Christmas Ornament Made of Dough

This is what my daughter did in her art class for Christmas  this year.

The hand shape is made of dough.  They also made this elf art with their faces on it   with the help of their  class teacher.

Every year, we have an ornament added to our tree.  It is so nice to  see their  art work being displayed in our tree.  Last year, they made a porcelain  tree ornament, it was gorgeous as well.  I wonder what they are going to make next year.  The art teacher in their school is very creative.  She has so many crafty ideas for every occasion..

My First Bike: Pushing Off

So your child has caught the bug and now wants to learn how to ride a bike, or it is something you’ve always wanted to teach as a parent and have finally decided to take the first step. Whatever your reason for buying a bike, there are some important tips to making sure that you get the right type of bicycle for your child.

Size

Many parents might think in terms of the rule of thumb as it is with most children’s things; buy it a little big and your child will grow into it. This is not the case with bikes, as a bicycle that is too big or small can be dangerous to the child. Children’s bikes are measured by wheel diameter, ranging from 12 to 24 inches.

A good test for the size of the bike is that your child should be able to place the balls of both feet on the ground while sitting on the bike. They should also be able to grab the handlebars comfortably without lifting their bum off the seat.

Substance over Style

Flashy bicycles with rainbow streamers and multicoloured designs may look attractive to your young children, but they can be distracting, and prevent the child from concentrating on important things such as pedaling and balance when trying to teach your child how to ride.

Opt for a plainer bike that is colourful, but not flashy, and encourage your child to ride by telling them that they can kit it out with accessories as they get better at riding.

Solid, yet Adjustable

It can be easy to get caught up in providing the best, most expensive, seven geared bike for your child but it is important to remember that they have never done this before. Buying several features for your child could be a big waste of money, and it could also lead to your child injuring themselves.

Instead choose solid bikes that have adjustable seats for comfort and growing space and safety features such as coaster brakes, for added security. Younger children find squeezing the handlebars as a form of braking quite difficult to remember, so coaster brakes or ‘back braking’ are a lot more efficient in the early days of riding a bike.

Safety Accessories!

While the name sounds a bit tacky, it is important to make sure your child has all the right safety accessories before they begin to ride a bike for the first time. The most obvious choice is the bike helmet, make sure that it is not too big and that the chin strap fits comfortably under the child’s chin. Training wheels are helpful for first time riders as they give a bit of freedom and security to the child.

It might also be useful to invest in some Velcro trainers for your child, as the laces can get undone and can get tangled up in the spokes of the wheel.

If in doubt you can always speak to an expert on how to give your child the proper support when they eventually start riding. And there are plenty of how-to video guides on the internet!

About the Author

Kate Richards is a proud parent who has contributed this post on behalf of Summit Different, the online store for unusual and unique cycle jerseys

Infatuation at an Early Age

Sometimes I find it amusing and very alarming at the same time when my  son  tells me about his crush in school.  Really?  At  the age of 6,  he has a crush already?  He is so fond of her  classmate C and  I always  see them  together for every event.  The pictures below clearly shows how they are like magnets  to each other.

C is such a sweet girl, she always smiles at me every time I am at school.  I hope that this infatuation will remain  just like that for now lol. I remember in my days, I did not have a crush on someone till I was in High School.  Kids these days are so advanced in everything, don't you think?

Fun Holiday-Themed Projects for Kids

Holiday season approaches and with it, winter break for your children.

The time out of school allows time for family visits and a lot of holiday fun but it also invites boredom. Keeping the kids entertained and letting them help decorate for the season will make everyone happy.

Surfing the internet will reward you with several websites offering free holiday templates and coloring pages. The templates come in handy when cutting shapes and even if you chose not to use any, ideas will begin stirring.

Supplies

You will need:

· A printer

· Ink and Brother toner

· Safety scissors

· Glue

· Crayons (paint, colored pencils or chalk)

· Construction paper and card stock

· Empty toilet paper rolls

· Sparkles

Paper Cutout Figures

You will find a variety of crafting ideas to help keep your children happy and fill your house with Thanksgiving cheer.

Thanksgiving paper dolls make great wall and refrigerator decorations. Print your templates for a Native American boy, turkeys and pilgrims with your choice of full-size or smaller.

Print out the various body parts and color where needed. You also have a choice of color or black and white templates. Next, cut out the parts, carefully, and glue them together to make a holiday paper decoration.

You can attach magnetic strips to the backs of the figures for hanging on the refrigerator (optional).

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

Empty toilet paper rolls make crafts that look three-dimensional and can stand-up on their own. Find the picture you like or a template on a website that offers free printouts. You can even search your own picture files to make figures everyone recognizes. Size your picture appropriately before printing so the body does not extend below the end of the toilet paper roll.

Print your pictures and cut them out carefully. Glue the body and other parts on the empty roll and let it dry.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Get the kids involved in Thanksgiving dinner by making name cards to place around the table. Make it fun for everyone by adding a picture of the person, a picture of his or her favorite food or anything your imagination comes up with.

