I"m Not Lucky... Just Blessed!

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfrey

Gotta love Oprah...  Did you see her last two favorite things shows?  Friday's show was my favorite because my Aunt Sandy was on the show!  I lived vicariously through her.  Here is her local news cast telling about the show;

I am very Thankful that my Aunt had this opportunity.  She is a good person who does good things for others and it is always fun to see the good girl win!! 

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to you all.  I am so Thankful that my kids pulled out the GeoTrax today and played so well that I got the house all cleaned.  I also made awesome Bourbon Stuffing (that I have eaten way too much of already and it isn't even Thanksgiving), homemade cranberry sauce via Food Network, Sweet Potatoes, and Green Bean Casserole.  I'll finish it all up in the AM and family and friends will arrive here at 1:00 for some appetizers via Tastefully Simple!!!  O, and did I mention I also ran two miles and did a killer 30 minute Kettleball class with my girlfriend, Leslie.  Best part was that the instructor talked about his Thanksgiving Feast while beating us with exercise.  I learned that a fried turkey has the same nutritional value as a baked one if you throw away the skin. 

I am very Thankful for my life, I am truly blessed with a great family and awesome friends.  I hope you find the little blessings in your life daily and remember to thank God for even the smallest of happy treats in your life.  Happy Turkey day you all...  I leave you with this... 

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown

Gobble, Gobble!

Free Turkey Phonics Printable (Beginning Sound)

My four year old is working on letter sounds.  I made her this large printable game.  Each Pilgrim has a letter.  There is a pumpkin with a picture for each Pilgrim.  To play you must match the picture on the pumpkin to the beginning sound on the Pilgrim.  My daughter loves her new game.

To make it:  Just print this file (click here).  Cut and glue the Pilgrims to a large poster board.  Place Velcro on each pilgrim and each pumpkin.

Classroom:  Great game for prek-first graders.  You can use it as a center or a take it to your seat activity. 

Make couple and let the kids work together in teams to give each pilgrim the correct pumpkin. 

If you like this, there is a similar game in out Winter Warm Up Packet - Click here to see that! 

I like it... Holiday Hodge Podge 2010 (#1)

What I so love about the blogging world/ website world is all the sharing that goes around over the Holidays.  There are so many wonderful ideas being shared by so many creative people.  Here are some that recently caught my attention!!!

Love a fun Count Down!  Here is a great way to Count Down with your Kids! Download the free printables at  it is what it is

My girlfriend made a ribbon wreath similar to the one seen below...  I Love, love, love this Polka dot Ribbon Wreath from  She's {kinda} Crafty

Celebrate with SuperChick as she shares five FREE printables for Thanksgiving that she found on the Web!

Fiskar's table with a the pie snack holder and paper bag drumstick is to die for, at least I think so!

Ok, what lucky kids to have this as the kids table...  Frog Prince Paperie's shares this o-so lovely kids' table.

Yes, I have some of my own past ideas to share today...

Please fill a friend's bucket and go Turkey them!!!  Turkey A Friend....

You can make yours kids Turkey Shirts!  Fun for all!

 

For Your Older Kids (age 6 to 9), Roll a Grocery List to Make Pumpkin Pie Game off The Teaching Heart Thanksgiving Packet which is emailed to you in less than 24 hours after you place the order. Filled with lots of fun for Thanksgiving!!! Keep them busy while you cook. My son even plays this by himself.

My son had fun with this pumpkin Pie Rhyme Center. You match the whip topping to the piece of pie. He loved doing this on his own and then I could check his work when he was done. This is a printable from the Teaching Heart Thanksgiving Packet. You can see more by clicking here!

Hope you have found a few ideas to start your Thanksgiving fun!

Free Thanksgiving Printable Coming...

We are getting closer on Facebook to 2,000 fans.  When we hit 2,000 fans on Facebook, I will post a free Thanksgiving printable that will be great for PreK-1st center time or to use at home for some beginning sound practice...  So, if you are not a fan...  click here and become one.

