Christmas Party pics ...

Christmas Crafts for Kids

Ideas for making Christmas Crafts with Kids at home! (special thanks to Sheryl and Michelle)

Christmas Angel Tree Topper
A cute addition to this year's Christmas tree!

What you'll need:

• Paper plate (a bendy one)
• Glitter glue or a glittery pipe cleaner (for the angel's halo)
• Christmas paper (cut in strips)
• Stapler
• Paper glue

How to Assemble your Angel:

1. Draw shape of Angel onto your paper plate.
2. Cut out the body first (make a diagonal cut toward the centre of the plate), then cut the wings and head.
3. Fold the body to form a cone (staple).
4. Decorate the wings, with wing shapes cut from a paper doily.
5. Use glitter glue to add a halo, or wrap a glittery pipe cleaner around your fingers 2-3 times, to form an oval and staple the halo to the angel's head. 
6. Decorate the body by gluing strips of Christmas paper to form an interesting pattern.

Apple-Cinnamon Christmas Tree Decorations
It smells divine!  Here's the recipe ...

What you'll need:

• 1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup white school glue (non toxic)
• Plastic Bowl
• Plastic food wrap
• Rolling pin
• Wax paper
• Cookie cutters 
• Ribbon or yarn for hanging
• Straw or skewer (to make a hole to hang decoration)

How to make it:

1. Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl. The dough should be as thick as cookie dough. 
2. Remove from bowl and knead. Put it back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for at least a half hour.
3. Remove the dough, knead again to make sure it's smooth. Flatten/roll the dough between waxed paper until it's between 1/4" thick and 1/8" thick.
4. Cut out desired shapes, use a straw to punch a hole for the ribbon to hang. The circle of dough will pull out with the straw or skewer.
5. Gently place the shapes on a piece of clean wax paper. They will take 3-5 days to dry, and you will need to turn them over a couple of times a day for them to dry evenly and flat.

The ornaments will get smaller during the drying process. You will also notice that if you do not turn the ornaments over often enough while they are drying, the edges of the ornaments will curl. When dry, thread a piece of ribbon or yarn through the hole to hang. SHAPE IDEAS: Tree, Apple, Bell, Heart, Goose, Gingerbread Man, Star



Christmas Reindeer Foot and Hand Prints

• Trace your child's hand prints on brown construction paper, and cut out.
• Trace one of your child's feet on soft foam board or heavy construction paper (in a contrasting colour to the hands). Cut out foot shape.
• Glue on googly eyes and a nose.
• Glue the hands to the top of the foot (as seen above).

Happy Christmas Crafting!

Shining Stars Christmas Party, November 22

Have some fun and play together with your preschoolers!

• Sing along to Silent Night, Away in a Manager, Jingle Bells 
• Listen to the Christmas story
• Learn about the traditions of Christmas in Hungary
• Parents can shop for books for Christmas gifts and chat over coffee 
• Craft corner and Bouncy castle for kids

Thursday, November 22 from 9.30am to 11.00am

Venue: Valcartier Family Centre, 1039 Wolfe Avenue, Sainte-Foy 

What to bring: Indoor shoes (non-marking soles), a snack and drink for your preschoolers.

Tea, coffee and juice provided. There is no charge for this event. 

Thank you for supporting our book stall this Christmas (books supplied by Anglostore)

Rev. Katherine Burgess will join us for morning tea and answer the question: "What makes Christmas for you, and your family?"

For more details, phone Sheryl (T) 418 353 8243

Christmas Party - Song Sheet

Away in a Manager Away in a manger, No crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus, Lay down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky, Looked down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus, Asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, The poor baby wakes. But, little Lord Jesus, No crying He makes. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay. Close by me forever; And love me I pray. Bless all the dear children, In Thy tender care. And take us to heaven, To live with Thee there. We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas (repeat twice) And a happy New Year.  Good tidings we bring, To you and your kin; We wish you a merry Christmas, And a happy New Year. Silent Night Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright; Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds wake at the sight. Glory streams from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia. Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born! Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love's pure light; Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow, In a one-horse open sleigh. O'er the hills we go, Laughing all the way. Bells on bobtail ring, Making spirits bright. Oh, what sport to ride and sing, A sleighing song tonight. Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride, In a one-horse open sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride, In a one horse open sleigh. Joy to the World Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

The Spirit of Giving

Yesterday morning (November 8, 2012) our Playgroup families donated 24 canned items and 16 packaged food items for Moisson Quebec, our city food bank.  

In addition, we filled two shoe boxes with gifts to be sent to children in Haiti (organised by Operation Christmas Child).

Thank you for your generosity this Christmas season.

Bring Gifts for Sharing, November 8

As Christmas draws near, Playgroup families are again invited to give generously when we meet again on November 8.

This year we are supporting Moisson Quebec and Operation Christmas Child, so please:

• Bring a food donation for Moisson Quebec ... items appreciated include: boxed cereal, canned fruits, vegetables, salmon, tuna; pasta, rice; baby food; hygiene items.  Please check the expiry dates before donating.

• Bring a gift for a 2 - 4 year old BOY or GIRL for Operation Christmas Child.  NEW items only please, which can include: caps, t-shirts, hair accessories, toys, pencils, notebooks. We'll be filling shoe boxes, to be sent to Haiti.

Watch the joy on the faces of these girls from Haiti, receiving their gifts.

Ladybugs and Frogs

FIVE LITTLE LADY BUGS (down from amazon.com song #4, "Five Little Lady Bugs: album by Karyn Henley, also available for downloading on cdbaby.com)

Five little lady bugs all in a row.

Out to the garden they started to go.

But one of them stepped on the other one’s toe.

Uh-oh, there she goes!

Four little lady bugs all in a row.

Out to the garden they started to go.

But one little lady bug tripped on a hoe.

Uh-oh, there she goes!

Three little lady bugs all in a row.

Out to the garden they started to go.

But one was frightened by Uncle Joe.

Uh-oh, there she goes!

Two little lady bugs all in a row.

Out to the garden they started to go.

One felt the cold wind starting to blow.

Uh-oh, there she goes!

One little lady bug all in a row. Out to the garden she started to go.


But the sky grew dark and it started to snow. 
Uh-oh, there she goes!


No little lady bugs all in a row. And the garden is covered with snow.

Copyright: karynhenley.com

FIVE LITTLE SPECKLED FROGS

Five little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log.

Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum! Yum!

One jumped into a pool, where it was nice and cool.

Now there are FOUR green speckled frogs.

Four little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log.

Eating some most delicious bugs.  Yum! Yum!

One jumped into a pool, where it was nice and cool.

Now there are THREE green speckled frogs.

Three little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log.

Eating some most delicious bugs.  Yum! Yum!

One jumped into a pool, where it was nice and cool.

Now there are TWO green speckled frogs.

Two little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log.

Eating some most delicious bugs.  Yum! Yum!

One jumped into a pool, where it was nice and cool.

Now there is ONE green speckled frog.

One little speckled frog, sat on a speckled log.

Eating some most delicious bugs.  Yum! Yum!

HE jumped into a pool, where it was nice and cool.

Now there are NO green speckled frogs.