Has your child been naughty or nice? Let Santa tell them!

In just a few easy steps you can send a video from Santa to your child (or whom ever you wish.) It is easy with the Portable North Pole! We have done this the last 2 years for our son. Last year we sent him a naughty one LOL and when he started acting better we sent him a nice one.

You add personal info about your child, their wish and even a photo. Our son was shocked that Santa knew his name and what he wanted. And when he saw a picture of himself in Santa's book, well let's just say he believes in Santa 100%.

It's free. It's fun. What are you waiting for?

Christmas lists

Yes folks, that time of year has arrived when children ask, no BEG, for not only what they want, but every last thing they see on television! What is a parent to do? How are we to keep track? The Christmas list! Next time they say "I want that!!!!!" tell them to go write it on their Christmas list, that you can print off right now for them to use. It's cute, will make your job easier and best of all, maybe, just maybe they will stop saying "I want that" and just write it down on the list instead. Yeah, right! Who am I kidding! Happy printing.....

Arthur Christmas the movie

Well we ( my son and his friend) just got back from seeing Arthur Christmas. I think we all gave it a two thumbs up and some ho ho hos. Very cute movie indeed. I personally LOVE Grandpa Santa while the boys were thrilled with the elfs. I would say it is definitely a fun family movie.

Do you have a "kid's table?"

I know many people have a separate "kid's table" at Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a fun Bubble Guppy Table Setting Pack for the little ones! It will not only entertain but make their table a little more cozy!

Thomas BINGO

The fun tester here at MAD has recently found a love for the game of BINGO. So to go with his love of trains and Thomas I found this printable Thomas Bingo game. I can't wait to play with him!!

Dora Thanksgiving coloring book

Does you child like Dora? Well here is a printable coloring book to help keep them busy this Thanksgiving while your trying to get dinner on the table.

Do you Black Friday?

Over the years I have ventured out to the black friday sales. And over the years I have been both amused and horrified by the crowds and their behavior. Last year my hubby went with me for the first time since our son spent the night at his grandparents.

Now, personally, I have no desire to ever go out on black friday again, but I guess my hubby had so much fun at the Toys R Us sale, now HE wants to go again!!!

So if your one of those crazy people, like my hubby, who plan to head out into the darkness in search of a sale, I have a site for you that you can look at all the black friday ads and make you plan of attack.



Fun Thanksgiving game "Crossing the sea"

Here is a fun game to play about Thanksgiving, Not only great for family fun, but classrooms too!

Have a Disney Princess call your house.....really!

Does you child LOVE a Disney Princess? Well now you can have one call you very own home! Really! Just put in your info and when you want the call and she will ring you! Talk about a special surprise.

Toilet Paper Tube Turkey!

I love this cute and very easy to make Toilet Paper Tube Turkey craft! We all have toilet paper tubes, if not, wait, you will as soon as the last person uses you current roll up! You can make a whole flock of these adorable little guys.

Teaching kids about being thankful

Thanksgiving is near and it is a great time to teach little ones about being thankful and using their manors to say thank you. This cute interactive story/game "The Thankful Old Troll" From Dora is a good way to share those ideas.

What are you thankful for craft

Here is a craft idea from Disney that I have simplified material wise for my MAD Family Fun Friends. It is not only beautiful but meaningful too! You can use it as a center piece as well.

Materials

• Flowerpot
• Sand or stones
• Bare tree branch
• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Marker
• Straightened paper clips

Instructions

• Fill a flowerpot with sand or stones and set in a shapely bare tree branch.
• Next, cut a pile of leaf shapes from colored construction paper.
• As your guests arrive or your family members, have them take a leaf and, with a marker, write their name and the date on one side and something they're grateful for on the other.
• To decorate your tree, push a straightened paper clip through the stem of each leaf and hang it in place.

Pilgrim Hat Craft

So I wanted to make Pilgrim hats with my son, so I googled the idea. Do you know how many different ways there are to make a Pilgrim hat!?!??! I finally found one that was simple and didn't require me to go buy anything extra.

Don't worry if you don't have poster board for the band, just use multiple layers of construction paper to give the band some sturdiness. And if you don't have gray paper, just use white or have your child do some coloring!

Have fun with this and I would LOVE to see some photos of you all in your hats!

Make a popsicle stick flag

Celebrate Veteran's Day by making this popsicle stick flag!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. But what does that mean?

Well Veteran's Day (originally called Armistice Day) came about in 1919. It was to remember the end of WWII “the war to end all wars,” which happened at a ceases fire at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month. Over time congress has passed bills turning Armistice Day into our modern Veteran's Day.

But what does it all mean????? Well the best way to put it is today is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Now I know a lot of people are anti-war or don't believe in the cause that some of the wars/actions/conflicts were based on. And to that I say everyone has the right to an opinion. But try to remember you have that right because our Veterans fought so you could have it.

So today, take a minute to thank a service person. They are easy to spot when they are in uniform, but check out the hats some of the older generation wear and you will see names of ships or other hints that they are veterans too. Make a point of walking up and shaking their hand and saying thank you. This is something I (and now I am teaching my son) to do, everyday, not just on Veteran's Day. If they are at dinner with family, say excuse me first, but thank them AND their family. Their family had to face time without them while they were defending out freedoms.

Both of my Grandfathers were in WWII and I am sorry for the things they faced, but thankful for their sacrifice so I and my family have the right to be free.

Where's the beef

Do you remember that commercial from your younger days? I do! And now it's back and you have a chance to win a FREE Where's the beef shirt! Wendy's will be giving 3,000 of them away and it is so easy to enter.

Once you visit the link above, each time you click next, there are games you can play (but you can just keep hitting next and pass them.) At the end it will ask you a question (it has been "All of the above" every time I look at it) and then takes your info. You get to chooses which style/color of shirt and size. I went for small so our Fun Tester could have it. He loves free stuff.

So what are you waiting for? get over there and enter for a chance to win a free shirt!

Free fun on Saturday

Looking for something FREE and fun to do? Why not try Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics!

This Saturday (Nov. 12th) the kids will be making this cool science lab.

And On Nov. 19th the project is this adorable Santa Sled.

Sit still with math skills

Don't you love going to restaurants that have activity placemats to keep your kids busy till the food hits the table? Well here are some printable math skill placemats you can use at Thanksgiving while the kiddos wait for all the grub to hit the table!

Shhh, don't tell them they are learning!

Oh where, oh where has MAD Family Fun been?

First I want to apologize for once again being MIA. The fun should never stop, but this pregnancy is making me, well, tired, old, and cranky!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and survived Day Light Savings time.

It is November and though commercially all the stores seem to have skipped right to Christmas, we here at MAD promise not to forget the lost holiday of Thanksgiving. So keep you eyes open for some upcoming fun with crafts, coloring, food and more in honor of good old turkey day!