Joy Makin' Mamas

HEY! WE'VE MOVED THE BLOG!

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Please join us at http://www.joytroupe.com! You'll find all the good stuff you know and love, plus a whole lot more!

Princess Wishes Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:23:00 +0000

Would your little princess just dearly LOVE to see the newest Disney on Ice Show?
I have, to give away, four tickets for the 7:30 pm show on February 16th. And YOU can win them. Here's how:

Anyone who signs up for the Joy Makin' Mamas and Papas team by Saturday, February 12 will receive one entry. (This is free!)
Anyone who donates to the Joy Makin' Mamas and Papas team by Saturday, February 12 will receive one entry per dollar donated.
Anyone who accepts the Pay It Forward Challenge by Februrary 12 will receive FIVE entries, plus one entry per dollar donated to the team. You will also receive one entry for every $5 donated by folks you refer as part of that challenge- but they have to say you sent them!
You can also get five entries by posting in the Show us Your Badges Thread!

Remember, the drawing is Saturday, February 12! The more you do, the more chances you'll have to win, and take your little princess to see a REAL LIVE Disney Princess on Ice!

The Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to Preschool

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:18:00 +0000

The Complete Hitchhiker’s Guide to Preschool

February 10, 2011 in Joy Troupe News, Preschool at Home by Meghan

The Joy Troupe NOVA has a sub group called the Preschool Resource Group, which is a forum for folks who want to create a learning environment for their kids at home- whether they go to a traditional preschool or not.
I’ve been struggling for some time with the fact that a sub-group wasn’t necessarily the best way to fulfill the mission of the Preschool Resource Group… which is not only to connect folks with resources that help build Better, Smarter Preschoolers Who Take Over The World (just kidding- we all want happy kids who are learning and developing cognitively, which is the aim of this group), but also to let folks who wish to form preschool co-ops get together and find each other.
The current setup is clunky- first you have to join, then you post, wait for interested folks to respond, and then you either have to manage your group elsewhere or wait for me to set up a sub-group for you. And to belong to the PRG, you must be a Joy Troupe NOVA member- which is fine unless you have to wait for our membership approval process before someone you’ve met through another source can see your group pages. Or unless you live somewhere other than one of the communities where JTNOVA is most active. At which point, it’s not so ideal.
Well, I’d like to introduce to you…

A new, fully integrated, stand-alone website for preschool parents. With help from some trusty volunteers, we’ll be moving the Resource Forum history over there (in Blog Format, which will make it easier to navigate and more fun to read), and the membership will be “ported” as well.
The site allows users to form and control their own sub-groups, which is ideal for our mission! I invite you to check it out today: http://preschool.joytroupe.com/

Show the world you are pushing for Healthy Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:22:00 +0000

With no ifs, ands, buts, or maybes,

we're all pushing for healthy babies!

What a perfect bumper sticker to display on your stroller on march day! 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of this item will be donated to the Joy Makin' Mamas and Papas March for Babies team, so get yours today! As an extra bonus, you can customize the bumper sticker to display your OWN BABY'S PHOTO! You can't beat that!

He Swallowed WHAT?

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:59:00 +0000

Have you programmed the number for poison control into your speed dial? The number is 1-800-222-1222. If you haven't done it yet, DO IT NOW. When you call poison control, they look up the substance your child has ingested and tell you how to proceed. If you need to go to the hospital, they call ahead and warn the ER so they are expecting you and are ready to begin treating your child immediately.

If you think it can't happen to you, THINK AGAIN. Here is the story of how two Joy Makin' Mamas survived the nightmare of kids acting like kids and getting into things they shouldn't- and a cautionary tale about securing the medications in your home.

Pay It Forward For Babies Logo CONTEST!

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:34:00 +0000

Please help us promote our Pay It Forward For Babies fundraiser! Submit your logo design to our contest. The winner will receive a handmade thank you gift and a $25 Restaurant.com certificate!

Just click the link below to submit your entry by February 15.

Princess Wishes... on ICE!

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Information follows on how to get a discount on the newest Disney on Ice show... all the princess fans out there are going to go GA GA for this show!

Download a copy of the show flier, here!

Enter a world of wishes with your favorite Disney princesses in Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes! Tinker Bell represents the magic of Disney as she whisks you through a collection of enchanting and beloved Disney stories. Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves. See Snow White find her one true love. Discover a whole new world with Jasmine. And, watch in wonder as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Mulan all come true. Make your princesses wish become her happily ever after when Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes comes to 1^st Mariner Arena.

