Our Year in Stories

I was sitting here thinking this morning about our newest story we are writing. Then I remembered today was the last day of 2011. How crazy is that? That got me thinking about which stories filled this year for us. So, I went back to take a look through the blog. I found some other things that we did too!  

We created 39 Lighting the Way With Words, made our second video tutorial,  hosted 2 guest posts on the blog, had 7 creative people record bumpers to kick off our stories, recorded our first monthly segment for the Musing Mommies podcast, and created a resource called "Story Snapshots" on the blog where you could find a short synopsis of each story along with links to the audio and activities.  

To top it off, we wrote and recorded these 13 stories:

The Wrestling Match: (8:13)

Two wrestlers meet in the ring for a re-match!  Who will come out victorious?
Free audio download: The Wrestling Match
Blog with activities: The Wrestling Match

Mojo's Reptile Rescue: (12:12)
Mojo the ferret discovers a new friend in the most unlikely of places.

Free audio download: Mojo's Reptile Rescue
Blog with activities: Mojo's Reptile Rescue

That's Not How Daddy Does It: (10:28)
A rhyming poem where a boy discovers the differences between his parents' styles of play. 
Free audio download: That's Not How Daddy Does It
Blog with activities: That's Not How Daddy Does It

The Leprechaun Trap (6:35)
Two leprechauns are caught in a leprechaun trap and try to find different ways to escape.
Free audio download: The Leprechaun Trap
Blog with activities: The Leprechaun Trap

Alien Pursuit (11:12)
A family has to figure out how to lose the alien ships hot on their tail on their ride home from the grocery store.
Free audio download: Alien Pursuit
Blog with activities: Alien Pursuit

The Limerig (4:47)
A limerick for Better Hearing and Speech Month.
Free audio download: The Limerig
Blog with activities: The Limerig

Bird Seeds (21:10)
When Agnes, an old woman who lives alone in the woods, discovers a mysterious packet of seeds she finds more than just vegetables can grow in her garden. 
Free audio download: Bird Seeds
Blog with activities: Bird Seeds

The Farm Girl and the Feather (22:59)
A fairy tale that proves warriors and their weapons come in different shapes and sizes.
Free audio download: The Farm Girl and the Feather
Blog with activities: The Farm Girl and the Feather

Mojo's Outdoor Adventure (17:01)
Mojo the ferret takes an unexpected trip outside but will he be able to find a way back in?
Free audio download: Mojo's Outdoor Adventure
Blog with activities: Mojo's Outdoor Adventure

Eat the Cake (8:06)
A little one has a special request for everyone in attendance at her fourth birthday party. 
Free audio download: Eat the Cake
Blog with Activities: Eat the Cake

A Glummy, Gloomy Halloween (11:17)
A goblin named Glum wants to have a surprise birthday party for his brother Gloom, but every monster he invites already has plans for the evening.
Free audio download: A Glummy, Gloomy Halloween
Blog with activities: A Glummy, Gloomy Halloween

The Turns of the Seasons (13:58)
One by one, the seasons take turns impacting people's lives. 
Free audio download: The Turns of the Seasons
Blog with activities: The Turns of the Seasons

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)
Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car drive to Grandma's for the holidays.
Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe
Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe

We feel so lucky to have such loyal listeners! We are always excited to hear from you. Thank you for sharing your stories with us and our stories with your friends and families. We are looking forward to even more stories, posts and guest bumpers in 2012. Thank you for helping us to keep our imaginations alive! 

As always we look forward to watching the glow 

grow brighter with the many stories, words, posts, 

and resources we can share together.

LIGHTING THE WAY WITH WORDS

Lulu and Her Lavender Lion: (12:31)

A girl's journey through her memories with her imaginary friend.

Free audio download: Lulu and Her Lavender Lion

Blog with activities: Lulu and Her Lavender Lion

Have you heard the word "believe" used in different idioms or phrases? Let me give you some examples:

"Seeing is believing that she really got a lollipop." 

"When she first saw the treat she said, 'I don't believe this!"

"It was hard to believe she just got a lollipop shaped like Snoopy." 

"Is this lollipop make believe or can I really eat it?"

"I do believe she likes that lollipop."  

"You'd better believe she'll eat the whole lollipop in one sitting."

Can you think of any idioms or phrases that use the word "believe" in them? Feel free to share them or any visual definitions you have of the word over on our Facebook page. You can also send them to nightlightstories@gmail.com. We believe you can do it!

Believe you me! As always, we look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many words we can share together.

Cookies for Santa

The Night Light Stories household would like to wish a magical 

Christmas filled with joy, loved ones, and lots of yummy treats! 

We wanted to share a fun little video we took a few years back.

 We hope it gives you a holiday giggle.

Mmmmmm....floor cookies! 

Merry Christmas!

You can download our free holiday stories here or on iTunes. 

