Christmas Nativity Pageant for All ages, December 22nd at 11:00am

Families and friends and are invited to join our

Christmas Nativity Pageant for all ages

Sunday, December 22 starting at 11.00am at 

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Old Quebec City

Hear the Christmas story, as told by the Innkeeper ... and join Mary and Joseph, the animals, angels, shepherds and wisemen who follow the star to form a creative nativity scene!

St. Andrew's Christmas Tea and Sale, November 16

Bring the family to the Kirk Hall (directly opposite the Morrin Centre)

at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, cnr rue Cook and Sainte-Ann

in Old Quebec

Saturday, November 16

11:00am to 2:00pm

- Light Luncheon Tea Menu -

with a choice of
Delicious Soups and rolls or Chilli; plus

Dessert Platters filled with all sorts of baked goodies

Tea, Coffee and Juice

Cost: $7.00 per person

Seniors; and Children (12 years and under) $5.00 per person

Children 5 years and under - FREE

Also featured is a Bake Sale Table with delicious home-made fudge, cookies, slices and cakes;

New-To-You Items including books, trinkets and hand-made gift items, plus a Raffle of original artwork, a hand-knitted scarf, baked goods and more! 

The Kirk Hall is a warm and friendly place to visit
while in Old Quebec, so we hope to see you there!

La P'tite Pasto: Parent-Child activity 3-7 years at Saint-Félix-de-Cap-Rouge

"La P'tite Pasto" 

PARENT-CHILD activity for 3-7 years at Saint-Félix-de-Cap-Rouge (siblings are welcome)

From September 2013, the Sainte-Félix Parish will be pleased to offer a new course for the younger ones. The family is the place par excellence to convey the basics of the faith to children. Since most of the child-care and schools removed any religious teaching since 2008, parents who wish to actively participate in the awakening to the faith of their toddlers are now turning to the community to find the tools to do this, and this is the mission of La P'tite Pasto.

At La P'tite Pasto, we want above all have fun! Songs, drawings, crafts, stories, games and puppets can explore various topics in the life of toddlers: Hello! What is your name? - Thanks for everything! - My family, I love it! - I am a beautiful treasure box! - Cheers guys! - It's Christmas!

The child discovers the wonders of family, nature, friendship and is gently introduced to the presence of God and the great Christian values​​, all in a language appropriate to their age and in an atmosphere of fun! They must be accompanied by an adult mean (parent, grandparent, or other).

The activity is run by parents and volunteers: if you want to get involved, call me!

For more information about the schedule and registration details, phone:
Anne-Laure Castelli at (418) 877-8574.

Travellin' Toddler Time first session starts October, 18th!

The Quebec City Reading Council are facilitating Travellin' Toddler Time together with their partners; Jeffrey Hale Community Services, the Morrin Centre and the Valcartier Family Centre.

What is Travellin' Toddler Time?

A free activity for parents, grandparents and children ages 3-4.  Sing songs, hear stories, enjoy a snack and make a craft.

WHEN: 9:30-11:00 AM; the second Friday of each month from October to June, excluding January. 

WHERE: This activity rotates between St. Brigid's Home, Quebec City Reading Council, Morrin Centre and Valcartier Family Centre. 

Registration for this activity is essential as space is limited to 12 children. 

Contact Quebec City Reading Council at 418-681-1258 or info@qcrc.org to register.  Registration requests are only accepted during the month preceding each session.  While younger siblings are always welcome, the activity is specifically for children ages 3-4.

• Friday October 18th at St. Brigid's, the theme is COLOURS.

• Friday November 8th at The Morrin Centre, the theme is MITTENS.
• Friday December 13th at St. Brigid's, the theme is CHRISTMAS.

Music lessons before age 7 boost brain link

An interesting article on learning music from a young age... "Starting piano or violin lessons before the age of seven appears to cause permanent changes to the brain that are linked to better motor skills. Those changes in brain development don't occur in people who learn to play an instrument when they are older, a new study has found..." to read more of the article from CBC news, click here ... Music lessons before age 7 boost brain link

Baby/Toddler Gear for SALE and to GIVE AWAY!

 

Brand NEW Deuter Child Carrier $170 or near offer.

