Passover Countdown

Now I'm really starting to feel the pre-Seder night pressure start to build. I'm sitting at work making lists of things I need to do, places to go, things to buy. Luckily, work is very quiet for me again and I have time to give some thought to these things. I'm also pacing myself with the remaining cleaning that still needs doing and bargaining with DH, "I'll clean this if you clean that." LOL.

I was wondering what we can do this year, now that E is three and understands a little more than last year, to make the Seder more real for them. When Y was younger, DH and I went into our bedroom at one point in the telling of the story and dressed up as if we'd just left Egypt. Something along these lines.

DH used a broom handle as a walking stick. At the time, we had a sheep-sized dog with white, wooly fur and we used him as our "sheep". All present thought it was funny and clever.

We could do a repeat of this but I was wondering what ideas others have come up with and quickly Googled "passover seder tips". Here's a short list of sites that had some cute ideas:

http://www.aish.com/h/pes/f/g/48967161.html
http://knowledgehound.com/topics/passover.htm
http://sedersforyou.tripod.com/
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Passover/The_Seder/Making_the_Seder_Memorable.shtml
http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=901
http://www.threejews.net/2010/03/innovative-passover-seder-ideas.html
http://www.matankids.org/2012/02/29/ideas-for-an-interactive-passover-seder/
http://www.jr.co.il/humor/passover.htm
http://holidays.juda.com/passover-songs.shtml
http://www.mazornet.com/holidays/passover/funnysongs.htm

Chag Sameach everyone!

Yes, Your Craftiness!

A few posts back I mentioned that I'd bought 3 packs of scrapbooking paper. Here's what it looks like:

Aren't the patterns beautiful? They sort of satisfy my longing for wallpaper.

I have also been finding a lot of web sites from which you can download scrapbooking paper for free (if you have a color printer). The only color printer I have is the one at work so I would only do this in a pinch and not huge quantities either.

I also posted a clip of a custom button making tool from Epiphany Crafts. I've ordered it in the 20mm flower button shape from eBay and am eagerly awaiting its arrival so I can make custom buttons and with them make more necklaces and rings in combination with the regular buttons I already have in my collection.

Now here's the next type of jewelry I want to try making with the scrapbooking paper: http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/04/glass-tile-pendants.html What a simple, classy, neat idea! This would be a great gift for my 2 neices. The only problem is that 2 nights ago I ran around to four places in Rehovot that might possibly have these clear glass tiles and no one has seen or heard of them! SO frustrating!

However, yesterday, after a lot of asking around and looking online, someone referred me to this site http://www.netanella.com/. The web site is amazing AND the owner of the web site also has a store in Rehovot!!!!! How lucky is THAT? And how come no one in Rehovot knows about this place???? I think I see on the web site what I'm looking for and hope to go check this place out tonight.

Are You Bored?

Have you heard that familiar "I'mmmmm boooooorrrred!" whine once too often? I know I have.

Firstly, when my kids say that I don't start instantly jumping through hoops to entertain them. I tell them, "That's ok. If you let your brain rest for a few minutes, I'm sure you'll think of something to do." Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. If they don't, I then present them with several suggestions of things to do (i.e. fold the laundry, feed the cat, pick up the clothes off the floor of their room, etc. ). Works like a charm. They find something else to do with alacrity! Who would have thought they were at loose ends just mere minutes before?

Over the years, I have compiled a list of web sites that either have educational and/or non-violent online games that young children can play or are good resources for craft ideas or have free educational printouts. Here is my list. Next to each link I've tried to give a short description of what the site contains. If there are any other sites that I may not know about, I would be happy to hear from you and add the link to my collection.

