Preschool Snow Day

Even though the snow has already melted, it still has been a snow day for us. Yes, school was cancelled. Yes, work started late. I love living in NC. I thought that you stay at home moms might like some fun snow day activities. Especially if you live somewhere where the snow sticks around a few days! My kids are 2 and almost 5, and we have a friend with us during the day who is 20 months, and each of them loved these activities. Here's how our day went.

For starters, I made homemade hot cocoa and big breakfast, which was very nice. I have incorporate food, first!

For circle time, we started with our snow songs. Our first is one that we sing about clothes that we put on when it's cold. We act out putting on the items as we sing,

"I put my hat on my head when it's cold outside, when it's cold outside. I say, BRRRR!"

(and go through with different items for different parts of the body - scarf on my neck, boots on my feet, mittens on my hands, etc.) They love saying "BRRRR!!!" and pretending we're so cold!

Our next song is to the tune London Bridge, and it's called "All the Snow is Falling Down". They don't care that it's sunny and definitely not snowing. They just love singing about the snow!

All the snow is falling down, falling down, falling down,

All the snow is falling down, all around us.

Bend down low and scoop some up, scoop some up, scoop some up.

Bend down low and scoop some up, and make a snow ball.

Toss it up into the sky, to the sky, to the sky.

Toss it up into the sky, and all fall down!

We use that song throughout the year, and change it according to the season (i.e. All the Leaves Are Falling Down, etc.)

Then, we read books about snow and, as always, children's books allow me to more fully enjoy the moment that we're celebrating. On the last snow day we had checked out some books from the library that I would highly recommend - This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond, and Snowball Soup by Mercer Mayer. Both were great for preschoolers, and after a few times through, River was able to read Snowball Soup (a my first read book).

This morning we had fun reading The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, which is such a great snow day book. Here's a great resource for a few activities to go with this book and some other snowy stories. Then we finished with Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers. I love this version of Stopping by Woods, because the pictures make it enjoyable and understandable for my preschoolers! Both are great books to explore winter time themes.

We started making Snowmen Cookies, but only made the dough. You can learn from my mistake and make the dough the night before. I didn't read through the entire recipe to see that you have to let the dough sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours. So, tomorrow, we'll continue that activity and finish up our snowmen cookies. I'll type up the recipe and put it on with the picture tomorrow.

For our craft time, we made some paper snowflakes. I just took white paper and traced a large cup (or coffee mug will work, too) to get the size of circle I needed. Then, after your circle is cut out (if you have an older preschooler, they can cut their circle to work on cutting.) let the kids help you fold the paper in half, and then in half again, and then again (so that it looks like a tiny pizza slice). Then, using kid scissors, help them cut, or let them cut different patterns into the snowflake. When you open it up, it's a beautiful snowflake! If you want to be fancy, use some silver glitter glue (I had some from Dollar Tree on hand) to decorate flakes, then, loop a piece of yarn or ribbon through the top, and hang from a window for a beautiful window decoration! You can also just put a piece of tape on the back and tape to the window for the same effect. I love reminding my kids how no two snowflakes are alike, just as no two children are alike. We each have differences that make us exactly who we are. We talked about how God made us each differently and how each one of us is a beautiful masterpiece! You can even bring in Ps. 139:14 to tie in a Bible verse to your lesson.

For an extra easy craft, I found this cute website with tons of ideas and free coloring sheets, and printed off the snowman picture they had so that we could color a fun snow day picture.

Here's hoping your snow days are filled with fun!

Soup's On!

Over the last few weeks, I've made more soup than any other food. I don't usually make soup...it's only because it's been so cold! And even though you mid-westerners and northerners laugh at our 30 degree winter weather, to me it's FREEZING outside! So, what do I do? Make soup. And bake. And make some more soup. There's something comforting about throwing a bunch of stuff in a pot, and then just letting it do it's thing. Meanwhile, I can do mine!

My favorite soups are rich and creamy. My hubby's favorite kinds of soups are the hearty and brothy kind (I don't think brothy is a word). So, we've tried a few new ones and improved a couple old recipes. Here's a taste of our favorites this season...

Hearty Vegetable Soup

2 tbsp. butter (can use olive oil)

1 lg. onion (diced)

1 tsp. ground cumin

2-3 tsp. italian spices

1 tsp. salt

1-2 tbsp. sugar

2 cloves garlic (minced)

4 baking potatoes (diced)

2 carrots (sliced)

frozen peas, lima beans, corn (or whatever veggies you like)

46 oz. tomato juice

1 can beef broth

2 cups water

Heat butter over medium in large saucepan. Sauté your onion in butter until soft. Add garlic and spices. Cook until fragrant (couple minutes). Add rest of ingredients. Bring to boil, and then turn down to simmer on low for at least 45 min. (I have been known to let cook on low for several hours, and it just gets better!) Serve this with grilled cheese for a great easy meal!

Chili

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion (chopped)

2 cans kidney beans (drained)

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomato soup

1 pkt. chili seasoning

2 tbsp. chili powder

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

Fry your ground beef and onion together until beef is browned (10 min. on med heat). Drain excess grease. Add in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, chili packet, tomato soup, salt, and sugar. Let simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. stirring often. Garnish with cheddar cheese and sour cream and serve over rice. Delicious on a cold winter day!

Quick Potato Chowder

2 stalks celery (diced)

3 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. flour

1 14 oz. can chicken broth

*2 cups refrigerated diced potatoes with onions

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup half and half

4 slices bacon, crisp cooked and crumbled

salt and pepper

*can use fresh potatoes and onions also. just add the sauté the onion with the celery, and cook your potatoes in boiling water until soft.

In a saucepan cook celery in hot butter over med heat until tender. Stir in flour until combined. Stir in broth; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Add potatoes; return to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 15 min. or until tender. Slightly mash potatoes. Stir in milk, half and half, and bacon. Heat through. Salt and pepper to taste.

Spicy Black Bean and Corn Stew

4 tsp. olive oil

1 med. onion (chopped)

4 garlic cloves (minced)

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can diced tomatoes

*1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

2 cups water

1 tsp. salt

1 pkg. frozen corn (10 oz.)

(*to make a more mild stew you can substitute a can of regular diced tomatoes)

In large saucepan heat oil over med. heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and cumin, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant (another minute or so). Add beans, tomatoes, water, and salt to the pot. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and simmer, until slightly thickened, about 20 min. Add corn to stew and allow to heat through. Garnish with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and cilantro. Serve with heated tortillas or quesadillas.

What's your favorite soup to eat during these chillier months? Leave me the recipe if it's a good one, and I'll be sure to try it!

Snowflakes that Stay on My Nose and Eyelashes!

Usually on snow days, I bake chocolate chip cookies and watch movies. But today, instead of movies, it the Inauguration. And sad to say that we're out of butter, so no cookies to be made. Popcorn will have to do.

We had fun this morning stomping around in the inch of snow that fell here, but alas as soon as it arrives, it's gone. I do wish that the snowflakes would stay on our noses and eyelashes a little bit longer. But what a great day for a snow day, the chance to watch history in the making as a family.

At least we had enough to make a bowl of snow cream!

And snow angels (kind of)

And snow balls!