Fa la la la la la la la la

Chilly's Christmas: (20:08)

An ornament is accidentally placed on the back of the Christmas tree 

and must learn to experience his favorite season using his 

other senses with a little help from his friends!

Free audio download: Chilly's Christmas 

Blog with activities: Chilly's Christmas

       Inky's Christmas: (21:24)

Inky, a nervous octopus, has to figure out a way to control his inking 

so he can attend all of his friends' holiday festivities.

Free audio download: Inky's Christmas

Blog with activities: Inky's Christmas

Red vs. Green: (22:21)

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team 

of St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win? 

*I may or may not live out my "being a punk rocker" dream

 in this episode. You will have to listen to find out!* 

Free audio download: Red vs. Green

Blog with activities: Red vs. Green

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car 

drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe 

LIGHTING THE WAY WITH WORDS

Did you know there are only three more days until Christmas, four more 
days until Kwanzaa begins and it is the second day of Hanukkah?
With all of these celebrations happening in the next week, we have been singing festive songs and listening to some 
acoustic melodies on the radio. They are beautiful. 
Whichever of the holidays you celebrate, 

we wish you a joyous time with those you love.

You can download our free holiday stories here or on iTunes. 

Fa la la la la la la la la

Chilly's Christmas: (20:08)

An ornament is accidentally placed on the back of the Christmas tree 

and must learn to experience his favorite season using his 

other senses with a little help from his friends!

Free audio download: Chilly's Christmas 

Blog with activities: Chilly's Christmas

       Inky's Christmas: (21:24)

Inky, a nervous octopus, has to figure out a way to control his inking 

so he can attend all of his friends' holiday festivities.

Free audio download: Inky's Christmas

Blog with activities: Inky's Christmas

Red vs. Green: (22:21)

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team 

of St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win? 

*I may or may not live out my "being a punk rocker" dream

 in this episode. You will have to listen to find out!* 

Free audio download: Red vs. Green

Blog with activities: Red vs. Green

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car 

drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe 

LIGHTING THE WAY WITH WORDS

Have you heard our latest story?

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car 

drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe 

Our son enjoys separating his vehicles into zones. As you can see in the picture, he has a zone for race cars, a zone for trucks and a zone for construction vehicles. Have you heard zone used any other way? There are multiple definitions. You can share your visual definition of zone with us at nightlightstories@gmail.com or on our Facebook Page.
As always, we look forward to watching the glow grow
 brighter with the many words we can share together.

HOW TO MAKE A GIANT PAPER SNOWFLAKE

Here's how to make one of our favorite crafts! Feel free to share your holiday creations with us at nightlightstories@gmail.com or on our Facebook Page.

You can download our free holiday stories here or on iTunes. 

Fa la la la la la la la la

Chilly's Christmas: (20:08)

An ornament is accidentally placed on the back of the Christmas tree 

and must learn to experience his favorite season using his 

other senses with a little help from his friends!

Free audio download: Chilly's Christmas 

Blog with activities: Chilly's Christmas

       Inky's Christmas: (21:24)

Inky, a nervous octopus, has to figure out a way to control his inking 

so he can attend all of his friends' holiday festivities.

Free audio download: Inky's Christmas

Blog with activities: Inky's Christmas

Red vs. Green: (22:21)

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team 

of St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win? 

*I may or may not live out my "being a punk rocker" dream

 in this episode. You will have to listen to find out!* 

Free audio download: Red vs. Green

Blog with activities: Red vs. Green

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car 

drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe 

TUCK'S DEBUT

I am not usually a bragger, but please bear with me as I brag just a little. 


Our son, now able to read almost independently, will try to tackle any book that comes into his path. This year I noticed he has been very partial to the classic Christmas poem titled Twas the Night Before Christmas. Dare I say that I am positive you all have heard this one before? 


So, here is my brag. The other day we were sitting at the table finishing up his homework and he says to me, "Mama, want to hear something?". Bracing myself, never quite sure what to expect to hear out of our boy, I heard something that literally blew me away. 


He began reciting, from memory, Twas the Night Before Christmas. I smiled and nodded along. When he finished the first stanza I started clapping, thinking he was finished. He held his pointer finger up at me and told me to wait because he was not through. He then continued on, through most of the poem, from beginning to end. He needed some prompting when we got to the reindeer because he really thought "Rudolf" should have been included in the list. He then lost track and skipped right to the end where he yells out, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!". 


I clapped, cheered, whistled and then got an idea. I asked him if he would want to record the story for all of you. He got a huge grin and said, "Get your phone! Let's do it now!"

So, without further ado...I bring you a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Tuck B! Click here to listen. We also posted the words below for you to be able to follow along! 