Cost to purchase at MEC is $315

Baby Gear For Sale: FP Musical rocker $15; Bunting suit (6mth)$5; infant car-seat cover $5;

cloth diapers $4 each; Halo sleep sack 2-3T $5, Toys and accessories

 Phone Sheryl, 418 353 8243

Spicy Apple Cake Recipe

Tender and moreish, this cake keeps and travels well.

Great as a coffee morning cake, or with whipped cream for dessert.

Invariably comes out a little different each time, depending on the type of apples used.





Spicy Apple Cake (with a crunchy topping)
125g butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup cooked apple (or canned, if you wish)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup of flour, plus 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp each of nutmeg, allspice
pinch salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup raisins or sultanas

1.  Preheat oven to 150 degrees celsius.
2.  Cream the butter and sugar, add apple and egg (using ingredients at room temperature).
     Or, melt the butter, cool a little before adding the sugar and egg (then leave for 5 minutes).
3.  Sift dry ingredients and add to the apple/butter mixture.  Stir until just blended.  Add sultanas.
4.  Spread into greased or lined baking pan.
5.  Add the crunchy topping (below).

Topping

Melt 1 Tablespoon butter, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar and add up to 1/2 cup of large oat flakes.

Bake 35-40 minutes (until a skewer comes out clean).  Let it cool before cutting.

Moving Smart: WHAT CARDBOARD BOXES CAN TEACH KIDS

Moving Smart: WHAT CARDBOARD BOXES CAN TEACH KIDS: Like red rubber balls and teddy bears, broccoli refusals, skipping rope, sticky fingers, boo boo kisses, bath time pouts, and ...

CQSB Open letter to the English Community

CQSB Open letter to the English Community

For families of the Quebec Community concerned about the proposed new language laws, the above letter was recently posted in the Quebec-Chronicle by the Chairman of the Central Quebec School Board (scroll down for the letter in .pdf format and a link to the petition).

CALL TO ACTION - There is a petition for signing that is linked to the above letter.  The petition deadline is Monday, March 18.

Disposable Diapers size 3 anyone?

Would you like to have a box of disposable diapers size 3 for your infant? One of our playgroup parents has purchased a box which are too small for her little one.

Phone me if you are interested, Sheryl T. 418 353 8243

LadyBug Paper plate Craft for Kids

Try this cute LadyBug craft for preschoolers

As a parent, it is easy for us to want to step in and DO the craft for our child.  So, I encourage you to show your child what to do, and then allow them to use child-safe scissors, paint and a non-toxic glue stick on their own!

These are important skills all good preschools, kindergartens and learning centres encourage children to do to help develop their cognitive skills.

You'll need:-

2 white paper plates
Red paint, Black paint
Scissors and a glue stick
Coloured construction paper for the head, spots and eyes; or use stick on eyes
3x black pipe cleaners (for legs)
Stapler

• Help your preschooler paint one paper plate red and the other black (allow time to dry)
• Cut the red paper plate in half
• Trace circles onto lightweight coloured paper and have your preschooler cut out the circles and glue onto the wings
• Punch three holes on either side of the black paper plate
• Thread black pipe cleaners through the back of the black paper plate (to form legs)
• Staple the red wings onto the black body (slightly overlapping at the top)
• Cut a crescent shape for head, from coloured card, paper or foam
• Glue the head shaped crescent onto the tip of the wings
• Glue eyes onto the head

Playgroup's inspiration for music is "mainly music"

mainly music was founded in New Zealand for preschoolers and their families.  Today there are mainly music groups operating in many countries world-wide.

To find out if there is a group near you, or to start a group visit mainlymusic.org.nz

Original and creative music resources for the home (in Canada or the USA) 

can be purchased via mainlymusic.org

Brand new TV mini series 'The Bible' airing tonight

There's a brand new TV mini series The Bible airing tonight on the History Channel 74.

Created by husband and wife team, Mark Burnett (producer of The Voice, Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice and Shark Tank) and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel). This is a big production that retells Biblical stories from Genesis through Revelation. The mini series starts TONIGHT ... Sunday, March 3rd, and will bring your favourite Bible stories to life for five weeks!

