For the Birds

As we prepare our seeds for the garden. The boys and I were talking about what we wanted to grow this year. Brussels sprouts, watermelon and swiss chard are on the list of must haves.

We also talked about ways to bring beneficial bugs and birds to the garden. My oldest was very interested in selecting flowers and plants that would attract certain birds to the garden. We began to talk about other ways we could attract birds with.

Bird feeders and bird house were among the top of the list, so I had an old bird feeder the boys painted. I just need to find a sealant that will keep the paint from chipping and getting into the bird food. We also got a bird house kit from the toy store. It was the perfect project for papa and the boys to do together. It turned out real well and the boys had a great time making it. Now we just need to find the perfect place for this to go. March’s Families, Create! challenge was filled with awesome animal-themed posts. From Mo Willems to monkey finger puppets, our writers and crafters kept busy getting creative with the little animals in their lives. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival. Our April theme is "Fantasy" - childhood is a fascinating time, filled with magic around every corner. What can your family imagine and create? Please take time to read the March submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Lizz at Am I a Funny Girl turns a family outing at the zoo into a picture book to keep.


• Maman A Droit shares her easy pattern for a felt monkey finger puppet with you!


• The kids at Living Peacefully with Children celebrated the emergence of Spring with butterflies. Check out their Coffee Filter Butterfly mobile and Pipe Cleaner Art.


• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes offers helpful ways for a child to remember calming techniques with a “Calming your Beast” basket.


• Most of us have monkeys running around our house at times. Or lions. Or elephants. Make your child's creative animal play even better with stuffed animal tails! Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares an easy tutorial.


• Galit Breen at These Little Waves shares an easy way to get creative with Mo Willems' "We Are In A Book."


• Maman A Droit shares her pattern for a felt bunny finger puppet-a perfect Easter basket filler!


• Brenna at Almost All The Truth shares a look at butterflies through metaphor, books and a coffee filter craft.


• Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children knitted some simple Nugget Bunnies for her children's Ostara baskets while practicing a new technique.


• Amy at Anktangle shares photographs of crocheting a lovable stuffed turtle for her son to play with.


• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes knows a few ways to bring beneficial birds to the garden.


• Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias shares a fun little first sewing project.


• Lauren at Hobo Mama has a fun and easy game to make to stimulate your preschooler's memory.


• Using her children's artwork as inspiration, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Childrenwoodburned wooden eggs for them to color in honor of Spring.


• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes is making nature bags or field bags for nature journals and the other things we may need as we explore our planet.


• Animals are the inspiration for this set of handmade clay items for an I Spy bag at Living Peacefully with Children.