Gingerbread Houses + Mouse's Christmas Gift = Special Morning

I had a great morning today with Harbour Shores Church! A big shout out to Lora Schultze and her crew for all their efforts. It was an honor to share Mouse's Christmas Gift with everyone!

#wewillmakeadifference

#wewillbealight

#wewillcelebratejesus

Mouse in a Matchbox - Craft Idea for Kids

This week I am heading to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother and extended family. On Saturday, I am doing another Story Time Event with Barnes & Noble. 

This is the craft that I am bringing to share with the children. 

I can't believe I haven't shared this craft on the blog yet. 

Isn't it cute?

And so easy to make!

The craft is one of four ideas in the FREE DOWNLOADABLE teaching guide that Zonderkidz helped me format. 

I purchased the matchboxes (and emptied the matches) at Meijer. ($1 for 10 boxes).

 I cut pieces of felt for the blanket, 

and I cut make-up remover cotton pads into two pieces for the mattress.

 The paper doll is from the download. It comes in three sizes, but I chose the smallest size, made a screenshot, and created a document so that I can print a bunch all at once on white cardstock. 

Finally, assemble it!

I tell each child that Mouse loves to hear their stories. 

I hope many children end up telling Mouse their stories in the days and months to come.

Blog Tour #4 - Read. Discuss. Do! with Rebecca J. Gomez

A big thanks to Rebecca J. Gomez for reading Mouse's Christmas Gift and creating a Read, Discuss, Do! activity to go along with the story. Click below to access her blog and learn more about the idea.

Read. Discuss. Do! with Rebecca J. Gomez on her blog

If you haven't seen her Read, Discuss, Do! activities, you will want to look into more of them. She has fabulous ideas for how to spend quality time with your kids connecting over children's books.

Story Time and Crafts at Barnes & Noble with opportunity to donate to the Indiana Chapter of The Pajama Program

Countdown to Story Time at Barnes and Noble in Noblesville. I'll be there all day, so come out and say hi! I'm very excited about helping The Pajama Program, which benefits foster children across this country by providing them new pajamas and new books. It would make my heart so happy to know that children in this situation were receiving Mouse's Christmas Gift. You can purchase a book that day to give to the cause, or you can bring a pair of new pajamas to donate. All donations will go to the Indiana Chapter of The Pajama Program to benefit children in our state. (I live in Indiana)

Check out the organization The Pajama Program at the link below:
Link to The Pajama Program website