Capturing Childhood Memories....

I have to confess, that as a grandmother, I've become a little obsessed with the things my grandchildren do whenever they're around. I started creating picture books of gazillions of the pictures that have been taken, and now I'm including funny stories of things they said and did.  In my mind I'm creating a "gift" for the future for them. 

A few years ago I created a pictorial book for my daughters, of the many pictures I had taken of them.  The pictures started out in albums, but between wear and tear, and maybe a little neglect, I found that they were falling apart. Not wanting to lose them all as time marched on, it seemed the best way to preserve them was to utilize a service that would help me not only organize them, but display them creatively and for many years to come they would each have a keepsake of their lives.   So began my quest to create for them, a permanent record of their moments in life......and when my grandchildren came along, I began anew, creating little glimpses of their lives, that someday I hope they will treasure.

Companies like Shutterfly have me as one of their biggest fans, because I can create books with the pictures I've accumulated, and I know they won't fade over time.  An added bonus is, that once you've uploaded your pictures to their server, you don't have to worry about losing them on  your own computer or phone....they are preserved as long as Shutterfly exists, and I have no doubt they'll be around for a long time.

My latest venture into book making has been including short excerpts of my grandchildren's adventures. It dawned on me that there were so many

precious moments in my daughter's lives that I've no doubt forgotten.  

One of my fondest memories is the day I was took my youngest daughter to kindergarten.  Jessica had a favorite little stuffed leopard called "Boo Boo Kitty" in the car with her.  When we got to the school she had it
tucked under her arm, and I told her to leave it so it wouldn't get lost.    
She was adamant that "BooBoo Kitty" should go to school with her......I wasn't in the mood to argue, so I let her go with it.......fully expecting her not to come out with it that afternoon.  Well....you know those times you thought you knew the outcome and the universe had to prove you wrong?  This was that day for me.  That afternoon as I sat in the carpool lane waiting for Jessica to come out, I saw her little face smiling as she marched, rather triumphantly towards the car.  Much to my surprise little "BooBoo Kitty" was still tucked under her arm.  As she got in the car, she announced quiet proudly that everyone was so excited to see "BooBoo Kitty", that they picked her up on their shoulders and marched her around the school.  It was one of those moments when you wanted to burst out laughing....but I could see how determined she was to prove her point.....and, there was no reason in trying to point out this might have been a slight exaggeration.  She was just proud that she didn't lose her pride and joy, and wanted to emphasize that to me with her slightly over-embellished story.

You'd have to know Jessica to fully appreciate this story.......Jessica has and continues to be the child with the vivid imagination, and quick thinking 

that just defies logic.  She has had

us all laughing till we were in tears.....and for that I am blessed.  My grandchildren seem to have that same "genetic gift", so I've decided to record as many of them as I can for them to appreciate their own creativity when they get older and life might be heading in directions they weren't so happy with.  Lilly is the story teller, Leila is the singer & "in charge" kid, and Calvin....he's wickedly smart and figures things out way before he should.  I want them to be able to look back, and realize how loved they were........how we all appreciated their unique talents and gifts.....and that they created some of the most amazing moments in my life.

 My advice is, don't let life get in the way of remembering those precious moments that will fly by.  If you don't have a video camera.....GET ONE! You won't remember their sweet little voices when they're 16 and have turned into snarky teens!  If you haven't started writing down the silly sweet innocent things they say and do.......START NOW!  You won't remember many of them when they're standing in front of you demanding the keys to the car so they can go "out"......besides, cameras come in a huge variety of sizes and prices, making them affordable for virtually everyone.....don't wait.....the holidays are coming and you'll never regret it!

As a mother, and now a grandmother, I have this enormous desire to soak in all those memories......to remember the things they said and did that made me laugh--that make my heart feel as it will explode with love.  Don't miss out......start today, and create a legacy of memories for your little ones.

 

They went from 

 

this

<---

  to this
----> 

 in the blink of an eye! 

Dedicated to my little pookie......Jessica x0x0

                                             

Change this world--What if you could do something about it?

In today's world it seems every time we turn on a television or radio, we're hearing about a new disaster.   People everywhere find themselves impacted by monster storms, ethnic and military wars, or earthquakes, famines.....you know them all by now.  There are times when we can help.....and there are many we hear and see that we have no idea how to help.  This is not about politics or governments, or who's right or wrong.....it's about the people who need your help, and an organization that's doing just that.

