Playgroup X-mas Party, Letters to Santa, + More!

A Zion Playgroup Christmas Party

Emmy is all ready for Playgroup. The last one before Christmas Break! She's wearing the cutie outfit I made her. In other pictures you'll be able to see the fancy pants from the back. They are my favorite part!! I fell in love with this green Christmas fabric last year, but at $21/m I didn't go near it, but I was able to get a meter of it this year at 50% off.

Here's Lilah's Christmas Dress! She's got fancy pants too, but you can't tell because I made the top so long, but I wanted it to fit for more than one Christmas and with as tiny as she is it'll probably fit her the next two Christmas's but we all know I'll end up making new ones lol.

This is Lilah's favorite thing to do at Playgroup!

Awww! Emmy loves Taylor. On the way to playgroup, while at playgroup and leaving playgroup I hear about Taylor!

Later on they went to play with the doll house! Here's also the back view of the fancy pants!

I asked Kerry to snap a picture of us three together. It's nearly impossible to get one with the kids looking or smiling and Lilah was NOT interested in sitting there, but that's what it's like and that's my moment frozen in time forever!

Here's our Santa photo for this year! I wanted to take them to the Santa's of all Santa experiences in the city to Santa's Magic Cave (I think it's called that), but we haven't gone to do that yet. (Carolyn, we're still waiting for you to pick a day! We got 2 weeks till Christmas so the pressure on! haha We can do any day during the week except Thursdays *hugs* Hopefully your studying will be over soon and we'll be able to get a day, if not, we'll save it for next year! xo)

Here's Emmy's first ever Letter To Santa!! Of course I helped her out and did a bit of couching on what items to ask for. Most things she will be getting, but there's a few she put on her self that eehhhhh we haven't bought and I don't think we will. I don't think she'll mind though...still to little yet to remember everything.

She picked the Medical Cart (I'm sure this makes Grandma Betsy proud! Especially since it was pictured with identical carts for Cleaning or Cooking!), Baby Doll, Swimming Pool, and Disney Panties on her own!

Here's the images of the girls that I used to make our yearly Christmas Ornaments. I've been doing these since they were born and plan to do it until they hate me doing it and then I'll secretly do it for a few years after that, lol! Someday they'll be happy to have all the mementos from childhood that I diligently create for them, I hope!

Lilah wouldn't let me have anymore pc time and I had to get my order in because of the sale deadline so I didn't have the time to remove her background, but at least she was in front of the Christmas tree for hers. Emmy was in front of the garage outside for her photo haha.

My Little Chickens

I remember this costume from years ago before I had the girls on the Martha Stewart show for quick costume ideas. I knew I wanted to make them someday and just the right opportunity presented itself last week. The theme for the last day of playgroup this term was Barnyard. I attached white boas to onesies (old stained up ones because it didn't matter) and I made a proper baby bonnet out of some white fleece I had laying around and I had my husband enlarge the pattern by 15% , then I added a red felt comb. The yellow jersey knit I already had on hand from another project and it worked perfectly for leggings. The original costume idea called for yellow dish gloves to go on the feet and legs which I think would work perfect for a baby that doesn't move much, but for children that are walking I think it's just a hazard. I could have made felt Chicken Feet that would attach around the ankle and lay over the shoe, but honestly I couldn't be fussed with small details. This was just a project I stretched out over several days doing a few minutes here and there on the machine and doing my hand stitching while watching The View & Days of Our Lives.




The kids were pretty pumped up about their costumes. They had watched me all week working on them and seeing them come together. I had fitted them once or twice so they had a good idea of what it would be like.

I like this picture....their looking for bugs like real chickens....lol

We had Grandma Betsy call before we left the house for playgroup so she could see just how cute they were. We all danced around the living room walking like chickens lol

Here's Emmy flapping her wings like a chicken hahha

Next minute, Emmy decided to lay down on the grass and have a little rest!

Lilah went up and laid down too, but then she decided to get up quickly, but notice how she's trying to get up with out having to have her hands touch the grass...wuss! When she stood up though there were nearly 200 black bugs all over her back feathers....I started ruffling her feathers knocking them out. Emmy didn't have one bug on her, so Lilah much have laid right down over their next/house. I don't think they were harmful at all, but nobody wants 200 of something on them.....ew!!!!


Next they each had a turn on their slide then it was time to jump in the car to head to playgroup!



This is probably Lilah's favorite thing to do when we're there. Swinging! She also really likes the big old piano they have there for the kids to bang on.


After the kids have there play time and the mom's clean up the mess it's time for a few stories and songs. Usually this is the time that the kids eat their packed lunches but today was a party day so we all went outside to have a picnic with lots of party foods! We brought strawberries dipped in white chocolate. Half of them were then dipped in sprinkles and the other half left plain. Yummy!


Here's Emmy sitting with the little girl dressed up as a Kitty having their picnic. I had a wonderful angle for the photo until the older lady sat down with her cute granddaughter....oh well! We had such a fun day. Now that it's school break time that means no playgroup until the end of October. She bugs me all the time "mommy, can we go to playgroup!?" at-least 2-3 times a week, and it's so hard to explain to them that it's not going to happen for a while.
I guess that means we'll be open for play dates the next couple weeks. :)

Last Day of Playgroup - Dinosaur Theme

This past Friday was our last day of playgroup until next term. They pick a theme and everyone is invited to dress up and bring a treat to share. I love any reason to dress in costume so of course I was super excited for the girls :) I ran by spotlight and got some green felt and about 2 hours later I had two cute Dinosaur Costumes. I made the hats, tails, and pants. The girls each wore the only all green shirts they had. If I would have had more material I probably would have made them tops too, but I didn't want to spend anymore money on something they probably wouldn't play with all that much. That being said..... Lilah LOVES her tail and when we put it on her she'll leave it on for hours and runs all around.... I think she likes that way it feels when it bounces behind her. I was pretty close to making them pink dino's since they are girls but then I decided to go with green because this is one thing that we can pass down to a boy when we have one :) *crosses fingers*


