Snow Fun!

This December we have had a ton of snow and it has been crazy cold. Last week was the first time that Ally got to go and play outside. She and I had a blast! We made snow angels, a snow couch and pretended to be bears. Unfortunately I have misplaced my really good pair of snow pants that I was given last year....stupid move!

A Little More

Here is Ally working on some Gingerbread Men and making some Reindeer Food on 'our' Christmas Eve. We started celebrating our Christmas on the 23 of December. I started this because I wanted to do our own family celebration but not take away from our extended family get togethers. Ally is just getting Santa this year and it is so exciting for me. I have tried really hard to make the magic happen for Ally. I think I have laid a good foundation this year and next it will be so amazing. Ally will truly get Christmas and I will be able to explain some of the meaning behind it too.

More Crafts

Here are pictuers of more of our crafts. We didn't end up doing a craft a day but we did enough that Ally wakes up and asks,"What are we doing today?" or "Can we do a craft today?" I love how interested she is and it has become our special time.

Christmas Tree or Spider

Ally loved this craft. I planned for the craft to be a tree but Ally decided it was a spider. She has never threaded beads before and I was quite amazed at her dexterity. She had no problems!

Tinfoil Stars

Finished result

Ally working on her start

Today we did Tinfoil Stars. Cut out a cardboard star and cover with tinfoil, then take markers and color! Permanent Markers work the best but for a toddler washable markers are great, just don't touch because the color will come off. For an advance technique take a black marker and draw lines to make a stained glass technique.

Christmas Crafts

Mixing

The finished result

Zoe is helping too

Ally stirring.

This year I found this blog and it has inspired me to do Christmas crafts with Ally. I highly reccomend the blog the writer is amazing and so creative. I took ideas from the blog and then scoured the internet for more ideas. I made a plan to do a craft every day and then ran to Wal-Mart to get supplies.

Here is our first craft and I got the idea from an online friend. Thanks, Steph!

We made Apple Sauce Ornaments, they are easy and fun. Take 1/2 cup Apple sauce, 1/2 cup of cinnamon and 1 tbsp of white glue. Mix it all together. The form into shapes for an ornament. Try to make the shape really thick. Then place on tinfoil and let dry for a couple days.

Presents

Here is Zoe opening presents and enjoying her party. She really had a blast and loves all the wonderful gifts. Thanks!

Cake Time!

Waiting for cake and wondering why everyone is crowding around.

Yum!

Want some?

Zoe's Birthday

Here is Zoe opening a present first thing in the morning from her Uncle Pat, Aunt Alicia and cousins Kaya and Adlai. They came Friday night for a visit but couldn't stay for the party.

Zoe reading her card

Voila! The cake! Alicia and I stayed up until midnight decorating the cakes. I am very proud of the work we did.

I cleaned for days, baked and did my best to get everything ready for Zoe's birthday well before hand. Here are the pictures from her 1st Birthday, which I must add was a success!