There is a group called Change This World.  

Their mission 

"Change This World enables volunteers to package

healthy meals to send to children and families around 

the world. Each meal delivers the ingredients needed 

to sustain life, and by partnering with strategic 

organizations the food also opens doors for 

education, practical training, the ability to 

plan for the future, and the strength to see it realized. 

These meals equal hope for communities around 

the corner and around the world."

 Did you know:

• 1 in 6 people on the planet are malnourished today?
• Malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in 50% of all cases.
• Estimates by relief organizations have shown that between 21-25,000 children die every day because of starvation or malnutrition.
•  Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year--five million deaths.
• The world produces  enough to provide everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories (kcal) per person per day -- and yet there are people starving to death every day.

No matter the disaster, food and water are two absolutes that are needed to sustain life.   Change This World, has developed a system that feeds a life-sustaining meal for as little as $.025/a meal......packed full of protein, vegetables, and vitamins, these meals not only provide life, they give hope.  When the disaster victims have been given the ability to go on with these nourishing meals, they've been given back hope, determination, and the strength to rebuild their homes and lives.

 HIGH QUALITY WHITE, LONG GRAINED RICE
Widely recognized as a food staple in most countries. Rice fills the stomach and has a long shelf life!
  


 

VITAMIN FORTIFIED, CRUSHED SOY
Soy is very high in protein content (52%). 1lb of soy is 
the equivalent of 3 lbs. of red meat. Its fortification provides
9 additional, essential vitamins.



CHICKEN FLAVORED,VEGETARIAN VITAMIN & MINERAL POWDER
Includes 21 essential vitamins and minerals. Adds flavoring and increases health.




DEHYDRATED BLEND,OF SIX VEGETABLES
Comprised of six essential vegetables, this blend offers nutritional
value, an appetizing flavor and color.

 So.....you want to change this world.......be the change. 

 Please visit the website of Change This World, and be the person who makes a difference.  

It doesn't take a lot.....

it just takes you choosing to help in any way you can.

WE BELIEVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT HUNGER.

We know that together we can make a difference. You can make a difference. Donate Now!

Contact Them!

sponsored post: happy thanksgiving from crayola!

I have been looking forward to this week all month. Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite holidays since in my book not much can top taking a time-out from our busy schedule to spend a whole weekend with family. Oh, and let's not forget the food. 

It is also fun to do some holiday projects with the girls. So far this year we have kept our Thanksgiving crafting pretty simple. I set out a roll of paper with some markers and crayons on the coffee table and the girls have been drawing pictures of things they are thankful for... our family, home, rainbows, flowers, warm beds, trees, kites, crayons, scribbles... :) It has been a good way for us to keep an open discussion with them of all the blessings we enjoy, both big and small, and help us all fill our hearts with gratitude this season.

As a kid I remember being given the job to make place holders and paper turkeys for table decor. It made me feel important like I was contributing to the meal too, and looking back I am sure it was my mother's way of keeping me entertained and out of the kitchen! I am sure my girls will need some entertainment while we are busy prepping food, so I have been taking mental notes of easy Thanksgiving projects they can do mostly unsupervised. Crayola has put together a short Thanksgiving craft inspiration video for those of you looking for some fun ideas too. You can watch it below.

This post is sponsored by Crayola.

How to choosing right size for baby clothes

How To Specify Baby Clothes Size and Age Chart

Buying baby clothes is a lot like playing the lottery; you hedge your bets on a number, and hope it's the right one.
But it doesn't have to be that way. While it's true that babies grow really fast, it is possible to buy clothes for them that will fit - at least for now. Use our size and age chart to help determine what size you should buy.

Remember: when in doubt, make your purchase based on weight and height rather than age! It's always safe to go one size bigger, except in the case of baby sleepwear.

US Size and Age Chart

Age/Size	Weight	Length	Bootie/Shoe Size	Sock Size
Newborn	Up to 7 lbs	Up to 17"	N/A	N/A
Up to 3 Months	7-12 lbs	17-23"	3	Up to 6 Months
3-6 Months	12-17 lbs	23-27"	4	Up to 6 Months
6-12 Months	17-22 lbs	27-29"	5	6-12 Months
12-18 Months	22-27 lbs	29-31"	6	12-24 Months
18-24 Months	27-30 lbs	31-33"	7	12-24 Months

Baby Clothes – What Clothes Does Your Baby Need?