We would love to hear your fantastic reading or reciting of Twas the Night Before Christmas! Record yourself reading and we will post it here on the blog for all to hear! You can use a Voice Memo app, Vocaroo.com, or any other recording software you have on your computer. Send the recording to us at nightlightstories@gmail.com! 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

LIGHTING THE WAY WITH WORDS: Holiday Style

Have you heard our latest holiday story?

Candy Cane Catastrophe (14:56)

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car 

drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

Free audio download: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Blog with activities: Candy Cane Catastrophe 

The other day in the car we were listening to Christmas carols and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" came on the radio. As we sang, we got to the line "Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore". Our 6 year old promptly asked me "Mama, what does 'yore' mean?". 

Of course I couldn't just give him the answer. I had to sing the line to him again. Loudly. And with a southern twang. Just like the one my friend Miss Amy has. As we were giggling, he began to understand from the context clues in the line that they were days from long ago. 

He then said, "So, when you were a kid, a long time ago, those were days of yore?".  I quickly corrected his mistake and told him that it was longer than that. Like when his great-great-grandparents were children. Satisfied by my answer, he asked me to turn up the Christmas music so that we could sing...without the southern twang.

What decorations or pictures do you have from "days of yore"? 

We would love for you to share them with us over at nightlightstories@gmail.com or on our Facebook Page.

You can download our other free holiday stories here or on iTunes. 

Fa la la la la la la la la

Chilly's Christmas: (20:08)

An ornament is accidentally placed on the back of the Christmas tree 

and must learn to experience his favorite season using his 

other senses with a little help from his friends!

Free audio download: Chilly's Christmas 

Blog with activities: Chilly's Christmas

       Inky's Christmas: (21:24)

Inky, a nervous octopus, has to figure out a way to control his inking 

so he can attend all of his friends' holiday festivities.

Free audio download: Inky's Christmas

Blog with activities: Inky's Christmas

Red vs. Green: (22:21)

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team 

of St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win? 

*I may or may not live out my "being a punk rocker" dream

 in this episode. You will have to listen to find out!* 

Free audio download: Red vs. Green

Blog with activities: Red vs. Green

As always, we look forward to watching the 

glow grow brighter with the many words we can share together!

Episode 41:Candy Cane Catastophe

Click here to listen to: Candy Cane Catastrophe

Hi All,

We would like to send out a special thanks to Dorina of Mike's Pastries for recording a bumper for us. Mike's Pastries, in the North End of Boston is chock full of sweet treats. They have scrumptious cupcakes, cakes, cannolis, and much, much more. They ship anywhere, so order away!

There are so many yummy delicacies to choose from this time of year. Some people enjoy a big chocolate Santa, some enjoy homemade cookies, while others enjoy different types of candy. In our new story, Candy Cane Catastrophe, the narrator enjoys a holiday treat of his own! We hope you enjoy whatever holiday goodie you choose and be sure to share it with someone you love! After all, 'tis the season for sharing and giving.

VORACIOUS VOCABULARY

What did you say? A word of the day! In our story

there are many juicy words that are fun to use and say.

abyss: a deep, immeasurable space

catastrophe: any mishap, misfortune or failure

shimmer: gleam faintly

spew: to cast forth, eject, or gush, as in disgust or anger 

JUST ADD IMAGINATION!

Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing

after hearing the story.

1.Click here to watch how a candy cane is made!


2. Draw, paint, sculpt, or otherwise create a candy cane covered with icky things stuck to it! Take a picture of your tragic candy cane and send it to us at nightlightstories@gmail.com.

3. Listen to our other holiday stories and visit the blog posts to complete the fun activities we have posted:

      Chilly's Christmas: (20:08)

An ornament is accidentally placed on the back of the Christmas tree and must learn to experience his favorite season using his other senses with a little help from his friends!

Free audio download: Chilly's Christmas 

Blog with activities: Chilly's Christmas

       Inky's Christmas: (21:24)

Inky, a nervous octopus, has to figure out a way to control his inking 

so he can attend all of his friends' holiday festivities.

Free audio download: Inky's Christmas

Blog with activities: Inky's Christmas

Red vs. Green: (22:21)

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team of St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win?

Free audio download: Red vs. Green

Blog with activities: Red vs. Green

COMPREHENSION CHALLENGE

After listening to the story, can you recall the

details to answer these questions?

1. Where is the narrator going?

2. Why did the narrator's mom give him the candy cane?

3. Who always eats any leftover food that is passed to the front of the car?

4. When did the narrator realize that his candy cane was gone?

5. What did the narrator see while they were driving that reminded him of his lost candy cane?

6. How did the narrator's Grandma solve the boy's problem? 

We want to send out bright birthday wishes to:

Camden of Maryland

Bill of West Virginia

Papa of Massachusetts

Uncle Mark of Massachusetts

We hope your days SPARKLED!

As always, we look forward to the many stories

we can share together!
Happy Holidays!