Last Day of School 2013 {Family Traditions}

Tuesday was the last day of preschool for my three year old, and today my two older boys went to pick up their report cards.  We have two special traditions for the last day of school.  First, I pick the boys up at school and take them for ice cream.

Then, the boys get to run through their "finish lines".  {This was the first year my three year old was able to run through a finish line, so he was super-excited!}

Do you have any special end of year traditions?  I just love hearing about the fun things other families do! 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

10+ Canada Day Recipes and Crafts and Activities

Canada Day is just around the corner, and to get you in the spirit, I have rounded up a little collection of Canada Day crafts and activities.  They are perfect for celebrating Canada150 too!

Click on the links {titles} for the full tutorials.

Canada Day Hair Accessories from Mama Pea Pod

Canada Day Sparklers from East Coast Mommy

Canada Day Flag Craft from Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Tape Resist Canadian Flag Craft from And Next Comes L

Toilet Roll RCMP from Crystal's Tiny Treasures

Canada Day Book Page Banner from East Coast Mommy

{Easy} Canada Day Flag Cake from East Coast Mommy (featured at Canadian Living Moms)

{Kit Kat} Canada Day Cake from Little Miss Kate & Co

Canada Day Hat and Flag from East Coast Mommy

Canada Day Toy Treehouse from Northstory

Canada Day Wreath from East Coast Mommy

Canada Day Paper Fan from East Coast Mommy

Thanks so much to all the creative ladies that allowed me to share their Canada Day creations with you today.  Do YOU have a favorite?

Happy Canada Day {from me and my boys}!

♥Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Canada Day Fan {with free printable template}

Who doesn't love a simple craft that is fun AND useful?  This adorable, patriotic fan is easy to make, and it is a perfect Canada Day craft for children of all ages.

Ready to make this Canada Day Fan in three easy steps?

1)  Download the free template I created for you, and print it onto white card stock.  {You can find the free printable here).

2)  Have your little one color it, and cut it out.

3)  Add a craft stick to the back (with tape). 

Fun, right?  Wouldn't your little one enjoying keeping cool with this paper fan this summer?  Happy Canada Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Quick Tip Tuesday #5 - Simple Summer Craft

When it comes to kids, it is always helpful to have an "I'm bored"  solution at-the-ready.  So, here is a simple craft for a rainy summer day... a paper plate fish puppet.

This craft requires minimal supplies and minimal adult supervision.  Can you say, "Win Win"?

To make this craft, have the children color a paper plate.  Then, cut out a mouth and glue it on as a tail.  Add a googly-eye and a popsicle stick, and you have an adorable fish puppet to keep the little ones entertained.

Do you have "quick craft" for your kids to do that requires minimal supplies and minimal adult supervision?  I'd love to hear about it.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Balloon Pop Countdown

Don't you just love a good "countdown"?  Me too!  So... with five days left to the end of school, I put together this fun, easy, and inexpensive balloon pop countdown for my boys.

Each day, my boys will pop a balloon, and we will do the activity that is written on the slip of paper inside the balloon.  Fun, right?

Here is what we have written inside our balloons:

You can download a pdf version of our list here.

All you need to do is:

1)  Print out the list, and cut it into strips.
2)  Roll up the strips, and pop them into the balloons.
3)  Blow up the balloons, and write numbers on them (if you want to do your activities on specific days).

That's it!  We are having fun counting down to summer vacation, but you could use this simple idea for any occasion.  What exciting event do you have coming up? 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #16 {Canada Day Crafts}

Welcome to the 16th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.  For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making two Canada Day Crafts!

Here's the "how to":

1)  Color your flag and "Canada Day Carl" finger puppet.

2)  Cut out your flag and finger puppet.  Have a grown up help you cut out the two circles at the bottom of the finger puppet.

3)  Add a Canadian flag sticker to "Canada Day Carl's" t-shirt, and tape a popsicle stick to the back of your flag.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed these crafts, and I hope you have a great Canada Day.  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

7 Ways to Make Family Movie Night Special

At the end of every week, my family gathers together to enjoy one of our favorite family traditions – Friday Night Family Movie Night.  Does your family enjoy movie nights?  Here are 7 simple ideas that can help make movie nights a little more special.

1)  Make movie night a tradition by having it on the same night every week.

2)  Pair it with a favorite meal.  (We always have pancakes for supper on movie night, but Pizza Friday would be fun too.)

3)  Pick a good family movie... one that everyone will enjoy.  If consensus is difficult, let the kids take turns making the selection.

4)  Use special dishes.  (I have popcorn bowls from the dollar store that we only use on movie nights.)

5)  Set the scene with a special sign or two.  We have a “Movie Snacks” sign and a “Now Playing” sign that we use every week.

6)  Get comfy.  PJs are the perfect attire for family movie night, and it makes the transition to bedtime (after the movie) easier.

7)  Have movie snacks.  Popcorn is always a good choice, but pick whatever your family enjoys.

It’s also fun to “mix it up” some weeks by adding something special.  E.g. Choose a fun theme, have an outdoor screening, make a craft to go along with the movie, or bake a special treat.

Implementing some (or all) of these suggestions will add to the fun, but the most important part of family movie night is sitting down together as a family.  Years from now, the kids won’t remember what movies they watched or the snacks they ate, but they will remember the time spent together cuddled up on the couch.
♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)