You would think buying clothing for a baby would be quite simple – with so many cute and gorgeous outfits available these days, how can one go wrong?! But with a myriad of clothing designs and styles that are either practical time-savers or frustrating time-fizzers for parents, BellyBelly mum, Janelle (nellbe) set out to compile this very informative article, designed to help you with the task of clothing your newborn baby.

Baby Clothes – Size Guide

When putting this information together, I gathered information straight from the experts – from mums and dads with new babies. As well as being based on my own experiences as a parent, I thought of what would have been useful to know, prior to buying clothes for my baby.

An approximate size guide is as follows:

0000 – Newborns under 4kg – birth to 3 months
000 – Babies under 6 kg – 3 months to 6 months
00 – Babies between 6 and 8 kgs – 6 months to 9 months
0 – Babies above 8 kgs – 9 months to 12 months
1 – Babies above 10kgs – 12 months

Bear in mind that the sizes above are a guide only. Some babies when born will fit straight into 000’s, some will need 0000’s. Something else to remember is that all the clothing sizes differ based on manufacturer. For example, Bonds sizes tend to be on the smaller side, so you may find that you are buying Bonds clothing one size up compared to what you would buy in other brands.

What Size Baby Clothes Should I Start With?

You’ll probably be asked to take several baby outfits with you into hospital if that is where you’ll be birthing your baby. It’s a good idea to have a mixture of both 000’s and 0000’s to start with. How long they spend in each size really depends on how quickly your baby grows (and oh boy do they grow quickly!) but unless you have a premature or very small baby, getting more 000’s than 0000’s is a good idea.

Janelle’s Top Tips For Baby Clothes

1. Many mums will swear by Bonds Wondersuits or similar in the early months. They are a great idea, but don’t go out and buy a whole pile – my son was a long and soon enough couldn’t wear the bodysuits with feet enclosed as his feet were too big for them! So I ended up putting him into pants and tops sets from the moment he was born.
2. The Bonds ‘Stretchies’ range is quite good as they have lyrca in them. Makes it easier to dress them.
3. Singlets for babies are well used but often they’ll ride up their backs and if they are wearing a top and pants it can leave their backs cold. Going for the singlet suits is an option, they do up at the crotch so you don’t have that problem. Also by buying their singlets a few sizes larger may help.
4. Babies don’t often like having things over their head. To minimise this, you can purchase the do up the front bodysuits and you can get them in short sleeves and long sleeves.
5. Bonds socks are excellent for keeping on the babies feet, I am sure I have tried every brand but Bonds are the only ones that stayed on.
6. Consider buying a sleeping bag for baby to sleep in and buy zip up ones, not button ones as their feet may get caught if they kick around a lot, like my son does!

List of ‘Must Have’ Baby Clothes

Here is a suggested list of clothing and number of items that you may need from birth. Ideally organise a mixture of 0000 and 000 as you can’t be sure how big baby will be at birth!

• 10 singlets or singlet suits
• Approx 4 each of long sleeve and short sleeve bodysuits
• 4 pairs of pants
• 4 long sleeved tops/jumpers
• 2 nice, matching outfits for going out
• 2 jackets
• 4 other all in one outfits (cotton ones not terry towelling or flanellette)
• 2 cotton hats
• 1-2 pair mittens (if you think you’ll use them)
• Lots of socks – they always get lost!
• 2-3 sleeping outfits – you can just use all in ones / wondersuits for sleeping or sleeping bags.
• Further Baby Clothing Tips from BellyBelly Forum Mums

Lucy recommends:

Don’t be tempted to buy too much, especially with a 1st baby. People give you so much clothing and babies grow so fast, you literally cannot use it all!
Accept hand-me downs – often they are the most practical and useful!
For tiny babies, I found the plain, unfrilly Bonds growsuits to be unbeatable. Plain is good!
Avoid anything with big collars, bows, buckles, anything that fastens up the back is a pain.
Think about the climate your baby will be born into – what season? It may be that you really don’t need any singlets at all – or it may be that you really do need socks!

Shannon recommends:

With the seasons, remember that if you are in a cold climate, most of the time they’ll have a bunny rug wrapped around them, especially when newborn, so you don’t need to worry about too many ‘fancy’ outfits.
As they get a little older and are crawling and walking, snap crotch pants are actually more of a hassle than pulling them down to change a nappy. The snaps pull open all the time and your baby will spend most of the time with a butt hanging out (well a nappy at least), or you’ll spend forever popping them closed. Especially true for overalls and jeans. I spent hours sewing up the snap crotches on the girls clothes from about 8 months old.

