Faking the Season: Winter Part 2 - Snowflakes

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Raindrops have finally been falling on my head here in San Diego! California has been so dry all year long that these past three days have felt heavenly for me! It is almost possible to believe that winter solstice is just around the corner. 

And to lift the mood even further, our family has just plunged into faking the season and making snowflakes. We try and cover most of the windows of our house with paper snowflakes. This involves multiple nights of scissors handling and paper clippings all over the floor. Often we have even asked for help from friends and neighbors. It is so much fun to get together and see who has natural talent! The best part though is to compete with my better half who seems to have a real knack at making snowflakes. His ones turn out fabulous every time, and mine are usually just mediocre - unless I strike gold and make a randomly brilliant flake by accident. It has also been wonderful to notice how both of my kids are now able to make snowflakes of their own. 

If you would like to make snowflakes, you will only need scissors and paper (printing or tissue paper, white and light blue paper works beautifully). It also never hurts to add some sparkles with glitter! If you need instructions on how to fold the paper, you can find them here: How to Make 6 Pointed Paper Snowflakes 

Just watch out, soon your floors are full of paper cuttings as well! Enjoy!

Terhific Recommendations on Nutcracker Ballet Related Items

 Sugar plum Fairy Calling

After visiting a museum, or going to an event, I like to ask the kids to search around the house for items that remind them of their experience. That way, the children get more out of the visit. After seeing the Nutcracker Ballet performance, the kids pulled out a few of our favorite Ballet books and toys. Here is a Terhific list of items that come with our highest recommendations.

1. The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold-out Play Set (Foldout Play Set) (Christmas, Activity Book)

Pros: This package includes the Nutcracker book, paper dolls of the ballet characters and a theater in which the paper dolls can come alive. My daughter loves to set up the tree different scenes of the ballet in the theater. What I love the best is that the children can relive their experience of the live ballet show at home over and over again! Another nice feature is the pocket in which the paper dolls can be stored. Cons: It is best to keep the paper dolls out of toddlers' hands. They can break easily.

2. Nutcracker: The Motion Picture

Pros: This version of Nutcracker Ballet performance is brought to life by famous children's story writer, Maurice Sendak. The production is both exuberant and exciting! My kids have watched this movie over and over again, especially right before and after we go and see the live performances. Cons: Some of the characters can be scary for little children.

3. Wooden Nutcracker Doll

Pros: Last year, I bought our kids a Nutcracker. They thought that it was a great gift as we had just seen a live performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. This year, we have just rediscovered them from a box of Christmas decorations. Both kids were thrilled to find their wooden soldiers again! I love seasonal gifts, as they keep giving each year. Cons: The Nutcrackers are meant to be decorations rather than toys. Thus, little kids could easily break them.

4. European Wooden Nut Cracker Tool

Pros: When the children and I watch the Nutcracker Ballet Movie, we like to crack some nuts at the same time. This European nut cracker is kid friendly. I love encouraging the kids to be self sufficient and capable, this tool allows them to crack nuts all by themselves. I think that Montessori based schools could use one of these tools during the holiday season. Cons: Nothing at all.

5. Ballerina Music Box

Pros: I do not know any little girls who would not love to have a musical jewelry box. Watching a little girl putting away her treasures in this box, puts a smile on mom's face. This box also provides many compartments for little treasures. Cons: Eventually little girls grow out of these boxes.

I hope this list is helpful during the holiday season. What are you favorite Ballet toys and books?

Nutcracker Ballet and Exposure to High Culture

Beautiful Ballerinas and Dazzling Snowflakes

For the past two year's our family has had an opportunity to go see our daughter's best friend perform in a Nutcracker Ballet. My kids truly enjoyed the magical story of Clara, who dreams that her new toy soldier nutcracker has come alive. The adventure kept my kids occupied as they watched Clara and the Nutcracker dance through an epic battle with the Rat King only to end up in the Sugar Plum Fairy's magical Land of Sweets.

I believe in exposing my children to high culture. And I believe that high culture should be available for all. Unfortunately, most of the live performances are pretty expensive here in San Diego. Without a connection to Girl Scouts or other group discounts the price for a family of 4 can be too much. Thus, I lobby for more community out reach programs for all live performances. 

Here is a list of our family's favorite holiday performances in San Diego:

Nutcracker Ballet:

• San Diego Academy of Ballet: Nutcracker
• California Ballet: Nutcracker
• City Ballet: Nutcracker
• San Diego Ballet: Nutcracker

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Play:

•  The Old Globe: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

San Diego Symphony's Family Festival Concert Series:

• Family Festival Concert Series

I hope you are able to go and see one live show this season! It would be lovely to hear about your favorite live shows! 