Starting one hour before each performance, families will be treated to the Disney Princess Pre-Show, an exclusive fairy tale collection of gowns and treasures from the Disney Princess stories. This bonus experience is free with ticket purchase and includes a special appearance by a live Disney Princess.

Verizon Center, Washington D.C. Presidents’ Day Weekend, Feb. 16^th – 21^st

Show times:

Wednesday 16^th – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday 17^th – 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Friday 18^th – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 19^th – 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday 20^th – 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Monday 21^st – 12:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $75.00 (Front Row) / $50.00 (VIP) / $30.00 / $20.00 / $15.00

Tickets will go on sale Sunday, January 2, 2011 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge, by phone at 202-397-SEAT or 703-573-SEAT in Virginia, via www.ticketmaster.com, and the Verizon Center box office.

To learn more about Disney On Ice, visit www.disneyonice.com, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

Discount Information:

The Enchantment Starts at $11 for Select Weekday Performances with Code MOM Or, SAVE $4 on Weekend and Holiday Tickets with Code MOM!

March with us!

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:50:00 +0000

The March for Babies is a cause dear to our Joy Makin' hearts. We hope all of you will join us in spreading awareness about prematurity and in raising funds to help the March of Dimes end prematurity and birth defects.

Join Our Team and march with us to save babies- in body or spirit as you are able. Even if you can't join us in person on March Day, you can still help! Have fun, make memories and raise money for babies by taking our Pay It Forward Challenge or doing a virtual walk for babies with your family. Last but not least, watch this space for more MFB fundraisers that are fun for you and SAVE BABIES!

Here are our team's walk details. Sadly, the MoD is not conducting a walk at the Alexandria location we've all enjoyed in the past this year. If you want to march with us in spirit but must march somewhere else in fact, join the team and then change your personal walk location.

My Team's Event

Fairfax County
May 15, 2011
Reston Town Center
11900 Market Street
Reston, VA 20190

Walk Distance: 4 miles
Registration Time: 9:00 AM
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Chapter: Northern Virginia Division
Phone: (703) 824-0111

One Dozen Family Friendly Craft Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:25:00 +0000

Whether you are participating in our Pay It Forward Challenge or just looking for a fun, inexpensive, Valentine's Day project that helps build the bonds of love in your family in a meaningful way, here are one dozen project ideas you can do in an afternoon, with kids or without.

Got a favorite project to share? Use the link at the bottom to submit yours and it will be included with the next dozen ideas!

Thumbnails: This is a Blog Hop! 12 entries so far... you're next!

1. Holiday Alphabet Blocks

2. HeartFelt Wreath

3. Sugar Is Sweet Valentines

4. Easy Pop Up Cards

5. "Vintage" Jars

6. Once My Hand Was Just This Small

7. Sugar Cookie Truffles

8. Photo Frame Gift

9. Sweets for the Sweet

10. Love Notes Board

11. Chocolate Chip Scones

12. The Little Bakery

You are next...
Click here to enter

What is a blog hop?
Get the code here...

Get your own FREE Linky Tools

Join the Party for Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:49:00 +0000

Please join the Joy Makin' Mamas as we Pay It Forward... for Babies! We'll be passing along family friendly project ideas at every skill level, so please don't think you are "not crafty enough" to participate. Read the details, below, and join the party. You can put a minimum donation amount on your offer, limit it to the first five donors, put an end date- do what works for you, just help us get the word out AND SAVE BABIES!

Pay It Forward... For Babies

The artist at work

I'm sure by now if you travel in crafty circles, you've seen one of your Facebook friends or a blogger you enjoy pledge to send something handmade to the first five people to comment on their post and to make the same offer on their own facebook page or blog. If you haven't, well, YOU HAVE NOW.

Welcome to my Pay It Forward... for Babies post. I'm sure you remember (and if you don't, there are plenty of links in the sidebar where you can check it out) that last year I pledged to donate money for every mile I walked to save babies. This year, of course, healthy babies are more on my mind than ever. One is banging away on my bladder faster than I bang away on the keys, after all, so it would be hard to forget it.

This year, my due date and the March for Babies date come awfully close to being the same darn date- so I can promise you I'll be at "The March" only in spirit. Ian and I will definitely make our own trek for babies again, just like last year, but January's weather has not been kind to us. More on that later.

