Catch Me Kitty

My youngest grandchild just celebrated his second birthday. Papa and I selected this Catch Me Kitty toy as his birthday gift. As we browsed the aisles of toys this one caught Papa's eye. It was something new to the market which meant we probably wouldn't be duplicating a toy that was already in he and his two brothers toy box.

We had just wrapped this gift up for his birthday party the next day when we left for our family bonfire. While at the bonfire this little guy chased my daughter's kitty everywhere saying "key, key" "key, key".  My husband and I looked at each other and we knew we had selected a perfect gift!

This little interactive Catch Me Kitty toy is so much fun and we were right he loves it! It has sensors in it that activate when someone is approaching it from the front or the back so that it runs away. The toddler can chase the "Key, Key" all over the place.

For other play options the run away sensors can be turned off. If you have a toddler gift to select and your little one loves "key, keys" this is a really cute and fun option!

(This is not a paid review)

Oven S'mores for a Crowd

S'mores are always a fun, sweet, gooey, easy and delicious treat for a family gathering. This pan of s'mores for our group of twenty mountain cabin guests didn't require any roasting sticks or even a fire.

To Make Oven S'mores:

Fill the bottom of your baking sheet with the desired about of graham cracker halves. Don't leave any gaps between the crackers. Sprinkle the graham crackers evenly with milk chocolate chips. Top the chips with mini marshmallows. Place under the broiler and broil until the marshmallows are brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and top with the other half of the graham cracker. Mmmmmmm. It's that quick and easy! 

Greer or Bust Memories

This is the second post of our family snow outing to Greer, Arizona. If you missed the first post you can check it out here. In the first post there are some ideas for making the most of your family vacation together. Caravanning as a family. two (four way for us) way radios, crafts, snacks, meals, and more.

On our second full day in Greer it was all about eating a hearty breakfast, bundling up in our snow gear, packing our lunches, and getting outside to play in the cold white stuff! The Greer Lodge loaned us all kinds of tubes for sledding. Once all of our vehicles were filled to capacity with the tubes it was a short drive to a great public sledding hill.

The snow was about knee deep and the day was sunny. 

A perfect day for snow play!

Trying a taste.

Snow and sunshine.

Where are your sunglasses buddy?

Three generations.

Cousins taking a break while crunching on snow.

All bundled up.

Learning to snowboard.

Flying down the hill!

Mom and Daughter.

Just before my camera and I were wiped out!

A tube just his size!

I can't wait to see what he captured!

Daddy/Daughter

My oldest granddaughter.

Father and Son.

All by himself!

Papa and Grand #1.

We were everywhere on that hill.

There was eleven more of us slipping and sliding

up and down the hill.

Everyone was having a great time.

The youngest sledder.

The wisest of our bunch!

As our day was coming to an end I was in the car with the wise one so that she could warm up. I watched from afar as our entire clan worked together to link all of the sleds, tubes, cousins, and parents together to create a sledding train. It was so much fun that they did it again and again.

It was a very symbolic way to end our day of family snow play.

Yay, Yay, Yay, it's Today!

My husband and I gave the gift of a three day snowy cabin retreat to our entire family as a Christmas gift. The trip had been pre-scheduled with our adult children to take place three VERY LONG (for our grandchildren) weeks after Christmas.

This gift created a whole lotta' excited anticipation among the cousins. We all worked together during the weeks between Christmas and the actual trip to pull together snow bibs, gloves, boots, jackets, scarves, and snow boots for our entire clan from our outgrown cold weather clothing bins. My oldest grandson was able to wear a snow bib that my own son had worn 20 years ago! Does that make it a vintage snow bib?

My five year old grandson just about drove his parents crazy with the "How many more days?" On the day before the trip he woke up saying "Yay, Yay, only one more day!" The morning of the trip he had crawled into bed with his mommy and daddy sometime during the night. My daughter said when he first opened his eyes upon waking he said; "Yay, Yay, Yay, it's today!"

My husband and I worried as the days ticked closer to the long anticipated trip. Why? Because it had been a very warm and dry three weeks since Christmas in Arizona. The town of Greer (where we were headed) has a webcam that my husband and I had been watching and we knew that the snow cover was melting away each day.

As the trip neared my worries turned to prayers pleading for some pretty detailed blessings. My heartfelt prayers for snow and for my grandchildren to realize their long awaited anticipation of snow play were answered.

The night before our trip the forecast changed from expected rain that would have washed away all of the snow to a 90% chance of snow for the area we were headed to. My husband and I were giving each other high fives and I offered prayers of gratitude for this much appreciated blessing.