Can’t wait for Finnish Christmas!

When December rolls around, my kids start their count down to Christmas with a little help from Advent Calendars. Their favorites are chocolate calendars, but mine is this online calendar that spreads holiday cheer by sharing Finnish Christmas traditions. So far the traditions have included Christmas carols, letters to Santa and dazzling displays of holiday lights. Find out more here: Can’t wait for Finnish Christmas!

Faking the Seasons: Winter Part 1

Wintry Pine Cone Wind Chime Terhi-tivity

My favorite season, winter, starts right after Thanksgiving at our house! There are no icy snowflakes on the corners of the windows, nor is there any snow in the ground, but I won't let that bother me. Instead, I will create a winter wonderland of our own and fake the season, right here in sunny San Diego. 

Our family loves to go on day trips to our local mountains. We always look for nature treasures during our hikes and visits to the day use areas of nature preserves and state parks. We had gathered up a huge bag full of pine cones and now I had an idea of making a wind chime out of them.

After working on the chime under our carport, we moved it to our back patio. Now the fake snow and glitter add sparkles into our living room through the windows.

If you'd like to make your own pine cone wind chime, you will need the following items:

• a big tree branch 
• pine cones
• fishing line
• spray can of fake snow
• glitter (Any color would do. I chose iridescent glitter.)

The tricky part of this project is attaching the pine cones to the fishing line. I just kept on twirling the fishing line around each pine cone multiple times and that seemed to do the trick. These pine cones were quite large. Little ones would make a cute small pine cone chime! 

Let me know if I inspired you to make one too! Until it's time to fake the season again...

Seussical Terhi-tivity

Whimsical Dr. Seuss Inspired Holiday Trees

After visiting the Dr. Seuss art exhibit, the kids and I were inspired to do some weird and wonderful, dare I even say, "Seussical" art. We went to a local park and picked up some interesting looking branches with seed pods. I am ashamed to tell you that I do not know what plant those branches came from. I can tell you all about the trees and plants of Finland, but my knowledge of the local plants here in Southern California is really limited. Please, educate me if you recognize the branches :-D

We brought the branches home. Took out some acrylic paints and had some fun painting some of the leaves and tops of the seed pods.

Here are some pictures of the end result. 

The kids had fun naming our Seussical tree. Windula and Whims Noel were our favorites. If you would like to make a Seussical tree of your own, you will only need the following items:

• branches of any trees or bushes
• paint brushes
• acrylic paint
• a vase

What I love about Dr. Seuss' art is that it is not perfect. It is interesting and unusual. Until next time, make something! Something fun! Just like Dr. Seuss would! And I would love to receive a picture of your creation!

Terhific Recommendation on 5 Top Notch Dr. Seuss Products

 Seussical Fun!

Would you like to have some Seussical fun with little ones this holiday season? Look no further, here are our family's favorite Dr. Seuss items.

1. Cat in the Hat I Can Do That! Game

Pros: The game gets the whole family giggling and being silly together! The game pieces are whimsical and the kids have fun hopping, twirling, crawling and balancing. There is nothing funnier in my kids eyes than to see their daddy crawl through the "Trick-a-ma-stick" on the floor. Cons: Some of the game pieces are made out of plastic foam. They can break easily. But it is easy enough to replace the pieces by simply drawing the pictures into cardboard and cutting them out.

2. Fox in Socks (Beginner Books)

Pros: By the time we get to the the page when the beetles battle in a bottle, we are all just roaring with laughter. Dr. Seuss' silly tongue twisters are sure to entertain all ages! Cons: If you are not careful, you may sprain your tongue!

3. Dr. Seuss Learning Cards: Opposites

Pros: Little ones get to learn the meanings of words with little help from Dr. Seuss. Our 4-year-old loves the card with tall and short kids. He so badly wants to be one of those tall, big kids! Cons: You might have to giggle while looking at the illustrations.

4. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (I Can Read It All by Myself)

Pros: This is a perfect picture book for a beginning reader. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish was my daughter's first book which she was able to read aloud all by herself! Now, a couple of years later, she still loves this book! Cons: You might have to read this book to your child over and over again until they are able to do so by themselves.

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Classic Seuss)

Pros: It took me a few years to warm up to Grinch, but now it is one of my favorites! It is heartwarming to read about the change of hearts in Grinch. I would love to be one of the Whos in Whoville, singing Christmas carols together! This book helps you get into Holiday mood! Cons: The character of Grinch can be scary for young children.

I hope these product ideas are helpful. I would love to hear what are your favorite Dr. Seuss books, games and toys!