Parents, here's a preview (above). It has been compared to a PG-13 film due to its portrayal of some Bible stories, so discretion is advised. Every episode will repeat on the History Channel during the week.

There has not been a production like this, probably since The Ten Commandments.  Mark and Roma are expecting millions of people worldwide will watch this series after it is released.

March Break at Sepaq Acquarium, Quebec City

A great outdoor event for the kids ... on this week!  

My son and I went last year ... lots of inflatable slides to play on.  It helps if you have an Annual Pass to avoid queuing.

Pump Up March Break, 2 - 10 March 2013

Home-made Granola

For every 2 cups of large cooking oats (not quick cooking oats);

Mix together:

1-2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup

2 Tablespoons canola oil (or an oil that has a very mild taste)

Then add:

2 Tablespoons coconut (dessicated, unsweetened)

¼ cup nuts or seeds, as you like (eg., pecans, sunflower seeds)

Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius.

Place the mixed ingredients into a shallow baking pan or pyrex dish and toast for approximately 40 minutes, until golden brown.  It is important to stir the mixture every 10-15 minutes during cooking. 

Allow the toasted granola to cool completely before storing.  If you store this mixture while slightly warm, then the granola will turn soft.

Add ¼ cup of your favourite dried fruits, eg., dried apricots, raisins, cranberries etc.

Note:

• I usually double the mixture and use two oblong pyrex dishes to gently toast the granola.  
• Reduce the sugar and maple syrup to 1 Tablespoon of each, for every 2 cups of large oats, if you prefer.

Sheryl

Butterfly Festival starts February 9th

Located at Centre Jardin Hamel on Boulevard Hamel

http://www.jardinhamel.com/

Nursery Rhyme and Song Favourites

I'm a Little Teapot I’m a little teapot, Short and stout. Here is my handle. Here is my spout. When I get all steamed up; Hear me shout. "Tip me over and pour me out!"	This Little Light of mine, This Little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. (Repeat twice) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine. (Repeat twice) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Twinkle, twinkle, Little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, Little star. How I wonder what you are.	Zoom, Zoom, Zoom Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon. (Repeat) If you want to take a trip, Climb aboard my rocket ship. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …. Blast off!
Hey Diddle Diddle Hey diddle, diddle. The cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed, To see such sport, And the dish ran away, With the spoon. Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake Pat-a-cake, pat-a cake, baker's man. Bake me a cake, just as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it, and mark it with “B”. And put it in the oven for baby and me. Round and Round the Paddock Round and round the paddock; catch a little a hare.  One step, two step … tickle under there.	Star Light Star Bright Star light, Star bright. First star, I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might. Have the wish, I wish tonight.  Itsy bitsy Spider Itsy bitsy spider, climbed up the waterspout. Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain. So, itsy-bitsy spider, climbed up the spout again! This Little Piggy This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home.  This little piggy had roast beef.  This little piggy had none.  And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way home.

Miss Polly Had a Dolly

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick.

So she called for the Doctor to come quick, quick, quick.

The Doctor came with his bag and his hat.

And he knocked at the door with a rat-a-tat-tat.

He looked at the dolly and he shook his head.

And he said, “Miss Polly, put her straight to bed.

He wrote out a paper for a pill, pill, pill.

“That’ll make her better.  Yes, it will, will, will.”

Baby’s Fingers

Baby’s fingers, up.  Baby’s fingers, down.

Baby’s fingers dancing, all around the town.

Dancing on your shoulders.

Dancing on your head.

Dancing on your knees, then tuck them into bed.

The Rainbow Song (to the tune of “Hush Little Baby”)

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue, rainbow green and yellow too.

Rainbow orange and rainbow red.  Rainbow shining overhead.

Come and count the colours with me.  How many colours do you see?

One, two, three on down to green. Four, five, six colours can be seen.

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue, rainbow green and yellow too.

Rainbow orange and rainbow red. Rainbow shining overhead.

You are my Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy, when skies are grey.  You’ll never know dear, how much I love you.  Please don’t take my sunshine away.

Are you Sleeping?

Are you sleeping?  Are you sleeping?  Brother John, Brother John.  Morning bells are ringing.  Morning bells are ringing.  Ding, ding, dong.  Ding, ding, dong.