Huge Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Welcome to the Huge Holiday Gift Giving Guide!!! 

Are you dreading all of the noisy gifts that your children get for Christmas or Hanukkah? Do noisy toys drive you nuts? Do you feel that toys that require batteries have less educational value than a toy that is more open ended and imaginative? Then please check out this list!!

I am a mother of five children with sixteen years experience in parenting, My oldest is a sixteen year old girl, my second born child is a 14 year old boy with ASD, ADHD, and severe learning disability, my third born child has mild aspergers syndrome, my fourth and fifth children are 4 year old fraternal twin boys. I have also been the owner/operator for a parenting message board and chat room that ran for 11 years, and have organized 3 local playgroups over the years.  I have been celebrating Christmas as a Mom for 16 years. I know what it is like for your child to receive a slew of cute but VERY NOISY gifts! The toys just don't hold much play value. They become old hat after a while. They look cute and they sound like a great idea, but they really just end up at the bottom of the toybox after a few days or weeks.(if you're lucky) By purchasing open ended, smart, educational toys you will see a world of difference in your child's playtime. In the link you will be able to view amazing toys that will awe and inspire your children. If you do not find everything that you are looking for, the list you are about to click on has over 1000 awesome toys linked to it. If you are looking for something in particular that you do not see on this big list, or have questions on a toy... please feel free to email me twinsrock@cfl.rr.com


See the list HERE

 

  <a href="http://graham-and-parker.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r506/creativeplayhouse/giftguide.jpg" border="0" alt="square" /></a>

*Huge Holiday Gift Guide Participants List* 

•  Fun Gifts Beyond Toys by No Twiddle Twaddle 
•  Book + Toy Companion Gifts by What Do We Do All Day?
• Best Art Supplies for Kids by To Train Up a Child 
• Gifts to Inspire the Imagination by The Pleasantest Thing 
• Gifts for Your Backyard Explorer/ Gifts for Your Animal Lover by Blog Me Mom 
•  Educational Games by True Aim Education
• Basic/Traditional Toys by Creative Playhouse 
•  Therapeutic and Fun Gift Ideas for Child Development by Creative Learning Fun
• Top Toys for Babies by B-InspiredMama 
•  Top Toys for Curious Kids by KC Edventures
• Educational/ Headache Free Toys for Christmas and Hanukkah by CAUTION! Twins at Play
• 4 Gift Ideas for Everyone: Want, Wear, Need, and Read by Home Learning Journey 
• Gifts that Inspire Pretend Play by Connecting Family and Seoul 
•  My Favorite Books and Toys for Preschoolers by Mama Miss 
•  Educational Toys for Preschoolers by The Freckled Homeschooler
• Montessori Inspired Toys by Smiling Like Sunshine 
•  Gift Ideas for Older Kids (9-12) by Kitchen Counter Chronicles 
•  Toys for the Classroom by Teach Preschool 
•  Gift Ideas for Budding Readers by Mom 2 to Posh Lil Dives
• Stocking Stuffers: A Teacher's Top 10 by Kindergarten and Preschool for Parents & Teachers 
•  Book Ideas for Everyone on Your List by Pragmatic Mom 
•  Toys that Stand the Test of Time by Mamas Like Me 
•  Top Board Games for Kids and Families by Coffee Cups and Crayons 
•  Home Made Gifts Children Can Make by How to Run a Home Daycare

Reggio Fridays

 Welcome to Reggio Fridays!

I hope you will join us each Friday and post your Reggio Emilia inspired play and learning blog posts!!! 


SEE THE LATEST REGGIO FRIDAYS  HERE

Here is a little sneak peek into our next playroom/bedroom update post!! 

These are evening pics, so you get to see some our fun lights!!

Don't forget to add your links in the linky below!!

Kids co-op November 29- December 6

Rainbow rice and artsy toys

Here are some fun things Graham and Parker did in the past few days!

sorting by shape, not color on the mirror table

pattern blocks

Rainbow rice, a toy dump truck, and some little cups!

To make rainbow rice, just use uncooked white rice, 3-5 drops of food coloring and 5-6 drops of rubbing alcohol. Mix well in plastic ziploc bags, then lay out flat on a cookie sheet in rows of color. Then heat in oven for about 20 minutes on the lowest oven setting. After it cools, you can put it in a container to play with! You can do the same with pasta or pumpkin seeds!

We had to get out the floor play tray to contain any accidental rice spillage

Graham loves stamping or quiet art time before bed  (Parker was watching team umizoomi)

our rainbow rice as it landed in the container

our rainbow rice after mixing!

Dexter, that naughty Elf

Here are a few things I have caught Dexter doing lately........

Tobogganing with candy canes on the light table in the pond from the frog pond game

Trying to decorate a tiny tree with fake lights and using the light table for illumination

Taking a whild ride in the Barbie jeep with Jesse from Toy Story

Playing Haley's guitar and impersonating Axl Rose

Dressed as a Rockette and gambling in his very own home made casino with a
Frog who was also dressed as a Rockette

Trying to build his own Castle with Magna Tiles

Taking Santa and a Polar Bear hostage with the help of Jesse from Toy Story

Taking the place of Bot and riding along with Team Umizoomi

Photo bombing The Scooby gang when they were posing for a group photo

That Dexter, he sure is naughty!!

Reggio Fridays

Welcome to Reggio Fridays! Please feel free to add your Reggio Inspired blog post links!! 

 I hope you will join us each Friday and post your Reggio Emilia inspired play and learning blog posts!!! 


SEE THE LATEST REGGIO FRIDAYS  HERE

  

Check out my Pinterest too!

Scroll down a little to find the linky!

Kids co-op November 22-29

Our Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are links and notes to what I made today for Thanksgiving Dinner.  I decided to go out on a limb and go mostly food network style with the recipes.



green bean casserole  (used fresh green beans)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/green-bean-casserole-recipe/index.html
with panko bread crumbs (no french fried onions)  and minus the onions and mushrooms

sweet potato souffle  (used fresh sweet potatoes)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/aunt-peggys-sweet-potato-souffle-recipe/index.html

cranberry sauce   (used fresh cranberries)

http://graham-and-parker.blogspot.com/2011/11/pumpkins-and-cranberries.html

with 2 cinnamon sticks while cooking, removed when done.

hashbrown casserole
http://southern.food.com/recipe/cracker-barrels-hashbrowns-casserole-copycat-15242


mashed potatoes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/velvety-mashed-potatoes-recipe/index.html

rolls
 parker house rolls with orange, rosemary butter glaze  (i used a package of Sister Schubert's)


bread stuffing with sage
http://www.marthastewart.com/343465/bread-stuffing-with-sage


cinnamon roll dutch apple pie
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/cinnamon-roll-dutch-apple-pie/28ab433c-eac9-462d-9848-4903260e6821/    and cool whip for on top


Turkey brine and cooking   (I used my own selective combo of the two)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/my-favorite-turkey-brine-recipe/index.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/roasted-thanksgiving-turkey-recipe/index.html

Artsy Play Wednesday

I am excited to be co-hosting Artsy Play Wednesday with Theresa at Capri +3!




This week our artsy play is with magna tiles. Graham and Parker have been making a lot of very fancy buildings with their magna tiles. See the beautiful half circle domes on the sides... I love how magna tiles can be made into so many things. Check out our magna tile board on Pinterest by clicking HERE