So, right now, I'll be paying it forward this way. You make a pledge on my March for Babies page, and Ian and I will make something for you. (Some of his friends may help, too! And he has a lot of friends.) Then, you post a photo of that item on your facebook page or blog, or send it in an email, or host a reveal party (kidding) and let folks know that the first person to make a donation on my March for Babies page and say you sent them will ALSO get something made by me and Ian. We'll surprise you, depending on where you live, and how much time you give us before this baby shows up, with something we sincerely hope you'll LOVE.

(See, the original "Pay it Forward" had YOU making things for the next person to respond. Notice how Ian and I do the work... all you do is enjoy your Thank You gift and share the news with friends, while spreading the word that we are trying to help the March of Dimes save some babies. That seems like a good deal to me.)

If you've got a blog, hustle on over to join our team, whether you'll be walking on March Day or not, regardless of where you live- you can change your personal walk location once you join- and make a post just like this one. Then link to your post from this page by clicking the link and following the instructions below. You can post the Linky List of other Pay It Forward posts in your post, too, so you can join the party. Just use the "get the code" link.

Help us make the world a more beautiful place... for you, for babies, for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and, lest we forget, Big Brothers everywhere.

Pay It Forward For Babies

Perfect Penguin Party

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Got a kid with a January birthday? Host a Penguin Party! Lots of great snowflake decorations will be on clearance starting December 25th, so you can pick something you can use again and again for the party table.

Try these cute Penguin Cupcakes! They are super easy to make and the kids will love them.

You can make handprint penguins, use Juice Bottle Penguins for a game of penguin bowling, and give out Penguin LED lights as party favors.

You can also use a digital scrapbooking kit to create your own invitations, thank you notes, and memory pages!

Designer Digitals Penguin Powered Pages
DigiScrap Kits Penguin Clip Art
DigiScrap Kits Winter Fun Clip Art
CoolScrap Digital Penguin Aviator

Joy Troupe Event becomes... holiday greeting!

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:40:00 +0000

What could be more fun than sharing your child's activities with your family and friends? You can turn your favorite JT activity into a holiday card at Shutterfly! By the way, right now they are offering free shipping on orders over $30- just use the code SHIP30.

Full Of Love Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:02:00 +0000

This show is at the Patriot Center this weekend and a VERY underpublished discount code can get you in for $11 per ticket before fees. Just use the code "MOM" during checkout via Ticketmaster and up to six of the lowest price tickets will come out to $16.75 after all the booking fees are added.

From the Feld Entertainment Press Release about this show:

Toy Story 3, the record-breaking #1 movie in the world, is so hot it’s cool as everyone’s favorite toys take to the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3! An award-winning creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the gang to fans and families around the country in this brand-new live ice spectacular produced by Feld Entertainment. This fast-paced and witty tale of friendship launches a 2-year, 75-city North American tour on September 3^rd in Lakeland, FL.

To enhance this live experience, the production will feature state-of-the-art projection design, allowing adults and children alike to virtually shrink down as Andy’s room is transformed from human to toy-sized. Families are whisked away, reliving iconic moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2 before they embark on the brand-new adventure of Toy Story 3. This innovative 3D technology, a first for any Disney On Ice show, blends four separate images into one massive 3D projection using the entire ice surface to create oversized effects and scenic elements, altering the audience’s perception of scale. Memorable scenes take on a new life as a pinball machine of monumental proportion is created at Pizza Planet, with the massive pinball table projected onto the ice and the score board on the stage behind it. This perspective, among many others throughout the show, reinforces the audience’s experience as a toy-sized spectator.

“An award-winning team of artists, designers and technicians are redefining the theatre of ice with a show that challenges the audience’s perception of scale,” says Producer Nicole Feld. “Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3 is Feld Entertainment’s most innovative show ever.”

Picture Treat Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (The Joy Troupe) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Big thanks to Sarah Kaupp Photography for bringing us this very special

"Picture Treat" Photo Fundraiser

When:	Fri & Sat Oct 8 & 9, 2010, 8-11 am
Where:	Marina Park 500 S. Lee St. Alexandria, VA
Contact:	Sarah Kaupp 661-607-1260 info@sarahkauppphotography.com
Description	Dress up your little ones and bring them out for a picture and a treat! Sarah Kaupp Photography is booking mini Halloween photo shoots at Marina Park on Oct. 8th and 9th. 20 minute time slots have been set aside for each shoot beginning at 8:00am and ending at 11:00am. This special promotion includes a private online gallery featuring your little one's best shots, a complimentary 5x7 of your choice, a treat for your little one and a donation back to the Joy Troupe! Special Promotion Sitting Fee: $42.00 Please include your preferred time slot in your RSVP comments. If you have questions, please contact Sarah! RSVP now for Friday: http://tinyurl.com/FridayPictureTreat RSVP now for Saturday: http://tinyurl.com/SaturdayPictureTreat

Thank you for supporting The Joy Troupe! Remember to use our Amazon.com Shop & Share Page!