http://www.aaamath.com/ (Spelling, Math, Vocabulary, Geography - sorted by grade level)
http://math.about.com/od/addingsubtracting/Addition_Subtraction_Multiplication_Division_Worksheets.htm (printable math worksheets)
http://www.akhlah.com/ (Jewish children's learning - Parsha, Hebrew, Holidays, Heroes, Traditions)
http://www.aplusmath.com/Worksheets/ (Printable math worksheets and worksheet generators - sorted by grade level)
http://www.crayola.com/ (Coloring pages, craft ideas, games)
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/langearlyread/index_2.htm (Links to online word/vocabulary games, printable flashcards/phonics worksheets, etc.)
http://resources.kaboose.com/games//earthday.html (Online Earth Day games)
http://chinuch.org/ (Jewish education resources by age - months, parsha, mishnayot, hashkafah, Hebrew, puzzles, stories, songs, holidays, halacha, history, arts and crafts)
http://www.edhelper.com/ (free lesson plans - reading/writing, math, language, social studies, science)
http://www.tlsbooks.com/mathworksheets.htm (free printable math worksheets by grade level + alphabet, language arts, geography, handwriting, history, holidays, nursery rhymes, science, spelling)
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/grade1.htm# (Math worksheets)
http://www.funbrain.com/ (online math, reading and general games)
http://funschool.kaboose.com/ (online math and reading games, craft ideas, coloring pages)
http://visualfractions.com/IdentifyCircles/identifycircles.html (online fraction game)
http://resources.kaboose.com/games/index.html (online non-violent games - general)
http://www.kidsgames.org./ (online non-violent games - general for ages 6-10)
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/play.htm?f (WONDERFUL beginning reading web site!)
http://www.learningplanet.com/stu/index.asp (online educational games by grade)
http://www.dositey.com/2008/index-page-home.php (math and language/grammar games)
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/MulTab/Applet.html (multiplication table applet - visual tool)
http://pbskids.org/barney/children/games/ (storytime, music, games and coloring with Barney and friends)
http://www.songsforteaching.com/index.html (I am convinced that you can teach ANYTHING to kids if it's put to music. This site offers CDs and downloads of music for sale on a variety of topics - math, phonics, science, holidays, social studies, etc.)
http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/ (Games, games and more games)
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/ (online multiplication tables games)
http://www.teachingtime.co.uk/ (online games that teach how to tell the time - some are free, some aren't)
http://www.totshabbat.com/ (Jewish music for kids)
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_102_g_2_t_1.html (fractions applet)
http://www.ealfy.co.il/login/index.asp (very good games site in Hebrew for young kids - requires paid membership)
http://www.galim.org.il/ (very good educational games site in Hebrew - although there is a wonderful section in English for kids who are ESL learners - to access the entire site you must pay although there are parts that you can access for free)
http://www.free-puzzles.net/travel-games-for-kids/printable-games/index.php (printable travel games - bingo, tic-tac-toe, mazes, word search, etc.)
http://pbskids.org/ (games, online videos - cute site!)
http://www.pitara.com/activities/ (activities, crafts, coloring pages)
http://www.agkidzone.com/games (general online games for young kids)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/teletubbies/ (games)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/ (wonderful EASY craft idea resource!)
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/playtime/coloring/toddler/thumbnail.asp (online coloring pages)
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/color-by-numbers/ (free printable color by number pages)
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/dot-to-dot/ (free printable dot to dot pages)
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/mazes/ (free printable mazes)
http://www.mommysavers.com/kids-activities/ (Frugal activities and craft ideas)
http://www.dragonsaretooseldom.com/kids_activities.html (kids activity ideas)
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/ (online interactive games and activities - literacy, math, science)
http://www.allkids.co.uk/hobbies-interests-activities/index.html (links to childrens' hobbies and interests)
http://www.entertainthekids.com/ (paid membership site - activity/craft ideas)
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/ (rules/instructions for some games/activities to play with kids)
http://en.origami-club.com// (origami site from beginner level to advanced with instructions)
http://fun.familyeducation.com/play/outdoor-activities/33394.html (outdoor activities for kids ages 6-10)
http://www.pilkey.com/games.php (cute online games)
http://activitypad.com/ (printable preschool activities, word search puzzles, mazes, kids games)
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/fraction/reducing/ (math worksheet generator)
http://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-own/telling-time/ (telling time worksheet generator)
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/time.html (telling time worksheets, math worksheets, reading/writing worksheets, phonics worksheets, grammar worksheets, spelling worksheets, etc.)
http://www.coloring.ws/ (free coloring pages, games, puzzles)
http://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/index.php (free online annimated educational movies)

Now. I never want to hear you say you're bored again! Ya hear?