Until then, check out our Thanksgiving Page for awesome ideas.  Ideas like:

Gobbling Good Glyphs....

or

Pilgrim, Pilgrim Book Idea

and so much more...

Go Turkey A Friend....

Here's a little something similar to being Boo'ed!  It's a fun way to thank a friend...  I got this last year and I am still not sure who it was from ;) ... thought I would share if you were looking to thank the people who have been good friends in your life this year.   If you have one good friend in your life, than you are very lucky and should go Turkey them!!!

(click on the graphic above and then print it to send out!)

Someone is Thankful to have you as a friend!

A “Turkey of Thanks” is what they send!

A little reminder, that you are special in your own way,

Making a certain friend thankful to God for YOU today!

The holidays quickly grow busy and we often forget to thank the ones that are always there to lend a hand or an ear to listen…   The friends that are there for you in good times and bad.  You happen to be one of my favorite friends!  So this little treat is something I picked out just for you.   If I did my job as I was told, you will never know who sent you this treat.  However, I hope it will bring you a smile and make you feel special!  You truly are a great friend!  I am thankful to God for the blessing of you in my life.  This treat comes with a few rules and requests that will help make others know that they touch lives too.

1.  You cannot ask anyone directly if they Turkey-d you. 
The best Turkey-ers will not let you know they did Turkey you, even if they did!!!

2. Copy this letter and the attached turkey three times.

3. Pick three friends or neighbors to anonymously send this to.  Include a small treat for each friend.  Something that reminds you of the certain friend.  Please send before Thanksgiving. 

4. Do your best not to share that you were the one who Turkey-d your friend.

Giveway OF Thanks!

Only a few days left to enter... Last day is December 5th! Hurry!

One of my personal goals for November is to be aware of my many blessings and be thankful for them!

I am so thankful for my visitors both here at Teaching Heart Mom and at Teaching Heart. I am also thankful to those that purchase products from Teaching Heart... I wish I could thank everyone with a free treat. That just is not possible! But I can giveaway this basket filled with tons of treats any teacher would love plus three Teaching Heart CDROMs (valued at over $100)...

filled with all of this stuff...2 New books(one paper back and one hardback), 2 listen and play games, a hungry caterpillar puzzle, Telling Time game, pocket chart, three CDROMS from Teaching Heart (CD #3, Packet CD #2, and Any Skills game board CD), stickers, star notepad, holiday coffee, candle, hand sanitizer, hand cream...

and I can give away five CD's to five entries (you choose the CDROM if you win).

Just my way of saying thank you to my visitors and customers. You all really rock!

SIX WINNERS: You may enter for a chance to win this basket and five other entries will be drawn for a chance to win one CD of choice from:
http://teachingheart.net/primaryteachertimesaver.html

RULES

Seven chances to enter... Last day to enter is December 5th. Winners will be posted on December 6th.

1.) Just leave your name and email in the comments section. (enter 1 x)

2.) Blog about this giveaway and then come back to the comments section and leave the link (twice) to your blog post, your name, and email. (enter 2 x)

3.) Join our facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=46195418417&ref=ts Once you have joined, return to the comments section and type, "I am a facebook fan." Leave your email and name too. (enter 1x)

4.)Become a follower of this blog. If you are already following, that counts too. In the comments section type, "I'm a follower." leave your name and email. (enter 1x)

5,) Tweet about this giveaway. Please use @teachingheart in your tweet. Come back and leave the comment "I tweeted this!" and your email. (enter 1 X)

6.) For those who have purchased a Teaching Heart CDROM in the past... In the comments section, please list one of the CDROM's you have and why you enjoy using it. Your name and email... make another comment: Please tell us about an activity you have used on the CD and how you and your class enjoyed it. Leave your name and email. (enter 2x)

Good luck to you all and thanks again for being a visitor/reader/follower!!!

Here's 2 more giveaways parents and teachers would love! What a month to giveaway!!!

