Nursery Singing Time: DIY streamers

I finally got around to posting the instructions for making these!  You can find it here on the blog I write with my sisters.

Check out my post about the other things I do for Nursery singing time.

Handmade Christmas

When I was growing up, my family gave homemade gifts to each other every Christmas.  We each drew a name so we only had one gift to make.  With 6 kids I'm sure that's all my parents could handle.  My mom would help us with the crafty/sewing while my dad helped with any woodworking.  I have some really great memories of those homemade gifts both given and received.  My family still puts an emphasis on homemade in our gift exchange.  And I've tried to do the same in my own family. 

I only have 3 kids, so this year I decided that it might be nice to have each of them make something for both their siblings.  We'll see how it goes!  And I might make something for each of them, I haven't decided.  My oldest son has already decided what he wants to give his brother and sister and my second son has a few ideas as well.  I guess I'll end up deciding for my daughter, and probably making hers as well.  Unless someone out there has a great, useful gift that a 3-year-old can make!

As I've been browsing around the internet I've come across a few fun ideas for homemade gifts.  Not sure if I'll use any of these, but maybe you will!

• Design Mom on sibling gifts: has links to past gifts
• Felt Food (so cute!)
• Cozy pillow case
• Braided headbands
• Tin can knitting: either a gift or use to make gifts!

I'll post what my kids are doing for their gifts later on.  Since they don't read my blog, it won't spoil anything if I post before Christmas.

How does your family exchange gifts?  I'd love to hear about any cute homemade gift ideas you have!

Baking Bread

Math, science, home ec, and PE with a little history and religion. Tasty!

 

Nursery Singing Time

I am the music leader for the primary (children's group) at our church.  That means every Sunday you will find me doing all kinds of crazy things to help the children learn the gospel through music.  A few months ago, my primary president asked if I could also go into the nursery (children 18 mos to 3 years) and teach them as well.  I was more than willing as my daughter is in that class and I know how much she loves music.  I will admit that I was apprehensive because is seemed a bit overwhelming to add that to my already busy schedule.  So of course I turned to the internet for help.  I took most of my ideas from here and here then modified them for my situation.  Here's what I do....

Science!

This spider built a web right outside our kitchen window this morning.  So for science today we observed it catching and consuming bugs.  Awesome.

Number Three

I just heard from a friend today that she is expecting! So exciting! Her story is very similar to mine, and it got me thinking and remembering the path it's been to get our family where it is today. Two boys, two years apart. Three years later I lost one at 12 weeks, and when I finally got pregnant after trying for three more years I was so afraid I would lose that one as well. I had so many ultrasounds just to make sure she was fine. It wasn't until the first trimester was over that I finally felt safe enough to admit to myself that I really was pregnant without making 'just in case' plans. It was probably my hardest pregnancy. But we got her here safely, and I'm so happy to have her! All of them! Truly, my cup runneth over.


Feeling blessed...

Blueberry Nectarine Freezer Jam

It's blueberry season!  I never really appreciated how good blueberries are until we moved to NJ.  The blueberries I buy here are FRESH!  Unlike the blueberries you get in UT that have been shipped across the country, probably from NJ.  And you can't beat it when they go on sale 6 pints for $7.  So what do I do with all those blueberries, other than eating them like popcorn?  Homemade jam, of course!  My favorite is the blueberry butter recipe from my Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, but today I thought I'd try an easy freezer jam recipe that caught my eye from the same book.  One tip, measure the fruit after crushing/chopping.  Happy preserving!

Blueberry Nectarine Freezer Jam
1 cup crushed blueberries
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 pouch (1.59 oz) freezer jam pectin
3 cups finely chopped pitted peeled nectarines
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp lemon juice

1.  In a glass pie plate, heat blueberries in a microwave oven on high, stopping the microwave several times to stir and crush the berries, until the mixture reaches a boil, about 2 minutes.
2.  In a medium bowl, combine sugar and pectin, stirring until well blended.  Add blueberries, nectarines and lemon zest and juice.  Stir for 3 minutes.
3.  Ladle jam into plastic or glass freezer jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Apply lids tightly.  Let jam stand at room temperature until thickened, about 30 minutes.  Serve immediately, if desired.  For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

Aren't they beautiful?