We all met the morning of the trip to caravan up together. To help make the trip all that Papa and I had envisioned for our family here are a few of the things we did:

We had given each family a snowman kit for Christmas.

I had created a laminated Greer or Bust sign

for each of the cars. (Creating family unity) 

Each car had a two way radio so that we could communicate,

 play games, and just be silly between our four cars.

(Creating family fun)

I did a roll call using the radios so that everyone

from two to seventy-seven had a chance

to talk in the radios.

(A sense of belonging)

We had a predetermined place that we

we invited all to stop at for lunch. It was completely

optional but we had 100% attendance!

(Family support)

After lunch, we were on the last leg of our drive.

We were not on the road long when we

realized that the lack of snow was not going to be a problem.

The scenery was an absolute treat for us desert dwellers!

The freshly fallen snow had blanketed the pines and the aspen trees.

Beautiful!

(Shared gratitude)

We all got to experience some light snowfall on our drive too.

Our two cabins were ready for our earlier than expected arrival.

Two cabins, warm fireplaces, beds for 28, 6 bathrooms, and big lofts for play

were all just perfect for our stay.

(Togetherness)

Everyone immediately changed into their snow gear and headed outdoors.

(A family that plays together stays together!)

I had prepared projects for any down time for the kids.

A snowflake door hanger project.

(Quality time with grandma)

A snowman scene using a gift tag snowman, stickers,

crayons, and a Chinet plate.

(Shared creativity)

I didn't get a picture of the edible snowmen we made but they were very close to this

one (thank you Pinterest) except we put ours on a stick and we made a beanie cap

using a fruit roll-up and a half of a marshmallow.

(Creating memories among the cousins)

Snowman donuts and hot chocolate were a big

hit following our day in the snow.

(They are way cuter with mouths too but my

hungry and chilled crowd showed up ready for a donut and a 

cup of warm hot chocolate before I got the mouths on!)

How to link here.

Stay tuned for more of our fun in the snow!

The Family BonFire

"In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit."

MARGE KENNEDY

One of our traditions that our entire family helps to create each new year is our family bonfire. This very simple tradition is right up there with Halloween and Christmas for the grands! This year the grands started asking when it would be well before Christmas.

The mom that shuttled six of the cousins home from school on the day of the scheduled bonfire reported that the excitement in the car about the bonfire that night was just crazy!

This loved tradition only requires an evening that works for all of the families, our Christmas trees for burning, a big pot of hot chocolate, a few dozen donuts, our outdoor chairs, matches, and some very watchful adult eyes.

The cousins stopped the cars as they arrived to give 

them handmade tickets that they had made on their own

for everyone attending and they also directed the cars on 

where to drop off their trees and where to park.

Once everyone arrives it is time to light the bonfire.

It is always scary to be reminded just how 

flammable dry Christmas trees are.

With ten cousins in attendance it is a whirlwind of activity

that requires very close adult supervision.

This tradition is mostly just a commitment of time.

The payoff is quite simply the treasured memories that

are shared between the generations!

Anytime Party Game

This is a party game that I first played with my grands a few years ago at one of our 

Grandkid's Christmas Day Camps. For some reason it was an absolute highlight of the camp. Since then they always ask if we can play it anytime the ten cousins are together.

I had it on this years Christmas Day Camp Schedule but we did not get to it. So, we played it on Christmas eve instead.

It is just like the old fashioned carnival cake walks but instead of winning cakes I have a tray filled with goodies and small prizes. 

To play:

Tape pictures, (I used Christmas pictures such as a santa, snowman, christmas tree, angel, etc.) numbers, or abc's to the floor in a circle. I use pictures because some of my players are very young and do not recognize there numbers and letters yet.  I also like using pictures that fit the occasion or season to add a bit more fluff to the activity. ( I  used some cute gift tags, glued them to an index card, then taped the card to the floor. Super Simple!) Place a matching picture in a bag or bowl to draw the winners from.

Before we start I give each child a goodie bag (sandwich zipper bag works) with their name on it.

To begin, each child chooses a picture in the circle to stand on.

Turn on the music (I used Christmas music this time) and walk in a circle stepping on each picture.

When the music stops (papa's job) they stand hoping that their picture will be drawn.

We pick two winners at a time. (My rule, the winners must pick a different prize each time.)

It is fun to reverse the march, change to hopping, and to sing along with the music!

At the end of the game all of the cousins come to grandma to gather any prizes they didn't win. All leave with a full goodie bag and another highlighted memory of our time together!