Create your own Christmas cards

Materials:

• Red craft paper
• Glue stick
• Plain notecard or card stock

• Tempera paints
• Paper plates
• Googly eyes

 

Instructions:

1. Cut Santa-hat shapes (minus the pom-poms and white trim) from the craft paper, then glue one onto each card. Glue a pair of googly eyes a fingertip's width below each hat.
   
2. Pour white tempera paint onto one paper plate, and a dollop each of red, black, and pink (mix some red and white) onto another. Stamp white handprint beards, then use fingertips to stamp the trim on the hats, and a nose, mouth, and cheeks on each face.
   

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-cards/crafty-christmas-cards/handprint-santa-673633/

Stress

We all deal with stress in our lives, including our babies. They are not as able as we are though to verbally communicate that they are currently experiencing stress, so below is some tips of how to recognize the signs.

Stressed signs you may observe when your baby is upset:

Your baby may be crying or scowling.
May gag, gasp, or pause in her breathing.
You may see her hiccough more, spit up or vomit. Watch for little tremors, startles or twitches.
Instead of watching you she may turn her head away.
The skin may become pale, dusky, or mottled.
Instead of happy sounds you will hear crying, groaning, or some kind of protest sounds.
You may want to use a chart or outline and write down what you observe.
It is important to take time to observe your baby and learn how she reacts at different times throughout the day. This will help you understand her better and also enjoy her more.

Remember, a happy baby usually means a happy mommy too!

This has been adapted from the Welcome Baby Handout.

Fun Cold Weather Indoor Activities

Trapped inside due to the of cold weather and snow, ? Just plain bored? It's probably driving your little ones nuts, and chances are it's draining your sanity as well. You've already tried television and exhausted your supply of toys. Here are some ideas for activities to help you stop the indoor insanity.

littleocean.blogspot.com

• Indoor camping and picnic- have fun with your kids pretending to camp out indoor.Don't have a tent? A rigged-up sheet will do just as well. Surround the tent with stuffed animals, and then eat lunch while sitting on the carpet. If you're feeling especially ambitious, you can also cuddle in front of the fireplace and make s'mores.

• Shoe box Relay-
  

• Supplies: Tootsie Rolls (1 for each child) Shoe box for each team Bell for each team 2 mittens for each team 2 bowls for each team Place tootsie rolls, in a bowl, at the opposite end of the room. Hang a bell, from the ceiling, over the tootsie roll bowl.
• How To Play: Divide the children into two or more relay teams. Explain that when you say, "GO" the first person on each team will put on the mittens, step into the shoe boxes and race to the other end of the room where they will ring the bell with their nose. They are then to pick up a tootsie roll out of the bowl and race back to their team still wearing their mittens and shoe boxes. Pass the mittens and shoe box to the next person in line, sit down, eat your tootsie roll. The first team to finish eating their tootsie rolls wins!  

For more fun Indoor activity check out this great website http://party.kaboose.com/seasonal/winter/winter-party.html