Egging the Neighbours (with a little help from Kinder)


One of our favorite Easter traditions is "egging" our neighbours.  In the past, we have shared homemade cookies (which you can read about here), but this year I thought it would be fun to use Kinder® eggs to surprise our friends.


We filled cellophane bags with eggs, added tags, and tied the bags with ribbons.  Then, my boys went out on a "secret" delivery mission.  Fun, right?

To download a copy of the 4X6 tag I designed... just right click on the photo below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo. 


"Egging the neighbours" is one of our favorite Easter traditions, but we will also be celebrating by crafting, planting magic jelly beans, and going on an egg hunt.

My boys love hunting for eggs, and this year they will be searching for plastic eggs filled with surprises, Kinder® Eggs, and adorable plush toys from Kinder®.  In our house, the boys run around collecting as many Easter eggs as they can... and when they have finished, we dump everything into one pile and divide the goodies into three equal piles.  It's more fair, and prevents a lot of fighting and tears on Easter morning.  :-)


Kinder® will be part of our Easter egg hunt, and I am happy to say that they are sharing the joy with sick children too.  Kinder® has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network and will be providing 12 baskets to CMN hospitals. As well, Kinder® will be donating another $25,000 to help support this non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America.  Awesome, right?

Kinder® is also giving their Facebook fans a chance to win their own Easter basket kit. Kinder® will be giving away one basket each day to a lucky winner on April 8, 10 and 12.  So, don't forget to visit the Kinder® Canada Facebook page for your chance to win.

I am excited to go "egging" with my boys again this year.  Do you think your little ones would like this Easter tradition?  Happy Easter!



Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Easy Teacher Appreciation Gift {free printable}

I love teachers, and I think it is really important for my boys to let their teachers know they are appreciated.  So... today I am sharing a simple teacher appreciation gift that all teachers will love.


Everyone loves flowers... and this little note adds a simple touch of fun and originality.  To download the 4X6 tag I designed: right-click on the photo below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo


You could also attach this adorable tag to a flower pen in a crayon vase.  You can find the tutorial for these fun projects here.



Don't you just love this simple teacher appreciation idea?  What is your favorite teacher gift to give?


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Cowboy Fun

My boys love dressing up and using their imaginations... so a few weeks ago, we had a Cowboy Day.  These ideas would also be great for a simple DIY Cowboy Party.


We started by making some "Wanted" posters.  I used my computer to make simple posters using pictures of the boys.  If you were having a cowboy party, you could make posters using photos of all the party guests.


You can leave the posters "as is", or you an make them look older by ripping the edges, crumpling them up, dipping them in tea, and allowing them to dry completely.


We had some cowboy hats from the dollar store in our dress up box, but the boys wanted some cowboy belts, so we got creative with some old cereal boxes.


I cut out belts and buckles from a cereal box, and the boys used crayons and markers to decorate them.  I taped the pieces together, and added slits on the ends so that the boys could easily put the belts on themselves.


We had a great day... and seriously.... don't my boys make the cutest cowboys?


I think this would be a great theme for a simple DIY birthday party.  Doesn't everyone love pretending to be a cowboy?


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Spring Craft for Preschoolers

Need an easy Spring craft that is sure to brighten your day?  This simple paper plate wreath is a perfect craft for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-age children.  My four year old made this one all by himself....


I cut the centre from a paper plate, cut some squares from pastel coloured tissue paper... and handed the supplies over to my four year old.  He used glue to attach the crumpled up pieces of tissue paper and the flowers, and the result was an adorable Spring wreath.  Isn't it the cutest?


Would your little one like this simple Spring Wreath craft?  I love how bright and cheerful it is!


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Alphabet Crafts - Letter F

Earlier this week, my four year old and I had some fun with the letter F.  We made a "feelings" Face craft, and we did a little letter F printing practice.


This craft is really fun because it is double-sided -- one side is a happy face, and one side is a sad face.


To make the craft:

1)  Have the child draw a happy face on one paper plate, and a sad face on another paper plate.  (We used googly eyes and a button nose, but this is optional.)
2)  Tape a craft stick to the back of one of the plates.
3)  Use a stapler to attach the two plates together.

That's it! Cute, right?

After our craft, we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter F with your little one, you can right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

 

And if you are looking for more letter F crafts...

You could make this adorable letter F fox.



You could also make this funny frog face with a noisemaker tongue.


Or you could decorate a letter F for fall with some crunched up pieces of tissue paper and glue.


Fun, right? Next up... the letter "G"! :-)



Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.


Easy Indoor Games

What's more fun than a simple craft?  What about a craft that you can play with long after the crayons are put away?


Today, I am sharing two fun indoor games that kids can make. You can find all the fun details over at CBC Parents.

Check them out and let me know which one is your favorite.

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

St.Patrick's Day Fun

Just wanted to take a minute to wish you all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day... and fill you in how we are celebrating today.


Last night, before we went to bed, the boys set their leprechaun trap.  We do this annually, and every year they come up with a new plan.  (It is serious business trying to catch a leprechaun!)


Then, this morning they checked the trap.  They didn't catch a leprechaun, but they came really close.  The leprechaun was in such a panic to escape that he dropped lots of gold bars and coins. 


Fun, right?  I also set the table (last night) for a special St.Patrick's Day breakfast this morning.


It was an exciting morning, but the older boys are now at school.  When they get home, we'll make some rainbow necklaces and have shamrock pancakes for supper.



Happy St. Patrick's Day!  How are you celebrating?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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