Emersyn

Last night I took my Emersyn, age 6, out for a photo shoot.  We had such a fun time!  Here are just a few pictures.  More to come soon!

Simple Handprint Snowman Keepsake Ornament

I wanted to come up with a super cute, yet cost effective, keepsake ornament that my preschoolers could give to their parents for Christmas. This would also be a cherished gift for grandparents.

Supplies Needed:

Clear plastic ornaments (I found a 4 pack at Michael's for $2.50)
Silver Tinsel
White acrylic paint
sponge paint brush
paint markers in black, orange, and other assorted colors for the scarfs (I used the Sharpie brand)
spray sealer
ribbon
poem


Step 1: Wash and thoroughly dry child's hand. Use the sponge paint brush to apply a good amount of the white paint to child's palm and fingers.

Step 2: Set the ornament on the child's palm and have him close his fingers around the sides of the ornament. Allow the ornament to dry.

Step 3: Fill the ornament with tinsel.

Step 4: Using the paint markers, add detail to the snowmen. I did a face and buttons on every snowman, and added a top hat and scarf to every other snowman. Allow to dry.

Step 5: Spray a coat of clear sealer on the ornament and allow to dry overnight.

Step 6: Attach a copy of the following poem to the ornament with a ribbon:

Five Little Snowmen all in a line,
They might look familiar because the handprint is mine.
Snowmen will melt cause they're just made of snow,
Cherish this handprint because I will grow!

Have the child add his name and the year on the bottom of the tag.

That's it! A fabulous keepsake any parent or grandparent would love!














School Work Binders

This is a super simple way to keep the school work clutter under control! At the beginning of each year I fill a large binder full of page protectors. When Jaxson brings home papers that we want to add to his binder we just toss it in. I've heard a lot of people say that they take pictures of art projects, toss the actual project and just keep the picture, but we like to have the original. We just fold those up and slip them in a protector as well.

I attach a picture of him on the first day of school to some cardstock and I have him write his name. I love seeing how his handwriting improves each year! Then I write the year on a slip of cardstock and put it in the side pocket and wahlah! A cherished keepsake.

Outings

Spending one-on-one time with my children is very important to me. So at the beginning of every month I pick a day and write it in my calendar. Most of the time these outings are fairly short and low cost. This month Jaxson and I went to Barnes & Noble, got Italian Sodas to sip on, and sat in the cafe area and played a card game that he has been learning. Cost: under $4. Time spent with my child: Priceless!