Ashes Made From PomPoms?

The children I teach (pre-kindergarten) crack me up.  We discussed how today is a special day in the church--Ash Wednesday.  We were going over to the church for the dispensation of ashes, but all the children want to know is "Will it hurt?"  We talked about how the priest or deacon puts the ashes on their forheads and says a little prayer.  We even taught them that the ashes come from last season's palms.

I review the day the last couple of minutes of each class.  I am such as fabulous catechist that today was "Ash Saturday" and the ashes come from "burnt pompoms."  Hum?