The Gift of Lights and Self Confidence

Last night we went out for pizza with some friends and then went to The Gift of Lights. We had never been before. It is a park that is loaded with eight million Christmas lights and you drive through in your car. I think the kids really liked it and I really liked how it was a family activity that Sylvia could be buckled in for (I wont even tell you about her at the pizza place.) This morning we went to our MOPS meeting. We got to do a service project. We put together kits for women in a shelter. We then had a speaker on self confidence. I jotted down some tips she gave us for helping our children have confidence...

TIPS

-Tell them your stories and experiences (successes, failures, embarrassing stories, etc.)

-Set a good example

-Enforce rules

-Love unconditionally

-Show affection

-Express your belief in their abilities

-Supply challenging chores

-Teach problem solving

-Establish a safe environment (at home)

The speaker also said that a study was done of 1,700 families that had confident kids and three things were always the same,

1. The children were loved and appreciated.

2. The parents were more strict and disciplining.

3. The parents demanded accountability, responsibility, and self control from their children.

Christmas Comics and Funny Magazine People

This morning I had Luke and Isabel make Christmas comics. I used a piece of poster board and marker to make sections. They then had to draw and write a consecutive Christmas story. By the way, I am just adding the picture to show you how I did it. Obviously I am not a perfectionist and this was a last minute idea. You can have your children use a comic strip format for... -Retelling what they read (book reports)

-A story board for any story ideas they have

-Making up jokes

-For younger children you can illustrate a simple consecutive story, cut it up and have them place it in the correct order.

Luke's had to do with "Super Luke" an abominable snowman and Rudolf. Isabel's was Santa coming down the Chimney and a girl getting a doll for Christmas.

Luke then had to write his spelling words in sentences and Isabel has the colors for her words this week so she had to copy them down in their own color. Did that make sense? Isabel then studied seven more words in sign language and Luke read an article from his Ranger Rick magazine. Luke then had to tell us about what he learned and Isabel taught us her new words.

I then cut out heads and bodies from old magazines and let them glue them together to make funny pictures. I don't really know what that project taught them, but they sure thought it was fun.

We then finished up our coloring of the Twelve Days of Christmas and taped them to the wall. We practiced singing and Isabel and I even made up hand motions for each day. Luke was not so into that and thought we were annoying. They then watched a Bill Nye the Science Guy on Amphibians. Tonight they will do Math with Joey.

Pretzel Yummys by the Vinoldham Company

A big thank you to Liz for her chocolate covered pretzel how to. Yesterday after lunch I tried making them with my kids. I am not very good chef or baker, so when I find something that is easy, not very many ingredients, fun to do with kids and delicious, I am thrilled. Luke and I were the dippers and Isabel decorated. Sylvia was the taster I guess. While we were making them, Luke and Isabel planned out how they would sell their pretzels and make money. Instead of telling them the hard truth, "Your pretzels are very sloppy looking and no one would buy them except for your grandparents out of pity", I told them that for Christmas we would just be making them for fun to give out to friends. They came up with the name, "Pretzel Yummys by the Vinoldham Company." Luke gave a bag full to his friend Aden and Isabel to her friend Morgan.