Fi recommends:

All-in-ones with the crotch fastening at the back are a nightmare. When they fasten at the front you can sort of pull the back down and through the legs – so much easier to fasten!! I have to say the pumpkin patch jumpsuits are really terrible for doing up easily – specially since my ones all fasten up at the back. However I LOOOOOVE the Pumpkin Patch all in one singlet suits. Their newborn size ones are a fantastic fit, even with a cloth nappy, and sit nice and high on the chest. I find the bonds ones slip down a little, and are a bit stretchy.
Most of the old fashioned woolly cardies are really annoying and hard to get on. I bought a few and haven’t even used them.
Don’t buy dark colours – they show spew so much more!!!

‘Morv’ recommends:

I love the all in one jumpsuits at the moment, they are warm, comfortable and easy to put on.

‘MiMo’ recommends:

I try not to buy the jumpsuits with feet on them – I found Hannah is growing so fast and the feet would be too small while the rest of the suit was huge.

Chloe recommends:

Don’t buy clothes to far in advance because you can’t predict that they will fit in a specific season. When I was pregnant I bought a lovely winter onesie in size 0 that was on special. Now I think that it will fit Yasin perfectly in the middle of summer.

Sarah recommends:

Lots and lots of bibs – if bub has reflux, you will really need heaps even when they are little.
Try to get all in ones for when they are newborn so the elastic waists don’t irritate their cord stump.

Kerrie recommends:

It’s worth having one or two really nice outfits to take the baby out in to ‘show them off’, but more than that is a bit of a waste – they grow out of clothes before they wear out of them, so don’t go overboard spending money on designer clothes that will only fit for a couple of months.
Trying to keep socks on a baby is an exercise in futility, better to go with slippers that do up firmly around the baby’s ankles. Most babies will try to kick off foot coverings and slip their feet out of socks, so anything that is loose-fitting is a goner!
A couple of cozy, soft hats are a must for newborns – try to make sure that there are no irritating seams or rough fabric inside the lining. There are some beautiful bright felt beanies around these days that are soft and warm, or if you are lucky and your Mum knits, soft babywool is a winner.

Catherine recommends:

Keep the tags on all clothing (whether bought or not) until you work out whether or not they’re going to wear them in the right season. Don’t be afraid of taking things back for refunds (especially if they were gifts) because after all, money is money and you need every cent you can get with a newborn!

Dee recommends:

What I have found to be an absolute godsend are the baby nighties I put Matthew into them each night, it saves me having to fiddle around with the studs on the all in ones so makes my life so much easier and quicker at night.
I love all my woolly cardigans I have for Matthew but the booties are a bit of a problem, most are too small, he has extra large feet and a lot of them keep falling off.

Kellee recommends:

Zip up fleecy vests are great alternatives to jumpers on moderate winter days. I have two and they are perfect for the autumn mornings – and they look so cute!
Long or short sleeved jumpsuits with no legs are really good to go under long pants – this way you’re not worrying that bub’s belly will get cold if a shirt becomes untucked.
Don’t buy anything new! In all honesty, I have only bought ONE new outfit for Charlie in his whole life (and he’s 9 months old!). Investigate good op shops (especially BEFORE you have bub) and go nuts. If you go once a week or fortnight on the same day you’ll get to know the staff and vice versa, and they may be able to look out for things for you. You’ll save so much money it’s not funny and you will also not feel so bad if something you bought in advance doesn’t fit in the right season (it’s better to “waste” $1 on a growsuit than $10!). Obviously, this can sometimes take a little more effort – you have to be prepared to spend a few minutes going through lots of items to find some good quality items – but it is well worth the time. I love op-shopping too, because it gives me something to do when I’m sick of being at home – I just plonk Charlie in front of the toy section while I’m browsing nearby and he loves it.
Buy hats/beanies with some kind of fastening device (obviously you have to be safety concious when you’re looking for them). Charlie doesn’t keep any of his hats on, so I invest in those with chin straps.
Get bub used to wearing hats and sunglasses early – not only is it a good habit to get into, it will make it easier later and save more struggles.