Cookin' Hot Photo Contest Finalists Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Be sure to check out the finalists and vote in the poll here!

Just Desserts Photo Contest Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:33:00 +0000

And the winner is...

Batter Licker!

Congratulations Jenny for submitting the winning photo, and look for your restaurants.com gift certificate (redeemable for a $25 certificate to the restaurant of your choice) in your inbox!

Remember to join the Cookin' Hot Mamas sub-group to submit your recipes for the cookbook!

Don't forget to visit the Amazon Shop & Share Page when you shop Amazon.com! A portion of your purchase benefits the Joy Troupe general fund and it costs you NOTHING except an extra click or two! Share the love!

"Just Desserts" Photo Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:16:00 +0000

Welcome to the first of our summer photo contests!

Here's how it works: Visit our online album of photo
submissions here.
Add comments to your favorites. (You can also access the album from the top of our group "buzz" page!) The final winner will be chosen by poll from the top three photos.

Remember, all our contest entries are considered for inclusion in our annual cookbook (Publication date: November 15, 2010!) and the winner of our "Just Desserts" contest will receive a restaurants.com certificate good for a $25 certificate to one of many area restaurants!

Don't forget to enter our July Photo Contest by submitting pictures of your favorite little cook! Details are available here.

"Oh, I'm much too busy for a playgroup."

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:22:00 +0000

I have had, on occasion, people tell me, with varying degrees of disdain, how they are "much too busy" for a playgroup. "Oh, we've been so busy with organized activities..."

I'm here to make a case for making a playgroup your priority, not your back-burner, maybe-we'll-bother activity. First off, let me say, I'm really glad you enjoy Gymboree, My Gym, Little Gym, Kindermusic, Music Together, swim class, art class, and the others too numerous to name. I hope your child ADORES them and you consider them money very, very well spent. Please take a stack of Joy Troupe business cards with you so you can hand them out after you talk about how AMAZING your playgroup is. I'm not saying you shouldn't want to do these things with your child- just that you shouldn't decide to bail on playgroup in favor of them.

Why do I think you need a playgroup, when you could enjoy the ease and simplicity of signing up for a class every day of the week and knowing where you'll be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from here on out?

1. The money. Thought I'd beat around the bush a little before I got to that one, didn't you? But really, for $75, $100, or $200 for a five, six, seven, or ten week session, be conservative and figure you are shelling out $390 annually per activity. Now figure you do just two or three activities with your kiddo, and suddenly we're talking real money here. What could you do with $1,170 this year? Pay off a credit card? Buy a used car? Save for college? Host five years' worth of playdates at your own home?

2. The friendships. When you sign up for a session of a class, the other folks in that class are based on who else was quick enough with their check book to get in. Or, when times are tight, who can afford to take the class with you. Sure, you might not click with everyone who comes to playgroup, but you might not click with everyone in art class, either. And I've seen first hand that the friendships you make with people you see at least once a week can be a huge boon, especially to those who do not have nearby family on whom to depend. I have made friends I could call for emergency help at any hour of the day or night, and whom I trust with my home, my child, and anything else I could think of. I've been seeing these mamas every week for going on three years now. Can you build a relationship that strong that in a 6 week session?

3. The value of unstructured play. The fact that many playdates don't have a scripted agenda means that when you spot a "teaching moment" for your child, you can take advantage of it without disrupting the class. Help your kid with his negotiating skills, show her a bug, show him how we nicely pat the dog, or just enjoy listening to her giggle- it's all cool, because that is the order of the day. Yep, there is no denying they learn a lot in class, but the plain fact is that they learn the most from spending time doing fun stuff with you.

4. Strength in numbers. As a group we can accomplish so much more than one mama on her own. This year alone we've raised nearly $5,000 to help the March of Dimes save babies. And we had a ton of fun along the way! As a group, we've also played Santa Claus, fed the homeless, helped build a playground, published not one but two cookbooks, and reached out to any number of individual mamas in need of support with meals, babysitting, and love. Do you have time to be a great parent and do all that- just you, by yourself?