My three favorite stores hands down are: Target, Kohl's, and Amazon! The last being the one I probably shop most at. Plus Amazon is just great all around. They have an awesome associates program that has paid me well for years... Plus I recently became an amazon vine reader ='s free things to review... Once I won a 1,000 gift card from them. That was about 8 years ago when DVD's cost like $500.00 and that is when we got our first DVD player. Anyhow, I just found this AMAZON.com giveaway for $25.00. We can all use the extra money this time of year. Hop over to My Bilingual Boys and check out the list of Great Giveaways !

Also wanted to share this teacher giveaway found at Kindergarten's 3 R's:

Go here to see how to enter this contest.

Turkey Shirts

These are shirts I made my kids for Thanksgiving last year. I LOVE iron on computer paper and I make all kinds of shirts, pillowcases, totes, and even underwear with it. For this shirt I found paper that the kids can color with regular crayons before you iron on the image (found it at Michael's). So I printed out a Turkey on the paper and had my son color it. Then I ironed on the image he colored on one side and on the other side I used a Thanksgiving graphic and typed out the words, I am thankful for my sister. The kids loved the shirts!

Ready For The Holidays Homemade Gifts

I thought I would start posting some craft projects for the holidays. Here are a few from my holidays last year. The last two include free printables for you. I need some fresh ideas, so comment if you have some ideas or good links for me!!! Thanks...I love the computer iron-on paper and I am always looking for new things to create with it. In the past I have created T-shirts, favor bags, & tote bags. When we are home in PA for Christmas, I always do Christmas Eve dinner and I wanted to have a fun centerpiece last year... I bought a table runner and printed some pictures of Christmas pasts (dating back 30 some years) on the iron on paper. I ironed the pictures onto the runner and had a great centerpiece. It got my family saying, "remember when..." I gave the runner to my mom as a gift after the dinner, since she loved it so much. Here is a picture of it in her home... I may and try and do this for my husband's family this year. If you plan to try this craft, I suggest you purchase the Avery paper. You can purchase it at Walmart, K-Mart, Target, and your local office store.

Another fun holiday thing to share. I created a nice gift idea for the child in your life... It is called Grinch on a Trip. Just get a suitcase, buy some white shirts in your child's size, get iron on computer paper, a Christmas Coloring Book, some green candy canes, the Grinch Book, and download the Grinch Soundtrack. Put this all in a suitcase and you have a great gift... see below. PS. I found the little dog stuffed animal at the dollar store. Too cute!

I think this is the last item I would like to share tonight... I made Reindeer food last year for my son's class and decided to change the tag I made a few years ago. I put the food in clear plastic bags and tied a Santa charm on the bag. It was a nice treat for the class. My son loves to sprinkle the dust every year.

Click to download my PDF file of this fun tag!

Click here for more Holiday Printable Craft Treat Ideas!!! You will see my snowman soup treat and some other cute treats!

Thanksgiving Hodge Podge

Just a few Thanksgiving Ideas I thought were neat & worth checking out! Some I posted last year and some are new... I hope you find an idea you can use!

First up is the Pilgrim Toilet Paper Roll over there on the right. Isn't he a cutie? DLTK will show you how to make one... It is so easy with the free printables included with the directions.

While you are at DLTK, be sure to look here... tons of great printables for Thanksgiving.

Busy Bee Kids Crafts Shares this mini cornucopia... So cute. Click here to learn more.

Charlotte Smarty Pants Talks About The Kids Table at Thanksgiving:
http://charlottesmartypants.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-kids-table.html

Check out the comments section for even more ideas.

Check out these Cereal Box Turkeys at Plum Pudding! They are very cute and unique!!!

I love this idea... maybe we will try this today: My Little Gems has a free Turkey printable you can use with this idea. Go check it out!

Check out these very cute Turkey Finger Puppets you can make from Skip to My Lou!!!

Learn How to Make This Paper Plate Turkey With Your Kids at Ramblings of a Crazy Women! Also, check out the Turkey Spoon Craft!

For Your Older Kids (age 6 to 9), Roll a Grocery List to Make Pumpkin Pie Game off The Teaching Heart Thanksgiving Packet which is emailed to you in less than 24 hours after you place the order. Filled with lots of fun for Thanksgiving!!! Keep them busy while you cook. My son even plays this by himself.

