Leaf Rubbings

Last week I made a bunch of paper leaves for the Noodle to toss around inside. So simple!  All you need are leaves, crayons, card stock and scissors.   Make a basic leaf rubbing and cut it out. You are done!

Turkey Day Cards

We try to get a mailing out to our family for each holiday.  For the cousins this year, classic turkey cards.  Inside each card reads, "We are thankful for you!"

Autumn Songs and Rhymes

Autumn Wind

Autumn winds begin to blow. (blow)
Colored leaves fall fast and slow. (move fast, move slow)
Twirling, whirling all around. (spin around)
‘Til at last they touch the ground. (fall to the ground)

Little Leaves (sung to tune of Ten Little Indians)

One little, two little, three little leaves.

four little, five little, six little leaves.

Seven little, eight little, nine little leaves.

Ten little leaves fall down

Autumn Leaves (sung to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down)
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down,
Autumn leaves are falling down, welcome fall.
Sweep the leaves and put them here, put them put here, put them here, 
Sweep the leaves and put them here, welcome fall.
Jump right in and have some fun, have some fun, have some fun, 
Jump right in and have some fun, welcome fall.


Jingle Jangle Scarecrow 
(begin crouched on floor)
When all the cows are sleeping
and the sun has gone to bed.
Up jumped the scarecrow and this is what he said. (jump up)
I'm a jingle jangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my hands like this, and shake my feet like that. (shake hands and feet)
(return to crouched position)
When all the hens are roosting
and the moon's behind the clouds
Up jumped the scarecrow and shouted very loud. (jump up)
I'm a jingle jangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat
I can shake my hands like this, and shake my feet like that. (shake hands and feet)

November

The wind has a bite.  The trees have a hint of color.  My kids are in their new wool sweaters everyday.   Must be November!   How did that happen?!

What Witches Do

I am a big fan of our felt board, but finding stories that easily translate to felt can take a bit of digging.   The poem What Witches Do is perfect for Hallowen. This is a little late in coming but good to remember next year! 

What Witches Do 
(Begin with witch with no hat on plain felt board) 
The witches don their pointed hats, 
(place hat on witch) 
The witches croak and croon.
The witches ride their broomsticks,

Away beyond the moon. (place moon with witch outline) 
The witches don their flowing cloaks,

The witches stir their brew.
 (add cauldron)
The witches chant their magic spells,

All the dark hours through. 
The witches stroke their big black cats,
 (add black cat) 
They comb their locks of gray.
Yet when the first faint daylight comes,
 (add sun) 
The witches hide away. (pull witches off board)

Autumn Snow

The snow started falling during our Halloween party and is expected to keep coming through 2am.  Unheard of!

Styrofoam Ghosts

My sister made styrofoam ghosts just like these with her daughter when she was two.  Six years later they are still one of their Halloween decorations staples.  I saw them when we were skyping last week was inspired to make our own ghost family.  This project is really simple.  

Supplies

Styrofoam cups

Twine

Tape

Ball point pen

Directions

1) Draw faces with a a ball point pen on inverted styrofoam cups.

2) Poke a hole in the top of each of cup.

3) Thread a piece of twine through each hole and affix with tape.

4) Hang and enjoy!

Ghosts in the House

Ghosts in the House is a quirky story about a lively little witch who moves to a haunted house.  She quickly goes about catching the ghosts and putting them to good use as curtains, bedding and other linens.  This happy tales simple black, orange and white lino-cut illustrations totally won me over.

Floor Quilt

This quilt was a long time in the coming.  I tore a pattern for an embroidered crib bumper out of Marie Claire Idees magazine years before we had babies.   When I was expecting our oldest, Colleen started embroidering.   When Noodle arrived the bumper was half done (a bumper is really really long!) and it was stuck in a cabinet.   I had been trying to figure out what to do with it since. 

Turns out that bumper really wanted to be part of a quilt!  The Little Miss' floor quilt was made of all items I had on hand.  The twelve large squares are cut from old curtains and extra bumper fabric.  A fleece blanket is sandwiched between the topper and a backing.  And the bumper embroidery makes an extra special edging.

Jar O' Lanterns

I saw these Jar O’ Lanterns in this month’s Family Fun Magazine.  They are a fantastic project to do with little little ones.  We opted not to put a tea light inside.