Michelle recommends:

I love sleeping bags – my bubs is always out of the blankets and cold so by using sleeping bags she stays warm and sleeps longer.
I don’t really put shoes on my children before they are one year old, they just pull them off and it is better for them to walk without them.
You definitely need 2 or 3 nice outfits for going out and remember that you also need to take changes of clothes when you go out, just in case of leaks or spills.
Bibs with elastic are better than tie-ups.
Wool cardigans look gorgeous with little dresses.
Definitely accept all offers of clothes, and return or throw out/donate to op shop what you really don’t want.
Ebay is a great source of clothes at bargain prices especially brand names.
Sometimes really cheap clothes go out of shape after one wash, so take care in choosing material which feels like it is good quality. I have noticed some Kmart, Best & Less and Big W clothing that does this.

Winter Weddings

If you're planning a winter wedding, what a wonderful time of the year to have such a fabulous event.  Whether it's going to be the "event" of the year, or a casual setting, the choices you have are unlimited.  Let your mind drift to all the wonderful memories from your childhood, and the things that 
 made it so exciting.....snowflakes...... nutcrackers...........roaring fires in the fireplace........smores........sleigh rides.  The things we dreamed of, or lived, are what made our lives rich with the possibility of what could be.

When it comes to the attire, again, there are so many possibilities.  Depending on the climate of the area where you'll have the wedding, you can again bring the winter theme into not only what you'll be wearing, but if you're having a bridal party that incorporates little ones, there are choices for them too that will be the "pièce de résistance".  At Adorable Baby Clothing, we carry flower girl dresses and boy's suits in sizes from infant to the bigger kids, that can easily be color coordinated to either match your wedding, or compliment it. 

Many brides have deviated from the traditional colors, to incorporate bright vivid hues in their own accessories, and it's a perfect way to incorporate those same colors in what the flower girls and ring bearers are wearing.  Think outside the box to create a wonderland of eye catching color that will delight your guests, and make for incredibly awesome photos.  

Brides are learning, that weddings don't have to be formal stuffy events (unless they love formal) and that they can utilize their own personal favorites to embellish this life event as a display of what makes them unique.  It doesn't have to stop with the grownups any more.  At Adorable Baby Clothing, we can help make the littlest members of the bridal party, as unique as everyone else.

We invite you to browse through our amazing selections of boy's suits, and flower girl dresses to find the picture perfect outfit just for your little ones!  

http://www.adorablebabyclothing.com

Not All the Deals Are in the Malls!

Have you ever wondered who came up with the idea "Black Friday"?  It is amazing to me, how the retail world has convinced consumers that this ONE day will somehow magically transform their lives, if they'll only get out of bed in the middle of the night to rush to the malls and buy 'stuff' they just have to have.  Sure there are some amazing deals, but then I wonder......what was the real cost, and if it's on sale for this, but the store said before it really cost that, then what did it really cost them, and what is it really costing me? (Sorry my mind just kind of works like that)

Never the less, I thought it was worth posting some of the deals I've seen, and although I don't "do" Black Friday, I know there are lots of you who love this shopping day.....have you noticed though, that Black Friday is now becoming the "black week"....and of course there's "Cyber Monday"......I figure at this rate that in the next few years, every day will be "discount of the year" day......That got me to thinking.....what else is out there that won't make you leave the warmth of your bed in the middle of the night?  Thinking "outside the box" these are a few suggestions....

(Shameless Plug)-->At Adorable Baby Clothing you'll always get FREE Shipping on any minimum order of $50.00, within the

USA.  You can also take advantage of the Coupon Code "Thankful" for an additional 10% off any minimum order of $65.00 -- which means you'll still qualify for 

FREE Shipping!  Whoohoo!  

Dress those little munchkins Picture Perfect for the holidays!

 If you're a traveler, and have an Allegiant Airline near you, they really have some awesome airfare deals.  the key here is, are they where you are, and do they go where you want to go!

KidSpot Community Join the Kidspot community today and you’ll receive our FREE Christmas flipbook

filled with 30+ fun and festive cooking with kids, and craft ideas. Plus you’ll go in the draw to WIN $3,000 cash.  This is great because it's free and you don't have to leave home to do it!

Etsy is a great place to find unique, quality items.  You can find just about anything that pops in you mind.  I've listed a few vendors I've personally purchased from and thought you might find interesting.  What I particularly admire, is their creative genius, attention to detail and quality, and amazing customer service......not to mention their prices are great too!

• Cali Dreamin' hand painted wood letters and art  Give Joy the idea and watch her create an amazing piece of art just for you!

