a gift from any pocket. These gifts are meant to be small and can be something like a marble or stone or shell or something small that is homemade. All are suppose to be Waldorf type of gifts and we were asked to wrap these in tissue paper. Every family in the school is asked to donate at least 20 Pocket Lady gifts as well.
In the end, we ended up with 40 Pocket Lady gifts and bagged them in groups of 20 (which we were asked to do).
For the Wee Folk Shop I needle felted some snowmen. I saw a cute one at Better Homes and Gardens. I made mine a bit more plain in that Waldorf way of using your imagination.
At the Pumpkin Patch Holiday Fair, I saw some of the cutest ribbon barrettes. Some were Disney princesses (I may try these for Hazel's birthday) and some were snails and animals. I googled, and checked Pinterest and found some tutorials and some ideas. I made a couple of simple bows. Then I tried some flowers. And I attempted the snails (which I fell in love with at the fair). I have more to make, but wanted to share these. They are so easy to do with glue, ribbon and barrettes. I also had two unused headbands sitting around from our teddy bear picnic and I had some wool felt flowers I bought awhile ago on clearance and just sewed them onto the headbands. They are cute as well.
Sharing Saturday #43
Also a huge welcome to everyone who joined us the last couple of weeks for the first time!! I have noticed several new blogs sharing with us! Thank you!! And enjoy!
We had a two way tie for most clicked:
From Adventures at home with Mum: Chill Out Corner--Positive Time Out (love this idea!!)
and
From Making Boys Men: Painting with Cars (How fun!!)
A Few of My Favorites
1) From Art Club Blog: Pinterest Impersonation (A very scary true post about using her identity for a possible future scam! Thank you for sharing and warning us all!!)
2) From Everyday Mom: Free Form Mini Apple Tarts (Oh, these look so delicious!!)
3) From Happy Whimsical Hearts: Gnome Family (Ok, I admit I love this one because it looks like something Hazel would do. Dino Boy and Hazel are so similar--I love it!)
4) From Fresh Eggs Daily: The Float Test (How to tell if an egg is fresh or bad!! Something I know I sometimes need to know how to do!)
5) From My Little Bookcase: Millinery for Children (Oh,I so love the hat plus she shares a book to go with it!)
6) From Buggy & Buddy: Apple Tree Collage (Oh, I love their collage and another book to check out!)
7) From The Alchemist: Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies (Cookies for breakfast--not much better!)
And since I didn't get to visit all the posts at Sharing Saturday #41 until this week, here are a few of my favorites.
1) From Little Owl Crunchy Momma: Nothing was working. (A post that reminds you what every mother goes through at some point with a young child at home.)
2) From Life with Moore Babies: Fairy Potion (Ok, I love the addition of glitter to make it fairy potion!)
3) From Sweet Boutique Home: Mussels Wreath (Just gorgeous!!)
4) From PlayDrMom: Playful Activities to Teach Kids about Feelings (A great list of ideas!!)
5) From Taming the Goblin: Pirate Ship Cake (Oh, I love it!!)
6) From Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk: Measuring with Dino Feet (Such creative fun!)
Thank you to everyone who shared last week!! I hope you will join us and share again!! If you are featured here, please feel free to grab a featured button to display proudly on your blog.
2) From Life with Moore Babies: Fairy Potion (Ok, I love the addition of glitter to make it fairy potion!)
3) From Sweet Boutique Home: Mussels Wreath (Just gorgeous!!)
4) From PlayDrMom: Playful Activities to Teach Kids about Feelings (A great list of ideas!!)
5) From Taming the Goblin: Pirate Ship Cake (Oh, I love it!!)
6) From Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk: Measuring with Dino Feet (Such creative fun!)
Thank you to everyone who shared last week!! I hope you will join us and share again!! If you are featured here, please feel free to grab a featured button to display proudly on your blog.
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Now for This Week's Party
A Few Simple Guidelines:1) Please follow both hosts via GFC (or one of the other ways that work for you).
Hosts are Crafty Moms Share and Mama Mia's Heart2Heart. A reminder: Mia is taking a blogging break. Hopefully she will be back soon to host again!!
2) Link any kid-friendly, child-centered post. Please no etsy shops or giveaways, etc. Remember to link to your actual post.
3) Post the button on your sidebar or somewhere on your blog to help spread the word.
Halloween Decorations
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| Hazel's Sunday School Owl (studying Solomon) |
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| Making Mummy |
Hope you will join us tomorrow night for Sharing Saturday!! Come share your child-oriented activities and crafts and get inspired by all that is shared!
A Ghostly Day
Virtual Book Club for Kids--This Plus That: Life's Little Equations
Toddler Approved - Rainy Day Mum - Adventures in Reading with Kids -
3 Dinosaurs - Royal Baloo - The Educators' Spin On It -
Inspiration Laboratories - Pleasantest Thing - Edventures with Kids -
Two Big Two Little - Playing With Words 365 - Kitchen Counter Chronicles - Outlaw Mom - Mommy and Me Book Club - No Twiddle Twaddle -
The Good Long Road - Ready. Set. Read 2 Me - Reading Confetti -
Mama Smiles - Juggling with Kids- Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas -
Creekside Learning - Creative Family Fun - The Usual Mayhem -
Teach Preschool - PlayDrMom - CraftoArt - Here Come the Girls -
Being a Conscious Parent - Smiling like Sunshine - Crayon Freckles -
Train Up a Child - Smile Play Learn
3 Dinosaurs - Royal Baloo - The Educators' Spin On It -
Inspiration Laboratories - Pleasantest Thing - Edventures with Kids -
Two Big Two Little - Playing With Words 365 - Kitchen Counter Chronicles - Outlaw Mom - Mommy and Me Book Club - No Twiddle Twaddle -
The Good Long Road - Ready. Set. Read 2 Me - Reading Confetti -
Mama Smiles - Juggling with Kids- Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas -
Creekside Learning - Creative Family Fun - The Usual Mayhem -
Teach Preschool - PlayDrMom - CraftoArt - Here Come the Girls -
Being a Conscious Parent - Smiling like Sunshine - Crayon Freckles -
Train Up a Child - Smile Play Learn
Last week I shared optical illusions introduced by Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. This week we are going to talk about This Plus That: Life's Little Equations. We really enjoyed this book! It goes through with pictures of little equations like "yes + no = maybe" and even the colors like "blue + yellow = green." For our activity we made up some equations. Some we spoke and I put pictures to later and some she helped me find things to represent them. Here are some family ones that I found pictures (or took pictures) to make them.
And of course for those of you who have children who know or are learning addition you could easily use numbers in your equations!
Now it is your turn to share!! If you have a new or old post about an activity to do with a Amy Krouse Rosenthal book, please share below and grab the button and code if you would like to help us advertise! Also please make sure you visit the other blogs that are hosting to see what they have created with the various Amy Krouse Rosenthal books! November's author is Tomie de Paola!
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