It’s our first Giving Day of Advent 2013! Today, we’ll go online and contribute to the World Wildlife Fund via http://www.wwf.ca.* Our contribution will work to save endangered wildlife across the world, like the white Kermode Bear in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest. On the site, you can make monetary contributions as well as take part […]
Advent is Coming… And, so is our Daily Family Advent Calendar for 2013! While December 1st is the official start of the season, we’ll be starting our Advent festivities a day early! So, join us on Advent Eve November 30th, and Each Day until Christmas for a fabulous Advent TBD which you and your family can carry […]
We’ve turned the corner from tragedy to comedy! It’s time to illustrate the romantic scenes from Shakespeare’s play! I really hope the kids enjoy today’s installment of The Winter’s Tale. I’m quite looking forward to the kids’ illustrations of “TIME” and of our young lovers. [And, Act Four Scene Four is the second longest single […]
Get Ready! Our ADVENT SHADOWBOX 2012 project starts TOMORROW! So what is it? An Advent Calendar is a staple in our house. Last year, I came up with a new way to display our daily activity for the kids: The Advent Shadowbox. Each day in Advent, I post a message in a shadowbox picture frame with an […]
December 25th, 2011 Advent Calendar 2011: A Shadowbox Spectacular: An Introduction to the ProjectAdvent Shadowbox: Day 1, Baking Cookies: Test-Cookies for Santa’s Plate – Chewy Chocolate Chip Toffee Bit Cookies.Advent Shadowbox: Day 2, Daily Bread Food Bank: Our first “Giving Day,” Making Contributions to the Daily Bread Food Bank in two ways.Advent Shadowbox: Day 3, […]
December 24, 2011 28th Day of Advent Christmas Eve ____________________ Christmas Eve Checklist ____________________ □ Make Chocolate Chip Cookies for Santa □ Make Gingerbread Cutouts, too! □ Go to Family Mass □ Indulge in the Feast of the Seven Fishes □ Ice the Bûche de Noël □ Drink Hot Chocolate and Sing the Carols You […]
December 23, 2011 27th Day of Advent 2 Days til Christmas LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! You’ve done a great job reading the adventures! Now grab your 3D glasses! We’ll catch the new TINTIN movie after school! _____________ The kids, especially my daughter, have been reading Tintin comics religiously after school. When they saw the movie […]
December 22, 2011 26th Day of Advent 3 Days ’til Christmas Make Mama’s Famous “Santa Baby” Cookies Ingredients 1 c unsalted butter, softened 1.5 c brown sugar .5 c granulated sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 2 tsp vanilla 2 c all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda .5 tsp salt 1 c oats 2 c semi-sweet […]
December 21, 2011 25th Day of Advent 4 Days til Christmas Lure Santa’s Reindeer and Keep the Dog Quiet Once They Get Here… Elvis Dog & Reindeer Cookies Ingredients 1/3-1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup mashed banana 1 egg 2 teaspoons honey 1 cup whole wheat flour (or pulverized oats) 1/2 cup oats egg whites […]
December 20, 2011 24th Day of Advent 5 Days ’til Christmas Sing Carols To and From Your Christmas Concert! _____________ Today’s Advent Shadowbox Insert: The Shadowbox from afar:
December 19, 2011 23rd Day of Advent 6 Days til Christmas Dear Kids, Last Night, Mama & Papa logged on to Plan Canada (http://www.plancanada.ca). After looking over all of their Gifts of Hope, we purchased a Library in a Box for Haiti in your honour (pictured above). Today, we’ll check out the site together and browse all of the […]
December 17, 2011 21st Day of Advent 8 Days til Christmas WRITE & PERFORM A CHRISTMAS CAROL! _____________________________ Find a Tune You Like Or Invent One of Your Own Add Original Lyrics And Grab a Microphone It`s Our Annual Family Christmas Carol Hootenanny Be Ready With Your Original Tunes! The Gang Meets Tonight At Seven O’clock […]
December 16, 2011 20th Day of Advent 9 Days ’til Christmas Festive After-School Spa Back Rubs, Foot Massages, Elf Hairdos, Santa Beards, and Washable–Marker Holiday Tattoos, Manicures and Pedicures Of Festive Red & Green, And Fireside “Saunas” With Cookies and Cream __________ Today we’ll be breaking out the washable markers and paints to “transform” ourselves into […]
December 15, 2011 19th Day of Advent 10 Days ’til Christmas Rudolph Festival Watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the CBC, Eat Some Festive Snacks, and… Design your own Misfit Toy! __________ This evening, we’ll be snuggling up by the fire to watch a Christmas classic. Mid-way through the film, I’ll break out the gel pens and […]
December 14, 2011 18th Day of Advent 11 Days ’til Christmas Turn an orange into a scented ornament by plunging cloves in festive patterns all over the orange’s rind. Then, wrap it in ribbons and hang it in a doorway or place it on the mantle by the fire. _______________ It wouldn’t be Christmas without […]
December 12th, 2011 16th Day of Advent 13 Days ’til Christmas In honour of your Great Grand Aunt Rose and all of those dear to us who have passed away, have a tree planted near the place where you live now, in your own province. Give to Trees Ontario http://www.treesontario.ca via Canada Helps http://www.canadahelps.org
December 11th, 2011 15th Day of Advent 14 Days ‘til Christmas “CHRISTMASSIFY” YOUR CANNED GOODS REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE CANNED GOODS YOU MADE OVER THE COURSE OF OUR SUMMER OF FUNNER ? ALL THE MUSTARDS AND JELLIES AND PICKLES AND JAMS YOU JARRED, OR “PUT UP,” YOUR GREAT “PLUNDER?” REMEMBER, AS WELL, THOSE TWO BEAUTIFUL PICTURES YOU DESIGNED FOR […]
December 10, 2011 14th Day of Advent 15 Days ’til Christmas Basic Ingredients 2 Cups Flour 1 Cup Table Salt 1 Cup Water Tools and Decor Food Colouring Cookie Cutters Straws Acrylic or Tempera Paints Glitter and Glue Permanent Markers or Fancy Pens Method Combine Flour and Salt in a Bowl Gradually Add Water Let […]