• Petalbelles - I fell in love with this shop.  Little tiny fairies ornaments, that I can't for the life of me figure out how she does.  Just go look!  

• Go Hey Judy - If you're looking for a truly unique, one of a kind rag doll, then you have to check this out!

• Silver Spiral Creations - Beautiful handmade jewelry, you just won't find elsewhere!

• Bug Under Glass - This is amazing....real mounted butterflies  on real vintage maps of the area they are indigenous to. 

Thinking of buying a new car?  I personally don't know anyone who's ever won a free car, but have to admit, the fantasy is a nice one!  I also like to support American owned and run companies like Ford.  Here's a contest for a free car, and at least you can take a look at what they have in their line up. 

This is just a very small sampling of what's out there!  Shop small business this year and you may be amazed at the quality, savings, and so much less stress!

Seasons Change......and So Do We

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving revolved about the family being home together.  We didn't go out to eat........we didn't wake up at 3AM to be the 5,346th person in line at the mall......we just stayed home.  We ate too much of the things we knew we wouldn't get the rest of the year, and we just enjoyed the fact that no one had to be anywhere for any reason.  If we were kids, we played outside as long as we could, no matter the weather, until we were called in to eat.  

To me, that's Thanksgiving.

That being said, my Thanksgivings as an adult have changed over the years.  They've gone from --    

• feeling guilty because I lived too far away to get home to see my Mom  to....
• My nuclear family of four, that kind of "fell apart" after my divorce, to myself and my daughters trying to create our own new "normal" Thanksgiving traditions.  

They've grown to include --

• People I met for the first time, because they couldn't get home to their own families, and my daughters brought them home.  My house has been so full of people I'm not sure I even got introduced to them all while they were here because I was so busy cooking;
• Grandchildren experiencing a Thanksgiving meal for the first time in their precious lives;
• To being a guest at some elses house for the day.

And, so......the holidays, like the rest of our lives continue to change.  That is what life is .....some good, some bad, some you can't remember, but always moving in one direction or another.   I think it's important to make your own traditions, but it's also important to recognize life doesn't stay the same for anyone for very long.  I love the phrase "everything has it's season".  Rather than looking at what has changed, and missing what was......

            

Seize it as an opportunity to begin anew, and create new traditions. 

Invite someone over who may not have a family......

Find an opportunity to give back to your community......

    
  Make a list of people you haven't talked to and call them on Thanksgiving......

Donate an entire Thanksgiving meal to a family who can't afford to buy their own......

Just know, that in the universe, your life matters.  Whether it's filled with a house full of people, or it's just you.......you  have a great purpose for being here.  Never doubt that, and focus on what you've been blessed with, not what
you wish you had.  

 
And if you're really brave......get up at 3AM and stand in the cold dark night air with the other gazillions of Black Friday shoppers, just to buy that special something you know you just can't live without! 

(I'll be home asleep!)

Thanksgiving Crafts for the Kids

One of things I remember most about my childhood, was the really neat stuff we used to make in elementary school around any holiday.  Thanksgiving was always fun, because I remember my teacher telling us the story of the first Thanksgiving, and then giving us projects to make and take
home.  Back then (now the Dark Ages) we had those jars of paste.......have to admit, I tasted it more than once, and one of my biggest thrills in life was getting a new box of crayons. 

Today, kids have so many choices when it comes to crafts.  I am astounded when I'm in an arts and crafts store and cruise the isles......you could spend a small fortune just impulse buying supplies.  That's why I decided to write this post.  It doesn't have to be expensive........just fun.  The materials can be basic, and for some you can take a walk through your neighborhood to find.

What's most important is giving your child a variety of materials to work with, talking through some ideas with them, and then helping when they need it......the best part of this, is the time you've spent with them........that's what they'll remember!

Materials You Might Need (keep in mind you may use some or all depending on what project(s) you'll be working on):

Glue / Paste

Crayons

Construction Paper

Leaves from your yard

Gumdrops

Tempera Paint (it's water based so washes off easily)

Felt Tip Pin (maybe)

Paper Plates

Pine Cones (put these in a paper bag and microwave for 30-45 seconds to kill any bugs that might be hiding in them!)

Nuts in their shells

Tissue Paper

Glitter (oh this makes it fun!)

