Magical Childhood Newsletter
Volume 53
March 17, 2003


**Note from Alicia-- as I was sending this out this weekend, my address book ate my entire newsletter list AGAIN (and, as proof that my computer is out to get me, ate the backup).  The only issue that got out was the plain text version.  I went outside and played with my kids instead of worrying about it and spent this morning typing it all up again... and making green eggs and leprochaun milk, of course. <G> Apologies for not having the St. Patrick's Day stuff in time!  :)
 

Hello Magical People!  I hope this newsletter reaches most of you, as my computer rudely ate my newsletter list recently.  It's been one of those months.  :)  This issue has more good book recommendations, ideas for March holidays, how to make a belly cast, some fun sites and more.  And now, on with the newsletter....

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More good books....

Magical Mama Rachel recommends these:

Cowboy Small by Lois Lenski
There is a whole series of  "small" books. We have read this a million times.

Pigsty by Mark Teague

Little Critter by Mercer Mayer and Clifford are favorites also
 

Magical Mama Faye recommends these:

Beginnings and Endings with Lifetimes in between  Bran Mellonie and Robert Ingpen

Hairy Maclary Lynley Dodd - A New Zealand author with beautiful pictures and lovely rhymes which my child repeated with me before he was two, there are several books available in the series... Hairy Mclary from Donaldsons Dairy, Bitzer Maloney, so skinny and boney; Muffin Maclay like a bundle of hay

Dear Zoo Rod Campbell .... lift the flap book with lots of extended discussion from beginning to recognize animals to pet suitability, characteristics of animals. This has been a family favourite for a long time.

No Dodos Amanda Wallwork ... a counting book to 10 using endangered animals and ending with "..but no Dodos!" then a page describing how each of the animals are endangered and how the Dodo bird became extinct!

She says she is in Australia but she's seen them in other countries, and that she can provide ISBN's if folks have trouble finding them.
 

Magical Mama Tracy says:

We love the "seasons" series by Lynn Plourde:
Wild Child
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J1CE41683

Winter Waits
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R21F52683

Spring's Sprung
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z12F23683

They're all such beautiful and magical books about Mother Nature and Father Time and their children "Autumn", "Winter", and the sisters "March, April and
May".  Cozy stories about the seasons changing!

We're anxiously awaiting the release of "Summer's Vacation"!
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G64F42683

More books to come!

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Here's a fast & easy way to make a personalized tie-dye shirt...
http://www.girlscouts.gen.il.us/easy_troop_t.htm
 

March fun!  Magical mama Aileen passed along this page of fun activities for all different March holidays, from St. Patrick's Day to Mardi Gras (okay, it's a little late on that one!) to the Hina Matsuri Doll Festival in Japan.  Being very pregnant and perpetually behind, you'll have to humor me on the half that are over.  <G>  http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/march2.html

Here are some more sites with St. Patrick's Day crafts and ideas:
http://123child.com/act/mar.php (baby to preschool age)
http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mar.shtml (all ages, all different March activities)
 

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Magical Mama Brigid passed on this darling take on the "If You Give a Mouse a Muffin" books.....

If You Give A Mom A Muffin
Original Author Unknown

If you give a mom a muffin,

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.

She'll pour herself some.

Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer,

She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.

She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").

The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.

She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.

She will look for her checkbook.

The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.

She'll smell something funny.

She'll change the two-year-old's diaper.

While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.

Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.

She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.

And chances are...

If she has a cup of coffee,

Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

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Pregnant?  Make a belly cast!  Here's the instructions to make your own belly cast, with a beautiful example.  http://home.earthlink.net/~eaglefalconlark/birth/bellycast.html

Speaking of pregnancy, I have about 5 weeks left before we meet our new little man (yes, it's a boy!).  All indications are that he's healthy and doing well.  I'll have Daryl send out a special notice to the newsletter list when he arrives.