5. The Friendships. It bears repeating, so yes, it's #2 and #5. Your child will benefit so much from seeing the same children over and over again over the long term. There is no joy equal to seeing your kid's face light up when you can say "yes, all your friends are coming," and he knows just who you mean. And what, in this life, have you found that isn't more fun when you share it with good friends who laugh at your jokes (even if you make them in a form of proto-English understood only by one-year-olds), smile when they see you, and are sad when you have to leave?

6. The memories. We all know that little kids don't remember much of their early life long term. If you don't believe me, think back to when you were one. No? Okay, then, two. How many memories stand out? Just a handful, right? Of course there's no knowing which memories will stand out in your child's mind, but the more time you spend together, the better chance that they'll be happy memories of the priceless time you've spent together.

7. Last, but not least: Half of life is showing up. The folks who show up the most often get the most out of playgroup. It's just simple math. Each time you show up is a chance to make a new friend, to share something special, or for your child to perfect sharing, listening, or playing well with others. Even more, every time you and your kids come to play, it's a chance to laugh and have fun. If you don't come, we don't know you. And if we don't know you, we can't be your friends.

I know that there are times in our complicated lives when it seems like the investment of time required to make a playgroup successful for you and your child can seem more daunting than laying out your family's hard earned cash for a class. Because, yes, it is an investment- you have to keep showing up over and over even if maybe your kid hasn't got the hang of not pushing and grabbing, even when it means you have to dress your toddler AND your baby to get them out the door before the park date is over, and when you maybe feel left out because it seems that everyone knows each other except you. And sometimes it rains and you have to explain to your kid that you aren't going to the park today after all, and you'd rather do anything than see them disappointed. My point is that in the end, the dividends on a playgroup are going to be so, so much higher that it's completely worth it to find or build a group that "clicks" for you.

If you've been attending larger events for a while and have found a smaller group of folks who want to meet regularly, then you have completed the quest for the Holy Grail of playgroups. Commit to a regular get-together with those folks (and ask a group leader to set up a sub-group calendar for you), and then keep joining us for our outings, story times, and Meet & Greet activities so you can keep expanding your network. Because you never know when you might need a helping hand, be it to help end premature birth or just to watch your kid for an hour so you can, Please Lord, get a pedi because you can't reach your pregnant feet any more.

And if YOU have put playgroup on a "back burner," then it's time to move it up. Check the calendar today and choose three things that you and your child will attend in the next week or two. We'll be looking for you!

March for Babies: We did it and... we almost did it!

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:31:00 +0000

We lucked out and the rain cleared just in time for our Alexandria walk this past weekend. So our March for Babies is marched. Done. In the bag! Or rather, almost in the bag!

We have so far raised $4,730 to help save babies, which is just beyond fabulous. But I have even better news! We can keep on raising money through June 30, 2010 for this year's march! Look for more details soon.

In the mean time, please enjoy my Walk Day photos.

Keep up the good work!

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:35:00 +0000

Just a quick "go team!" We have, as of this moment, raised $4,601 to help save babies!

View our team page here.

I hope to see you at the Alexandria walk this weekend! Please wear red or white if you don't have a March for Babies T-shirt, and look for the Joy Troupe banner so you can pick up a "Team Joy" badge and say hello!

A word about our goal: We will keep fund raising until the absolute deadline in June, but wouldn't it feel good to show up on walk day knowing we'd met our goal? If you've been meaning to donate, or know someone who has, here's a gentle reminder to do so. Every dollar counts, and even the smallest gift will help us reach our goal!

Words, and more words: BIlingual Education Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:44:00 +0000

In my search for information on how to introduce a second language to preschoolers, I found a lot of crappy advertising sites. Here is a compilation of the good resources I found... hope you find them useful!

Juegos y Canciones
http://www.juegosycanciones.com/

Tips for Teaching Spanish, French or German in Preschool
http://languagestudy.suite101.com/article.cfm/foreign_language_circle_time

eHow article on how to teach Spanish in Preschool
http://www.ehow.com/how_5166259_teach-spanish-preschool.html

Spanish Songs for children
http://www.bookslibros.com/SpanishForNinos.htm

Free downloads like vocabulary coloring pages, flash cards (I'd use them in matching games, etc.)

Spanish http://abcteach.com/directory/languages/spanish/
French http://abcteach.com/directory/languages/french/

Basic ESL lesson plan:
http://www.teach-esl-to-kids.com/baby-esl-lesson-plan.html

Reading is Fundamental has both languages available and reads to them and signs songs in spanish:
http://www.rif.org/kids/leadingtoreading/es/leadingtoreading.htm

I've been searching UTube for good bilingual songs - here's what I've found so far!