Using the card stock, print the diner's name and picture on the card stock in any font desired. Or, have the kids print guest's names on a piece of paper and scan them into your pictures for printing on the place cards.

The place cards can go on empty toilet paper rolls or folded into traditional triangles and set out so guests know where they will sit.

Christmas Cards

Send home made Christmas greetings this year. With computer technology, your children can make studio quality cards that feature pictures of the entire family and quick notes inside to wish all the season's best.

This project can drain your ink and toner so have extra around so the whole mailing list gets a card. With homemade cards, each card will hold unique messages and pictures that everyone will appreciate.

Christmas Countdown Calendar

This project will last through the Christmas season. The free template comes with countdown numbers and activity cards. The activities include writing a letter to Santa Claus, awarding the best-decorated house in the neighborhood and donating a toy to the needy.

Print out the calendar, countdown cards and activity cards from the link. Carefully cut them out and countdown to Christmas morning.

3-D Christmas Tree

For this project, you need more empty toilet paper rolls, buttons, sparkles and other small shapes to decorate the finished trees. You can leave out the small items if you are working with kids under three.

Print out the free templates and cut along the dotted lines of the pyramid shapes. Fold as shown in the instructions, insert the empty toilet paper roll and decorate as many of these little trees as you want around the house.

Paper Poinsettias

Make bouquets to fill your house with Christmas cheer that will not die or hurt your pets. You need red and green construction paper, glue, yellow tissue paper and your printer to print the free template.

Cut out the poinsettias along the dotted lines and glue them together as illustrated by the instruction. Fold flowers for a home full of flowers when your guests come.

With your helpers decorating, this holiday season will hold many great memories and treasures to keep.

Funky Frog Slime

Big sister got her  lil brother  a funky frog slime.  They both love to  play with this kind of stuff so I understand why she got this for him as a gift because they can both enjoy it.  It's funny that  they are both thinking of  themselves when getting a present for each other.  To them, well if I am giving this to  him/her, will I be able to play and use it too?  I am glad they are that way though because they can play together with what they  got for each other.

Will upload  how  the funky frog slime look like in a bit.  Gotta cook breakfast first.


This  grosses me out but my kids love playing with it lol

Family Guy kills off Brian

With many of us still recovering from the loss of Bambi's mother, another animated animal has bitten the dust. Serious but lovable talking dog Brian from hit US comedyFamily Guy met his maker in a dramatic episode 'Life of Brian'. In an emotional farewell, the dog, who has been with the show since its pilot in 1999, said: "You've given me a wonderful life. I love you all." Cue Twitter meltdown.

Bring back Brian

With major news networks covering the story, it didn't take long to go viral. A central figure throughout the satirical cartoon's history, the writers of the Fox programme were learning the hard way just how cherished their character was, but perhaps a little too late. Within a few hours of the episode airing, a petition went online on Change.org, demanding that the show's creators bring back the fan favourite.

Just a couple of days later, it had 30,000 signatures and the number is still rising. The author of the petition moaned, "They killed America's dog!" Clearly the writers' decision to kill off a mainstay of one of the century's most popular TV shows had touched something of a nerve.

Who let the dogs out?

While fans bemoaned the loss of Brian, the Griffins were quick to find a new pooch. After a period of mourning, they hopped down to the rescue centre and met their new best friend Vinnie, voiced by Sopranos actor Tony Sirico. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fans were not quite so quick to welcome him into their homes, with many tweeting that the show would never be the same.

Faced with such a dramatic response, executive producer Steve Callaghan immediately went on the defensive, telling E! Online, "Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough to know that they can trust us. We always make choices that work to the greatest benefit of the series."

A dog is for life

Brian has been there from the very start, with series creator Seth Macfarlane coming up with the character at around the same time that he dreamed up the whole show. In fact, having also voiced Brian since the show started, Macfarlane is particularly close to the ever-popular character. The dog's dynamic with the other central characters, including evil baby Stewie, immature patriarch Peter and unrequited love interest Lois, has been a major feature of the long running show's popularity and, some argue, a key part of its success.

It has been suggested that given the show's history of bringing characters back from the grave, we may not have seen the last of Brian Griffin. While this would undoubtedly be one of the best Christmas gifts fans could hope for, the creators have not confirmed a future return. Amazing resurrection aside, it seems the erudite pooch might be gone for good.

Cosmetic Body Shaping

Cosmetic body shaping is a common  practice  that other  people go through when they want to have a perfect shape for their  body.  You can enhance a part of the body that you want to be bigger or you can undergo a surgery that would remove the parts that you don't like.  You can even  get a   Hair Transplant New Jersey if you are experiencing a hair loss.  With the advanced technology that we have these days, nothing is impossible.

For those who are concern with wrinkles and other unwanted lines appearing in their face, the  Botox in South Jersey would be a choice.  Some would   get  liposuction in South Jersey to get rid of the unwanted fats that they have in their body.  These  cosmetic surgeries is the path that other people choose  when they don't have the ability to   remove those excess weight physically.  It is also an option for those who can afford it and who wants to lose those unwanted   fats  the easy  and faster way.