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Hand in hand with Jesus

Monica McConkey (Author) Kelly McConkey (Illustrator)
List Price: $23.95 U.S.
Price: $22 U.S.
Product Details
Hardcover with inside wire binding: 176 pages
Publisher:  Arma Dei (2010)
Language:  English
ISBN 978 0 9689159 5 0
Product Dimension:  8.75″x6.25″
Shipping Weight: 452g

Description of Hand in hand with Jesus

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Hand in hand with Jesus by Monica and Kelly McConkey
Two Journals in one!  The first section of the Faith Journal traces the teaching and celebration
 of the seven Sacraments and the Catholic Faith. The second section of the Faith Journal (“Heart to heart with Jesus”) offers thought provoking questions and reflections on life and a growing relationship with Jesus.
This hardcover, concealed coil book is packed with prompting reflections and questions, tracing the child’s Catholic journey of Faith: the celebration of the Sacraments, the growing knowledge of the Catholic Faith through Catechism and Tradition and the child’s deepening personal relationship with Jesus.
Catechism references are included to look up specific questions, although there is a complete answer key in the back of the book for Catechism based questions.

Felt Fort for Cool Kids!

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all those years of architecture school finally paid off…This was definitely not a quick craft project, but it was a lot of fun and we can still add to it!  We decided Smidge needed her own little castle fort, that fits over our kitchen table!  I didn’t make it too girly…just so Adam will think it’s cool for years to come.

Actually, I think Adam already thinks it’s pretty cool.

Eventually those little flaps that I so carefully sewed into the seam
will be propped up to stand upright for a proper castle look!

I made extra pieces for the “garden” and the “market”. Each piece can be tucked into the little picket fence or pockets at the “market”.

I made a little house in the tree for some dollar store bunnies.  The apples are yellow on one side and red on the other and they are attached by brown ribbons (that look like twigs!).

I learned that the windows really need mesh to withstand the test of Adam. 
He likes to poke his arm through the windows and stretch them out of shape.

Adam also invented his own alternate entrance and exit.

We have started to furnish the inside with a cozy fireplace.  I added the dollar store lights, which took Adam but a few minutes to disassemble. We can put them back, once we find all the batteries.

I was inspired by these felt playhouses…but I made mine bigger to fit our dining room table and I look forward to customizing it even more, with even more wall space to accessorize!

Check out my own little linky-to-do-list of other inspiring ideas I have found on other sites for projects I would like to try someday!  Did one of YOUR ideas make the linky yet?  Any recommendations?

St Joan of Arc: May 30

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These can be used as Saints Trading Cards…check out our “Homemade Top Trumps Saints Edition”!
My 2.5″ hole punch from Michael’s does a great job for a clean circle cut, and they fit perfectly on frozen juice lids.  They look really cool and they’re fun to handle and stack.  I think we are all going to learn more about our favorite Saints…and there is a never-ending supply of Saints to research and learn about.  I think it’s great to foster love and admiration for these holy heroes and role models of our Faith!

magic party for a 5 year old

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This is our 4th 5-year-old Magic birthday party, inspired by my dad who likes to do magic.  We wanted to have a craft for the kids to decorate and cool stuff to send them home with, including a real magic trick that our very own magician will teach them how to do!  Consistent with our family tradition, Sigurd the Wizard (a.k.a. my dad) will perform his excellent magic show extravaganza, with the birthday girl as his assistant.

OK, so I know I have over-used this photo…but isn’t it cute?
Using these supplies, paint and a sharpie, we pre-painted the ‘magic boxes’ for her friends.

 

We painted the boxes with solid colors and we’re hoping the kids don’t all want the same color!  We painted all the wands white and black for a traditional wand look…also so the kids don’t fight over their preference.

 I suspect that a considerable amount of glitter will be added tomorrow to add to the magic.
The birthday girl got a head-start decorating her “magic box”
with dollar store jewels, gems and stars and glitter.
We’re going to send the kids home with their very own customized and decorated magic boxes, filled with a deck of cards, a sparkly coin (poker chip) and their very own magic napkin, after they’re taught how to make a coin disappear and reappear with it.
I would post a tutorial for how to make the magic napkin, but I’m afraid that it would breach the contract with our very own magician and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.  I will say this.  It would have been easier if I could have found cloth napkins to start with, but stores don’t seem to carry these anymore!! 
Here’s a sneak peek at the TEN magic napkins, under the sparkly coins.
We will likely post a few more pictures after the party tomorrow!

Cardboard Box to Puppet Theatre

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Years ago, I cut two windows in a cardboard box and covered it with black fleece.  I strung a simple curtain over one of the openings  using some black cord and added some shiny trim.

This has been our finger puppet theatre for about 10 years…


It has seen many finger puppets, Groovy Girls, homemade puppets, beloved stuffed animals and Fisher Price Little People

 …not to mention 4 McConkey kids and their friends and cousins…

the big question is…

 is it ready for ADAM?