Sing A Lingo - Hola Amigos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQSJxtbZgxs

Boca Beth Counts to 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlFk8KPK8I

Boca Beth Greeting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1T7yGhDVec

Head and shoulders: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daDl2ZLrZsw

http://www.primeraescuela.com

Lots of free printables and activity ideas.

http://www.biculturalfamily.org

http://www.languagelizard.com/

http://www.spanglishbaby.com

With thanks to loramichelle and thejfamily08.

MFB Auction #5: Custom Rag Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:14:00 +0000

View the Auction and Bid Now!

Joy Makin' Mama Jennifer Bristow is donating her time and the work of her hands to bring you a custom made baby or toddler quilt. You will select the color and pattern of the fabric in your quilt, as well as whether you want the color blocks to be arranged in a pattern or randomly. This special keepsake will not only look beautiful in your baby's room, the easy care instructions mean this hand-made all natural item can be snuggled and loved for years to come. It will effortlessly transition from a soft place to lie down and play with toys to a treasured bedtime lovey.

***You would normally pay $100 or more for one of these special quilts, which are available EXCLUSIVELY by word of mouth!***

Rag quilts are versatile and trendy. They can be
modern or old fashioned. Each quilt can be customized to fit your
decor. By using a simple "X" stitch on a sandwiched square of two sided
material with organic cotton batting in between, the quilt is
transformed into a everyday, casual blanket. Easy care
instructions...just wash in cold water on gentle cycle and tumble dry
low. It is a "wash and go" kind of quilt. Typical baby quilt measures: 40"x24"

toddler size quilt - 45"x34"

The dimensions are approximate since it is a handmade quilt.

As always, 100% of the net proceeds from this auction will benefit the Joy Makin' Mamas March for Babies Team.

MFB Auction #4: Professional Photography Services

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:41:00 +0000

This package normally retails for $750. Bids start at just $150! Thank you to Sarah Kaupp Photography for helping us save babies!

Bid Now!

Joy Troupe Birthday Party Package: SOLD!

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:59:00 +0000

Thank you to Steven K. for helping us SAVE BABIES! Steven won this auction with just one bid. He got a fabulous deal, and the babies are richer by $65.76 after eBay and PayPal took their cuts!

In other March for Babies news, we are still the number 2 team for fundraising behind Dogtopia of Alexandria, but we are closing in! Let's harness a little competitive spirit and use it to SAVE BABIES! We can bump Dogtopia out of the number 1 spot this week if we try! Keep up the good work!

PSST: Look for the next auction later today! Be sure to pass the word about these auctions to family and friends- we are giving eBay a cut so they can be open to anyone who'd like to bid!

Make your own preschool Weather Board

noreply@blogger.com (Semele_74) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:58:00 +0000

I remember doing a weather activity in school as a small child where we selected the picture that matched the day's weather and put it on the board. A quick search for one revealed that you can purchase them, but nice ones can be pricey! Being the thrifty mama I am, I decided to make one.

I started with a nifty little Freecycle item, but if you are not fortunate enough to find one of these, don't worry!

I have created 5 day and 7 day printable charts. Just print and use adhesive velcro dots instead of the magnetic tape I used on the backs of my weather symbols. You may prefer to print this at 11x17. In which case, you should be able to get this done for you at a copy center for less than $2. As for durability, I'm known for laminating everything that doesn't run faster than I do. If you don't have a laminator or this is too big for yours, my husband favors a sheet of foam core board and a can of spray adhesive- this makes a sturdy, lightweight poster that you can hang on the wall with more velcro dots. The kids may rip it down, but it goes right back up. Even if they fold, spindle, and mutilate it occasionally, chances are you can just glue down a new printout of the chart and be good as new.

Here is the PDF of the weather symbols. If you print four copies, you'll have eight of each symbol, so you'll have enough for the week and one to get lost. Unless you want to go "Eight Days a Week," but that's a story for another day.

I printed the symbols, cut them out, laminated them, and applied magnetic tape to the back of each one. Then I stored them in a small basket under my weekly weather board and each "school" day during circle time I allow the children to pick out the "right" magnet and put it on the board.

If you are not doing home preschool, you could make this part of the getting dressed routine at home. I remember doing this activity in Kindergarden and loving it!