Scissors (be sure to choose what's appropriate for your child)

Stapler (maybe)

Fabric scraps

Feathers

Dried Beans or Pasta

Toilet Paper & Paper Towels Tubes 

Toothpicks

 

Construction paper turkey  

Depending on their age, they may be able to do this on their own.  It helps it you make one first, so they have a pattern to follow.  You could substitute the construction paper tail feathers with leaves from your yard, or even feathers if you have some on hand too!

Footprint Turkey

I loved this turkey!  All you need is a piece of construction paper bigger than your child's foot, tempera paint, and fabric scraps (although let your imagination run wild for the tail "feathers").  What an adorable little keepsake.  And wouldn't it be fun if everyone in the family did this!

 Hand print Turkey

Another adorable keepsake creation using your child's hand as the turkey.  They get to draw the legs, eye, beaks, and that flappy thing on top of the turkey's head, and then have them sign it.  Let them choose the color of the tempera paint!  This would make a great welcome sign if you're having guests over, or even a wonderful personalized gift for family members who may not be able to be with you.  Regardless, these are those priceless treasures you'll pull out 20-years from now and remember the time you spent making this with them......and trust me.......it will be one of their treasures when they're grown up too!

Toilet Paper Tube Family

This would make an adorable project and you could include all the members of your family! You cover the toilet paper tubes with construction paper, draw on the features of the face, and as you can see, cut out a few extra details to make your Thanksgiving family complete!  Your kids will love telling everyone who's who in the group!

Here's a variation of the Thanksgiving family idea.  Using construction paper cutouts, create the members of your family and glue them to construction paper.  Label each person's name, and this will no doubt bring lots of laughter as you admire the artwork.

Edible crafts!  Oh yum!  You know the kids of all ages will love making any of

these!  So pick your "poison" or "passion" and create away with wild abandon!  obviously some of these are a little more healthful than others, but the point is, stimulate your child's creativity, let them prove to themselves they can be creative, and then enjoy the results!

 

Who doesn't love gumdrops!  You'll need large and small ones, some toothpicks, and the creative spirit!

                                                                   

 

Apples, Grapes, Popcorn &  Pretzels!  

(Hint--the grapes and popcorn are secured with toothpicks.)

 

 The Turkey Cookies are always a hit, and actually pretty easy to make.  Everything is "glued" together with gel icing!  You'll need Oreo Cookies, Candy Corn, Whoppers, Miniature Reece's Cups & Gel Icing.

Hand Wreath

What I love about this is the personal touch.  If it were me making this, I'd be tracing everybody's hands, and cutting them out to make this wreath.  I mean, after all, Thanksgiving is all about celebrating with your family, so why not!  Besides, having different sizes of hands would make it really interesting.  And, as I was looking at this, I thought, it's great for a door, but also how about putting a candle in the center on your table!  Wouldn't that be awesome.  Throw in a little glitter....this would make a great centerpiece!

Here's an precious idea......create a little memory book.  The one thing I realized after my children were grown, is I had forgotten their tiny little voices, a lot of the cute things they said, and what they thought about things.  That is until I started converting my old movie tapes to DVD's, and going through their creations they made when they were little.  This is a great way to create a remembrance of this year, to be treasured and "oooed & awed" over when their all grown up.  To make the book, fold one sheet of construction paper in half, punch holes on the folded side, then cut pages to fit and punch those with holes.  Secure the pages with ribbon or twine, and let your children decorate the front in whatever way they want, and then fill the pages with things they are grateful for, or funny stories they like to talk about.  Whatever they decide to fill their book with, it will surely be a treasure!

                                                                                                       

Pine Cone Turkeys

If you live in an area with pine trees, then this is the time of year to gather them up.  And, you know they come in every size imaginable.  Just be sure to either bake them in your oven, or put them in a microwave to make sure you didn't bring any uninvited guests in with them!  You can see here  you can use your child's hand cut out of construction paper for the tail feathers, or simple strips of paper, and again.....let your imagination run wild.  There's no right or wrong way to create your turkey!  These would be cute scattered around the dining table, and would certainly start some interesting conversations!

Headbands

Do you honestly know any child that doesn't love to put on a headpiece?  This is a cute example of a headband with a turkey "motif", although the traditional headband is usually the Indian design with one feather.  It's so easy to do too!  Just measure around your child's head and cut your paper a couple inches longer.  I'd advise using a staple to secure the two ends.  Before you staple it though, make sure your child is finished decorating it however they want it to look.

Just have fun......

remember.......

it's the time you spend with 

your children that matters most!