Roll Painting

I covered a mailing tube with some easy-off masking tape. Then, Westley painted it all red. Then we took off the masking tape and it was spired red and white like a candy cane.
There was a reason we did this activity as we were making a Christmas Present. We filled it with Whiffle  Balls.
It would be a fun experience anyway though
:)

Cookies in Class

This morning I helped make cookies with Westley and his classmates in his preschool class. Baking with 8 squirming three year olds was an adventure of his own, but ended successfully. Before I left Westley said "I'm so happy you stayed in my class." After seeing how much it meant to Westley to have me there, I'm going to try and join in activities a little more in the Spring.

No pictures- I had no free hands for a camera!

Snowman Poop

We have this Little Snowman that sings and dances and bounces. "I'm a bouncing snowman, catch me if you can"

The boys, especially Will, love to dance with him.

Since Westley is at the age where he thinks poop is hilarious, I thought he would enjoy this one- and he did! Will jumped in on participating too.

I gathered a handful of mini marshmallows and while dancing with the snowman I let some go right behind the snowman. "Eww Westley look - the snowman pooped"

Westley and Will would get excited and pick it up, and then set it on the toy table. When they weren't looking, I'd grab it and throw it back down by the snowman.

I think Westley was on to me, and Will just enjoyed the pick up part of the game, but they still had a lot of fun.

It wasn't until Grandma Kathy's dog ate a "poop" that Westley decided to try and eat it.
That was his first marshmallow tasting. Not surprisingly, Westley was a fan

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Today at school Westley's class went on a walking field trip to the Agricultural Departments site to pick oranges and other fruit.
Westley got to bring some home and insisted on making orange juice.
Luckily we had a few more oranges on hand.
Dad helped him use our juicer and we all had a few sips of orange juice!

Christmas Stories

Tonight we took a little time and dedicated it towards reading Christmas stories. Westley's two favorites seem to be Frosty the Snowman (just like the song) and If You Take A Mouse To The Movies.
Will even seemed a little interested in reading the books too (instead of just eating them as he typically does)

Grandma helped the boys build a fort where they read more Christmas stories by the light of a flashlight

Embrace a Family

For the past 3 years I have adopted a family in need to give presents to for Christmas through the Embrace a Family program. This year I involved Westley. Today was the day to drop off the items at the organization's collection site.
I had Westley help me pack up the boxes, and log everything we got. He also helped me add in a few more stocking stuffers and wrap a couple of the presents. While doing so, I explained to Westley that these presents were going to a young mom who doesn't have any blankets or warm clothes like we do, and to a little baby who doesn't have any toys. He jumped in to the giving spirit and kept suggesting things in our house for us to give to them. It was an extra special moment.

Cookie Cutter Rice Crispy Treats

This evening we all made some rice crispy treats. Since there's not too much to the actual process of making them, the fun came in finding the shapes to cut them into. I got out my bowl of 100 cookie cutters and started looking for the Christmas themed ones. Everyone got to pick their own shape for their rice crispy treat. Kevin had a bell, I had a snowman, Westley chose.... a rectangle! That was the shape he got most excited about. Kids are always surprising!

The bowl of cookie cutters was a hit. Westley and Will continued to play with them for 1/2 hour - until I stopped them for bed time.