November Reminds Us to Give Thanks

We should be thankful all year long... right? It seems like the month of November is there to remind us to be Thankful... So here I am being thankful to God for the most important things in my life...

1.) My Children - their health, smiles, and laughter... the way little things get them so excited. That quiet moment when they don't know I am watching them and thanking God for them, the greatest gift he has ever given me.

2.) My Husband - my best friend (for about 16 years now) even though he drives me nuts... sometimes! I love the man with all my soul (if only he read my blog he would know that - hee-hee!!!) He has to be the best Dad in the world. Watching him with my kids makes me love him more and when he swiffers I love him even more!!! He is a silly guy with a huge heart! Thank you God for him!

3.) My Good Friends - God just seems to always give me the friends I need at the right time. I am also blessed to have a variety of friends... My high school friends, my college friends, and my mom friends! Many of which I have been friends with for over 20 years. Friendship is very important to me and I am just so blessed with the word's greatest friends.

4.) My Mom and Dad - Two people that have always been there for me and loved me even when they heard some of the things I did in high school. They are the best mom and dad. Their love for each other is a great example of a perfect marriage.

Thankful By A. R. Gronos

I'm thankful for all good with which

I've been blessed throughout life.

For hardships, and for heartaches, too,

For failures, trials and strife.

I'm thankful for each little prayer

Someone has said for me;

For loving thoughts, for friendliness,

For all good will I see.

My thanks for hands, with which I could

Scribe someone on life's way;

For all small deeds of kindness

I'm allowed to do each day.

I'm thankful for all happiness,

Each long hour of deep sorrow;

God thus in his great mercy gives

More wisdom for tomorrow.

Inspirational Words of Wisdom for Reflection:

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfrey

"Every time we remember to say 'thank you', we experience nothing less than heaven on earth." Sarah Ban Breathnach

What are you thankful for...

Here Comes the Turkey...

He will be here soon, some things to get you excited:

My favorite Turkey Poem:

I have a turkey, big and fat
He spreads his wings, (Fan hands at hips)
And walks like that (Strut)
His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn)
And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble')

My favorite Turkey Song (You can download off of Itunes. I suggest the Dr. Jean version)
It is on her happy Everything CD


ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY
Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine"
Albuquerque, he's my turkey,
and he's feathered and he's fine
and he wobbles and he gobbles
and I'm awfully glad he's mine.
He's the best pet you could ever get
better than a dog or cat
Albuquerque, he's my turkey
and I'm awfully glad of that.
Albuquerque, he's my turkey
he's so cozy in his bed
because for our Thanksgiving dinner
we had scrambled eggs instead.

Some of my favorite Turkey Reads:



FUN LINKS:

Family Fun has a resource filled with Thanksgiving Printables

Tip Junkie has place card ideas.

mmmm... these acron cookies look yummy!

Ramblings of a Crazy Women has awesome Thanksgiving Kiddo Craft Ideas!

Many Thanksgiving Ideas on Teaching Heart's Turkey Time Page!

Keep Them Busy Activity From Teaching Heart: My son had fun with this pumpkin Pie Rhyme Center. You match the whip topping to the piece of pie. He loved doing this on his own and then I could check his work when he was done. This is a printable from the Teaching Heart Thanksgiving Packet. You can see more by clicking here!

Hope you have found a few ideas to start your Thanksgiving fun!

Gobble, Gobble... Before you know it!

October is gone and time to start thinking about that Turkey... Let Teaching Heart make learning fun for your child or students with our Thanksgiving Packet...

Click here to learn more...

Turkey Jive

Above is our Thanksgiving Play list. These tunes get the kids moving like a Turkey!

Planning Ahead: Turkey Day

I am thinking of ideas for Thanksgiving since it will be at my home this year. I am surely going to do these napkin rings I saw in the Family Fun Magazine. They are sooooo cute!!! I can't wait.

Family Fun does not have a printable pattern for the vests or the hats. For the female hat I may just use a white circle... I will probably create a printable pattern and of course share it when it is done.

Here is the link to the idea and directions on Family Fun!

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11872