The First Week of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. We went to Mass this morning and the girls really enjoyed seeing the beautiful purple incorporated into the garments and altar as well as watching as the first candle of the Advent Wreath was lit. We will also light the first candle on our wreath each night this week at dinner time.

We've been talking all week about making some sort of Advent Calendar. Annette at Seasons of Joy inspired us to incorporate stars into our calendar and this is what we came up with.... originally I was thinking of doves.
We are calling it our 'Advent Spiral Calendar' and we just love it :) Each day we will add the star that is associated with that day until we reach our center and can place the Christmas Star on as God's light comes into our world.

Here is our nature table with our calendar above it - waiting for it's first star...

"The first light of Advent is the light of stones. Stones that live in crystals, seashells and bones..."

We change our table display weekly depending on the verse. This week we found all of the beautfiul stones, crystals, rocks and seashells we have in our collection - we again were inspired by Annette's idea to start Mary & Joseph far away from the manger and made a path of the stars that we will hang on our calendar. Each day, we will add a star and move Mary & Joseph closer and closer....

Here are some photos of the process:

Stamping each star with the appropriate number...

Daddy helping with the brads and drilling the stars...

A perfect little box Daddy made for us to keep our stars in... he also made one for candy - the girls can have a small candy each day when they add a star...

Painting the board...

Setting things up... hmmmmm look at those sneaky little fingers I caught when taking this picture LOL!

Blessings to You & Your Family!

xoxo

Pinecone Turkeys

This past week we made pinecone turkeys to celebrate Thansgiving.

We started with a pincone, hot glued an acorn on the front for the turkey's face, added feathers to the back with glue and a red gobble with construction paper.

They came out super cute.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving... today is the first Sunday of Advent... we will show you what we've been working on in a post later (its really cool).... Enjoy!

Crafting

Here is what I've been working on in my free time (ha!)....

Ok this damn sweater has been in the works since before Brianna was born... but it took me so long that by the time Bree was ready to wear it it was too small! So I had to frog the whole thing and start over - this time I did the largest child's size in the pattern so we're not really sure who it will fit. I have a sleeve to go and then finishing.
This is a peace dove ornament from last year's winter issue of Living Crafts. We started them in waldorf playgroup but I never sat to finish. I added wool stuffing and lavender.

Indian Corn Paintings

This week in my November Childcare Guide we worked on Indian Corn paintings :) The kids love painting and this added a fun twist to it so they really enjoyed the activity. During circle time this week we are also enjoying new Thanksgiving fingerplays from my guide and we are talking about what we are thankful for. Some responses were ... "my baby brother"... "my grandma"..."chocolate"..."food"... this coming from children all under the age of 4... amazing :)

At the last minute, I decided it would be really pretty to use the paintings as feathers for turkeys... so this is what we spent our morning making ....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Banquet

Dee and her good friend at her field hockey banquet this month. Dee is trying to keep up her skills until next season by playing indoor league. Apparently, the rules are very different but Dee is picking up on them quickly and got a lot of compliments from the coaches last week. I think she found her sport! I'm so proud of her. I'm so glad Brian and I have been able to be a part of all of her experiences right there on the sidelines always watching her success as well as her amazing strength during the tough times in her life. Go Dee.

Martinmas

On November 11th we celebrate The Feast of St. Martin, otherwise known as Martinmas. St. Martin was said to be a man of peace and generosity. He did not want to fight but obeyed the law and served in the military as he was required to. He took the earnings he made as a solider and gave it to needy families. One story tells of how he cut his own cloak in half to warm a homeless beggar on the stree who was Christ in disguise. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of soliders.

In America, we also celebrate Veteran's Day this week. Let us take this time to allow the Spirit of Saint Martin to fill us with thoughts of peace, love and gratitude for soldiers of past and present wars.

Charity Idea in St. Martin's Honor:

This week gather food and items to donate to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen in your area. If you are a childcare provider you can ask parents to donate clothes or cannded goods that you will deliver yourself. Older children can go with you to deliver the items or you can serve or cook at a local soup kitchen.

It is traditional in Waldorf circles to hold a lantern walk in celebration of Martinmas. Last week we made beautiful lanterns that we will use.

Keira's Third Grade Mass

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In third grade, the students at Keira's school choose a Saint that they would like to represent and then the children dress up as their Saint, lead the Friday morning mass and say a short speech on their chosen person. Keira chose Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. She did such an amazing job standing up and speaking - we were all so proud of her!

I used the video feature on my camera so its not the best quality...

i

Riona's 3rd Birthday

The Big Tree Whispered a Secret Sweet
To the Warm Grass Growing at his Feet;
And What Do You Think I Heard Him Say?
"Riona is Three Years Old Today!"

The Soft Grass Stirred As The Wind Went By

And Each Little Blade Took Up The Cry

And Told The Secret, I Grieve, To Say

"Riona is Three Years Old Today!"

The Clover Listened and Told The Bee

Who Told The Bird in the Maple Tree,

And The Robin Sang, In a Shameless Way -

"Riona is Three Years Old Today!"

And This is the way It Came to Me

Through Bee and Blossom and Bird and Tree;

So, Why Should I Keep the Secret, Pray?

"RIONA IS THREE YEARS OLD TODAY!!!!!!!"

Happy Halloween from Little Acorn Learning!

On Friday we had our Halloween Party at Little Acorn! Such a cute bunch of kids!

We painted pumpkins and decorated cookies (thanks again to Lilah's mommy for the YUMMY homebaked cookies and icing)

Delicious!

I didnt get as many photos as I had wished - it was really busy here without my assistant on Friday - luckily Scott's mom came and helped out quite a bit. Thanks, Sherilyn!

Happy Halloween! Hope you all had a great night!

Glow Lanterns

On Thursday we made Glow Lanterns by painting a milk/juice carton and then cutting pretty shapes and designs in the carton. A glow stick can be placed inside for a safe lantern walk this time of year :)