Friday, November 30, 2012

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





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*Huge Holiday Gift Guide Participants List* 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

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

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

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!!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

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!












TBA's Ultimate Linky Party

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

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Artsy Play Wednesday

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


 Artsy Play Wednesday with Capri +3 and Caution! Twins at Play


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







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