ASL word of the day...FROG

R.J. is showing you how to sign the word FROG

frog  n. A small leaping animal with hairless skin webbed feet, living in water or land: a green frog near the pond.

Beginning with the index-finger side of the right S hand against the chin, palm facing left, flick the index and middle fingers outward to the left with a double movement

Let your kids pretend to be frogs. 

Have them squat down with their arms straight out in front of them. Then have them jump forward raising their arms high into the air before returning to a squatting postiion.

Have them jump fast and then slow , do a certain number of jumps, do big and little frog jumps,

Stuffed Pumpkin Decor

Autumn...
the reprieve
from Summer









Wow, it's October already! Is it time to add some new decor items to your home? One of my favorite things are these stuffed pumpkins. The best thing is that they are soft, don't break and the  kids can't hurt them or your furniture if they happen to be tossed around.

Renee's Stuffed Pumpkins

Supplies needed:

• 9 x 16 inch fall colored cotton
• fiberfill stuffing
• twig
• needle, thread & DMC Floss

Directions:
Start with a 9 x 16" piece of cotton fabric. With right sides together fold in half and sew up the 9" side to make a tube. Using needle and thread (I prefer button thread) sew a gathering stitch around bottom edge, pull tight and knot off. Stuff with fiberfill. Sew gathering stitch around top, insert twig and pull tight enclosing the twig, knot off. You can add a dab of glue the top of pumpkin to help hold twig in. Wrap around the pumpkin with DMC floss to give it a indent. tie off. Tie some raffia to the twig and your finished.

Don't Sew? Order these on my fall decor page.

Bear Tales...Autumn Song

Autumn Song
Elizabeth Ellen Long

These are the days of fallen leaves,
The days of hazy weather,
Smelling of gold chrysanthemums
And gray wood-smoke together

These are the nights of nearby stars,
The nights of closer moons,
When the windy darkness echoes
To crickets' farewell tunes.

*** FYI***
The teddy bear was designed in 1902 in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt
By 1906, in the USA, the teddy bear craze was in full swing. Society ladies and children carried their bears everywhere. Today, more than ever as we travel through life's uncertain  journey, we certainly need the TEDDY  BEARS gift of unconditional love and acceptance more than ever!

Join me every Wednesday for the " Bear Tales"  favorite children poem time

The "Bear Tale" bears are available on my website. They are 12" soft jointed plush bears (burton and burton)
Available in Tan and White.

Autumn Apple Bread

Autumn means
Crisp Apples,
Cooler days,
Colorful Foliage
Homecoming,
Football,Sweaters,
Freshly baked and
more family time!

debbie mumm friendship doll

Our days are getting cooler and that's when I want to bake. 
This is a great recipe to use in the fall when apples are everywhere

APPLE BREAD...

**To make this bread healthier use the items in ( )
 Beat together:
3/4 cup vegetable oil (canola oil)
1 cup brown sugar (or splenda brown sugar)
2 eggs

Stir in:
1 1/2 cup chopped, unpeeled apples
1/4 cup chopped walnuts.
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Mix together:
1 1/2 cup white flour (Whole Wheat)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda

Add to apple mixture. Do not overmix
Pour into a 9 x 5 loaf pan
For a nice way to finish it off. Add cinnamon sugar to the top before baking. 
Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes

• Family Learning Tip
  

While preparing the apples for the recipe, use this time to have the kids learn something new. 

• Hold up the apple 
• Have everyone guess how many seeds can be found inside. 
• Cut the apple open and count the seeds. Did any one guess right?
• Do it again with another apple & see if the seed count is the same. 

Now your ready to cut up the apple and finish the bread. Smell how yummy it is!

Autumn Bubble Time

   Jeanne and Kayleigh enjoying the outdoors making BUBBLES.
Autumn is a fantastic time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. The days are not too hot and are perfect for having some fun bubble time.

• Pour 3 cups of water into a  mixing bowl
• Add 1 cup of dish washing detergent
• add 3/8 cup corn syrup
• Mix well
• Let mixture stand for 3-5 hours (make it in the morning for a fun afternoon activity)
• Pour the bubble mixture into a cake pan or other shallow container. 
• Dip a bubble maker into the mix and blow or wave it around to make bubbles

You can use these different items for bubble blowers. Bend an old wire hanger to make a large wand, berry baskets make small bubbles, funnels, chenille stems can be twisted and in the picture we used an old badminton racket.

FYI...Worlds longest bubble? David Stein holds the official Guinness Book of records.
His bubble was 50 feet x 2 feet diameter.  Now that is Big!

FROG

Fun decorating idea:

Have your children make

hand prints on the wall 

and then paint stems and leaves

to make flowers. 

These hand prints are

Jonathan, Kayleigh, and 

Jessica's in Grandmas playroom.

  Two frogs fell into a deep bowl,
One was an optimistic soul,
but the other took the gloomy view.

We shall drown, and he cried adieu...
so with a last despairing cry,
He flung up his legs and said good bye
the other frog quoted with a merry grin,
I can't get out but I won't give in.

I will swim around till my strength is spent
then I will die the more content.
Bravely he swam till it would seem,
His struggles began to churn the cream

On top of the butter at last he stopped,
and out of the bowl he gaily hopped
What is the moral, 'Tis easily found
if you can't hop out...learn to swim around!

When life gets crazy remember to F R O G
(fully rely on God), Keep a happy attitude and
things will get better.
Smile and have a great day!

Apple Printing

Decorate a muslin or canvas bag with apple prints. These bags are perfect for going on that  hike and collecting your fall items. This is really fun project that the kids love doing.You can make pictures on construction paper as well. 

Cut some apples in half. Do some vertically and others horizontally. This way the kids can see the hidden star. Pour some red or green tempera paint into a paper plate. ( buy your tempera paint at a independent craft store in your neighborhood) Dip the sponge into the paint and dab the apple. Gently press the apple onto the fabric bags or paper.

 Kayleigh and Jonathan are having lots of fun
making their Fall Collection bags  
(can't find bags to buy? You can order them on my website) 

Make sure to cover your work area with paper or plastic. This can be a messy activity. Which  I am sure that is why Jonathan and Kayleigh enjoyed it so much. When they were finished painting the bags, they decided to paint the apples and themselves. Good thing that they wash up well!