I'm so mad at myself. I forgot to take a picture of the treat that I made. I made mom's White Fluffy Icing but used less butter than the recipe called for. Added sprinkles.... rolled them into egg shapes then rolled them in green sugar. I laid them on a bed of green easter grass and made a cute little sign that said "BEWARE...DINO EGGS" They tasted great and I was very pleased with how the texture turned out. They held their shape but also stayed soft on the inside but it didn't get a hard or crunchy outside. Basically this icing is the best icing ever! Maybe I'll share the recipe with you if I'm feeling generous hehe.

Okay....now about our time at playgroup. The girls were super happy to be there like always and they started out with a little bit of playdoh play but Emmy quickly moved onto painting which always ends up being finger painting hahhaha such a mess!

While I was helping Emmy do that...Abby and Lilah were at the Glue Station making a "thing".


Later on they went outside to play and hardly anyone was out there because it was so cold out, but that didn't stop them. Emmy really wanted to play in the sand box and last time I told her that she couldn't that day because she had tights on but I promised she could play the next time.... so I was forced to keep my word. They had a great time despite me freezing my butt off. After that it was clean up time, story time, then snack time. Their favorites to eat that day were the strawberries, gummy bears, crackers, sugar cookies and jello. The best part of playgroup is when it's over and they crash for a LONG nap hahhahahha They won't understand why we won't be going for the next couple of weeks, but the next time we go back they'll be very happy!


Here's a picture of the other little boy that was dressed up. I was super surprised that no other children were dressed up. Looks like great minds think alike though :)

Bring On The Art!

I made a cute smock the other day for Emmy to wear when she's at playgroup. They have smocks there but she bounces around from each of the table activities so fast that all I get done is putting on and taking off a smock, and you have to leave the smocks for the other children to use when they start to do that activity. I thought this would be the easiest way for me to make it more simplified for all of us! I just love it and I think it's so cute. The arms and back are soft t-shirt material....I think a jersey knit and the stripped fabric is canvas. I did have paint go through it when she really pressed up against some, so I need to sew a 100% water resistant material to the inside. I was thinking an old table cloth would work great or I could just go and buy a small bit of plastic material. Either way....I'll get it fixed!

Emmy taking a picture of me taking a picture of her hahahha she tells me "mommy say cheese" *smiles*

This was so easy to make! I think I'll be making lots more :)

Our New Playgroup

After meeting a fellow Gawler mom and having a fun little play date with her lovely girls Ava and Taylor we decided to go ahead and join the Zion Playgroup where they attend. Last year around this time I did lots of looking for a good one and everyone I talked to had only great things to say about this place so it was already at the top of my list and now that Lilah is a bit older it'll be much easier to do these kind of things.

I was expecting it to be similar to the Kinder Gym we went to last winter, but I was delighted to see that it was way better! They had craft stations set up all over the place. Gluing projects, painting, ink stamping, play-doh areas. Plus lots of make believe stuff like dress up and a kitchen and baby dolls. There was a huge sand pit area and really nice play house with a slide. A piano for the kids to bang on. They had obstacle course type things laid out for the kids to climb, walk, and crawl through. It was so much fun to jump around and do craft after craft with no set up and minimal clean up.... I think I was enjoying it just as much as the kids were! It's so much fun getting to do these things with them.

After an hour of play the teachers ring the bell and everyone helps in doing a quick clean up then the children all go inside and sit down on a carpeted area and eat their packed lunches while the teacher reads them a story and then she gets out her guitar and they all sing kid songs. It was so much fun! We don't know most of the Australian kid songs so we couldn't sing along to most of them. I think I'll have to ask one of the staff members if they could make a list of the song names so I can look them up and teach the girls, or maybe I can find an Australian kid songs CD.

We'll go once a week for an hour and half and it's a pay as you go system and that makes it so nice and hassle free. I don't ever have to worry about getting our money's worth or arranging for a make up session and the best part of all is that it's only $4.50 per session per family! Way cheaper than Kinder Gym and double the family fun!

Emmy putting on her make up that Grandma got her for christmas! She insiste on putting her make up on beside me when I'm getting ready. Too cute!! You can see her little set up complete with a her own mirror and real blush :) She's almost ready for playgroup!


Lilah's ready for playgroup too! Also she's wearing the new shirt I embellished for her the other day. I designed the applique myself and hand stitched it on! This was my first time making one so I'm very proud of how it turned out hehhe

We got to playgroup early so I could fill out the paper work so the kids got to play on their own for a little bit and had all the toys to themselves. Lilah was completely enjoying this!

Stamping!

Digging in the sand pit and playing with new friend Taylor.

Lilah having a GREAT time!

We want a play house just like this one, please Daddy!!! Of course we want it to be stained walnut and fully decorated for two princesses!!!

Lilah's trying to keep up with the big dogs here!

Playgroup at the Park

Lilah laughing at her cousin Bethany!

Jade & Lilah .. from this picture you'd think there isn't much size or weight difference but this is very deceiving! Jade is nearly 11 months and Lilah 6 months!

Silly face!

Enjoying some fresh air and sunshine!

What big girls you are! Emmy fell out of her swing a few times but she's a tough one and didn't cry. Maybe I shouldn't have pushed her so high...but she likes it!