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Here's all sorts of links to sew your own nursing clothes, slings and more...
http://www.kellymom.com/links/bf-links-sewing.html
 

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I saw this in an article in the March 2003 Woman's Day magazine about getting rid of stress (Kiss Stress Goodbye by Diane Sieg, author of Stop Living Life Like an Emergency).  Parts hit a little too close to home!  Food for thought......

7 Warning Signs of Emergency Living

1.  You're always running late.
2.  You've accumulated lots of clutter.
3.  You're either in "hurry up," "catch up" or "fed up" mode.
4.  You're always losing and forgetting things.
5.  You have no patience.
6.  You pride yourself on how much you get done and how fast you do it.
7.  You often find yourself saying, "When things slow down, I'm going to... exercise, get more rest, take better care of myself."

I saw myself in many of these and have been making more of an effort to get rid of more stuff (don't forget that obligations can be clutter too), slow down & work on living the kind of life that I want for my kids.

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Gnome Doors!

I absolutely love the idea of these!  Check out these whimsical, wonderful plans to make gnome doors for trees, sheds or other unexpected places.  You can order kits from this site or get ideas on projects to make on your own.  You could even use this idea inside... I smile every time I see these!
http://www.smallbytes.net/~gnometree/

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Magical Mama Carla shared this quote...

"Every child is born a genius.
9,999 out of every 10,000 are swiftly,
inadvertently, de-geniused by grown-ups."

- R. Buckminster Fuller

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Here's a page with hundreds of online articles for parents on everything from anger to educational vouchers to math to messy bedrooms to special needs to divorce to how to recognize a good preschool...  There really is something about any subject you can think of, with some available in Spanish as well.

http://www.npin.org/library/texts.html

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For the birds.....
This site has plans for bird houses and bird feeders, quilts, gourd houses and lots more.
http://www.craftybirds.com/index.html

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10 Ways to Make Today Magical....

1.  Put on grungy clothes and rain boots and go on a puddle hunt.  Jump with the kids in every puddle you find!  If you can't find any, make some.  If you're still snow-bound, make a puddle date with the kids for the first nice day.

2.  If you're lucky enough to live in the right climate, tap maple trees.  Many parks, camps and nature groups will take families around, teach them about tapping the trees, and even offer maple syrup treats for afterwards.  We did this last year and loved it!

3.  Start some seeds or bulbs for spring planting.  For big impact, start some "elephant ears" (Colocasia esculenta)-- plants with great big leaves that look like their namesakes.  You can buy the bulbs for about $5 online or at some garden centers.

4.  Put chalkboard contact paper on lower kitchen cabinets and turn the kitchen into an art gallery for the kids.  Peel it off when you're sick of it.

5.  Pick up some crepe paper streamers and tape floor length strips to the ceiling of your child's bedroom or playroom to form a little secret room.  Super cheap and easy version-- use toilet paper.  :)

6.  On St. Patrick's Day, leave little telltale signs from leprechauns... glitter trails, tiny bites out of cookies, green footprints or tiny treats.

7.  Find some sticks and make magic wands.  You can use any materials you have on hand to decorate them-- lengths of ribbon tied to the end, markers, sequins or imitation jewels to glue on, etc.

8.  Call home just to tell your kids you love them.

9.  Do something for your kids that they'd swear they've outgrown, but would secretly love.  Make some treat they relished when they were little, bring out a beloved family book or movie, sing them "their" songs and pull them onto your lap for just a little bit.  We never really outgrow the need to be babied at least once in a while.

10.  This one is courtesy of magical daddy Daryl.  Buy a cheap magnifying glass and go around with the kids looking at everything up close.  Even dried leaves look magical and you see into a new world.

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And now, I think I am finally sending this thing out!  :)  I hope everything is good in your corner of the world and that you and yours are safe and happy.
Peace,
Alicia

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A Magical Childhood
http://www.magicalchildhood.com
Copyright 2002, Alicia Bayer

A Magical Childhood Newsletter is just something I throw together because I love children and those who love them.  To subscribe, send a message to abayer@rrcnet.org.  We do not use ads.  It's not about money.  :)

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